The Eight of Cups Tarot Card Meaning
A man dressed in red, with red shoes, is walking away from eight cups he has painstakingly built, crossing the river at dusk, and turning his back. The surrounding swamps symbolize stagnant emotions, like a stagnant pool of water.
To build those eight cups, at least some hard work is needed, but he found a gap in the middle of the eight chalices, so he resolutely turned around and went to look for the ninth chalice, walking towards a higher place, and left these eight cups behind, which represent the opportunities for happiness and can still contain the past joyful things. His red clothes and shoes and the long staff symbolize his action, and now he has moved this energy from the joy and achievements he has built in the past, that is, the eight cups, and turned to look for the lost one, at this time, the moon covers the sun, urging a more thorough search.
For the sake of a lost chalice, and abandon the original eight chalices, is he stupid? It seems not stupid. Is he not stupid? It doesn't seem like it. This is a matter of personal opinion. He could actually take the original eight cups with him, but he chose not to, which shows the central theme of the eight cups of the chalice, "abandonment". The past joy, achievements, wealth, he doesn't want, he just wants the one that is missing. Sometimes we can meet such people in our daily life, some people think he is stubborn, some people think he is stubborn, but we have to admit that he really knows what he wants, and he is very brave. When you are in a stagnant situation like a swamp, the performance of the eight cups of the chalice is to break the old rules with action, pick up your stick, let go of the attachment, and go forward bravely.
You know, no matter what, it's time to leave what you have in order to pursue more things, which we can see from the space left on the card for another cup. The inner pursuit in the seven cups of the chalice makes people understand that there must be more things, and the eight cups of the chalice show that the physical pursuit has begun. This is the true meaning of the element of water. It gives you the ability to perceive that this situation is about to end before it dries up or collapses.
The person walking towards the high place implies progress, and may produce a better view. This card is similar to the hermit card - to reach a higher place or get a better view, you must put the ordinary things in daily life behind you.
The moon is passing over the sun, which implies two things: inner cognition is more important than external action, and this pursuit will be day and night (including in dreams and awake). And the state of "awake" can include reading books, healing, classes or chatting.
Stacked Cups
The eight cups stacked in the foreground represent emotional ties, relationships, or personal values that once held importance. Their organized placement suggests a structured life or established emotional state that the figure is leaving behind.
Mountainous Terrain
The mountainous terrain that lies ahead of the solitary figure symbolizes the challenges, personal growth, and soul-searching journey he is about to undertake. This rugged path points to the idea that sometimes we must leave the familiar behind to seek higher truths or deeper meaning.
Solitary Figure
The lone figure walking away from the cups embodies the idea of abandonment or departure. This person is choosing to walk away from what once held emotional significance, indicating a conscious decision to leave behind old feelings, relationships, or desires in pursuit of a higher calling or inner truth.
Moon
The moon in the sky carries dual meanings. It can represent uncertainty, illusion, and the subconscious. In this context, it implies that the journey ahead might be unclear, guided by intuition rather than logic. The moon’s waxing and waning also suggest cycles, indicating that this departure might be a necessary phase in one’s life.
River
The river running through the card’s landscape can symbolize emotional flow and the passage of time. As water often signifies emotions in the Tarot, this river might indicate that the figure’s decision to leave is based on deep emotional reasons, not taken lightly but deemed necessary for personal growth.
Keywords
Departure, Search, Transition, Discontent, Leaving Behind
General Overview
The Eight of Cups depicts a poignant moment of decision, where one finds the strength to leave behind what is familiar in search of a deeper truth or fulfillment. It is a card of transition, representing the moments in life when we realize that our current circumstances, while comfortable or known, may not be truly fulfilling. The figure in the card is seen leaving eight cups behind, symbolizing emotional, spiritual, or material attachments that he has outgrown.
This card signifies the courage it takes to step into the unknown, driven by a desire for something more meaningful. Though the path forward may be uncertain, there’s a deep inner knowing that the journey is necessary. The Eight of Cups is about honoring one’s inner guidance, even when it means leaving behind the familiar and stepping into the unknown.
The emotional resonance of this card is bittersweet. While there’s sadness and nostalgia for what’s being left behind, there’s also hope and anticipation for the new experiences and insights that the journey ahead might bring. It serves as a reminder that growth often requires sacrifice and that to find deeper meaning, one might need to leave behind what is no longer serving them.
Work
Work Situation
You are not satisfied with your current job, and often consider making changes or even quitting altogether. No amount of money can fill the emptiness in your heart.
How to Solve Work Difficulties
At this time, the most important thing is action. Staying in the same situation is a dead end; change is the only way out. Quickly alter your approach.
Workplace Relationships
You are quite independent at work and rarely participate in colleagues' gatherings, resulting in shallow relationships and a lack of support when problems arise.
How to Get Along with Your Boss
Your boss is very changeable and cannot tolerate a monotonous situation. It's best to frequently propose new ideas; even if they are not implemented, your boss will be pleased.
Job Prospects
You will never achieve your ideals in this job. If there is an appropriate opportunity, you should leave quickly. Staying is just a waste of your time.
Job Hunting/Changing Jobs
This is an excellent time to change jobs. You can find a good one. If you take the initiative now, you should be able to find a new job soon.
Love
Love Situation
You are not satisfied with the current state of your relationship and often think about making changes. Perhaps the initial feelings when you first got together have faded.
Possibility of New Romance
As long as you take the initiative now, you will soon have a new romance. This relationship will be different from the previous one and will be a pleasant experience for you.
View on This Relationship
This relationship has reached its end. If there is no change, it will definitely end. At this time, you will make various assumptions about the relationship and do not rule out breaking up.
Sexual Attraction
At the beginning of this relationship, there may have been a strong sexual attraction, but this attraction will gradually decrease over time, and there may eventually be no sexual life at all.
How to Resolve Arguments
At this time, concrete actions are needed to break the deadlock. Perhaps the two of you should go out for a walk together. An unfamiliar new environment will help solve the problem.
Possibility of a Breakup
Now the two of you have no feelings for each other, and there may even be affairs. As long as the two of you no longer contact each other, this relationship will definitely end.
Possibility of Reconciliation
There is no possibility of reconciliation between the two of you. On the one hand, both sides have many unresolved dissatisfactions with each other. On the other hand, distance will also create certain barriers and difficulties.
Friendship
Interpersonal Situation
Although you have quite a few friends, you often want to be alone. You should bravely do what you want to do and not be too entangled by friends.
How to Resolve Misunderstandings with Friends
You should take the initiative to talk to your friends. In fact, there is only a small misunderstanding between the two of you, but if you do nothing, the problem will not be solved.
Family
Family Situation
Now someone in the family may leave home to develop or travel far away. Everyone should care for and help him as much as possible, and also be self-reliant and strong, so that he has no worries.
Relationship with Elders
You are a very decisive person in the eyes of the elders, but also difficult to discipline. You will think that they don't care about you very much, so the feelings between the two sides are not very deep.
Relationship with Peers
Among peers, you are often alone and don't want to pay attention to others. You hate to participate in collective actions and rarely ask others for help.
Relationship with Juniors
Perhaps due to the distance, the relationship between you and your juniors is not very close. Maybe you should spend more time and effort to care about them.
Academics
Academic Situation
Recently, you haven't put much thought into your studies, so your performance has declined a bit. But as long as you cheer up and work hard, you will still have a good performance.
Learning Methods
At this time, you should make up for your weakest part, whether by asking others for advice or by working hard on your own. As long as you are studying seriously, you can see progress.
Relationship with Teachers
Teachers take a laissez-faire approach to everyone, and you are no exception. So you don't need to go to him except for class time, and solve things on your own.
Relationship with Classmates
You don't pay much attention to getting along with classmates, but you maintain a good relationship with everyone. You can spend more time studying and doing your own things.
Finance
Financial Situation
Your current financial situation is not bad, but it's time to change. If you can review and improve, you can achieve greater success in the future.
Investment Situation
You are not suitable for high-risk investments now. You should focus on the concept of saving and deposit money. Wait for a better opportunity before preparing to invest.
Purchasing Strategy
At this time, it is not suitable to purchase durable products. The things you buy can only be useful in the short term. Don't spend too much money, so as not to regret it later.
Keywords
Avoidance, Fear of Change, Stagnation, Clinging, Misalignment
General Overview
When the Eight of Cups is reversed, it signifies a resistance to the natural progression that life is suggesting. Unlike its upright position which emphasizes a voluntary departure, the reversed card indicates a reluctance or fear of letting go, even if the current situation isn’t fulfilling. This can stem from a fear of the unknown or a comfort in familiar situations, even if they aren’t particularly satisfying.
It can also suggest that one is avoiding the introspection required to understand their feelings, choosing instead to stay in denial or delay making crucial decisions. The reversal can hint at missed opportunities due to this hesitancy, or a feeling of being stuck in a rut, unwilling or unable to progress.
The card further warns against becoming too emotionally attached to past achievements or memories, to the point where they hinder forward movement. It suggests the need to reassess, find clarity, and muster the courage to address what’s truly going on inside.
Work
Work Situation
Your current job is strenuous and unstable, yet you find joy in it, which sometimes makes you want to leave, but at the same time, you feel reluctant to part with it.
How to Solve Work Difficulties
You should look for solutions in past experiences, perhaps an abandoned plan or an unaccepted suggestion could be effective.
Workplace Relationships
Your colleagues often go out together, and you frequently join their gatherings. Although you maintain good relationships, they don't seem to help much with work.
How to Get Along with Your Boss
Your superior is quite subjective and not likely to accept others' opinions. You can try to offer suggestions, but don't feel disheartened if they are rejected.
Job Prospects
This job has good prospects, but it will inevitably be hard work with little appreciation. If you don't consider yourself hardworking, it's better not to insist too much.
Job Hunting/Changing Jobs
Now is a good time to look for a job, but you might not start work immediately. You can rest while looking for a job and make a decision once you find a satisfactory one.
Love
Love Situation
This relationship has reached an important turning point and is about to enter the next stage. If neither of you is ready for marriage, it's likely to lead to a breakup.
Possibility of New Romance
A new romance might come soon, but it could be a short-lived relationship. You can enjoy the happiness of being in love, even if it's not long-lasting.
View on This Relationship
This is a very pleasant relationship, but it has reached a bottleneck. Some changes might be necessary to sustain it, which requires joint efforts from both parties.
Sexual Attraction
Both of you have a strong sexual attraction in the relationship, but it's a fleeting feeling. As you become more familiar with each other, this attraction will gradually fade.
How to Resolve Arguments
The issues you two are facing are minor and should be resolved quickly. As long as it doesn't turn into a contest of wills, it can end on a happy note.
Possibility of a Breakup
As the relationship is undergoing changes, if an affair occurs, it could lead to a breakup and cause significant harm.
Possibility of Reconciliation
Although there are still feelings between you two, it's unlikely to reconcile because parting is a better outcome. Don't think about getting back together.
Friendship
Interpersonal Situation
You are quite popular among friends and get a lot of joy from interpersonal relationships, but you often feel that these relationships are not very deep or stable.
How to Resolve Misunderstandings with Friends
The misunderstandings between you and your friends are minor and not very important to either party. They will naturally resolve over time, so there's no need to do anything deliberately.
Family
Family Situation
There are some joyful events happening at home now, but they might not be very stable. You should see the truth behind the events and not blindly trust others.
Relationship with Elders
Your elders are often busy and have no time for you, so you don't meet often, but your relationship is very pleasant.
Relationship with Peers
Actually, peers mostly act independently and there are no collective activities. Everyone is busy with their own matters and won't help each other when problems arise.
Relationship with Juniors
You don't quite understand what the younger generation is thinking, and there is little communication between you. You should try to understand their thoughts to cultivate a good relationship.
Academics
Academic Situation
You are currently troubled by academic issues, but you're not quite clear about the situation. You should first clarify the problem before you can solve it.
Learning Methods
At this time, you should leverage your creativity and not be limited by existing rules and concepts. Learning at your own pace and in your own way is the most suitable method for you.
Relationship with Teachers
Teachers place great importance on the atmosphere in the class and will not tolerate anyone who disrupts harmony. It's best to maintain a good relationship with your classmates.
Relationship with Classmates
Your relationship with classmates is good, and you get along happily, but this does not help your studies. Don't spend too much time playing with everyone.
Finance
Financial Situation
Your current financial situation appears to be good, but there are actually loopholes. You should carefully review your finances to remedy the situation in time.
Investment Situation
You are eager to pursue money now, but your investment fortune is not very good. It's best to take profits when you can. If you invest more money now, there will be a high risk.
Purchasing Strategy
This is a suitable time for some purchases, and you can also replace old things with new ones. However, be careful to compare to avoid buying defective products.