Saturday, January 25, 2014

Four of cups: seize this moment

This morning I have drawn the Four of Cups from the Robin Wood Tarot. This is the first deck I’ve bought after The Rider Waite. I remember how uncertain I was, if I would be able to read with it. In those days I was all about learning the meanings by heart and sometimes I even forgot to look at the pictures myself. I totally relied on what the books told me. And how confused I was when some of the books contradicted each other. I am so happy to have learned to look at the depictions more closely now and trust my own intuition so I can combine book knowledge with my own feeling about the cards. 
When we look as this four of cups it is quite obvious this man is not happy. While the facial expression of the man in the Rider Waite is rather flat, in the Robin wood there is no doubt about his discontentment with his cups. He doesn’t want to look at them and while turning his eyes away from the cups in front of him, he doesn't notice the opportunity handed out to him by a magnificent radiant cup.
Sometimes this card can represent turning inward or meditation. I think this can help us to become aware of the shining cup in the air. When we let go of the notion of how we did feel, want to feel, should feel and so on only then we can try to discover how we are feeling right now. If we are fully present in this moment we have limitless opportunities how step into the next moment. Living our life like that is an ongoing adventure

7 comments:

  1. When I see this guy leaning against the tree, I think of a battery recharging. The three cups for me represent emotionally draining people or situations that have left him bone-dry (empty cups). But like the beer commercial that says "This one's for you," he hasn't noticed the cup that will help replenish him yet. And like you mentioned, it is probably some spiritual tool (spending time in nature, meditating, etc.) that will help him get back on his feet.
    When I first started reading tarot, I had a set of keywords and phrases. If the pictures or lwb didn't fit, I would just give the deck away. But like you, it has been wonderfully freeing to find the image can be used too, and as a result my foundation of meanings has expanded quite a bit. :)

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    1. Isn't it wonderful how we have gained trust in our own ability to read the cards. I still can add meanings to my tarot journal, which is digital by the way so I will never lack space for writing about a card :)

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  2. That guy looks utterly grumpy. And for me, that's an important aspect of this card (or maybe just something I'm thinking a lot about at the moment). As you say, it's our mindset, our being in the moment, that determines whether or not we can see that fabulous, glowing cup...

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    1. Hi Kerry,don't you just love it how the tarot mirrors our state of mind.Where we focus on is telling us so much about ourselves :D

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