Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups
It’s been a couple weeks since our last pull which means it’s definitely time to jump back in with the Five of Cups.
Lately, I’ve been experiencing some serious interruptions to my “norm,” the most challenging one being ‘end of life’ care for my sweet puppers, Maggie. For months, I’ve watched her slowly go downhill, and the end is now coming soon. We’re showering her with love, attention, pretty much all the treats she wants, and pain medicine.
Just writing these words tightens my gut and fills me with a sense of dread. She’s been with me my entire adult life— sitting on the bed with me through 6 weeks of bedrest while pregnant and scared; cuddling with me as I cried over countless stressors; making road trips joyful as she stuck her face out the window with glee; quite literally herding me to bed when it got too late in the evening for people with common sense to be awake (Aussies can’t help themselves but herd).
There are so many beautiful gifts Maggie has brought with her every single day she’s been in my life, and it’s difficult not to be overcome with grief at the thought of her leaving us (yes; I am crying right now).
I could easily sit in this deep sadness as we spend our last days together, and sometimes I do. But I’m also reminding myself that there is light here too. First, I have been given the opportunity to spend time with her, spoiling her and enjoying the good days when she’s able to take walks. I’m attempting to sit in gratitude for all the joy she’s brought to the world. I’m fighting to remind myself that death (jfc - it was hard to write that word ) is not wholly bad. It’s part of a cycle that not only aligns us with the order of the universe, but serves to remind us how special and unique our moment here can be.
And this is what the Five of Cups is all about…grief and the struggle to find the good within sorrow.
Pictured: The Five of Cups from the Rackham Tarot deck. Here, we see goblin-like creatures calling to the mourner, threatening to pull her into a watery pit from which she may not escape
Common Keywords for the Five of Cups include:
Upright - Grief; Loss; Pessimism; Regret
Reversed - Moving on; Letting go; Forgiveness; Focus on the Positive
For a full write-up on the Five of Cups, see Biddy Tarot’s article here.
The Five of Cups is a member of the Minor Arcana. Since it is part of the suit of Cups, it is inherently linked with emotions, relationships and creativity. As the fifth in its suit, it’s also tied to a state of uncertainty, struggle and even pain.
In nearly all the depictions of the card in my deck collection, these elements come through loud and clear. There’s melancholy, but also a clear signal that there is more to the card than simply sorrow.
As shown in the Linestrider, Ethereal Visions and Madam Clara’s 5-cent tarot decks, the central figure is in distress due to the loss in front of them. For the owl, it’s the destruction of three eggs in her nest; for the human, it’s the upheaval of three of their glasses; for the cicada, it’s the frightening overturn of the tea cups which landed him on his back.
But in each of these, the main figure is missing something: despite the loss of three items, there remain two others untouched and safe. The owl still has two eggs to protect; two glasses of wine still stand for the man; two tea cups cradle the cicada so he doesn’t continue to fall.
It’s easy to get lost in our suffering, especially when the loss appears greater than the remaining good.
Yet, even in the darkest of times and the most chaotic moments, there’s something standing by that’s ready to be acknowledged and embraced when you’re ready.
Pictured: The Five of Cups from the Wild Unknown Tarot deck. Notice, the horse is wandering in the darkness, but dawn is breaking overhead.
Before you throw a shoe at me for indulging in false positivity, allow me to clarify that the Five of Cups doesn’t condemn you for mourning or demand that you stop. Mourning has its place. Stuffing sorrow down eventually leads to explosion and destruction, and that is where the true tragedy exists. The Five of Cups clearly shows there IS something to cry about.
However, the card reminds us not to get stuck in that pain forever. Shed your tears, but remember joy still persists somewhere. Eventually, you will have to flip the card and let go.
So, here’s where I start crying again while also reaching out to find the good.
Cheers to my Maggie and the pure love she’s brought into my life. Cheers to the tears I’m shedding as I cycle through grief and gratitude. Cheers to the seasons of life we move through, and all of the emotions that come with them. Without despair, happiness wouldn’t be as sweet. Without joy, sorrow would be inescapable.
Now I’ll go enjoy whatever time I have left with my girl.
As always, stay perpetually and creatively weird in a world that could easily become mundane otherwise.
~Allison
