Eight of Cups
Secret whisperWalk on beneath the eclipse; some cups are better left behind.
Upright meaning
Upright keywordswalking away, disillusionment, seeking meaning, letting go
It is time to leave behind what no longer fulfils you, even if it once mattered a great deal. Go in search of deeper meaning.
Reversed meaning
Reversed keywordsfear of change, staying too long, drifting, stagnation
You know you should move on, but fear keeps you where you are — or you are drifting without a purpose. Decide.
About the suit of Cups
Cups belong to Water: feelings, love, friendship, intuition and the imagination. They show what is happening in the heart and in your relationships.
Reading the Eights of the tarot
Eights move: progress, mastery through effort, and change of direction.
In Waite’s own words (1910)
From A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, public domain. Original English text.
Divinatory meaning: The card speaks for itself on the surface, but other readings are entirely antithetical--giving joy, mildness, timidity, honour, modesty. In practice, it is usually found that the card shews the decline of a matter, or that a matter which has been thought to be important is really of slight consequence--either for good or evil.
Reversed: Great joy, happiness, feasting.
The picture
A man of dejected aspect is deserting the cups of his felicity, enterprise, undertaking or previous concern.
