Eight of Cups

Eight of Cups from the Rider-Waite Tarot deck

The Eight of Cups is the eighth card in the suit of Cups. It usually stands for 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. End of a business enterprise. Change in home life.

General description

In the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, Pamela Colman Smith depicts the Eight of Cups as a man of dejected aspect deserting the cups which have been carefully stacked for his benefit. He no longer takes pleasure in them and is walking away into the unknown. The cups represent his family or intimate circle, a business enterprise, or other project with which he was previously invested.

Divinatory meaning

There cannot be much of order or rule in this card, and disorder or chaos is threatened. The strong Cancerian peculiarities, such as shyness, timidity, prudishness, may appear here.

Feelings, sentiments, wishes have very little chance of becoming reality in this house, and this may be called the true reason for leaving the house. The latter seems to us to be the proper meaning: either leaving the safe and comfortable home, or losing the chance to realize more ambitious projects. Being the eighth card of the suit, it may denote a girl, and cups are said to be related to the fair or blonde type.

If reversed, the card can mean: Great joy, happiness, and feasting. Perfect satisfaction.