The Four of Cups – Developing Your Intuition
4 comments
When I give readings nowadays, I ask people to give me their impressions of some of the cards that I pick for them, before I offer my own interpretations. This does several things; it gives the person asking for the reading direct insight into their situation and it also and very importantly, leaves the power in their hands. These personal impressions of the cards give me a fresh look at the cards’ meaning and a new perspective on the question that I am being asked.
Sometimes I think that a reader (certainly this is true for me) can have set meanings for the cards fixed in their minds. In one way this is good, as it enables the reader to gather the information from the symbols rapidly and deliver a helpful reading. On the other hand, having fixed meanings for the cards brings a certain rigidity to the interpretation .
So I offer the following exercise: If you are not familiar with the cards you will learn something about them from doing this. If you are familiar with the cards, this will give you fresh insight and a new perspective. Sometimes gaining a new perspective doesn’t take much at all – simply a step to one side.
Look at this card for a few minutes, without preconceptions and with an open mind. Open notepad or write on a piece of paper and jot down the impressions that you receive from this card.
How do you feel when you look at the card? What do the symbols say to you? How would it feel to be the man in the card? Put yourself into the picture for a few minutes; feel the grass, the air, the tree trunk against your back. What are the cups made of and what is inside them? Are you aware of the other cup that is being offered? What does it contain?
Please feel free to leave your impressions as a comment below this post. I am going to do this right now too and I will leave mine on the Impressions Page at the top of this site. Don’t be tempted to look at mine till you have done the exercise yourself.
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Jul 28, 20106:30 pm
That’s very interesting what you say, thankyou for that comment Robert. It sheds fresh light on the card for me. I hadn’t thought of either the completion value of the number 4 or the importance of the figure’s contemplation.
Sep 1, 20107:17 am
This card clearly signifies a defensive position on the part of the figure seated below the tree. My initial impression was someone refusing to listen to the voice of the divine. The three cups of pleaure or celebration (from the previous tarot card) have been put aside yet the subject either refuses or fails to see the fourth cup coming from the cloud. The cloud could symbolize divine guidance or confusion – it’s inspiration in any case. Yet the seated figure will not even acknowledge its presence. His arms are firmly crossed and he looks downcast. Because this card is from the suit of cups I would venture to say that this is a situation of general emotional stagnation. The querent must take what is offered in order to move forward in a healthy emotional way.
If the querent continues to ignore the emotional advances made toward them inevitably they’ll create a situation of emotional depravity, symbolized by the following card, the five of cups. Yet this can be avoided if the querent has the courage to face whatever is being offered them emotionally and honestly asses whether or not what’s being offered is genuine. Complacency and refusing to be open emotionaly can only result in further alienation. In short, “what you need is being offered but you refuse to see it.”
Sep 1, 20108:00 am
Thank you very much Marlin, I love what you have said here. Its very helpful indeed, it broadens the way I see this card and also reminds me of times in my life when I have felt like this.
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Hello I'm Gillian and thanks so much for visiting my site.
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I live in the countryside in Ireland and love nature, animals, peace and beauty. I'm an Intuitive and received this talent from my Romany ancestors.
I love to read Tarot and use my intuition to help people with their problems. I specialise in love and relationship readings.
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1:35 am
Intuitively, this man finds himself alone in a situation where I would expect to see at least two-three others there with him, to drink together. It is a rather neutral environment, neither hopeful nor hopeless. There is cause for optimism. In fact it may show him contemplating as he awaits the others to arrive. In that case, why would a 4th cup be made available to him? I think that the value of the 4th cup, as well as the content of the other 3, are of no consequence to him in solitude.
It copuld also be that he had planned a reunion with people, but given the fresh country air, the vital green grass and the strong peaceful energy of the tree, it is a signal that contemplative time is more important tahn the social benefits he planned on. Although this does not shed light on the number 4.
I am running of coherent ideas here: I recognize the completion value of 4 (seasons, cardinal directions, the elemnets, and so on..) but I fail to piece it together in this case.