Eight of Cups definitions

The outcome of excess is a hangover of some kind. It is the morning after the night before and you are emotionally drained, uncertain of exactly what you did. Did you embarrass yourself? Can you face those people again?

• Rider-Waite: 8 of Cups

  A man of dejected aspect is deserting the cups of his felicity, enterprise, undertaking or previous concern.

  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.

  Additional Meanings: Marriage with a fair woman.

  Reversed Card meanings

  Great joy, happiness, feasting.

• Book of Thoth - Indolence

  The Eight of Cups is called Indolence. This card is the very apex of unpleasantness. It is ruled by the planet Saturn; time, sorrow, have descended upon pleasure, and there is no strength in the element of water which can react against it. This card is not exactly "the morning after the night before"; but it is very nearly that. The difference is that the "night before" has not happened! This card represents a party for which all preparations have been made; but the host has forgotten to invite the guests; or, the caterers have not delivered the good cheer. There is this difference, though, that it is in some way or other the host's own fault. The party that he planned was just a little bit above his capacity; perhaps he lost heart at the last moment.

  The appearance of the 8 Cups is an indication of a lack of interest and low expectations.

  Extra Information

• Golden Dawn - Lord of Abandoned Success

  Correct impulse leading to equivocal action; a sense of the matter at hand which cannot be put into words; a breakdown of communication; falsehood thought confusion, not malice. The sense of a confusing situation mishandled through lack of interpretative effort.

• Reversed Meanings: Perfect satisfaction.

• Mathers: 8 of Cups

  A fair Girl, Friendship, Attachment, Tenderness.

  Reversed

  Gaiety, Feasting, Joy, Pleasure.

• Etteilla: 8 of Cups

  Fair Girl, Honest Girl, Practical Girl, Honor, Propriety, Modesty, Restrained, Timidity, Fear, Apprehension, Sweetness, Attractiveness.

  Reversed

  Satisfaction, Happiness, Contentment, Gayety, Joy, Elation, Festivity, Entertainment, Feast. Apology, Atonement, Exoneration. Public Joy, Spectacle, Pomp, Dressing, Preparation, Arrangement.

• Thieriens: 8 of Cups

  TRADITION

  Fair girl, honest, practical girl, honour, modesty, timidity, fear, sweetness, mildness. Reversed: Happiness, gaiety, great joy, feasting, public rejoicing. Also preparations and dispositions. W. says it means, "Deserting the cups of his felicity."

  THEORY

  On the Fourth house the Water of the soul will be in its own element, so to speak, and will consequently rejoice in its existence, swimming in agreeable sensations, the family and the memory, as far as the personal life goes, playing important r?les in the life of the querent. The lunar and Jovian element passing over this house will almost certainly cause the home and family-life to be forsaken or relinquished; this perhaps may account for the interpretation: "Deserting the cups of his felicity." We should prefer to substitute for "felicity" his family or intimate circle. Changes in home-life, be it for the better or for the worse. There cannot be much of order or rule in this combination, and disorder or chaos is threatened. The strong Cancerian peculiarities, such as shyness, timidity, prudishness, etc., may appear here, but we can see no reason for addictions like 'great joy, feasting,' etc. 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 realise 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.

  CONCLUSION

  Leaving the house or home; changes in the family(-circle). Little chance to see one's wishes and ambitions realised. Shyness, timidity; disorder and waywardness. Despondency, despairing of success. Mixed sensations, no strongly preponderant feeling, unless it be that of dissatisfaction. May be fair-haired girl.