Ace of Cups Tarot card definitions

The Ace of Cups suggests the birth of emotions and feelings. Potential for creation. Stirrings of love, or looking for love.

Rider-Waite - Ace of Cups

The waters are beneath, and thereon are water-lilies; the hand issues from the cloud, holding in its palm the cup, from which four streams are pouring; a dove, bearing in its bill a cross-marked Host, descends to place the Wafer in the Cup; the dew of water is falling on all sides. It is an intimation of that which may lie behind the Lesser Arcana.

House of the true heart, joy, content, abode, nourishment, abundance, fertility; Holy Table, felicity hereof.

Additional Meanings: Inflexible will, unalterable law.

Ace of Cups Reversed Card meanings

House of the false heart, mutation, instability, revolution.

Additional Meanings: Unexpected change of position.

Book of Thoth: Ace of Cups

The Aces represent pure Spirit, so there is very little manifestation. For Crowley, the Ace of Cups is the Holy Graal. The Ace is the seeds of water, not the element itself.

The Ace of Cups is the beginning of the water element.

Extra information

Golden Dawn: Ace of Cups

The Radix of the Powers of Water

Pleasure and happiness. The influence of the Great Mother, who creates freely through the subtle pressure of the waters.

Mathers: Ace of Cups

Feasting, Banquet, Good Cheer.

Ace of Cups Reversed

Change, Novelty, Metamorphosis, Inconstancy.

Etteilla: Ace of Cups

Table, Meal, Feast, Reception, Treat, Food, Edibles, Nutrition. Guests, Service. Invitation, Prayer, Supplication, Convoking. Host, Hotel, Hostelry, Inn. Abundance, Fertility, Production, Robustness, Stability, Steadiness, Constancy, Perseverance, Continuation, Permanency, Duration, Regularity, Persistence, Confidence, Courage. Scene, Painting, Image, Hieroglyph, Description. Tablets, Portfolio, Desk, Secretary. Simple Table, Bronze Table, Marble Table, Law. Catalog, Table of Contents. Sounding Board, Garden Table, Holy Table.

Ace of Cups Reversed

Mutation, Permutation, Transmutation, Alteration, Vicissitudes, Varieties, Variation, Inconstancy, Weakness.—Barter, Exchange, Purchase, Sale, Deal, Treaty, Agreement.—Metamorphosis, Variety, Changeability, Reversal, Disruption, Revolution, Reversion.—Version, Translation, Interpretation

Thierens: Ace of Cups

TRADITION

Table, first as the symbol of the bearer of food, alimentation, etc., then also as 'table of the law'; catalogue, tabulation; the Holy Table. Meal, feast, gala, and invitation for the same. Hotel, restaurant, etc. Picture, painting, image, description. Production, fertility, abundance. Stability, fixity, constancy, etc. Reversed: Mutation, change, transmutation, inconstancy, etc. Buying and selling. Metamorphosis, reversal, revolution, translation, interpretation. Another version says: "House of the true heart, joy, contentment ..." (W.) Reversed: "House of the false heart ..."

THEORY

The Cups, representing the element of Water, Jovian and lunar by nature, start their cycle on the Ninth house, the house of Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, the lawgiver. The element Water has its two polar effects in the soul, so we need not look for particular 'weak cases' to demonstrate a more or less benefic and malific effect at the same time. The house of Sagittarius, however, does not bring much evil to the soul and is generally uplifting, inviting, pushing towards progress and development, journeying and hospitable reception of strangers. There is little or no stability or fixity in it, but on the contrary always a good deal of 'mutation'; also the magic power of the true transmutation. Further we find a tendency to teach, to translate, guide, interpret. It may, too, lead to extravagance as regards dissipation or at least spending. There is sanction or even holiness in it, inspiration, idealism. The latter, of course, may lead to more or less well-directed actions.

CONCLUSION

Sanction, permission, inspiration, idealism, enthusiasm, blessing. May denote a leader, teacher, guide or any influence of this nature. Legislation, direction, instruction; hospitality and sympathetic reception. Driving, hunting, travelling; planning for the future. Invitation, convocation, appeal. Mutation and transmutation. Translation and interpretation.