Rider-Waite

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A youth and maiden are pledging one another, and above their cups rises the Caduceus of Hermes, between the great wings of which there appears a lion’s head. It is a variant of a sign which is found in a few old examples of this card. Some curious emblematical meanings are attached to it, but they do not concern us in this place.

Love, passion, friendship, affinity, union, concord, sympathy, the interrelation of the sexes, and — as a suggestion apart from all offices of divination — that desire which is not in Nature, but by which Nature is sanctified.

Additional Meanings: Favourable in things of pleasure and business, as well as love; also wealth and honour.

Reversed

Additional Meanings: Passion.

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Thierens

Two of Cups

TRADITION

Love, passion, inclination, sympathy, attraction, concord, friendship, the inter-relation of the sexes; Reversed: Lust, cupidity, jealousy, wish, desire, but the card may also give, says W., “that desire which is not in nature, but by which nature is sanctified.”

THEORY

The Water of the soul on the house of Capricorn, the Tenth house of the act, the deed, manifestation. The two souls find each other here in an act, which of course must be that of meeting in the body. Soul-union, ending in bodily attraction. So the traditional rendering appears once more to be fairly correct. It is the outcome of idealism, indicated by the ace, shared by two souls. It is anyhow not the sex-element as a curse, but as a blessing in practical life. The card may further denote any sort of friendly act and sympathetic encounter. We should say, as regards ‘love,’ it is to be rather defined as love-making, courting.

CONCLUSION

Love-making, passion, friendship, attraction, concord, good action, hospitable meeting or reception, the interrelation of the sexes, desire. In the weaker aspect: lust, cupidity, ‘cupboard’ love.

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Paul Foster-Case

Two of Cups – Response to environment.

In the vesica the Eye of Horus surmounts a sharp-pointed upright triangle. Both Eye and triangle are masculine emblems, corresponding to the Qabalistic notions of Wisdom (the All-seeing Eye) and masculine force associated with the number 2, which is called AB the FATHER in Qabalah. Two circles concentric to each other are behind the cups, suggesting harmony.

Time period

The first decanate of Cancer, June 21st to 30th, ruled by the Moon.

Well-dignified

Reciprocity, reflection; gain and benefit through parents; favors from opposite sex; changes of residence.

Ill-dignified

Reverses and losses through parents or the opposite sex; unfortunate changes of residence; fluctuations of mood; unwise decisions.