Ace of Cups: The Wish You Well (c) Cheryl Lynne Bradley 2006-7


Morgan Greer Tarot:  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.
Diviniatory Meanings: House of the true heart, content, abode, nourishment, abundance, fertility; Holy Table, felicity thereof. Reversed: House of the False Heart, mutation, instability, revolution."
Ace of Cups - Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A.E. Waite

Lindmara Tarot: Ace of Cups (c) Linda Gravill

One of my most favourite cards in Tarot has always been the Ace of Cups. It is a card that, to me, represented a well full to overflowing with the best of my good wishes for the ones I love - I call it the Wish You Well. It also represents my deep personal sensitivity, my love for my children and my sense of home and placeness. It is a card that acts as an emotional mirror. It will reflect back every positive or negative thought, emotion or feeling we are experiencing as well as our illusion of loneliness. It will also allow us to see deeply in the qualities of our soul whatever they may be. This cup reflects back our nobility, grace, beauty or compassion and helps us to look past our own faults and the faults of others. Still water runs deep.

The Ace of Cups can contain fire and snuff it when inverted. It can be filled with earth and water, both together and separately, and both will adopt the shape of the cup. Water always takes the path of least resistance. We all know the power of a sand pile and a bucket or cup for building sand castles or making mud pies. We probably all did this and know or have seen the great joy that children get from this kind of play. This is a most special cup indeed.

This cup contains the precious living water of our soul. This is the water of our memories, hopes and dreams. It contains a nurturing water that allows the good aspects of our soul to come to bloom and the best of our individuality and soul gifts to come to fruition. This is a cup full of every tear we have ever held back - the tears of our souls' longings. These are the same tears that well up when our heart has been made full during poignant, sentimental or nostalgic moments in our life. It washes the wounds of our heart and embodied soul clean. It is a cup that contains the baptismal waters for our emotions, deep soul searching and spiritual seeking.

The Ace of Cups can control and contain the passions that threaten to consume us in a raging fire by not letting them blaze out of control. It can also allow us to tap into our creativity for building solid foundations and growing beautiful gardens - or for making sandcastles and mudpies. It will nourish our bodies and our minds as well as grounding and connecting us to the earth. This cup, filled with healing water, floats us above our sorrows and helps us overcome our faults, anxieties and negative emotional patterns. It is this cup that captures all the pieces when our hearts get broken If we neglect to drink from this cup, our souls could wither and die like an untended garden or house plant.

When we draw this card in a reading we are being reminded to recognize our potential, and the potential in others, to overcome our faults and break free of the issues which may be holding us back emotionally. It can herald a new beginning in love and relationships, or in our attitude towards them, particularly in our relationship with ourself. It reminds us to honour our soul and our heart. It tells us to look past the negativity or despair in others and see the power of Ace of Cups within them. Do not be sad or deeply self-critical, be kind to yourself and, as this cup fills to overflowing, your mind and spirit will be filled to overflowing too. From the bottom of my Wish You Well, I wish you all be well and happy.

 




This page was created February 27, 2006 and updated 2007-5-15.