According to The Buddha there are ten types of kindness bestowed by the mother on the child. I think that this relates extremely well to the journey through the Minor cards of the suit of Cups in the Tarot. The Cups are often viewed as depicting emotions and feelings, and well they do, but they can also express lovingkindness and unconditional giving.

Ace of Cups: The kindness of protection and care while the child is in the womb.

Two of Cups: The kindness of bearing suffering during the birth.

Three of Cups: The kindness of forgetting all the pain once the child has been born.

Four of Cups: The kindness of eating the bitter herself and saving the sweet for the child.

Five of Cups: The kindness of moving the child to a dry place and lying in the wet herself.

Six of Cups: The kindness of suckling the child at her breast and nourishing and bringing up the child.

Seven of Cups: The kindness of washing away the unclean.

Eight of Cups: The kindness of always thinking of the child when it has travelled far.

Nine of Cups: The kindness of deep care and devotion.

Ten of Cups: The kindness of ultimate pity and sympathy.

We are all aware that there is a place in our hearts that only a mother can fill and Buddha has expressed it with profound simplicity and love.