So today I posed a question to my tarot deck and drew a card.
The question I asked was “What patterns or beliefs do I need to release?”. I drew the Five of Cups, which I looked up in “Decoding the Cards” by Writual Press, so I have the basic meaning of the card:
Keywords: Disappointment - regret - sadness - pessimism
It signifies that something has not gone according to plan and that I am disappointed or let down by how things have turned out, and that I may even regret the decision I made to get me where I am. Weighed down by emotional baggage from the past, I may be unable to move on. The card suggests it is time to reflect on the lessons I have learned - and that having gone through that experience I am stronger. Through understanding all of this, I will be able to forgive, move on and come back into balance to manifest a better outcome next time."
The problem is, I don’t have a clue what this is referring to. I cannot think of anything that hasn’t gone to plan that I am disappointed about. And also I don’t know how the card would answer the question I posed - what patterns or beliefs do I need to release?
Can someone give me an idea of what it is telling me and how it applies to the question I asked of the tarot?
I think that’s what I have having most trouble with when working with tarot – applying the cards to whatever question I asked.
Just my novice tarot reader opinion here but the card did answer what patterns or habits you need to let go. Since you don’t have a clear idea what specifically then I would suggest pulling a clarifier card or two - could either be tarot or oracle and ask what specifically do I need to get of / move on from / forgive. That might be able to help fill in details a bit for you.
Artemisia has some solid advice - I second the suggestion of drawing a second clarifier card. That’s a good way to dig deeper and get more information from your cards
If I can slide an idea on the table, our cards don’t always point to a specific event in time - sometimes they point to less tangible things, such as energy or habits.
You asked “what patterns or beliefs do I need to release?” and your deck presented a card about perspective. The Five of Cups (at least in the Rider Waite version, your deck may have more specific means to explore, too) shows a picture of a person focusing on the three cups that have spilled. However, there are two cups still upright behind them. It’s a card that gently reminds the recipient to not focus only on their troubles - because when we do, we don’t see the blessings that remain.
In tandem with your question, I would read this that your deck is telling you to stop the habit of focusing on problems. Sometimes things go wrong or we get stressed, and that’s okay - but the universe is urging you to remember your blessings too. This might be a good time to incorporate gratitude meditations or give offerings to your deities, if that isn’t currently part of your practice.
Just some additional ideas on the table. Good luck and blessed be!
@BryWisteria thank you so much for that different perspective. Yes, I’m still at the point where I take the cards literally, and don’t see other possible meanings. Thanks for pointing that out. I like your interpretation. Thank you.
I’m going to pop in and second what Bry has said Rather than taking the card literally at face value, it’s often easier to see the meaning through a metaphorical or symbolic lens.
I’m new to Tarot, too. The answers you got from those more experienced than I were great.
I humbly add that asking a specific question from a single card draw sometimes gets perplexing results when the question is even a bit specific. My questions on a single draw reading are more general, such as “What do I need to think about for today”. I have used the various three card draws when I wanted to ponder a more specific idea.
Also, I have found that card meanings vary a bit from source to source. The particular card you drew was one I got this week. My initial thinking of it was the same as your first definition and when I looked it up, two references were the same as yours and another saw the two full cups and bridge in the background (Rider Waite) as shaking off current issues and using the opportunity to attack problems by a different path. (even though there were current problems like spilled cups, and a river isolating the man on the island).
I made a note in my Tarot diary that I should always consider opportunity (basic, financial, business, relationship) to be sure I’m not missing something.
I’m happy if it was helpful for you, Jayne! We’re all on the long (endless?) journey of learning tarot - it’s nice that we can help one another out with outside opinions. We’re all living and learning together
Rather than taking the card literally at face value, it’s often easier to see the meaning through a metaphorical or symbolic lens.
