Eight of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A cloaked figure walks away from stacked cups beneath a moon.

General Themes: Emotional departure, seeking deeper fulfillment, release.

Eight of Cups Upright

This is a heavier card because it demands a time of introspection. Where the Seven of Cups was about cutting through illusions in the outer world, especially in terms of the seemingly limitless options for your path, the Eight of Cups is about acknowledging what’s missing in your life.

In this card, a figure walks away from eight stacked cups. The second row of the cups shows a blank space. Clearly, something is missing. Here, it’s okay to mourn what you don’t have. The ache is a necessary part of growth. If you suppress it, you only feel the longing more deeply.

So it’s time to do a little soul-searching. This isn’t a card of dissatisfaction, like the Four of Cups. Rather, it’s about appreciating what you have, even as you long for more. You can feel whole where you are and still want that next part of your life to blossom. But you have to feel the longing deeply in order for that energy to move.

Explore new horizons, either literally in the life you create or metaphorically by sitting with the emotions you haven’t always let yourself feel. What do they tell you about your capacity for experiencing a full and vital life? Even these hard emotions are proof of our profound capacity for connection and expansiveness. The figure here moves on from the cups before him in search of what he’s missing. You should too.

Eight of Cups Reversed

This reversal hits hard. It’s time to give up lost causes and empty nourishment. Things that may have once nourished you no longer do, and that’s okay—to everything there is a season and all that. This card can also appear when you’ve been giving a lot of time and energy to a person or situation, only to realize that it will never be what you want it to be. The only solution is to stop giving it energy and see where the road takes you next.

This is an important time to explore what fulfillment means to you. It can mean various things to us at different times in our lives. We tend to fixate on external markers of fulfillment, like a job promotion or a new house, but internal ones are just as important. Think of waking up ready to greet the day or feeling connected to yourself and others throughout the day. Those are types of fulfillment too.

This isn’t a time for lots of social activity. Answers can be found in solitude, when you let yourself feel the hard stuff and then find a way forward. Remember, feelings are gifts: they tell us when we’re moving in the right direction and when we need to make adjustments to realign with a more vital path.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Seven of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A figure faces seven floating cups filled with alluring images.

General Themes: Illusion, choice, fantasy, discernment.

Seven of Cups Upright

This is a card of illusions. It seems like you have infinite choices and unlimited possibilities. They are all so dazzling! In reality, you can’t do everything in this world, and not everything is meant for you. Don’t get lost trying to have it all. Instead, commit to what is meant for you—your heart knows the truth of the matter and can help you look past any glamours that make certain options seem better than others.

Focus your energy on what you want to see blossom. Daydreaming is good and well, so long as you are working to make those fantasies a reality. How are they feeding you? Make sure they aren’t used to compensate for lack, but actively nourish the life you are building for yourself.

It’s one thing to dream big, but it’s equally important to stay grounded. Let go of the clutter and turn your attention to the things that matter most. There is something deeply liberating about letting go of everything so you can commit to what is really meant for you.

Seven of Cups Reversed

Focus on your long-term goals here. Don’t get distracted by short-term results or quick fixes. Likewise, avoid anything that sounds too good to be true. You can have what your heart desires, but you have to work toward it. That’s the only way you know it will last.

It helps if you keep a clear head and remind yourself why you do what you do. Why is it your passion or your calling? Remember this when doubt sets in and avoid any distractions that would take you from it.

There is something deeply magnetizing about using your time and energy on what you know is yours. Sometimes we feel a lot of options means more freedom, but this card suggests otherwise. Letting go of illusion deepens our relationship to self and opens us up to meaningful connection with others and our calling.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Six of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A child offers a cup of flowers to another in a quiet village.

General Themes: Nostalgia, innocence, kindness, emotional memory.

Six of Cups Upright

This is a gentle card, tinged with nostalgia. The nostalgia here, however, isn’t fanciful or idealized. Instead, it’s reminding you of who you were before adult life took over. What do you look back on fondly? Bring more of that energy into your life. How you feel about your past, both the good and the bad, can help you shape your present in healthy ways.

It’s time to let your inner child out to play! We get so wrapped up in the daily grind, it’s important to allow time for leisure. Goof around, have fun, lose track of time. Remember what it was like to see the world through fresh eyes.

Relearn the wonder of daily life. Don’t forget that magic is all around us, if only we pay attention.

Six of Cups Reversed

Much like its upright form, the card wants you to embrace your inner child. This reversal comes when you have been feeling heavy, stressed, or traumatized. It’s a gentle reminder that life can be joyful and full of wonder. Open up and be curious about the places in your life that you want to grow into. Tending these dormant parts of yourself is an adventure and an opportunity, not a task.

Now is the time to cultivate playfulness and wonder. Twirl in the grass. Blow bubbles. Talk with the moon and wear flowers in your hair. Do you remember what it was like to lose track of time simply by enjoying the beauty all around us?

You may need to take a walk down memory lane to reclaim this childlike exuberance. Enjoy your time there, but don’t get stuck in the past. Revisit what you need to so you can bring that innocent vitality into your present.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Five of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A cloaked figure mourns spilled cups while others remain standing behind.

General Themes: Grief, disappointment, emotional focus on loss.

Five of Cups Upright

This card is similar to the Four of Cups. It appears when you feel as if something is missing in your life. While the Four of Cups invites you to stop fixating on what you don’t have and appreciate what you do, the Five of Cups wants you to take a serious look at what you’ve lost and what is missing in your life. Allow the grief to wash over you and then let it go.

Mourn your losses, sure, but don’t wallow in self-pity. Take this as an opportunity to redirect your energy to the parts of yourself and your life that you haven’t fully nourished. Let the sadness you feel guide you — what is missing in your life, and how do you cultivate space for it to emerge naturally? What do you need to let go of so you can move forward?

As promised with all introspective cards, a shift in focus here will reveal new magic and possibilities if you are willing to learn from your past. The three cups scattered before you can be put upright again if you’re willing to do the work. And don’t forget the two upright cups behind you. Let their stability will help you set the others right.

Five of Cups Reversed

This card, when reversed, is much like the Five of Swords reversed, only it tends to deal more with emotional or inner conflict. Cut your losses and move on. There’s no resolving this issue, be it a search for relational closure or internal healing. You’ve been wounded, and it’s not something that will ever feel healed—and that’s okay. The important thing is not to pick at the wound.

Don’t look back. Right now, forward movement is the only vital path you can take. Time and distance, are the best healers. Keep moving forward, even if it’s hard, and, again, shift your focus to new conjurings. Closure comes from letting go and looking to the future.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Four of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A seated figure beneath a tree, focused on three cups while a fourth is offered by a divine hand.

General Themes: Emotional withdrawal, dissatisfaction, introspection, and gratitude.

Four of Cups Upright

Upright, this card asks—no, BEGS—you to re-enchant your life! It’s easy to get stuck and feel like your life is going nowhere fast. What’s needed is a change in perspective. Instead of fixating on what you don’t have, take a breath, look around you, and notice what you do have.

Look at the figure in the card. His arms are crossed and he’s looking away from three golden cups right in front of him. He doesn’t even notice the fourth cup, a divine offering, practically falling into his lap. He’s miserable!

And to think, if only he’d look up. Take a deep breath. Uncross his arms and look around. He’d see that the world is conspiring in his favor. If this isn’t an invitation to practice the art of joy and curiosity, I don’t know what is.

Consider where you put your time and energy. Also consider where your mind goes most often. Are these thoughts generative and life-affirming? Or do they restrict flow?

Take a moment. Look up. And be open to everyday magic and synchronic happenings. Seems like a better way of going about life than always looking for what you lack.

Four of Cups Reversed

Reversed, this card offers an opportunity to clear through stagnation and old perspectives. Step back and look at your life. Really look. Don’t just look for what’s missing. Notice what’s there, especially the things that enhance the quality of your life. Make a list if you need to. You’ll find you have rather a lot more than you realized.

New opportunities and energetic shifts will come from this pause.

At its most magical, this card is about shifting out of scarcity into an abundance mentality. Pure gratitude floods your heart and you’ve learned not to take your life and healthy relationships for granted. This shift is everything. Suddenly, you can enjoy the bounty of the three golden cups before you and trust that the fourth one will find you when you’re ready.

You’ll be surprised how magnetic gratitude can be. It’s revitalizing. It’s contagious. It’s an invitation for good things to come into your life.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Three of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: Three women raise cups in a circle, surrounded by harvest imagery.

General Themes: Celebration, shared joy, emotional integration.

Three of Cups Upright

This is a card of celebration and connection. Enjoy it!

Reconnect with yourself and those you love. Honor the relationships in your life and the magic that comes from joyful relationality.

This card is an invitation to party! Relax, have fun, and spend time with people who make your life better. Upright, this card can also ask you to embrace a celebratory spirit, even if you’re just going about your daily tasks. How can you invite more fun and connection into your life?

I always think of the Three Graces in Greek mythology when I see this card: Beauty, Charm, and Joy. Invoke their bounty when they appear. This is not a card for playing it safe or being demure. Be loud in your enthusiasm and the world will respond.

Three of Cups Reversed

Reversed, this card is still very much a relational card. Instead of seeking out company, however, this card asks you to find joy in solitude. This is the time to nourish your internal life and relish some much-needed alone time.

Self-care is your priority right now, as are creative endeavors, so don’t hesitate to carve out time for either. Healthy relationships come out of a relationship to the self, so don’t neglect the importance of tending to your needs. In fact, this card asks you to celebrate it!

This is also one of the cards that asks you to cultivate divine receptivity. It’s not about going out and doing all the things, but nourishing openness and creating a life that allows good things to enter. Let go and relax. Trust that the Three Graces will find you when you aren’t trying so hard to find them.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Two of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: Two figures exchanging cups beneath a caduceus and lion’s head. Behind them, a home is tucked into a lush landscape.

General themes: Mutual recognition, balanced relationship, emotional reciprocity.

Two of Cups Upright

This is one of the most auspicious cards when it comes to relationships, including romantic ones. The Two of Cups offers a promising foundation for any union. It is the embodiment of Eros Energy, in which love is all around you and within you. You can safely be vulnerable. 

In romance, this card speaks of mutual attraction and connection that has the potential to blossom into something more. Now is the time to cultivate loving partnerships and embrace new connections. This isn’t just about passion, but a bone-deep soul connection that can grow into a healthy, loving relationship in which both partners feel their freest and happiest. More than the Lovers card, the Two of Cups speaks of lasting romantic harmony with the right person.

In a non-romantic context, it can refer to an affectionate or healthy bond, such as a strong friendship or even a solid workplace camaraderie that fosters innovative and productive working relationships. Or, more deeply, it can refer to an opening to self and a blossoming healthy self-love. In any case, the Two of Cups reflects your openness to fruitful relational energies that make your life better.

Two of Cups Reversed

Reversed, this card is all about self-love. It is still a generous card, reminding you that love is all around you and within you—but you may need to focus a little more on that last part. Self-love, including self-care, is the foundation for all healthy relationships. It’s an old metaphysical truth that your outer landscape is a mirror of your inner landscape. If you cultivate a verdant inner garden and love even the wounded parts of yourself, the rest of the world will reflect that abundance and joy.

This card is an invitation to cultivate your communication skills. Pay attention to how you talk to yourself and others. How can you be gentler or more compassionate to yourself? Think about how your energy affects those around you. Awareness is key—understanding your relationship to yourself will help you understand your relationship to others. 

Be open to new perspectives. They will help you heal. Soften your gaze and allow yourself to be vulnerable.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Ace of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A floating hand holds a chalice that overflows with water. A dove springs from the overflowing cup. The water flows down into a lotus-filled pool.

General themes: Emotional openness, grace, relational flow.

Ace of Cups Upright

The cups are all about feelings and intuition. The Ace of Cups is a gentle celebration of new relationships or the revelation of new feelings. As an Ace, this card points to the potential for a new relationship or a breakthrough in your relational energy. It can even signal an inner opening to the self. Love is all around you when The Ace of Cups appears. As with all Cup cards, it is important to honor your feelings here.

You’re brimming with creativity! It should come as no surprise that emotions are deeply tied to our creative, generative selves. This card celebrates inspiration—it is everywhere, within and without. Keep nourishing it and see what magic comes from your openness.

Ace of Cups Reversed

The Ace of Cups Reversed is much like the Ace of Wands Reversed. It speaks of new possibilities emerging, this time in relational matters. You’re not quite ready to bring these feelings into the world yet. They need to be tended in the quiet of your own heart and nourished with your time and attention. Think of this as self-love and self-care time. You can’t bring love into your life if you don’t first love and tend to yourself. 

Conversely, the reversal of this card can indicate that you are emotionally blocked. What emotions are you suppressing? What difficult feelings are you avoiding? Nothing good comes from ignoring your fears or anxieties. Be gentle with yourself as you explore and remove blockages. 

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!