Element: Water
Imagery: A seated figure displays nine cups arranged behind them.
General Themes: Satisfaction, emotional fulfillment, gratitude.
Nine of Cups Upright
Unlike the Seven of Cups, which represents illusion and glamour, the Nine of Cups is about wishes coming true—if you put in the work. Here, a figure is seated and surrounded by nine upright cups. He is overflowing with abundance!
What’s more, the figure feels a deep gratitude for all of the proverbial wealth he’s accumulated. He doesn’t take anything for granted and likewise doesn’t hold back when it comes to celebrating his hard-earned prosperity.
Express gratitude for what you have. You’ve earned it.
Nine of Cups Reversed
Reversed, this card reminds us that happiness comes from within. All the wealth in the world won’t satisfy us if we’re drawing from an empty inner well. This is often considered the wish card, so ask yourself…are you wishing for the right thing? Will it ultimately bring you happiness?
When the Nine of Cups reversed appears, it invites you to redefine what success means to you. Sometimes, we get lost chasing external validation or accomplishments at the expense of our personal or internal lives. Remember, you can have abundance in all things, including your relational life.
The reversal can also caution against empty hedonism. Moderation in all things begets more abundance. Enjoy yourself, yes, but don’t get lost in self-medicating or the frivolous accumulation of goods. True abundance is in knowing when you have enough.
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!