Card 36 • cups

Ace of Cups

Brief Description

The Ace of Cups represents the seed of emotional growth, beginnings, and the potential contained within every emotion. It signifies emotional fulfillment, the joy of living, and the transformative power of love. The card urges openness of heart, acknowledging the shadow side of emotions, and embracing all feelings with wisdom. It embodies the starting point of emotional energy and creativity.

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The Stream

The Tarot suits tell a story that unfolds from the Ace to the Ten, with each suit's Ace representing the seed from which it grows. The infinite possibilities within the suit are hidden in the Ace, much like everything you were, are, and will be is contained within you. Perceiving the Ace as a seed, akin to those of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, aids in interpreting this card when it appears in your spread. It marks a true beginning.

Origin and Symbolism

The Ace of Cups is the source of the Cups' world. A mysterious hand emerges from the clouds, which are present in every Ace, symbolizing the threshold, the portal to a new reality where the unseen becomes visible. Aces symbolize the gates of incarnation; initially there is nothing, followed by the emergence of something. They reflect the beginning, the start - the birth of the suit. The magical hand holding the cup represents human ingenuity and potential, embodying mastery, creativity, and expressiveness. Hands can convey a wide range of meanings, from care and nourishment to anger and violence, reminding us of our ability to manipulate and communicate through gestures.

Emotional Outpour

The Ace of Cups embodies emotional outpouring. Five streams of water flow from the magical chalice, forming a true fountain. A raven descends onto the cup, a shape-shifter symbolizing the Shadow. It places an offering into the cup, a communion from the invisible realm into physical reality. Dark lotuses blooming in still waters symbolize transformation, their roots hidden in the depths while the blossoms unfold in the sunlight.

MEANING

Emotional openness. Truth. Healthy emotional state. Rise and fall without attachment. Open heart receiving gifts. Pleasure from emotional freedom. Empathy. Love. Outflow of emotions.

SHADOW

Inability to express emotions. Closedness. Self-suppression. Lack of empathy. Chemical imbalance. Depression. Being captive of one's emotions. Excessive guilt and sadness. Despair. Persistent melancholy. Take any emotion you are experiencing, bring it into the light and examine it with the eye of reason. Learn from it.

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✍️ Deck author(s): Sasha Graham, Abigail Larson (Art)

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All card images and descriptions are taken from public sources. They are used for review purposes only. All rights to these images and descriptions belong to their creators. If you believe there is a copyright infringement, please contact us at [email protected].