Four of Cups
The Four of Cups warns against romanticizing poor choices and overlooking genuinely good alternatives. It highlights a tendency to covet what appears superficially better while neglecting what is plain but life-saving—the nightingale that can sing away death. Upright, it signals lack of awareness, pessimism, daydreaming, lethargy, and the need to reevaluate; reversed, it suggests renewed motivation, opportunity, optimism, restlessness, or boredom. The card urges shifting attention from fanciful longing to practical, life-affirming options.
Keywords
Card Name
Four of Cups
Character
The Nightingale
Origin
Denmark, Danish folk tale
Description
The Four of Cups represents romanticizing bad choices while ignoring the good alternatives before you. It is coveting what is superficially "better," neglecting a plain nightingale who can actually sing away death.
Upright
A lack of awareness, pessimism, daydreaming, lethargy, reevaluation.
Reverse
Motivation, opportunity, optimism, restlessness, boredom.
Visual Description
An ornate figure in elaborate robes and a golden beaded headdress sits or stands behind a wooden table, their face turned slightly downward in a contemplative expression. Four richly decorated cups occupy the table, each with bird and peacock motifs and one presented on a pedestal, while two other cup-shaped vessels flank it. Behind the figure a round red-lattice window frames a branch with peaches and a small perched bird resting on a shallow bowl, and heavy curtains form a dark backdrop.
Tarot of the Divine
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