Card 36 • cups

Ace of Cups

Brief Description

The Ace of Cups, depicted with an otter and water-lily imagery, represents emotional beginnings, abundance, and social openness. It encourages finding happiness within and embracing new creative, relational, or social journeys. Upright, it signals readiness to connect, release emotional baggage, and let emotions guide fresh initiatives. Reversed, it points to prolonged emotional hardship, loss of joy, or repression and urges internal reflection and gradual reconnection.

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Animal

Otter

Fun Fact

Sea otters are known to carry stones with them at all times, both for recreation and for aiding in opening up the hard-shelled abalones, sea urchins, clams, mussels, and crabs. They actually form attachments to specific stones and can be seen keeping them in an armpit when not in use. Some even keep their favorite stone throughout their life.

Keywords

Beginnings, Socializing, Celebrations

Reversed Keywords

Emptiness, Infertility, Malice

Meaning

An otter floats on its back, clutching a cup to its chest as it drifts peacefully along. Water lilies, symbols of enlightenment, rise from the mud beneath to bloom brightly and are surrounded by rich green lily pads. The otter is content where it is and is in no hurry to its destination. The Ace of Cups reminds us to find such happiness within ourselves. Like a peacefully flowing river, there is an abundance of goodness and new possibilities that fill us with the potential that courses through us all.

Upright Meaning

When upright, the Ace of Cups suggests that the user is ready to open up and embark on a new journey, be it creative, work-oriented, or within new relationships. It’s time to create new connections with those we love or those we wish to know better. Creative endeavors will progress smoothly right now, and taking the first step to pursue them will bring you closer to your end goal. You are experiencing a period where you’re ready to let go of any emotional baggage that may be weighing you down. You’re ready to see life with a new perspective. Take advantage of this social spirit, and let your emotions guide you in a new direction.

Reversed Meaning

When reversed, the Ace of Cups signifies that the user has been dealing with some emotional hardship or repressed emotions for a long time. You could have lost joy in something you once loved, or a connection you’ve forged has broken down and turned sour. Look internally to figure out where this disconnect happened. If you’re struggling to express your emotions, try to take some time to reconnect. It’s fine to stay private, but take care that you don’t become repressed entirely in the process. It can be a scary thing to share your feelings with others. Trust in those around you. Live freely and feel freely, even if it takes some time to work up to it.

Trailing Colon

:

Visual Description

A brown otter floats on its back in dark, star-speckled water, clutching a golden chalice decorated with a pink lotus. Several pink lotus flowers and green lily pads drift around the otter, and sinuous teal currents weave through the background. Fine line work highlights the otter's fur and the chalice's floral motif. The title "ACE OF CUPS" appears at the bottom of the card.

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✍️ Deck author(s): Ambi Sun

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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].