Twos-Duality

Two of Cups - Duality

Twos are always a representation of duality and opposing forces. I ask myself why did I draw this card? It's not really difficult for me to figure out that this duality is present in my life right now.

 I'm feeling somewhat torn bewteen wanting to hang on to my old life and trying to adapt to the extreme changes that have transpired since my cancer diagnosis in September 13th, 2018.

Cups are connected to the emotion, surrounding relationship with others or with ourselves. This is the beginging of the relationship between Eros (Love) and Psyche (Soul). And for me this is the beginning of a whole new way of living.

Eros is seen here in the Two of Cups approaching Psyche, and about to deliver her fate, her imminent death, ordered by Aphrodite, for Eros to follow through on. However he inadvertently pricks himself with the intended arrow, meant for Psyche, and unexpectedly falls head over heels in love with Psyche, which changes everything for both of them, and things will never be the same, as they can not go back to the way things were.

Many situations in life we often expect to unfold one way, when suddenly in a complete twist of fate, and circumstance, everything seems to conspire against us and throws us in a completely different direction.

We have a choice in deciding how to cope with this new situation in the way of either a reaction or response. Initially we react with some kind of emotion as it's only normal. It's a shock to the system and we need time to adjust. Hopefully once we manage to get a grip on ourselves we can use decernment in how we decide what to do in response. Personally I think it's better just to pause, try to find our center and take in just what has happened if we can.

Always something is lost, but their is also something to be gained in every situation in our lives. But not all is lost and no doubt much is to be gained, in ways that are totally unexpected and are completly unknown, as we are unaware of never have been in a situation such as this.

Psyche is totally in the dark and has absolutely no idea what Eros has been ordered to do, and what is going to take place in the immediate future. Psyche right now unknowingly loves Eros, but has given up in thinking that love or life for her, will ever come to fruition. as what she believes awaits her is a monster about to take her life, with no way out. It appears to be a hopeless scenario.  But nothing or no one is ever hopeless. There is always hope, even for those who appear hopeless.

And so when suddenly the circumstance for Eros and Psyche has changed as a result of that one arrow, resulting in Eros fallng in love with Psyche, now all bets are off, and everything has changed in an instant and not everything is as it appears on the surface. We need to look below the surface and with this comes acceptance and appreciation for how things have changed and we must accept our new  reality so we can find serenity.

Two of Cups - Overcoming Fear

 Duality, balance, and attraction are the implied indications in the Two of Cups.

I find it curious to note, Eros is sneaking up on Psyche. He seemingly is attempting to take her by surprise but after Eros accidentally pricks himself with the arrow he intended to kill Psyche with, the unexpected result is, Eros falls in love with Psyche and their tumultuous relationship begins.

 As in life we're often surprised and fear the way events unfold. Something we initially might think as being a negative or a positive experience can often lead to a positive or negative outcome, because we've found another door that's opened to us when one has closed, one that we'd never imagined.

It doesn't mean that this all will unfold in an easy manner, and it might be the case that the very opposite will be our reality. We may feel we've gone from the frying pan to the fire and have been completely kicked to the curb, but regardless, the end result will eventually be transformed into something better than what was before or maybe not. We do however have to find a way through.

 On the other hand the unfairness of life, as in nature, many times, makes absolutely no sense, leaving us fearful, confused, dumbfounded and despairing. We are left with the unanswered question, why is this happening?

 I've concluded if I have little to no ability or strength to accept life and death on the their terms,no mine, whatever is presented to me, this is when and what becomes problematic. Acceptance, not denial is always the key that opens a door of hope and freedom enabling me to overcome my fear.

Seven of Cups - What's In Your Bank Account?

Psyche is praying to Aphrodite for mercy and for a miracle. She's appealing to the goddess of love to heal her relationship with Eros, to relieve and heal her from her overwhelming emotional burdens.

Often human beings when we find ourselves in desperate circumstances, we end up turning to the God/Goddess of our understanding to zealously plead our case. We can perhaps also expect to be physically healed from illness or relieved from another malady or circumstance.

Miracles come in all kinds of forms. I try to expect them, but much of the time my change in attitude can be just the kind of miracle I really need, though it might not necessarily be what I want, regardless of how unrealistic I am being. I need to understand, and accept what I can or can't change, and figure out the difference between the two.

 Acceptance for me is the key to everything in my life, no matter how difficult the circumstance. That's certainly not to say this is an easy task, not at all, because the things that happen are often very painful, and cause me to be fearful, caused by my lack of faith and trust. At this point I have replaced these with worry, anxiety and unrealistic expectations. It takes a lot of ongoing practice and work, one day at a time, sometimes one minute or second at time to gain faith and spiritual strength.

Realistically, my faith and spiritual strength is contingent on my maintenance of my daily conscious contact with the God of my understanding. I compare it to being rather like a bank account that I make regular deposits to, so I have a resource or emergency fund to rely on when the hard times come.

Six of Cups - Experience, Strength and Hope

Most of us have heard our parents, grandparents or others nostalgically share stories about the past, and what it was like back in the day. We can learn a lot from these stories. Now I find myself at the an age where I reminisce, am nostalgic about the past, and I like to share my own stories. This is human nature of course to go back in time, in our mind.

Having and making memories is a beautiful thing, especially when these are shared with others. They bond us, and are the glue that can cement our relationships, reflecting our identity back to us. Of course there are always positive memories, along with the negative. Regardless of what kind of memories, if I can accept and embrace them, I can process them and turn my memories into a learning experience, becoming a stronger individual. I can then help another by sharing my own experience, strength and hope.

It isn't good for our psyche regretting or stuck in a time warp with you 80s hair, or wishing our lives away for the old days. We can't be fixating and starring  at the past, however we can't close the door on it either, pretending it never happened.

Here in the Six of Cups Psyche finds herself emotionally abandoned, mysteriously by her husband Eros. Despite her loss, she has learned something about herself, and has come to terms with what has taken place. She no longer has regrets or remorse about her unrealistic expectations, unreal dreams, and  her great disappointments concerning her lost love Eros.

Psyche has come to this place of serenity within herself. Now she can move forward, building upon future goals. Her past has been tempered, and strengthened, into an emerging promise, that is achievable. The past leads to a future dream that is still possible.

Three of Cups - Early Joy

The three water nymphs, or ondines rise from the waters, and are each holding up a golden cup toasting in celebration of the marriage between Eros and Psyche.
Psyche holds white lilies, symbolic of innocence, hope, transitioning, becoming, chastity, purity, among other meanings.

I love this short explanation of the Three of Cups as being ' early joy.' I think we are all familiar the flush, the rush and romance of a new love, or the excitement and perhaps trepidation of a new job. I compare it to starting a new art project, finding a blank canvas in front of you. It all looks so perfect, and a little daunting too, because you don't know what the out come is going to be, but are hopeful and excited with anticipation.

We can approach our new circumstance with hope and optimism or with fear and reluctance. But without risk, and hope we may never know what the gain will be. It is wise to approach new experiences with our eyes open, and not fall into a a blind naivety, as we can set ourselves up for disappointment or failure, with unrealistic expectations.

 Early joy is a wonderful feeling, like when we start a new exercise, a hobby, or when we begin a quest. This heady feeling, when the endorphins kick in, can be addictive. What really needs to be remembered, realized, and understood, is that this feeling of enchantment will not always last.

 There needs to be serious consideration for the effort, time and work, necessary to create, transform and actualize this new found passion into becoming something constant, and sustainable and real in the future.

Joy is the best make up - Anne Lamott

Seven of Cups - Reality and Fantasy

The Seven of Cups speaks of an emotional situation with the potential of a positive outcome. This is a card of fantasy and reality.

Here Psyche is confronted by Aphrodite, who points to the seven golden cups in the air, which symbolize 'castles in the air'. Psyche fantasizes about the future, which cannot be realized without the acceptance of the reality of hard work and sacrifice.


I think there was a show on television once, called "Reality Bites." It does much of the time. Sometimes we are faced with situations were we become painfully aware that we can't go on in denial or fantasy. It is a difficult decision we are sometimes faced with in our day to day lives, and this can result in a very heavy heart, because it may appear we are damned if we do, and damned if we don't.We can feel like we are between a rock and a hard place, because of the limitations that reality offers, in spite of our hope for a better future circumstance.

It is essential that we carefully consider our decisions, however we must make decisions. Whatever the outcome, we will have to accept, but it is necessary that we decide in order to move forward.
We will always face difficult choices in our lives, and like Psyche we must learn to have patience, faith and perseverance in order to have the strength to make our choices based on reality, not fantasy. 

Seven of Cups - Discernment

 

 Psyche petitions Aphrodite with prayer, for help in matters of love. Aphrodite concedes, and guarantees   being there to help her, but not without making certain demands, and confronts Psyche, who will have to work hard in order to reunite with Eros.

Though Psyche has been given the green light, her fantasy and dreams will not enable this reality. Only with time, dedication to the tasks at hand, and being able to actualize what she desires, is the only way her goals will be realized, and this requires the risk of being humiliated and hurt.

Love always carries risk, and the possibility of getting our hearts broken. We choose what we want to do, and we cannot foresee the future, and there are no guarantees when it comes to love or life.
 In order to make careful decisions, discernment and having a willingness to commit to the work needed to be done, is what will enable us to move forward.

 I don't think love should have to be so difficult. But then again life is difficult, it can be humiliating, and full of suffering, but if we utilize what ever tools we have at our disposal, we are more prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead. There will always be challenges, and obstacles to overcome, that never changes.

 Love can be scary, and we have to discern whether it is worth the effort or risk, depending on what or whom we think we love and we must be ready for love with much forethought, having an open and balanced heart. We need to make the connections with what we value and hold dear.

I've heard it said that the longest path is the one between the head and heart. Patience, faith, and perseverance will be our light to illuminate our way.