Nine of Cups -- I Make Prayers My Cup Is Full

The great synchronicity in this card the Nine of Cups, The Wish Card that I've drawn today is truly a beautiful thing. Representing fruition, comfort and satisfaction are just a few adjectives I'd use to describe my feelings. Mostly though, I am so very grateful.

 I went back in my journal to see how long it's been since I haven't had water running from my gravity fed Spring into my taps. It's been since October 21st, ten days.

This morning I plugged in my water pump not expecting any water. I have an open hole in my basement  and  when it rains the water table comes up and I'm able to gather up some water for washing, but only if it's rained. It had been raining over the past week and so as I was getting what water I could. I took quick notice that the sound of my pump was different. I immediately went over to look at the gauge and there I could see the needle gauge that had moved, increasing exponentially! Oh my goodness I was overjoyed and could hardly believe it! I flung my hands  and arms up in the air in praise and thanks!

Prior to this grand event I was beginning to let thoughts of worry creep in, wondering how much longer this drought was going to last, as Winter and freeze up is not far away. I was feeling like I was at the end of my rope and at a complete loss in knowing how this was going to be resolved and conclude.

I haven't seen this kind of drought in the 22 years I've lived here, except twice. The second situation was due to 50 below weather that caused an old underground pipe to freeze and bust. Thankfully I won't have that problem again, having the pipes replaced deep in the ground and won't freeze.

It's common for human beings to take what we have for granted. It's only when we're suddenly without or it's gone, that our attitudes change.

Psyche and Eros have come to the same realization, in that they'd almost lost their deep love for one another. Having now established a firm spiritual foundation, they've made the commitment to build upon their relationship, based on this spiritual foundation. Without this awareness that all life is sacred we will not survive.

Water is sacred. Water represents life itself and without it we will not survive.


Make prayers for the life of the rivers
Make prayers for the creeks and the streams
make prayers to the Holy Myst’ry
Make prayers for Earth Mother’s dreams.

Fall down on your knees by the water
Fall down on the muck, sand or slate
Fall down in humility, hope and love
And pray that it’s not too late.

            - Water Walker, Grandmother Josephine Mandamin

The Red Road - Coloured Pencil, Catherine Meyers

Five of Cups - Are You Alone?

There she goes, running desperately behind Eros, after having shone the light of the lamp upon on him while he lay sleeping. Eros awoke and fled once his identity was revealed. It had been forbidden to do this, as there was an unspoken agreement to simply remain in love with an image of love.

Psyche has now lost her love, is left alone after this betrayal, causing her great regret and remorse. However all is not lost and there still is something that remains. This can be creatively worked on, being a challenge and commitment to the future.

Many of us like Psyche desperately pursue what it is we think we want and the more we pursue the more elusive it becomes and the farther away it escapes our grasp. We are left alone, and left to our own devices.

Yesterday I drew the card Nine of Pentacles, examining the call of the soul, or returning to ourselves, and resting in a intended solitude. The Five of Cups goes deeper into what it really means to be alone, how our emotion and intuition comes into play.

Originally the meaning of alone, consisted of two words, all one, which meant to be wholly one,  related to intentional solitude. In ancient days solitude or the all one state once was palliative, preventative, and a way of listening to the inner self, and used as an oracle, a way to call up the soul, take a personal inventory and assessment our lives. It is the way we draw our soul strength.

 In other words having a sense of unity and wholeness within ourselves, that truly understands, we are never truly alone. We have an innate need as human beings to feel a communion with the goodness of the universe. We live in the world, but are not of this world, and are simply pilgrims passing through.

 We need to wear the world as a loose garment. Our sense of self, emotional stability, and happiness is not dependent on something, someone, or some place outside of ourselves. If we deem people, places and things to dictate or control our happiness we will find ourselves unhappy..

Psyche represents the soul. It is what the word means, soul. The soul implicitly points to how vital it is to understand how we are souls clothed in physical bodies. We are human beings of course, but first and foremost we a spiritual beings deeply connected to a power greater than ourselves. 

Two of Cups - Better Take Off Those Rose Coloured Glasses

Eros and Psyche are seen here meeting one another for the first time in the Two of Cups. Psyche is bound and abandoned, left to a certain death in the jaws of a sea monster. She's isolated on that rock in the middle of the ocean and completely unaware of Eros approaching behind her. He is there to kill Psyche, but has inadvertently pricked his finger on one of his arrows, and now has fallen in love with Psyche. So she is assured of both rescue and love. These two are possibly soul mates.

The beginning of a relationship is what's indicated here, or the reconciliation of an already existing relationship, that has undergone difficulty or separation. Blind love could also be the warning here. It is easy to see things through rose coloured glasses in the beginnings of romance.

Sometimes, more often than not in my the daily draw, and/or with individual readings for others, things will be revealed that perhaps we'd rather not address or even hear. We might not want to face what the cards are urging or telling us, because we have to make a decision, take a certain course of action that we'd rather avoid.

Ultimately we are the only ones that can decide what we do with the information that is presented in the cards. I think it might be time for me to do another full reading for myself, because the Two of Cups has thrown me for a bit of a loop emotionally!

Some Tarot readers find it difficult to do their own personal readings, but I usually don't. I find them helpful, and I manage to mostly remain objective. Objectivity is essential when doing your own reading. What is in my mind and thoughts aren't always reality. I like to stick with the facts, based on the studied meanings, my intuition, and correlate each card in relation to one another in the spread, in order to get a complete and comprehensive reading, tying them altogether.

Wishes Versus Prayers - The Wish Card - Nine of Cups

It's coming on Christmas and for many, it is a time for wishes. The Nine of Cups, is called the 'Wish Card'. Many of my cherished wishes or what I call prayers, have come to fruition, and I am beyond grateful. These prayers are answered in one way or another, sooner or later, regardless if I like the outcome.

Most of these 'wishes' are manifested through my own efforts made, and is a validation of my commitment to doing the leg work, to make it happen. I think wishes are thoughts or intentions, prayers are thoughts of a kind, but more of a longing and listening, with the expectation that God will help me. Often I think I spend time wishing because I worry, which is the opposite of prayer, and speaks to my lack of trust.

I can't make deals with the God of my understanding. I do think I can ask in belief, and with faith that my longings will be realized. Most times the more clarity I have in my requests, the better. I don't think communication with the Creator is any different than when we communicate with others, especially with those we love. Humans for the most part, are not mind readers, I don't presume that God is either, though it is said that our prayers are known before we ask. Then why ask? I see it as a big part of doing the leg work in making the effort. I think this is a realistic expectation. Intention needs to be backed up with tangible application. We need walk the talk.

“There's no point having wishes if you don't at least try to do them”
― Sally Nicholls, Ways to Live Forever

" The only difference between a wish and a prayer is that you're at the mercy of the universe for the first, and you've got some help with the second."

 Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.  -Mother Teresa

 

Two of Cups - Relationship With Your Self

The Two of Cups is about relationship and love.
 I was visiting a friend tonight and when I got back home I drew this card. My friend and I had been having a real heart to heart talk about relationships and being single. We discussed what it is like to be in a bad relationship, that we had stayed in, because we didn't want to be alone. We agreed when you reach the point when you are so miserable with little to no happiness, contentment or peace of mind, it is time to get out.

This scenario makes me think of that jumping off point, many an alcoholic experiences, and that we talk about.You can't live without the booze, and you can't live with it. It's a very desperate state of mind.

It isn't always easy to be alone, but it is far harder to be alone, and lonely in a relationship, that is unhappy, and unhealthy. What I have learned, the hard way, over the years is, there are far worse things than being alone and single. The other important thing I learned, is that I had to have a good relationship with myself, to be happy with who I am, to be comfortable in my own skin, and love myself enough to know, I am the only person responsible for my own happiness; that I deserve to be happy, whether I am in a relationship or on my own, as a single person.

Another person can hopefully add to our happiness, but they can not make us happy.
Here in the Minor Arcana card, the Two of Cups, Eros and Psyche have become whole people within themselves, and they bring this to their relationship. They are complete, and happy individuals, prior to being united as a couple. They don't complete each other, and have their eyes wide open.

Ace of Cups - Athene's Owl

Well I don't think there is a card that seems more positive in meaning, upon first impression, as the Ace of Cups. Don't get me wrong there are many positives about this card, but don't be deceived, Athene can have her character defects, and a dark side.

The beautiful goddess is full of complexities, is the essence of feminine beauty, she can also be, just as treacherous, vindictive, jealous, vain, and lazy. She is truly a force of nature, and raw energy.
Athene is the initiating power behind the love story between Eros and Psyche. 


In this card the realm of the heart is apparent, and greatly indicated. This cup is overflowing, causing one to take the plunge into the beginnings of a relationship. The individual is ready to embark on the journey of love, which can be very overwhelming, and in all likelihood, very risky.

Athene rises from the turbulent waves of sea foam, holding the extremely big cup, indicating an upheaval of emotion, in one hand, toward the heavens. The other hand, she holds close to her chest in hesitation, and perhaps resistant caution.


All that said, allowing emotion to rule over our decisions and actions, can be dangerous, leading to hurt, and heart break. Even if the object of your affection is making efforts to initiate interest, this does not mean it's a sure thing. Taking and making, time for relationship over a period of time is prudent, and wise, otherwise love is blind and fool hearty.

 It is best to be like the little wise owl that represents or accompanies Athene on her shoulder, as a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, and discernment.