Four of Cups, Four of Hearts, Four of Chalices
Tarot Minor Arcana
Notes by Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.
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Four of Cups:
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Crowley Deck
Four of Cups
A Note about the Tarot Card
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Meanings, Associations, Correspondences
Four of Cups
Abundance, good luck, passive success, good news
Reversals, Negatives, Shadow
Greed, excessive lust, addiction
Metaphors,
Similes, Clichés, Phrases
Four of Cups
Four days before or after some event involving a change, end, transformation,
appearance, etc.
Four weeks before or after ...
Four months before or after ...
Four years before or after ...
Four years old
Fourth decade of life
Crowley/Harris,
Book of Thoth Tarot, 1938-1943
Four of Cups
In the Thoth Tarot deck, the Two of Cups is titled "Luxury."
Description: Seven lotus flowers are shown on this card. Four of the lotus flowers shower water down into cups. The surface of the Three Cups are covered with small red berries - pomegranate fruits. The three Cups are filled bountifully to overflowing and the water seems to drop into circular pools at the bottom of the card. The three cups are arranged with the apex of the triangle facing upwards. The upper background is a light grey and the lower background is a darker grey - characteristic of Binah.
Astrological correspondences: Mercury in
Cancer
Qabalah and the Tree of Life:
The Septiroth of Binah (Understanding)
Major Arcana: Atu 3 - The Empress; Atu 18,
The Moon; Atu 6, The Lovers
Mythical correspondences: This is the card of Demeter or Ceres, Greco-Roman Mother Goddess of harvest, grains, food, agriculture, seasons, sacred laws, motherly love, and the sanctity of marriage. Her daughter Persephone, wife of Hades, who lives half the year in the Underworld. Persephone ate seeds from the pomegranate fruit given to her by Hades and was trapped to live in the Underworld during the darker winter months. Both Demeter and Persephone are central female deities in the Eleusinuan Mysteries. These Goddesses represent the fertile and fecund forces of Mother Earth, and coming out from Chthonic realms. In Neopaganism, the Triple Goddess is known as Maiden, Mother, and Crone; and is linked with phases of the moon. Mother Durga in Hinduism has depicted with Three Eyes (Triyambake): moon, sun, fire. In Greek mythology, there are Three Goddesses, collectively called Moirae, that govern the fate of individuals.
Sexual correspondences: Cups are associated with the Feminine Principle. Cups are holders of fluids: water, juices, wine, offerings. In Left-Hand Sex Magick the Cup might hold sexual fluids. Cups are linked with the vulva, vagina, womb, Yoni, interior realms. This card is often associated with fertility or motherhood, e.g., a mother with a son and daughter.
Triads: The triangle is a widely used symbol in occult practices. "Triangle Powers" are often viewed as evil or Satanic by Christian writers, even though many Christians believe in the Trinity of the Godhead - an anathema concept for Islamic theology. In the Celtic Druid traditions, Triads are wise sayings in three parts. In Taoism, energy (qi), vitality (jing), and spirit (shen) are three areas for self-cultiviation in Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan; and the Three Realms are earth, human beings, and heaven.
"These cards are referred to Binah; in each of them is expressed the
symbolism of Understanding. The idea has become fertilized; the triangle has
been formulated. In each case, the idea is of a certain stability which can
never be upset, but from which a child can issue. The Three of Cups is
called the Lord of Abundance. The idea of love has come to fruition; but this is
now sufficiently far down the Tree to introduce a very definite differentiation
between the suits, which was not previously possible."
- Aleister Crowley,
Book of
Thoth, 1944
"The three, attributed to the stability sephirah, is abundance, the
structuring of love, and the infinite variety of opportunities for love. If we
define “will” as “the tendency to act in accordance with the preferences of the
individual, as defined by his nature,” then in any given situation there is a
tendency to act in a particular way. Since that tendency must be a function of
love (“love,” as we have defined it above, representing the direction of the
will, or its target) then it follows that at each moment there is some object of
love to which he can move. This being the case, the individual always has the
opportunity to unite, and hence need not be concerned about separation from the
objects of his love."
- Erwin Hessle,
Three of Cups
"For Crowley and the Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD), the
Three of Cups represents the energy of Mercury (planet of the mind and
communication) in Cancer (a Water sign ruled by the Moon and known for being
imaginative, emotional, sensitive, loyal, and moody). Like Book T, Crowley
titles the card "Abundance." Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for
the Crowley Tarot) describe the energy of the card as: "emotional (Cancer)
exchange (Mercury), emotional (Cancer) intelligence (Mercury)." On the card, the
three cups are adorned with pomegranates, a reference to the myth of Persephone
and Demeter and an interesting link to The Empress card (Trump 3) in some decks
(not the Thoth). Osiris Snuffin points out color symbolism in the Thoth Three of
Cups associated with the Sun (yellow lotuses) and Aries (red cups)."
- Zanna Starr,
Three of Cups
"The Lord of Abundance is a warm and joyous card, which
indicates a rare and precious type of love - a love which, once experienced,
reminds us of the richness of shared emotion and commitment. It is also a
card which refers to the wellspring of fertility, whether spiritual or material.
Here we see the first seeds sown of a bright and bountiful harvest. Accordingly,
the card will sometimes come up to indicate high days of celebration - like
weddings or other intimate celebrations of love. The emotional quality
represented by this card is deep and unusual - indicating the love felt not only
by lovers, but also the love between close friends, or family. These
relationships are gifts, which need to be cared for with great respect and
gratitude. The Lord of Abundance offers one word of warning - this type of
love cannot be created, nor engineered. When it occurs in our lives we are lucky
and blessed. Some people spend a lifetime looking for such depth of emotion. And
sometimes, people try to pretend it exists where it does not. So when you raise
this card in a reading be aware that you are fortunate indeed!"
- Jan Shepard, Angel Path,
Three of Cups
"The card is referred to the influence of Mercury in
Cancer; this carries further the above thesis. Mercury is the Will or Word of
the All-Father; here its influence descends upon the most receptive of the
Signs. At the same time, the combination of these forms of energy brings
in the possibility of somewhat mysterious ideas. Binah, the Great Sea, is the
Moon in one aspect, but Saturn in another; and Mercury, besides being the Word
or Will of the All-One, is the guide of the souls of the Dead. This card
requires great subtlety of interpretation. This card refers to Binah in
the suit of Water. This is the card of Demeter or Persephone. The Cups are
pomegranates: they are filled bountifully to overflowing from a single lotus,
arising from the dark calm sea characteristic of Binah. There is here the
fulifilment of the Will of Love in abounding joy. It is the spiritual basis of
fertility. The pomegranate was the fruit which Persephone ate in the
realms of Pluto, thereby enabling him to hold her in the lower world, even after
the most powerful influence had been brought to bear. The lesson seems to be
that the good things of life, although enjoyed, should be distrusted."
- Aleister Crowley,
Book of Thoth, 1944
"The many yellow lotus flowers are pouring out streams of
light golden, emotional energy into the overflowing red pomegranate cups.
Pomegranates are rare fruits that were traditionally associated with riches and
royalty in certain countries. The whole feeling is one of bountiful
abundance. There is also a quality of lightness and playfulness in the red
and yellow colours, which shows the fun and celebration that naturally results
from abounding heart energy. The card represents the quality of emotional
energy that is light and ebullient, so full and abundant that it can't help but
share and communicate with others in a non-serious way. The yound of any
species are most often in this space. It's the feeling when we can't take
anything seriously; everything feels like a party, a game or a celebration.
In a negative sense it can represent the superficial frivolity or social
behavior that happens when the personality is use to hide the real."
- Mangala Billson,
Intuitive
Tarot, p. 214.
Three of Cups by
Raven Uses the Crowley deck
Thoth Deck by Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris:
Bibliography, Resources, Information, Notes
Encyclopedia Thelemica: Cups from the Crowley/Harris Tarot
Root of the Powers of Water (Cups) from Book of Thoth by Aleister
Crowley
Three of Cups.
By Erwin Hessle. Uses the Crowley deck
Liber 777 by
Aleister Crowley Online version.
PDF version
The Libri of Aleister Crowley.
Full text online.
The Meanings of
Triangles by Avia Venefica
Book of Thoth
(Crowley) - Wikipedia
Book of Thoth A
Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, Equinox Volume III, No. V,
1944. Online text.
Thelema Texts - Sacred Texts
Archive
Symbolism and Significance of the Number Three
Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot
Portable Darkness: An Aleister Crowley Reader
The
Tarot Handbook: Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols. By Angeles
Arrien, 1987, 1997. Discussion of the Crowley/Harris Thoth Tarot.
Tarot: Mirror of the Soul: Handbook for the Aleister Crowley Tarot
Intuitive
Tarot: A Tool for Consciousness
The Crowley Tarot. The Handbook to the Cards by Aleister Crowley and
Lady Frieda Harris. By Akron (C. F. Frey) and Hajo Banzhaf.
Translated from the German by Christine M. Grimm. Stamford, CT, U.S. Games
Systems, Inc., 1995. 222 pages. ISBN: 0880797150. I have found this
book to be an extremely useful reference tool when doing an analysis of a card.
This is my favorite book on the Thoth Tarot. Discussion and interpretation
of the Crowley-Harris-Thoth Tarot, Two of Cups, Love, p. 143.
Aleister Crowley Thoth Small Tarot Deck . 80 card deck includes three
extra Magnus cards. A 78 page booklet. U. S. Games Systems Inc.,
1988. The cards in this deck are 2 3/4" wide and 4 5/16" high. ISBN:
0880793082. VSCL.
The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, Being the
Equinox Volume III No. V
Notes
and Quotes
Four of Cups
"Water symbolizes
the emotions due to the bonding quality of water. Take the water, or liquid, out
of any substance and it falls to disintegration. It is therefore these bonds
which hold the universe together. We recognize these bonds, as symbolized
through water, as a kind of love which keeps people together. It is only the
bonds which people form that create attachment to people, places and things.
Throughout history water has been used as a symbolic form of binding in many
religious ceremonies, especially during the Piscean age and Christianity. If
you look at a traditional Marseille tarot deck Ace of Cups you will notice how
similar it is to a baptism font. The ceremony of pouring water over the babies
head, or submersion of the body into water, symbolizes the individual’s bond
into the church and its doctrine."
- Toni Allen
"The 3 of Cups is often considered to be a card of "reunions." But this is not always a romantic reunion, alas… it's reunion in the broadest sense, running back into (or meeting with, purposefully) someone or something that you have been away from for some time. It's generally considered to be a happy reunion, an upbeat card. In general, things should be going well. You can look forward to at least one pleasant reunion with someone or something that you have been apart from for some time. It also can mean celebration – your own or someone that you care about - such as the celebration around a new baby, wedding, or other happy occasion. This is a great time to consider what you are doing - and perhaps should be doing - to increase your health and vitality. Do you need more exercise? More rest? Think it through, and come up with a game plan. You can do better - if even only slightly - than what you are doing right now. It may be important now, particularly if you usually attend to your spiritual side in solitude, to reach out to others. This can lead to a spiritual awakening. Think about whether or not you have need of a "spiritual teacher" (in the flesh) and if you do, seek one out! This can be any sort of trusted counselor, not even necessarily someone who identifies as a "spiritual leader.""
"A fortunate end to a valued project or venture. A birth
possibly physical, but may mean the birth of a new project instead. Great
happiness as the result of a marriage or a birth. Something coming to fruition
that was conceived out of love. A card of abundant fertility, trust harmony,
maternity and the healing of ills. Possibly a celebration. Psychic revelation.
Key Words: Growth, celebrations, family gatherings, something conceived out of
love that is coming to fruition, romantic activity."
- Tarot Lovers
"Maidens in a garden-ground with cups uplifted, as if
pledging one another. Divinatory Meanings: The conclusion of any matter
in plenty, perfection and merriment; happy issue, victory, fulfilment, solace,
healing, Reversed: Expedition, dispatch, achievement, end. It signifies
also the side of excess in physical enjoyment, and the pleasures of the senses."
- A.E. Waite, Pictorial Key to the Tarot,
Three of Cups
"Cups correspond to the element
of Water and describe the fluid, feeling level of our existence. The
Cup symbolizes the primordial womb which holds and nurtures the essence of hope,
desire, and inspiration. This suit relates to our ability to flow with and
adapt to the undercurrents of life and be attuned to unconscious processes.
Cups may also refer to the emotional milieu of a relationship or strongly held
ideas."
- Kate Warwick-Smith,
The Tarot Court Cards, p. 38
Bibliography, Links, References
Four of Cups
Alternative Names of Suit: Cups, Chalices, Hearts, Vessels, Bowls, Cauldron
All early Tarot decks call this suit "Chalices", and nearly all modern Tarot decks call this suit "Cups."
The Thoth Tarot titles the Four of Cups as "Luxury."
The Voyager Tarot titles the Four of Cups as "Anger."
In a deck of regular playing cards this suit is called "Hearts"
Fours, Minor Arcana, Tarot - Google
Three of Cups Images from Google
The Pictorial Key to
the Tarot. By Arthur Edward Waite. 1911. Online Text.
Symbolism and Significance of the Number Three
The Voyager Tarot: Way of the Great Oracle Book. By James Wanless,
1989.
Book and
Deck. Discussion and interpretation of the Two of Cups, Equilibrium,
pp. 177-179.
The Celtic
Cauldron A fascinating analysis.
Three of Cups
from the Biddy Tarot
A Description of of the
Cards of the (Golden Dawn) Tarot, by Aleister Crowley
Three of Cups by Psychic Revelation
Two of Cups from
Tarotkaartenleggen
Liber LXXVII, A
Description of of the Cards of the Tarot, by Aleister Crowley.
Water (Classic
Element) - Wikipedia
Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot. By Rachel Pollack.
Revised with a New Preface. San Francisco, California, Weiser Books, 1980,
2007. Index, bibliogrpahy, 354 pages. ISBN: 1578634083. This
book uses the Waite-Smith-Rider 1909 Deck for analysis and interpretation.
Discussion and interpretation of the Waite-Smith-Rider Tarot, Two of Cups, pp.
205-206.
The Twenty-Two Keys of Wisdom: A Study on the Major Arcana of Aleister Crowley's Tarot
Well of Uror,
Urdarbrunnr, Well of Fate, Spring at the Roots of Yggdrasil Tree (Tree of
Life)
The
Thoth Companion: The Key to the True Symbolic Meaning of the Thoth Tarot.
By Michael Osiris Snuffin. Llewellyn Publications, 2007. 240 pages.
ISBN: 0738711926. VSCL.
Keywords for the Crowley Tarot. by Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler,
2001.
The
Tarot Handbook: Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols. By Angeles
Arrien, 1987, 1997. Discussion of the Crowley/Harris Thoth Tarot.
The
Complete Book of Tarot Reversals. By Mary K. Greer, 2002.
Tarot
Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings. By Rachel Pollack,
2008.
Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot. By Lon Milo Duquette,
2003.
Learning Ritual Magic. By John Michael Greer, Earl King, Jr., and
Clare Vaughn, 2004.
Dictionary of the Tarot
.
By Jana Riley. York, Maine, Samuel Weiser, Red Wheel, 1995. 320
pages.
Jung and Tarot: An Archetypal Journey. By Sallie Nichols.
Introduction by Laurens van der Post. York Beach, Maine, Samuel weiser,
Inc., 1980. References, 392 pages. ISBN: 0877285152. VSCL.
Portable Magic: Tarot is the Only Tool You Need. By Donald Tyson.
Woodbury, Minnesota, Llewellyn Publications, 2006. Index, bibliography,
230 pages. ISBN: 0738709808. VSCL.
Hamaker-Zontaq.
Red Wheel, Weiser, 2007. 268 pages. ISBN: 9780877288787. VSCL.
Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners
Learning Tarot Reversals
The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals
Understanding the Tarot Court. By Mary K. Greer and Tom Little.
Special topics in Tarot Series. Woodbury, Minnesota, Llewellyn
Publications, 2004. 288 pages. ISBN: 0738702862.
The Tarot Court Cards: Archetypal Patterns of Relationship in the Minor Arcana
The Tarot: Methods, Mastery and More. By Cynthia E. Giles.
New York, Fireside Book, Simon and Schuster, 1996. Index, 240 pages.
ISBN: 0684818833.
Self-Initiation Into the Golden Dawn Tradition:
A Complete Curriculum of Study for Both the Solitary Magician and the Working
Magical Group. By Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero.
Llewellyns's Golden Dawn Series. Woodbury, Minnesota, Llewellyn
Publications, 2002. 1st Edition. 792 pages. ISBN: 1567181368. Golden
Dawn Magical Tarot Deck
Learning Tarot Spreads
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