FIVE OF CUPS
Five of Cups as interpreted by @softwitchclub & @cutiesexylonely.
After sitting in the uncertain and liminal in the Four of Cups, we move onto the Five of Cups to process whatever came up. This card seems to be perceived as a “negative” or dreaded one, as its themes are around grieving. Who wants to draw a card that confronts you with loss?
But the thing is, haven’t we all been grieving these past two years? For many of us, we’ve carried around grief constantly, long before the pandemic.
Inviting in our sadness can be a lot! Doing so can bring up shame, guilt, anger, frustration, and fear. Making space for our pain can look differently for everyone, and move through us differently depending on the seasons of our lives. When I draw this card for myself or someone else, I see the Five of Cups as this gentle check-in. What parts of my old self, relationships, job, life do I need to pour one out for? Have I given enough space to grieve lately? If I’ve given too much time to grieving lately, can I remind myself I have the reserves to heal again from the two full cups?
Credit: MTV
Oh this ground feels so heavier
I am singing by myself
I just wanna be happier
I really connect Blue & Grey with the Five of Cups because it’s a song that acknowledges melancholy and grief in a way that just lets it BE. Speaking on the motivations behind the song, Taehyung reflects, “Even the fun parts of work became a chore, and my whole life felt aimless. ‘Where do I go from here? I can’t even see the end of the tunnel.’” And when he begins the song with, “Where’s my angel?”—it really resonates. Of course we just want to be happy, of course we want to thrash against the current sometimes. It isn’t selfish to feel these things.
Yes, it’s so scary to be tender, because it leaves us wide open and vulnerable. But the Five of Cups reminds us that grieving is an opportunity to expand, to open up and increase our capacity for love. Because grief reminds us of what we value, what we hold deep gratitude for, and who we want to remember. Grief brings us home to ourselves, even during times when we worry there’s nothing to return to.
Artist’s Interpretation of the Five of Cups by @cutiesexylonely
Kat first described this card to me using words such as hardship, sorrow, and loss. She brought up Blue and Grey and that idea stuck with me. Where’s my angel? – That statement coupled with Taehyungs = plea for help… someone drowning in pain.
I used this photo of Tae because to me it almost looks like he’s reaching out for help/guidance but also can look like he has just decided to lay in his sorrow. I wanted to incorporate shattered cups to help emphasize brokenness and hurt. As I learned more about this card it made me look at my relationship with these feelings. I’ve used my art account to help vocalize a lot of repressed emotions, but in reality it’s still really hard for me to acknowledge and communicate my hurt and sadness. This card reminds me to acknowledge and feel the feelings, sometimes it’s really all that’s left to do in order to move on through.
