Category Archives: Cups

26 October 2018

Mystic Monkey – HALLOWEEN EDITION: The Queen of Cups

By thefallenmonkey

Today, I am deliberately drawing my signifier card, mainly because she’s so gosh darn cute in the Trick or Tarot deck.

Why is the Queen of Cups my signifier card, and what in hell is a signifier in the first place? Well, the signifier (or significator) is a card meant to represent the querent (or seeker–i.e., the person receiving the tarot reading). There are different ways to select a signifier for someone, but I personally follow Benebell Wen‘s approach, which uses court cards to reflect the querent’s age and gender and then selects the tarot suit (Wands, Cups, Pentacles, or Swords) based on the querent’s sun sign and its corresponding element. So, since my sign is Cancer, a water sign, I’m represented by Cups. And since I’m an adult female, I’m a Queen. 👑

I didn’t always use a signifier, but lately I’ve found that I really like anchoring a reading with one. It just sets the stage with the querent’s energy (which is why you could choose any card, really, that embodies a person in that moment, changing it from reading to reading as you see fit).

Anywho, I’m satisfied with the Queen of Cups, as I always have considered myself an emotional person. Not just in terms of my own feelings and moods, but also the compassion and empathy I try to offer others. I’m a pragmatist, too, but ultimately ruled by the touchy-feely. Relationships, creativity, and spirituality are what I live and breathe.

The Queen of Cups isn’t a flaky pushover, though. She can keep a lid on her emotions when necessary, maturely managing them like the King of Cups. Nonetheless, she also has the romanticism and imagination of the Knight of Cups and Page of Cups. She’s a compassionate, nurturing soul like the Empress, and she’s highly intuitive like the High Priestess. A comforter and counselor, this Queen is more sensitive than the Queen of Wands or Swords. As you can see from the flowing water and pale draping clothing in the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith depiction, she has an expressive nature and soft countenance, her love and gentleness echoed by the cherubs surrounding her.

Well, I’m sure not gonna pretend I’m sweetness and light all the time, nor that my river doesn’t rage more often than I’d like. That cup that she holds is quite elaborate like my complicated (and complicating) emotions, and those angels’ wings curve up like the horns I sometimes wear on my head. 😈 Yet I still humbly hail to this Queen as my tarot counterpart when seeking guidance for moody me. 😊

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Crystal pairing: mangano calcite for comfort and compassion.

 

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3 October 2018

Mystic Monkey: The Page of Cups

By thefallenmonkey

Eek, I’m getting this one in just under the wire in UK time. But today’s tarot card at least puts the “sweet” in short-n-sweet…

(In lieu of having a fish handy around the flat, I at least somehow managed a turtle for the photo.)

So here we are, with the Page of Cups! I have a tendency to see this guy and automatically think, aw crap, I’m being too fanciful and immature again…which is of course what this card can mean, but it doesn’t always have to be that negative. It can also give props to our imaginative selves full of whimsy and creativity. Our child at heart who would not only delight in finding a fish in her cup but also carry on a conversation with it as well–y’know, in a cute and clever and not alarmingly crazy way. Within the tarot court cards, Pages can represent a young person in our life or our own youthful aspect (or early stage in a new endeavor). And when it comes to the tarot suit of Cups, we’re working within the realm of emotions, intuition, creativity, and spirituality. The soft, soothing blues of this card and the gently undulating waves in its background give an easy-breezy impression of just going with the flow, wherever your whims may take you. A blessing for new beginnings.

There’s of course still that caution that I opened with, though, as Pages in their innocence can also be naive and in need of more experience and doses of reality. As with all tarot cards, however you take this one can depend on its context and perhaps if it’s reversed or not (if reading reversed cards is your thang–it’s mine but not everyone’s). But overall, it can’t help but be a delightful little messenger, with a freedom and lightness that gets a bit lost by the time this Page ages into the King of Cups.

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Crystal pairing: yellow fluorite + larimar for creativity, flow, and connecting with your inner child

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29 September 2018

Mystic Monkey: The 8 and 9 of Cups

By thefallenmonkey

Happy Weekend!

Since I slacked the last couple of days, I’m making today a tarot twofer. As it is, two cards did indeed fall into my lap while I shuffled, so I decided to take them as a pair. Usually, I set escapees like that aside for clarity on the cards I ultimately do pull. But for a one-card draw, I figure if one goes a-flyin’ to get my attention, why not let it be the card of the day? Or cards, in this case:

The Eight of Cups and Nine of Cups. Cool to get two in consecutive order to tell the story of the Cups toward its thrilling conclusion. To start, the Eight card clearly looks more mournful than the Nine, but Eights hold hope, so we must undergo this melancholy in order to achieve the satisfying outcome of the Nine. In this first card, we see all eight cups being left behind, cups that–as we’ve seen so far–have held pleasure and togetherness in the Three of Cups, solitary reflection in the Four of Cups, and all sorts of fancies in the Seven of Cups. But even things that once made us feel good don’t serve us later on. Perhaps they were shallow sources of happiness, relationships turned toxic, overindulgences–anything, really, that we might’ve thought we wanted but isn’t ultimately fulfilling. So, while it might be with some sadness and difficulty (like in the Six of Swords), we have to shed what no longer serves us and move on to something more meaningful. Cut loose the excess weighing us down so we can travel more lightly to higher ground. The person’s staff makes me think of the tarot’s Wands suit, which signifies taking action, and indeed the Eight of Cups is our cue to act on our gut intuition (symbolized by the moon) that’s been telling us things aren’t right and it’s time to go.

The true contentment we seek, then, is in the Nine of Cups, where we see this rather smug-looking man with a shit-eating grin. 😏 This is a “wish” card that promises emotional, spiritual, and even material fulfillment. After his journey, this guy has dropped his staff and taken a seat, able to kick his feet up and just enjoy when life is good. Discontent will inevitably return as this cycle continues to spin, but for now, all’s five-by-five.

Prior to selecting today’s tarot cards, Pixie’s Astounding Lenormand deck arrived at my door, so I decided to draw one of those as well. How darling are these sweet petite thangs (just over 2×3″)?? Rendered from Pamela Colman Smith’s artwork (the artist of the original Rider-Waite deck), these cards contain all the classic symbols of the Lenormand system, which I’ve yet to properly study (along with runes and geomancy and, and… Gah! I’ve got to get tarot down first.). In any case, the card that came up was #2, “The Clover,” which generally means:

[P]ure luck and fortune. It brings good tidings and reasons to celebrate. […] Be warned that this is not a lasting trend but a quick stroke of luck perhaps one of those ‘million-to-one’ chances [that] encourages you to pay attention, grab hold and pluck it while you can.

Well, la-tee-da. Nine of Cups plus the Clover?? Guess who’s wearing the shit-eating grin now! 😄

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Crystal pairing: smoky quartz + citrine for moving on and joy

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23 September 2018

Mystic Monkey: The King of Cups

By thefallenmonkey

Well, howdy-do?! I ditched my tarot card of the day yesterday for a cemetery tour in the rain (as one does), but today I’m back to rock ’em sock(monkey) ’em.

So, kings… I generally don’t love when they appear. They automatically make me dread an authoritarian a-hole in my life or that that’s the stern attitude I must possess.

But kings aren’t necessarily dicks, and embodying their masculine energy can be quite a good thing. Tarot kings are masters of their suits, after all, and the King of Cups in particular is a nice, loving king. More in tune with his emotions than the rest. But, again, a master of them, meaning he can keep them in check. Keep his head above water and ride the waves with ease. Which is, again, a good thing–I really need it!–but this lends an aloofness as well. I feel like this king is more intuitive and fanciful than he lets himself show. Like he’s lived his Page and Knight days of daydreaming and romance and has by now stuffed a cork in it. The crazy fish he once held in his cup is now dumped back into the water. Yet it stays with him, swimming alongside.

So, I do give this king credit for possessing creativity and compassion, simply filtering it through his emotional maturity. He can remain calm under pressure and apply his strong instincts and interpersonal skills to his work and relationships. He’s deep, not shallow. Steady but not stodgy. A confident yet caring person who does ultimately give a crap. He’s just not going to spaz out over it. He’ll mediate and productively work toward solutions instead.

As for how this might apply to me? I’ve been a little self-pitying the last couple of days, which is decidedly not a color I love on me, so today I feel ready to rein it in.

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My chosen crystal pairing: serpentine + mahogany obsidian for emotional balance and strength.

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19 September 2018

Mystic Monkey: The 4 of Cups

By thefallenmonkey

Let’s waste no time getting into today’s tarot card of the day: the Four of Cups!

This dude just can’t be bothered. He sits (sulks?) under a tree, all by himself with his arms crossed in a more petulant than pensive manner. Nice body language, guy. Looks like it’s a beautiful day with lush green nature all around you, but do you even notice? Nah. That’s right, just keep staring at the ground, not giving mind to the three cups standing right there for the taking. A fourth cup is offered from the ether as well, opportunity practically falling into your lap, but you’re either too self-absorbed or apathetic to seize it.

Nice. *slow claps*

Okay, so maybe I’m being a little hard on this guy. Maybe he does just need a little time to himself, to sort out his thoughts. Maybe his cups are filled with the waters of negative emotions; maybe he’s been hurt or disappointed and just needs to process that experience and think through his next course of action. Maybe that disembodied hand in the sky just needs to, well, talk to the hand and leave this guy alone, not be all up in his face with new joys or sorrows to drown in. The natural setting does lend a nice earth element to this otherwise water card, indicating a need, perhaps, for grounding and stabilizing, which a good dose of solitary introspection can do. There’s an airiness that calls for clear thought as well, which again this isolation from distraction can provide.

But it seems this youth can’t escape distraction no matter how hard he tries; this might not be the time for escape, then, so he must instead face the music. Look up and around him to appreciate all that he already has and all that he has yet to embrace. Breath in the fresh air and awake from his bored complacency to then reach out for the opportunities presenting themselves to him. There are always times when we must withdraw and regroup, but sometimes detachment is unhealthy and you just gotta meet life halfway.

Take the cup, kid. Before that hand smacks ya upside the head with it.

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My chosen crystal pairing: carnelian + blue apatite to thwart apathy and alienation.

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18 September 2018

Mystic Monkey: The 3 of Cups

By thefallenmonkey

Well, hurrah and huzzah! Today’s tarot card is the Three of Cups.

This is a real eat, drink, and be merry card. Sweet intoxication, with a cornucopia of delight at one’s feet. An abundance of pleasure and good company. I often think of this one as finding your tribe, being with the folks who get you most and just relaxing into the easy companionship and joy. Life’s hard, so let’s blow off some steam and celebrate all that’s good and grand. Or in the sage words of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “We saved the world. I say we party!” And this card could be the Scoobies indeed–that tight-knit triumvirate of Willow, Xander, and Buffy, dancing at the Bronze with their Solo cups. 😄

In its negative sense, though, this card might also signal overindulgence or three’s a crowd (maybe even an affair?? Yipes!). As we all know, everything’s best in moderation. But in this card’s most positive sense, when you find the people you can just be yourself with and band together as a community of fun and support, well, that certainly is something to toast to. Cheers! 🍻🍺

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My chosen crystal pairing: tangerine aura quartz for joy and friendship.

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5 September 2018

Mystic Monkey: The 7 of Cups

By thefallenmonkey

Good day to you! Let’s see what the tarot cards have in store for us today…

Must say I love the Seven of Cups, for better or worse. I’m pretty sure that’s what the inside of my brain looks like. Cloudy, muddled, mixed-up thoughts, all sorts of fancies and fears swirling around. The earthly and the spiritual fill these cups, some desirable, some not, some meaningful, some shallow. It can get overwhelming and paralyze me with indecisiveness. That, or I get so caught up in my fantasies that I neglect reality; I need to get my head out of the clouds and get something done. I still think this can be a positive card, though, for those times when it’s healthy and luxurious to get lost in thought, to take a time-out from the day-to-day and retreat into a rich inner world, explore all the possibilities before you and feel like you have a wealth of options to choose from.

As for which angle this card is showing me today, I’m inclined toward the negative. Though not so much negative, really, as just a little kick in the bum to be productive with my day–because I truly need to. I’ve had some time off to chase after any shiny whim that’s come my way, but tomorrow my sister arrives for a visit! So, I’ve gotta set some of my fancies aside to get down and dirty as the domestic goddess I decidedly am not. But it’s sooo worth it; I cannot wait for this extra-special guest who will help me get out of my head and out into the real world to explore all the treasures to be found there, too!

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My chosen crystal pairing: clear quartz + tiger iron to clear and sharpen the mind, get grounded and motivated.

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3 September 2018

Mystic Monkey: The Knight of Cups

By thefallenmonkey

Well, look at this charmer.

He actually flew into my lap (well, hellooo 😘) upside down during shuffling, and I do take reversals into account in my readings. But for the purposes of this card-a-day exercise, I am only interpreting upright meanings.

So. Back to this dreamboat. The tarot suit of cups is associated with the element of water, and indeed I literally see water running through this image as a river or stream. The cup itself may be filled with water for this knight’s long journey. Water also flows through this guy’s get-up in a pattern that includes fish, so…he’s not winning any fashion awards with me, but I do give points for flamboyance. He’s owning it. And he’s perhaps the most gallant of the knights–literally the knight in shining armor on a white horse that we romanticize. And being the Knight of Cups means he’s in tune with his feelings and probably a great communicator. He’s a guy who could sweep you off your feet. Maybe also break your heart. The wings on his helmet and ankles show him to be fleet of foot, bringing in an air element to me that reinforces the idea of communication; he knows how to express himself. Lord knows he does it through his snazzy clothing, but he probably articulates himself well, too, through writing, speaking, and/or art. He sits tall and confidently, and even his pretty horsie is posing for the camera, though maybe this knight is a little vain, a little showy. A man of grand gestures, but how well does he follow through when it really matters? Does he go with the flow of the waters and just move on when he’s made a conquest? However he might regard others’ feelings, he does seem in command of his own and willing to share but is probably a bit sensitive, in both good and potentially bad ways. He feels all of the feels and doesn’t hide it. He has an artistic temperament, perhaps. But he-n-horsie are just stopped at the water for this little photo op; he doesn’t seem particularly ambitious about crossing it or getting around it some way. Nonetheless, as a knight of his strong posture, he has a degree of accomplishment, motivation, and responsibility and looks forward to his ultimate goal. He’s heading in the right direction and will get there, eventually, led by his heart. 💖

So, that’s my particular take on this particular card on this particular day. It always varies, and I’m not trying to lock in any meaning, only spending more time with each card and letting the thoughts flow to see what fresh perspective they might bring. In a nutshell, I’m just babbling. 🙊

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My chosen crystal pairing: blue lace agate + honey calcite to calm and smooth over communication (in case of cranky knights!)

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