EIGHT OF CUPS

• DEEPER MEANING
• MOVING ON
• WEARINESS

ACTIONS

seeking deeper meaning

focusing on personal truth
leaving the rat race
looking for answers
concentrating on what is important
starting on a journey of discovery
finding out the facts
devoting more time to the spiritual

moving on

realizing the current cycle is over
abandoning a hopeless situation
disentangling yourself
starting on a trip of unknown length
letting go
finishing up and walking away

growing weary

feeling drained by demands
dragging through the day
feeling tired and listless
lacking energy
losing hope
getting weighed down by worries
becoming burned out

OPPOSING CARDS: Some Possibilities

• Strength - endurance, strength
• Sun - vitality, high energy
• Nine of Wands - hanging on, persevering

REINFORCING CARDS: Some Possibilities

• Hermit - searching for deeper meaning
• Death - moving on, leaving
• Three of Wands - going on a trip, going into new territory
• Eight of Wands - finishing up, ending a chapter
• Six of Swords - moving on, going on a trip

DESCRIPTION

A psychologist friend once told me that when a group is ready to break up, the members give off subtle signs to that effect. They display a certain restlessness. They arrive late to meetings, communicate less and seem distracted. At some level the participants know it is time to move on, but they need a while to work up to that final step.

This process applies in many situations where an ending is approaching. Nothing is permanent in life. Sooner or later, everything slips away...or we slip away from it. The Eight of Cups stands for those moments when we realize, once and for all, that the past is gone. What was true is no longer true. The signs of change are in our face, and we must accept them. It is time to move on.

Moving on can mean a physical change such as leaving a job, location or relationship. It can also mean an inner change - releasing old patterns, especially those that have dominated our thoughts and emotions. On the Eight of Cups, we see a man leaving on a journey. He has turned away from his old feelings (cups/river) to strike out on a new path. Sometimes moving on can mean searching for a deeper truth or reality. One day we wake up and realize that we have been asleep in our own lives - living a dream that no longer satisfies.

Some changes can be wearying. Endings are not always easy. One of the signs of a readiness to leave is lack of energy. When you feel tired and dispirited, you know that something is wrong, and it's time for a new direction. Reexamine your life and your priorities. You will find where in your life you need to move on.

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