The cards pictured are from the Crowley Thoth Tarot Deck.
Knight of Cups and Five of Cups
Our first card to support us this week is the Knight of Cups. Depicted on the card is a knight reaching toward a glowing chalice in the clouds. His determination is powerful, his energy is focused, and nothing can stop him from his path.
This card speaks to when we become hyper-focused on setting and reaching our goals, which can happen as the holidays approach and the year wraps up. The card warns against attaching our worth as people to our achievements and calls us to think more holistically about our objectives.
If we are too narrow in our vision or want things to look perfect, we remove the chance for spontaneity or creativity. If we have tunnel vision, there is less room for the Universe to intervene or for us to notice the bigger world around us.
The Knight of Cups calls us to dream without forgetting to open our eyes to all the possibilities. It’s okay if we veer off the path; letting go of control is good. It wants us to remember that things don’t always look as expected.
This will help us step into our power, because our need for control is usually wrapped up in fear or a lack of trust. We can set our intentions, but have faith that our path will unfold in all the ways it should.
Our second card this week is the Five of Cups. This card comes up in times of emotional sensitivity. We see five empty cups, representing feelings of depletion. Decaying water lilies and their knotted roots symbolize our inner troubles below the surface.
Our disappointment, reflected in this card, can take many forms—disappointment with ourselves, others, or the world itself. Maybe we are disappointed with certain people in our lives. Perhaps we had high expectations, and things didn’t turn out the way we wanted. Maybe we feel overwhelmed by all the suffering in the world.
The Five of Cups asks you to feel your feelings. It tells you it is okay to feel disappointed; it is part of the human experience and common around the holidays. Let yourself cry, write down your thoughts, and really grieve.
However, if you look closer at the roots at the bottom of the card, you will see something else: a butterfly. The message from the Five of Cups is that pain can be our catalyst for change and fuel our metamorphosis.
When a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it digests parts of itself. Cell groups then turn the liquid material inside the cocoon into the butterfly’s eyes, wings, and other structures. It is truly remarkable.
The Five of Cups calls us to digest our pain and turn ourselves into something new. We can be our version of a butterfly that floats on the wind and finds the nectar of each passing flower.
This week, our cards bring a transformational force. They show us how to move through our emotions and remind us of our power. We have everything we need to move ahead with wisdom.
Mantra for the week: I embrace imperfection and allow challenging experiences to be my greatest teachers.
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