The INDIAN TAROTS – Ace of Cups

As an ace, the card is pure potential. Coming out of a cloud of smoke, the cup is a gift to all who accept it. The Ace of Cups begins many of the themes seen throughout the suit; namely, it encourages love and creativity while putting an emphasis on the subconscious soul.

As with all of the Ace cards, the Ace of Cups shows a disembodied hand emerging from a cloud of smoke, holding the minor arcana for the reader. This reveals that the cup is a gift. It isn’t something that you earn or are rewarded. It is already within you. It is your job to accept it and to wield it graciously. If the wand represents our willpower, the cup represents our spiritual power. The cup is a vessel for our subconscious, for our intuition, feelings, and creativity. As it overflows with water, so our souls overflow with joy when we receive this card in our spread.

Most scholars interpret the five jets of water to represent our five senses: vision, hearing, smell, touch, taste. It is our five senses that add depth to our life. As water nourishes our body, the senses nourish our soul. Suspended in the card are twenty-six drops of water. In this image, there is a paradoxical combination of air and water, resulting in a connection between divine space and our flowing soul. Some scholars have interpreted the twenty-six drops to represent the twenty-six letters in the English alphabet, symbolizing the communication of our soul.

A white pigeon descends towards the cup. This reiterates the divine connection in the suit of cups. Traditionally, a white pigeon represents peace in Sanatan culture, it could also represent the Jewish Sophia or the Greek Aphrodite. In any case, the pigeon gives the card a sense of peace and repose. In the pool below the cup, there grows white lotus. White lotuses symbolize spiritual awakening and the divine soul. Other traditions, like Buddhism, suggest that the lotus symbolizes beauty in ugly environments, as lotus grows in mud, but remains unstained.

Upright meaning

his card often represents new beginnings, emotional fulfilment, and love. It suggests that you’re opening yourself up to new experiences and emotions, and that you’re ready to embrace love and happiness in your life. The card encourages you to be open to the possibilities that are available to you.

Reverse meaning

This card can indicate emotional blocks, lack of fulfilment, or emotional imbalance. You may be struggling to connect with your emotions or to find happiness and fulfilment in your life. The card suggests that you may need to work on healing any emotional wounds or finding ways to connect with others.