Eight of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

This tarot card captures a moment of farewell. A weary and contemplative traveler ventures into the night, leaving behind his past accomplishments, attachments, and problems, represented by the eight cups left in his wake. He is alone and disheartened, his only companion on this tough journey — a dependable staff, signifying life experience, will, and wisdom.

The moon, symbolizing his inner world, emotions, and experiences that served as catalysts for this challenging journey, casts a thoughtful gaze down on the wanderer. It has propelled him to transform his life. His red garments indicate a resolve to act — despite the pain of loss, our hero is filled with determination to conquer new peaks, towering in the background of the card.

In a practical sense, the Eight of Cups tarot card can signify parting, termination of hopeless relationships, leaving a disliked job or ceasing work activity due to retirement, moving, seeking oneself, one's purpose and the meaning of life, reassessing plans and personal achievements.

All that hindered happiness, self-realization, development, and inner peace is left in the past! The Eight of Cups tarot suggests that it's time to make changes in your life. These changes will undoubtedly be for the better and will provide an impetus to ascend to a new level.

Key Meanings of the Upright Eight of Cups Card

• Shift in thinking, new plans, the beginning of upward movement, progress.
• Emotional and physical exhaustion, desolation, fatigue, uncertainty, disappointment, dejection, stagnation, melancholy.
• Breakup of relationships, estrangement, cooling off, farewell, parting, freedom.
• Change of residence, relocation, long-term business trip, journey.

The reversed Eight of Cups tarot card is a symbol of happiness and a celebration of life. The arcana indicates that you are currently preoccupied not with spiritual, but very much with material matters, striving for simple earthly joys and pleasures.

Ahead await you cheerful amusements, socializing and parties, relaxation and travel, new acquaintances, and love. Use this carefree time to fill your soul with new experiences and emotions!

In a spread, the reversed Eight of Cups tarot card heralds an upcoming family celebration or an anticipated important event—marriage, the birth of a baby, or a grand anniversary. In the business sphere, the reversed Eight of Cups promises a new job where your merits and talents will be recognized. In love, the appearance of this tarot card in a spread predicts a romantic encounter and the birth of a new beautiful feeling.

Key Meanings of the Reversed Eight of Cups Card

• New feelings, infatuation, forming a business or family alliance.
• Social life, communication, rejecting solitude.
• Happiness, joyful anticipation, well-being, realization of plans, celebration.

In love readings, the upright Eight of Cups card predicts dissatisfaction and problems in relationships due to insurmountable contradictions or circumstances.

Perhaps it's time for a heart-to-heart talk with your loved one who demands much but gives nothing in return? If so, there is a possibility to overcome this crisis and stay together.

The card can also denote secret encounters when one of the partners is not free, a separation of lovers due to moving or a long-term business trip, or a farewell to the accustomed life (for instance, due to entering into marriage).

In the reversed position, the card's meaning flips to the opposite, predicting a new love or the return of a close person.

When Reading for a Suitor or Loved One

In a reading for a suitor or partner, the upright card indicates that your chosen one is a person of extremes in love. If anything in the relationship does not satisfy him, he is ready to abandon everything and start his search from scratch, hoping someday to reach the ideal.

The reversed card suggests that in love, your chosen one is an easygoing person. He knows how to enjoy the present day, not noticing problems and not burdening himself and his partner with thoughts of the future.

In business readings, the Eight of Cups tarot card speaks of a hopeless and demanding situation in your career, a stagnation in your affairs. It's likely that you'll have to find a new job, no matter how strongly your attachment to your current position. You've outgrown it; your destiny lies elsewhere. That's why you increasingly feel suppressed and empty.

Perhaps you're leaving not of your own accord but due to a change in management or reaching retirement age. In any case, you need to adapt, set new goals, move forward, and strive for greater heights.

When reversed, the meaning of the card changes to its opposite, predicting the acquisition of a new job, recognition of your merits, and an increase in income.

When interpreting this card in a person's reading, the upright position signifies an individual with character and inner strength, who persistently seeks their place in life. They are prepared to leave behind everything they have achieved and embark on a long journey from scratch if they decide that their path has led them astray.

In the reversed position, this card represents a person who has achieved much but is capable of achieving even more. They take pleasure in what they have, yet remain open to new paths, encounters, and experiences.

In the upright position, the card advises you not to fear change and not to persist in your mistakes: if you realize you've taken the wrong turn, it makes sense to turn back and start anew.

Appearing in the reversed position in a spread, the card suggests that you seek new emotions and impressions by changing your familiar environment.

If the card appears in an upright position, the forecast for your situation is ambiguous. You are capable of achieving your goal, but only if you start many things in your life from a clean slate.

In the reversed position, the forecast for your situation is generally favorable. As a result, you will follow the right path and achieve what you desire.

With 0 card The Fool – Staying over at acquaintances, misunderstanding of the situation, introversion.

With 1 card The Magician — A bad idea, a creative crisis, nerve-racking.

With 2 card The High Priestess — Tactical retreat, returning to the roots, acceptance.

In combination with 3 card The Empress — Deception, unrealized dreams, cooling of relationships with the significant other.

With 4 card The Emperor — Break up with the past, renounce emotions, leave a stressful environment.

With 5 card The Hierophant — Break up with a mistress, emotional exhaustion, self-flagellation.

With 6 card The Lovers — A fling on the side, pleasant flirting, yielding to temptation.

With 7 card The Chariot — Set sail for open waters, inappropriate posing or principled behavior.

With 8 card Strength — Breakdown of negotiations, cancellation of a date, refusal to cooperate.

With 9 card The Hermit — A virgin, complexed behavior or strict adherence to canons, pure love.

With 10 card Wheel of Fortune — Get away from unnecessary disturbances, adherence to generally accepted standards, come out of a conflict unscathed.

With 11 card Justice — Receive news about a missing person, a message from prison or army, a gray business scheme.

With 12 card The Hanged Man — A virgin or a nun, familiar routine, reluctance to get involved in something new and scary.

With 13 card Death — The end of a romance, long-distance relationships, love did not withstand the separation.

With 14 card Temperance — Thoughtful approach to life, ability to avoid temptations, unconventional methods of problem solving, deliberate restraint.

With 15 card The Devil — Vain attempt to hide from temptations, a short retreat from affairs, the whirlpool will pull you back in.

With 16 card The Tower — Bad fun, forced separation, exhaustion from troubles.

With 17 card The Star — Belief in eternal love, sacrifice for the sake of relationships, deep feelings.

With 18 card The Moon — Old fascination, friendship turns into love, a deal with conscience.

With 19 card The Sun — Self-restrictions, listening to the inner voice, contemplating something greater.

With 20 card Judgement — Getting used to a new beau, crown of celibacy, acting out of habit.

With 21 card The World — Decide to end a relationship, forced farewell, lovers' parting.

With the Ace of Wands — Rejecting burdensome relationships, becoming disillusioned with plans, quitting a career, or leaving due to ideological disagreements.

With the Two of Wands — Acting in a familiar manner, self-analysis, a chance to go on a journey.

With the Three of Wands — In vain efforts, the path turned out to be more winding, falling for someone's persuasion and being deceived.

With the Four of Wands — Conflict of interests, resentment, attempting to smooth over changes that have occurred, leaving home without explanations.

With the Five of Wands — A stressful situation, a difficult conversation or justifications, realizing one's own shortcomings.

With the Six of Wands — Confusing someone, quitting a job or leaving a group of like-minded people, becoming disillusioned with one's role.

With the Seven of Wands — Facing criticism, retreating, agreeing just for show.

With the Eight of Wands — Parting with a loved one, getting tired of constant opposition, changing jobs.

With the Nine of Wands — Reconsidering established beliefs, acting out of habit, fearing change.

With the Ten of Wands — Feeling trapped, extreme tiredness, being overwhelmed with work.

With the Page of Wands — Acting out of inertia, not thinking about the future, being two-faced or secretive.

With the Knight of Wands — Refusing cooperation, the departure of partners or a loved one, feeling empty after an argument.

With the Queen of Wands — Fading love or ending a union, following a predetermined plan, predictability in events.

With the King of Wands — Changing jobs, avoiding excitement, taking action without notifying anyone.

With the Ace of Swords — Winning with a familiar scenario, burying a problem, ending a relationship.

With the Two of Swords — Sticking to one's opinion, having an argument or a friendly disagreement, making a choice with insufficient information.

With the Three of Swords — Overcoming heaviness in the heart, forced abandonment of the familiar, changing social circles.

With the Four of Swords — Reflecting on new information, melancholy, feeling loneliness.

With the Five of Swords — Digesting negative experiences, letting someone down, engaging in a questionable venture that won't bring benefits or good reputation.

With the Six of Swords — Taking a chance, unclear goals, desiring change without specific desires or plans.

With the Seven of Swords — Dishonesty, being the first to end a relationship, focusing on one's own gain.

With the Eight of Swords — Getting entangled in unfamiliar circumstances, suffering due to isolation, lacking support.

With the Nine of Swords — Being trapped in a cycle of relationships, psychological issues, shutting oneself off from emotions.

With the Ten of Swords — Being prepared for defeat, determination to endure unpleasant situations, having a strong character.

With the Page of Swords — Being a loner, self-criticism and analytical thinking, having hidden intentions.

With the Knight of Swords — Working for oneself or pursuing one's own idea, being assertive, intending to avoid conflict.

With the Queen of Swords — Resourcefulness and quick reactions, a composed and intelligent lady, successful revenge.

With the King of Swords — Balancing cold rationality and intense passions, a meticulous and calculating man, a military admirer.

With the Two of Cups — Failing to support a close person, staying aloof or fearing judgment, selfish actions or forced self-sacrifice.

With the Three of Cups — Leaving familiar surroundings, being hurt by friends or colleagues, embarking on a solo project.

With the Four of Cups — Predictable behavior, acting on inertia, facing societal condemnation.

With the Five of Cups — Attempting to change personal habits, refusing an offer, becoming disillusioned with relationships.

With the Six of Cups — Dwelling in memories, acting childishly or naively, being afraid of responsibility.

With the Eight of Cups — A creative and sensitive individual, a modest dreamer with unfulfilled ambitions.

With the Nine of Cups — Maintaining a positive outlook, being an optimist, seeking the good in everything.

With the Ten of Cups — Embracing eternal values, temporarily living with parents, visiting relatives.

With the Page of Cups — Rejecting an offer, sensing a catch, taking the safest approach.

With the Knight of Cups — Building trust-based business relationships, having a good reputation, being conservative in work.

With the Queen of Cups — Engaging in a short-lived flirtation, having a minor affair, experiencing futile attempts to find a husband.

With the King of Cups — Being cautious, a long period of adjustment, dealing with a complex character.

With the Ace of Pentacles — Unwanted wealth, receiving large sums of money, untimely acquisition.

With the Two of Pentacles — Leaving a partner, quitting a job, disagreements with a significant other about shared finances.

With the Three of Pentacles — Searching for a new job or occupation, taking a business-like approach to personal connections, finding like-minded individuals.

With the Four of Pentacles — Mercantile behavior, inability to share intimate feelings and form relationships, being risk-averse.

With the Five of Pentacles — Preparing for the worst, extreme pessimism, feeling lonely.

With the Six of Pentacles — A desire to share personal secrets, seeking advice from a psychologist, having a conversation with a friend or acquaintance.

With the Seven of Pentacles — Procrastinating important tasks or good ideas, fearing to start one's own venture, living in hope.

With the Eight of Pentacles — Attempting to break free from a vicious circle, desiring change, working on oneself and harmful habits.

With the Nine of Pentacles — Taking responsibility, outpacing one's surroundings in personal growth, searching for worthy company.

With the Ten of Pentacles — Acting according to family traditions and principles, not trusting close people, considering numerous possibilities for how events may unfold.

With the Page of Pentacles — Earning one's own income, a small victory, a beneficial action that did not bring moral satisfaction.

With the Knight of Pentacles — Reaching one's potential, mental blocks, stubborn prejudices.

With the Queen of Pentacles — Living in the shadow of someone influential, having a good role model, being a reserved wealthy lady.

With the King of Pentacles — A wealthy husband or admirer, being under protection, having hidden opportunities.