Grieving Major Loss. How The Five of Cups Honors The Process

I’ve always found the imagery and message found within the five of cups to be very unique. Grieving a loss is one of its interpretations, which I will be applying today. The artwork in the five of cups captures the nature of grief, it honors the duality which exists in the grieving process. 

In this card we see an isolated figure mourning their loss over the three spilt cups, all the while two cups remain standing behind them. 

The themes found in the more troubling cards are typically much more straightforward in their imagery. The hope lies either in; accepting the wisdom to be discovered in a difficult lesson, or in understanding the hard times will end. 

When I read the five of cups I see that there is loss in the spilt cups, as well as possibility in the ones left upright. Yes, the figure may turn from the spilt cups to face the standing… but even with a change in perspective, the three other cups still remain spilt. 

I feel when we genuinely grieve a loss… we will always be changing our ‘direction’ as we process our feelings. Both stances are equally valid as each situation is equal in reality. 

While living through the grieving process, we are going to have really good days and happy times. Our life is going to be the ‘two of cups’ where there is love and harmony… but a small part of us might feel guilty finding joy while grieving.  Other days we are going to really feel the spill, we are going to miss those who left us with those cups… and we are going long to feel the joy of the upright cups, and wonder if it’s even possible.

Grief is hard. But remember… Like the other cards… there is also a message that this pain will not remain forever. In the background we see a bridge over a river leading home. 

But while with these cups, honor the way you choose to stand… and if you know anyone who is grieving… be aware and empathetic of which cups they are facing.