Eight of Cups
Upright Meaning
Under a moonlit sky, a figure walks away from eight neatly stacked cups, heading toward distant mountains. The cups are not broken — they are full and intact. But they are no longer enough. This is one of the most courageous cards in the deck: the decision to walk away from something that works but no longer fulfills. The Eight of Cups is not about loss; it's about the painful wisdom of knowing that 'fine' is not the same as 'right.'
Reversed Meaning
Reversed, the Eight of Cups suggests you know you need to leave but can't bring yourself to do it. Fear of the unknown keeps you at the table with cups that no longer nourish you. Alternatively, you may be drifting away from something without making a conscious choice — not walking away, just fading. Neither staying nor going requires more courage than this limbo.
Quick Reference
- Arcana
- minor
- Suit
- cups
- Number
- 8
- Element
- 💧 Water