2 of Cups as a challenge?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

judylea1	26 Jan 2005
Any thoughts on the 2 of cups in the 3rd card or challenges / opportunities card of a celtic cross spread? Romantic love is a challenge somehow? Be careful and don't rush into anything? I've never seen this card in this position before. The question did not relate to romantic love, just a general question about the next six months.

Fulgour	26 Jan 2005
When you say 3rd card, where is it placed in the spread; are you beginning with the Significator as the first card? Challenges and Obstacles is often the Crossing Card #2. ~Fulgour PS: Welcome to Aeclectic Tarot :)

rainwolf	26 Jan 2005
If two of cups was a challenge, i would either think of relationships being a challenge to balance, difficulty finding relationships, or a painful crush o.o ughh! lol. Good luck, i dont think it will be too hard, if it was i think it would have come up with the lovers. Besides, it isnt reversed, maybe there wont be any challenges, look at surrounding cards-that is increadibly important! Best of luck!

judylea1	26 Jan 2005
What I meant by the third card is that the first card is the self, the second is the question or situation, and the third is what blocks this (I always place the later 2 cards over the first card). Sometimes the third card is called the challenges or opportunities card.

Fulgour	26 Jan 2005
That makes the 1st card very important for answering your question as to what the Challenges card means. If you wish to share the first card it would really help.

Kath	26 Jan 2005
It could refer to the querent needing to open up to people more, or share with others. Perhaps the challenge is to find a healthy relationship/friendship. Maybe the querent finds it hard to let people into his/her life. As a challenge, the querent may have trouble receiving affection. As an opportunity, perhaps they will receive (or be in a position to give) affection.

Fulgour	26 Jan 2005
Significator (Self) 1st Card: Present Position 2nd Card: Challenges and Obstacles/Opportunities etc., etc.

judylea1	26 Jan 2005
Okay, if the self card is not considered the first card, I guess the 2 of cups is not actually the third card. The self card in this spread was Strength, if this clarifies it at all. Most of the cards in this spread seemed to relate to work and school (I have returned to school this semester). It is true that I am not terribly open to a romantic relationship right now since I had kind of a bad romantic experience at the end of last year.

rainwolf	26 Jan 2005
I would think then that your challenge would be to tempt love again, not as in a sweeping romance, but having feelings for others and not shutting your feelings in, remember that cups have many different meanings! :)

Fulgour	26 Jan 2005
Significator: Strength 1st Card: ___________ 2nd Card: 2 of Cups Now it all depends on the 1st Card as to the meaning....

judylea1	26 Jan 2005
Self card was Strength, first card was 6 of coins, and second card was 2 of cups.

Fulgour	26 Jan 2005
In these positions, 2 of Cups crossing 6 of Coins, there is a possible meaning of: "Success and transformation through a loving union or partnership." :) :)

ncefafn	27 Jan 2005
Some random thoughts. You're in a position where you are or you are seen as very strong and independent. You are the "go-to guy" and you liberally dispense your wisdom to those who seek your help. However, being the authority figure can often be lonely. Setting yourself up as the savior who swoops in and fixes all the problems can mean you get dumped on all the time and when you need help, no one steps up to the plate because, hey, you can handle anything, right? So your challenge is to learn how to seek out and form equal partnerships with those around you. You have an opportunity to learn how to share the power and take some of the emotional burden off of your shoulders.

caridwen	27 Jan 2005
There is a situation in which strength through compassion is necessary. The six of pentacles can represent giving or a reassesment of the situation. Is what is happening fair to all parties? Which is where the compassion comes in. The two of cups could mean having to draw two opposing elements together in order to move forward. It is time to step back, reasses the situation in a fair and compassionate manner and communicate. So to answer your original question: yes it can be a challenge to talk things out or get closer to someone.

Umbrae	27 Jan 2005
Positions aside. Great Question judylea1 ! Here’s my take…look at the RWS as an example. Two figures approach each other, each holding cups. People hear about “possibilities of new relationships” and what triggers inside their heads is “me me me … it’s about me … what’s in it for me … new love for ME … new relationship coming for ME…” IRL they forget that they carry a cup also. They offer a cup for another. People are so busy looking for what’s in it for them, they ignore that they may be providing the possibility of a relationship to another. That’s the challenge.

wandking	27 Jan 2005
Isn't romantic love always a challenge? From what you've written it appears romance is certainly a bit of a challenge in your life right now. I rarely perform querry readings and when I do, I don't expect every card to relate to the question at hand but to some degree, the two seems to inderectly relate to your issue... BTW, Fulgor, it appears you're referring to a by the book, Waite-type querry, which we don't see often in modern practice. Waite called it an "ancient Celtic Method." Although I use a modern variation of the Celtic Cross spread, I'm glad to see that some readers still go with Waites' original style of reading cards.

Fulgour	28 Jan 2005
wandking wrote: BTW, Fulgor, it appears you're referring to a by the book, Waite-type querry, which we don't see often in modern practice. Actually, being a public forum inquiry, I chose to consult "Tarot Decoder" by Kathleen McCormack (a handy book). As I understand it, A.E.Waite never dared read his cards, and rarely even took them out of the box for a close look.

wandking	29 Jan 2005
I was referring the only spread in the book he published in 1911 called Pictorial Key to the Tarot... Remember when I wrote "by the book?" Waite wasn't a fan of high magic or divination while in the GD and later formed a group where those practices were frouned upon.

Moongold	29 Jan 2005
judylea1 wrote: Self card was Strength, first card was 6 of coins, and second card was 2 of cups. judylea ~ For questions that have to do with cards in a spread it might be more fruitful for you to post the entire spread in Your Readings. Nothing is unconnected in a spread. :) Many blessings

The 2 of Cups as a challenge? thread was originally posted on 26 Jan 2005 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.