Nine of Cups, wish for the truth?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

judylea1	24 Jan 2005
I have come to think that the cards may have different layers of meaning, the specific meaning being a little unclear sometimes. I recently got the nine of cups as the ultimate outcome card in a celtic cross reading regarding a man I was in love with last year, I did the reading early in December. This card is sometimes referred to as the wish fulfillment card and I thought, Oh, great! My wish will be fulfilled, he's going to fall in love with me too! I now think this card was actually referring to the Christmas party I went to where I learned the truth about what was really going on with this guy when he showed up with another lady he was apparently in love with. The nine of cups does sometimes refer to festive gatherings, and this was a very festive event, for everyone else that is, it was a pretty miserable experience for me. I had been agonizing over what the truth was with this guy, I just was not sure, and maybe the nine of cups did in a sense grant me my wish to know the truth. However, it does not seem severe enough for the outcome of that experience. I would have thought the three of swords would have been more appropriate. I should say that this guy was not mean to me in any way, we never actually dated, and I still like him as a person. However, the whole thing ranks as one of the more painful life experiences, how does nine of cups really fit? I did get the death card as the card that crowns me in that reading, that has to be considered together with the outcome card and that doesn't look very good, but even so, I found the nine of cups to be a little confusing in this situation.

firemaiden	24 Jan 2005
What a sad experience, Judy Lea. Your tarot deck sounds like mine. I keep trying to teach them to be polite, but they often have an impish sense of humour. Not, "Your wishes will be fulfilled" - but "Ha! you wish!" (If your tarot deck has a male voice, perhaps it was jealous). Seriously though, although it is easy to reinterpret this card in retrospect, I might probably have read it the same way you did. Did any of the surrounding cards give a hint as to a darker interpretation? Perhaps the Nine of Cups was meant to have been read reversed? Or perhaps the card was telling you - the essence of your wishes will indeed be fulfilled - but not specifically with this one man, and not in the way that you might expect -- I have often been reminded by wise members of this forum - we must not be too attached to the outcomes

Thirteen	24 Jan 2005
judylea1 wrote: However, the whole thing ranks as one of the more painful life experiences, how does nine of cups really fit? I did get the death card as the card that crowns me in that reading, that has to be considered together with the outcome card and that doesn't look very good, but even so, I found the nine of cups to be a little confusing in this situation. I suspect you didn't look far enough ahead. The Death card or whatever was "what's to come" in your CC might have indicated to you what was to happen at that party. Outcome is an odd card--it isn't "the future"--it's the ultimate outcome of all that's been read. That outcome may not be tomorrow, or next week, or even next month. It's the ultimate fallout or conclusion of all these events. I know this was terribly painful, but it did free you from agonizing over the truth about a guy you say you "never dated." So now you're free to fall in love and be in love with someone who can love you back, who can make you happy. You may not have reached 9/Cups yet; it's too soon, obviously still too raw. Give it time.

contradiction	24 Jan 2005
the possiability i immediately thought of was; "be glad you are not with him" he could be like the man a friend of mine recently started a relationship with, he was the ideal mate, until they moved in together. he immediately became, a lazy, abusive SOB. expecting her to wait on him hand and foot. constantly berating her, and actually becoming physically abusive. i do not know this is your case, but it could be. of course, it could be that the cards do have a sick sense of humor.

Moongold	24 Jan 2005
Hi judylea ~ The 9 Cups could actually reveal the unseen stuff about the man. It is an odd card. Notice the height of the table on which the cups stand and the royal blue curtain beyond which you can see nothing? The man appears happy and satisfied but there is something to him that is not known, hidden. This card can represent addiction. It represent a person who appears to have everything but really lacks insight. It is what is behind the curtain that we should be concerned about. And whatever is there is there is great measure - 9 cups. Perhaps you were better off without the relationship going much further?

tarotbear	24 Jan 2005
By any chance, did you meet someone else at the party ... ? I have always gotten the impression that it is only the 'Wish Card' if you make an actual wish before the reading; the appearance of this card is supposed to grant your wish. I also find that to be the cornyiest thing yet and will bring it up in the 'Tarot Beliefs thread.' Sorry to say it, but this Bozo isn't worth worrying over.

Pook	24 Jan 2005
tarotbear wrote: I have always gotten the impression that it is only the 'Wish Card' if you make an actual wish before the reading; the appearance of this card is supposed to grant your wish. I also find that to be the cornyiest thing yet and will bring it up in the 'Tarot Beliefs thread.' LOL! How funny! I'm just wondering, has anyone ever made a wish and then turned up the 'wish card'? And did it turn out the way you were expecting? I think the best take I have ever had on this card was in a reading I did about 2 years ago. It was a reading for myself about my current situation with a CC spread and the 9 of cups turned up in the 9th position representing hopes and fears. The night before the reading I had a dream that I told my fiance that I wished we could have a baby. Less than 6 weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. Now I think of this card as more of a "be careful what you wish for" card!!

Ace	25 Jan 2005
Pook wrote: Now I think of this card as more of a "be careful what you wish for" card!! I often times say that too, Pook. But one thing: the final outcome card in a CC spread (FOR ME) is almost always "what you DON'T want to happen". I don't know why, it just is. So maybe the cards were warning you again, to be careful what you wish for!

rainwolf	26 Jan 2005
Wow, i had the same situation, and i got the same card and i just realize that that is what it meant! The 9 of cups sure is a backstabber! That must be the cruel joke card of the deck (along with the rest of the 9's. LOL Good luck with that prob! Well, hope you dont feel drained from it like i did.

The Nine of Cups, wish for the truth? thread was originally posted on 24 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.