Ace of Cups W

Is that a W on the RWS Ace of Cups? Or an upside down M?

Any ideas what, why etc...

Hi Similia!!

At one book i had read that is a w.
The first letter of Waite. It seems that is comunn the author put the first letter of the name at one ace.


And another book i read that is a M. That means mercy, the people that drink fron this cup will get a lot of mercys.

Well, i belive more at the second. or the 2, because Waite, proves that he was a wize man, maybe he saw the 2 things.

Many feel that it is an "M" and that it stands for "Mary," mother of Jesus. This makes sense given the association of the Cups suit with the Holy Grail. Robert M. Place writes that on the Ace of Cups the Grail is depicted as the body of Mary (as the "vessel" for the body and blood of Christ). "It is upside down to show that it is receiving the Host delivered by the dove."

In contrast, Norma Cowie says it is a "W" and represents "the union between the spiritual and material worlds." To be honest, I don't know why a "W" would represent this! ("W" for "Worlds"? V + V somehow?)

Just a couple of perspectives I am aware of.

I've no idea, and it has been driving me nuts for years. I've explored all kinds of old languages, but found nothing that suffices ... some interesting ideas here though. But, I don't 'get' the Norma Cowie 'w' explanation either.

mythos

Ah thanks everybody.

I thought while reading about "M" in The Davinci Code *Oh, that is why there is an M on the Ace of Cups!* Of course later on I realised the M was actually upside down and I was confuse again.

I think I will use that as the meaning when I think of this card, as it irritates me too much when authors put they're name all over a deck!

Somehow we got going on this subject here...

Aeclectic Tarot Forum - Symbols: a visual glossary
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=28748

I have an M from a hobby store, a big capital wooden M
that I have stood upside down displayed beside a print-out
of Pam's "Ace of Cups" that on my computer art program
I airbrushed out the letter (and a few other tid bits).

Thanks so much for the link Fulgour!

As you can imagine searching the forum for references to the letter "M" was not possible! LOL There are some great resources in that thread.

and in The Hierophant card?

I think that actually where really the reference to Waite is clear is across the initial W in the Hierophant card, in the top of the great haido. Surely she was considering Waite a great master and honor him there, don't you agree?

http://www.learntarot.com/bigjpgs/maj05.jpg

And looking better I even believe that there is one M under her W in the form of the detail of the haido, hmmm...
Incredible, I never stop finding new things in this deck!!!

ho, G@D! i just can't believe this...

Besides, with something of imagination the symbol in the Ace of Cups can be assimilated with the general scheme of the drawing of The Lovers card, where two trees and persons are "linked" by the mountain in the rear part of the scenery. For me there is a clear connection here between the Love it-self, and his maximum expression in the Love to our coupple, wow! Do you see it too?

http://www.learntarot.com/bigjpgs/cups01.jpg

http://www.learntarot.com/bigjpgs/maj06.jpg

AM*