Sanctum_Priest
I'm beginning to really love the story behind this suit of cups. In the seven of cups we saw our young hero being denied some milk by catwoman (Bast) and in the eight of cups we see him turning away clutching his cup. The book has the following to say:
"The young acolyte stands with his back to the goddess, silver chalice clutched close to his chest in both hands, a stubborn expression on his face. She extends her hand to him in welcome, but he does not see it. Arranged on the floor in a row on his right side are four silver chalices, tipped on their sides and empty, their bowls pointed away from him and on his left side, three empty silver chalices in a row similarly tipped away from him."
I don't think the goddess's hand is extended in welcome. I think she is giving him the message to go away and not come back until he understands that you cannot possibly know anything until you have emptied your mind of everything. Apologies for yet another zen interpretation!
"The young acolyte stands with his back to the goddess, silver chalice clutched close to his chest in both hands, a stubborn expression on his face. She extends her hand to him in welcome, but he does not see it. Arranged on the floor in a row on his right side are four silver chalices, tipped on their sides and empty, their bowls pointed away from him and on his left side, three empty silver chalices in a row similarly tipped away from him."
I don't think the goddess's hand is extended in welcome. I think she is giving him the message to go away and not come back until he understands that you cannot possibly know anything until you have emptied your mind of everything. Apologies for yet another zen interpretation!