the 8 of Cups in the context of emotions

I think kiprikolesea78 and zfy87060 might be approaching it from the wrong perspective. Why assume the person is feeling the need to walk away from something dissatisfying instead of walk towards something new and different?

This card signifies leaving the comfort zone for something new and significant that's beckoning, calling out to you. It doesn't imply that the old has disappointed or failed you, or that you no longer love it. It's more about the moon's call, urging you to take a chance on what it has to offer.

So, the person might not be inclined to abandon the other person but to take a chance on them. This is the type of card I'd expect for someone who has always been afraid of commitment finally deciding to propose. It's a journey into the unknown, where it's dark, and you can only follow the light of the moon.

And yet, that journey must be taken. The familiar and comfortable must be left behind.

On a smaller scale, it's like someone who has always stuck to the same neighborhood restaurant, ordering the same thing every day. It's something they love and find comforting—the same old routine. Then you suggest trying something new, and they resist until one day, they finally agree to go not just across town but to a whole new country to explore a different cuisine.

Feeling like you should give up the comfort zone and take a chance—a real, scary, but important chance—that's not necessarily a bad feeling.

BryanDeen
I'm approaching this from a Mythic Tarot perspective. In that deck, the 8 of Cups embodies Psyche, who is tasked with seemingly impossible challenges to prove her love to Eros. The final challenge is to enter the underworld, and she accepts this knowing she won't return. She lets go of preconceived notions, entering with full commitment, acknowledging that she's given her all. There's a sense of despair, but she doesn't look back. This is the foundational perspective from which I provided my answer.

There's a profound transformation occurring. The person is taking it to a deeper level voluntarily, surrendering the dream without waiting for the outcome. It's an abandonment of the old way, accompanied by tears.

All 8s symbolize death and rebirth—a transformation.

In the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the woman is depicted walking away with a sense of sadness. I haven't perceived it as moving towards something new with excitement, but more as leaving something with a sense of sorrow. However, with every ending, there's a new beginning. So, you can say that by walking away, she is also moving towards something.

Indeed, it could signify asking someone to marry them, but in the sense of laying it all out on the table without waiting for a specific outcome. It's more about the person expressing their feelings rather than the recipient.

Maybe I didn't articulate it clearly before, but this is how I interpret the 8 of Cups.

This was my card of the day today. Not in a spread but based on what I sense the card has to convey to me on the day I draw it, here's what I wrote:

Daily Draw: Santa Fe Tarot ~ 8 of Water

Continuing from yesterday's advice, Yei is trapped, her medicine bag is tipped over, and her water jugs are empty. It's time to explore a new path or formulate a new plan, as the current one is flawed.

This card serves as a reminder that often, brick walls are merely products of our imagination. It urges the use of creative brainpower, encouraging a bit of "Wellie in it, lad," as Wallace would say to Gromit. Sidestepping the brick wall becomes possible by changing direction. Sometimes, we become our own worst enemies by resisting change.

kiprikolesea78
Certainly! The 8 of Cups can indeed be a complex card when it comes to emotions. While it does symbolize a form of abandonment or walking away, the emptiness may not necessarily refer to a lack of feelings. Instead, it often suggests that the person has invested deep emotions and hopes into a situation or relationship, and the disappointment comes from realizing that it may not fulfill their emotional needs or expectations.

In this interpretation, the individual might still harbor strong feelings, but the decision to walk away stems from the acknowledgment that staying would lead to more emotional dissatisfaction. It's a poignant recognition of the need for personal growth and seeking fulfillment elsewhere. So, the emptiness is more about the realization that the current path may not bring the emotional satisfaction they seek.

I've interpreted the Eight of Cups in two ways: leaving behind something that wasn't working out or moving towards something entirely new and better than what you had (not implying that what you had was in any way bad).

In both scenarios, eights signify a shift in direction in one's life, encompassing a form of "moving on." As this is a Cups card, it implies that emotions are intricately involved in this process.

In the Mythic Tarot, Psyche embarks on a journey to the Underworld, tasked by Aphrodite to complete challenges for the chance to reunite with her beloved husband, Eros—Aphrodite's son. This expedition delves into the depths of one's being, exploring solitude and self-discovery. It presents a different perspective from the classic RWS image of someone ascending mountains, leaving a pile of cups behind and moving toward something new.

In the Mythic portrayal, Psyche walks down amidst the cups in a dark landscape. She has nothing left to lose; her initial hopes have already been shattered. Psyche steps away from her dreams and illusions, as seen in the 7 of Cups, aiming to comprehend the true essence of love. This journey confronts the edge of love, which coincides with the edge of her own sanity and the edge of life itself.

Through this profound exploration, Psyche regains her beloved. However, this victory comes only after letting him go, delving deep into the heart of her pain, her powerless love, and her lost hopes.

Absolutely, I concur with that. This is a truly engaging thread. For me, the 8 of Cups has always signified moving towards something positive. The aspect of leaving behind isn't as prominent, at least in the Rider-Waite deck.

It's fascinating to consider how this card represents abandonment and disappointment while also reflecting past significant emotions. Rather than feeling 'empty' towards others, it suggests a journey of acknowledging and processing these emotions. This interpretation challenges us to delve deeper into the complexities of human feelings.

kiprikolesea78
In the context of emotions, the 8 of Cups symbolizes abandonment, yet it doesn't necessarily denote a feeling of emptiness towards the other person. Rather, it suggests that the individual has experienced significant emotions in the past but is currently facing disappointment or disillusionment. This aspect can present a complex challenge in interpretation. I welcome any additional insights or perspectives on this matter.

MariiaMelnyk hah it's interesting to interpretate this like you do 'The 8 of Cups is a card that speaks to themes of transition"