Minor Arcana: Eights
Eight of Cups, upright
- escape, avoidance
- lacking emotional fulfillment
- sense of loss and disappointment
- turning your back on something -unfulfilling relationship, job, etc
- despite best efforts, you were disappointed and didn’t get anything out of it
- waiting around won’t work, so leave
- might seem like you have everything, but it actually doesn’t make you happy truly
- may choose to repress emotions and not openly share with others, pretending that things are okay
- reassess what is it you really want, and has what you’ve done aligned with it?
- strength is needed to walk away into the unknown, and you’re doing it
- loneliness, introspection, and looking for the truth
- abandonment issues, hard to trust people
- considering career change, or a vacation
- be smart with your money, make sure you know how it’s being spent
- warning to plan ahead for the future
- dwelling on negativity = bad health
- time to step away from what’s familiar
- do they/ does it encourage you to be your best self and grow?
- remember, change happens when needed
Eight of Cups, reversed
- fear of moving on, fear is holding you back
- stagnation- staying in something that makes you unhappy because you’re worried of what the future might hold
- not sure what to do…aimless
- afraid of losing comfort and what you’ve built
- believe that there will be better for you as long as we take the chance
- address what is keeping you stuck
- staying at a job that’s unfulfilling
- look for something that will economically serve you as well as emotionally
- relationship may have become stagnant and monotonous
- fear of commitment or lack of emotional maturity leading to problems
- maybe singles are too clingy so turning people off
- accepting bad treatment due to low self-esteem
- first work on YOUR issues to raise self worth
- have not explored all the options available
- still working on business that is no longer profitable
- keeping yourself in a situation that’s no good for your health.
Eight of Swords, upright
- feeling trapped and restricted
- feeling that you have limited options without a clear way out
- thinking all is beyond your control
- don’t make decisions right now, you have clouded judgment
- but, you could escape if you wanted to
- there are ways to get rid of the self-imposed limits holding you back
- thoughts/beliefs are no longer serving you
- you’re limiting yourself by thinking worst case scenarios
- afraid to stand up for self, communicating
- passivity won’t get you anywhere
- adopt a new perspective- you actually have all the resources already (help, resources)
- find a solution than get stuck on problem
- playing the victim role rather than taking action to better it yourself
- take personal responsibility, it’s all fears
- stay or go? Confused. One foot out the door
- get out of your head, focus on intuition
- betrayal coming to light, a card of judgment and consequences
- trust yourself/gut, not your thoughts
- feeling you can’t leave because you don’t have a backup plan or a steady income
- happiness comes from within, don’t count on anyone or anything to give you that
- health: mental health/anxiety disorders (ie. PTSD, agoraphobia, depression or panic attacks)
Eight of Swords, reversed
- limiting self beliefs are holding you back
- stop the negative thought patterns, they aren’t helping you to reach your goals
- so self-critical you end up giving up
- let go of old patterns of behavior and belief systems that limit you
- OR maybe you ARE releasing old beliefs that no longer serve you
- making it through a difficult time; being open to changes and accepting yourself
- acknowledge options in front of you, refuse to play the victim, and go make it happen!
- playing an active role instead
- hopeful, empowered, healing, strength
- having a better, clearer perspective
- willing to let go of fears and anxieties
- vision less clouded now — can get/ or just got something you’d like
- OR you feel everything is terrible and nothing can be done anymore, lost all hope
- anxieties may either have lessened, or intensified
- watch out, the negativity may eventually damage your mental health (depression)
- depression/extremes may affect relationship negatively
- having easier time after release, or getting more overwhelmed by all the negativity
- health recovery, or extreme suffering
Eight of Wands, upright
- sudden fast paced positive change/growth
- important news will be coming?
- movement, air travel, end of a journey
- challenges cleared, you have space to move forward with plans now
- feeling positive and energetic, take action
- make the most of everything
- go with the flow, you will see results
- remove distractions, focus, you can accomplish more this way
- rapid movement toward completion
- or something new caught your eye
- make sure your previous task is complete before you move on
- maybe new excitement in a relationship
- sparking a romance/ new love interest while traveling?
- moving along swiftly in positive direction
- be careful with impulsive spending
- progress, exciting times, infatuation and being swept of your feet
- career is “going places”
- high energy, fast paced work environment
- lots of money in and out, don’t rush!
- health situation is bringing quick results
Eight of Wands, reversed
- going fast, need to slow down before mistakes are made, don’t panic
- patience is important, wait for right time
- misunderstandings in relationship
- you may have messed up, but forgive yourself– it was bad timing
- make plans, think carefully, communicate
- working on something then suddenly focusing on something new instead of completing the first task…nothing gets done!
- resisting change, trying to stop the flow or movement
- try to do things differently so you can move along with the energy flow
- maybe significant delays in plans (if mercury retrograde= double delayed)
- try to wait until a situation is more stable
- working on plans, so you can actively work towards goals
- working on self: health, emotional well-being, energy levels, spirituality
- career: missing opportunities, or moved too fast in the past that you get overwhelmed now with all you deal with
- be patient if there is not enough money coming in right now
Eight of Pentacles, upright
- working hard to master a skill
- very determined, concentrated
- success through perseverance
- away from distractions
- doing further education/study
- working on details to improve a situation, even if mundane, got to push through
- unhappy in current situation, committed to making changes toward satisfaction
- dedication, focus and patience
- getting closer to goals by sticking to your values/beliefs, working on self
- what can you do to better yourself and your life?
- energy put in will eventually bring success
- work is demanding right now
- remember to make time for emotional connections with others
- loving someone = continued empathy, compassion, patience, curiosity, desire for self-improvement
- learning to appreciate new things you learn about your partner, continue effort
- learn from past mistakes before moving on
- career: achieved new skill, promotion, etc
- slowly becoming more financially independent, hard work paying off
- earning good reputation and rewards from your work, good job!
Eight of Pentacles, reversed
- laziness, carelessness, lack of effort, poor focus
- or focusing on self-improvement, and becoming the best version of yourself
- or too focused on tiny details, you lose sight of the bigger picture – want something a certain way but what if there are changes
- can you adapt when situations change?
- feeling frustrated/disappointed by a lack of success and progress
- realizing something isn’t for you
- busy with small tasks, can’t get on with your bigger goals
- may need to reassess and shift your focus
- maybe not ready to handle the responsibilities in a relationship
- taking it for granted, no effort, neglecting it
- have you been meeting partner’s needs?
- stuck at tedious job, unmotivated, waiting to get out of work, avoiding tasks, don’t care to improve your skills
- careless with money, debt/overspending
- overly materialistic
- focus on education, or you may fail
- focusing on health too much – starving or extreme body building
References
Biddytarot.com
labyrinthos.co
thetarotguide.com
Dean, Liz. The Ultimate Guide to Tarot: a Beginners Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Revealing the
Mystery of the Tarot. Fair Winds Press, 2015.
Louis, Anthony. Tarot Plain and Simple. Llewellyn Publications, 2006.
Night, Sierra. Tarot Ultimate Guide: The Supreme Guide for Learning the Art of Tarot Divination and
Readings. 2019.
Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: a Book of Tarot. Thorsons, 1997.