Magic Power

The Five of Cups is a card of loss and disillusionment.

Magic Charm

Focus on this card when you want to recover from loss or disappointment.

Key Symbols

• A student stands on the bank of a river, with a few recognizable campus buildings far in the distance.

• She’s looking sadly at three golden cups that have tipped and spilled on the ground. The cups lie on their sides, and the water they held is spilling into the river, like a libation to the gods.

• Old wives often say, “It’s no use crying over spilt milk.” Even so, this particular spill represents a sacrifice or a shortfall.

•  All is not lost: two cups remain upright.

• The young woman is wearing a cloak, which is wrapped around her like grief or regret.

• The young woman is dressed in blue, the elemental color of water. It indicates that she’s emotional and deep, and that she’s a student of water magic.

• She’s pictured in an autumn landscape, because the suit of cups corresponds to the season of autumn.