Eight of Cups
Pilgrimage
“I have to go see about a girl.”
Good Will Hunting
Eight of Cups at a glance
Finbarre’s interpretation: The Eight of Cups marks a deliberate departure from something that still has value but no longer provides meaning.
| Upright | walking away, emotional maturity, seeking depth, leaving a completed phase, recognising insufficiency |
|---|---|
| Reversed | fear of leaving, returning, aimless withdrawal, abandoning too soon, emotional avoidance |
| Linked card | Six of Swords |
| Soundtrack | Come Undone by Duran Duran Open the full Tarot Interviews playlist on Spotify |
Upright meanings
- Walking away
- Emotional maturity
- Seeking depth
- Leaving a completed phase
- Recognising insufficiency
- A difficult departure
- Spiritual searching
- Withdrawing investment
- Choosing integrity
- Accepting that success is not fulfilment
Reversed meanings
- Fear of leaving
- Returning
- Aimless withdrawal
- Abandoning too soon
- Emotional avoidance
- Drifting between situations
- Staying from habit
- Renewed appreciation
- A departure delayed
- Confusing discomfort with failure
Eight of Cups in a reading
| Area | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Love | Emotional bond: A difficult departure. Reversed: Drifting between situations. |
| Career | Work: Spiritual searching; withdrawing investment. Warning: Staying from habit. |
| Money | Financial theme: Choosing integrity. Warning: A departure delayed. |
| Feelings | Upright: Seeking depth. Reversed: Aimless withdrawal. |
| Advice | Prioritise: Accepting that success is not fulfilment. Watch for: Confusing discomfort with failure. |
| Outcome | Potential: Recognising insufficiency. Obstacle: Emotional avoidance. |
| Yes or no | Yes for leaving; no for preserving the present arrangement. |
Symbols in Eight of Cups
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The stacked cups | The situation is not empty; departure follows an assessment of what it cannot provide. |
| The missing space | An incompleteness remains within apparent abundance. |
| The walking figure | The choice is enacted physically rather than kept as a private wish. |
| The eclipsed moon | Emotion and uncertainty accompany the search for a different path. |
A. E. Waite's original description
A man of dejected aspect is deserting the cups of his felicity, enterprise, undertaking or previous concern.
Waite's original divinatory meanings
Upright:
The card speaks for itself on the surface, but other readings are entirely antithetical, giving joy, mildness, timidity, honour, modesty. In practice, it is usually found that the card shews the decline of a matter, or that a matter which has been thought to be important is really of slight consequence, either for good or evil.
Reversed:
Great joy, happiness, feasting.
Source: A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, first published in 1910, with illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith.
Continue through the deck
- Previous card: Seven of Cups
- Next card: Nine of Cups
Written and interpreted by Finbarre Snarey, tarot researcher, founder of the British Tarot Archive and coordinator of the UK living heritage submission for Rider-Waite-Smith tarot reading practice.
These interpretations reflect Finbarre Snarey’s understanding of contemporary Rider-Waite-Smith tarot practice. They are provided for education, reflection and entertainment only and should not be treated as medical, legal, financial, psychological or relationship advice.
