Something about the 9 of cups seems off to me

[Helena]

I'm having a conflict about the meaning of the 9 of cups. Mostly, I understand it as emotional fulfillment within oneself. But I also hear it described as the wish come true card. That doesn't feel right to me. The 9s are solitary, so I see it as self-actualization, self-fulfillment, full of oneself in the extreme? The wish come true card feels a bit too external. Idk...thoughts? How do you interpret the 9 of cups?

[gregory]

The wish fulfilment thing comes up a lot. I don't think it feels right either. It's more about what we can put in, in order to get to the greatest good, for me. Cast your bread upon the waters and it shall come back to thee one hundredfold, and all that... The more you put in, the more you will get out. Good stuff is coming, but you can make it so much better.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

I too disagree with the Wish Card generalization. It can mean so much more. I just had a quick look at my blog where this card has come up dozens of times. I couldn't find anywhere I thought of it as a granting or granted wishes card. 

 

that said, a lot of the way cards are read comes from learning by using keywords. It takes time to come to a deeper understanding. 

Edited January 23, 2021 by AJ-ish/Sharyn

[surreal]

HI there was a room in Tarkovskys' film stalker that gave you what you wanted. The catch was that it gave you what you really wanted not what you thought you did.

[Helena]

@gregory yes... that's the feeling I get with it. A very fitting precursor to the 10 of cups. 

 

@AJ-ish/Sharyn this is very true. Keywords are helpful, yes, but experience is the real teacher, eh?

 

@surreal that's an interesting concept. Kind of sounds like the room of requirement lol. It doesn't always manifest itself in the way you'd expect. It may feel disappointing at first, I'd imagine, but over time, one would see the room was right. Or it could be a horrific mirror lol. 

[Guest]

I do see the Nine of Cups as one of the wish-cards. It is not its prime meaning.  The card refers to the realisation of the heart’s desire, and can thus predict personal success and renown. If not well-placed it can intimate carelessness which can hamper achieving certain goals.

In terms of the wish (made by the Querent during the reading): if the card doesn’t appear it often intimates that the desire is unlikely to manifest in the time-frame.  If it appears, you need to consider its placement and if using the 6 x 9 + 2 the count should be considered. But that is just me.

Edited January 23, 2021 by Guest

[gregory]

@surreal there's a GREAT story by Robert Sheckley where the hero could wish for anything, but his enemy would get the same thing - doubled.

 

https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/138751/name-of-a-humorous-short-story-where-man-gets-3-wishes-but-enemy-gets-double-th

 

His first two wishes pan out far too well for his enemy, but then his final wish is for the perfect woman.

 

Quote

"And especially," he added, "she should be—I don't know quite how to put this—she should be the most, the maximum, that I want and can handle, speaking now in a purely sexual sense. You understand what I mean, Sitwell? Delicacy forbids that I should spell it out more specifically than that, but if the matter must be explained to you . . ."

 

 

[Raggydoll]

30 minutes ago, gregory said:

@surreal there's a GREAT story by Robert Sheckley where the hero could wish for anything, but his enemy would get the same thing - doubled.

 

https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/138751/name-of-a-humorous-short-story-where-man-gets-3-wishes-but-enemy-gets-double-th

 

His first two wishes pan out far too well for his enemy, but then his final wish is for the perfect woman.

 

 

 

Omg that is hilarious! 🤣

[katrinka]

3 hours ago, timtoldrum said:

In terms of the wish (made by the Querent during the reading😞 if the card doesn’t appear it often intimates that the desire is unlikely to manifest in the time-frame.  If it appears, you need to consider its placement and if using the 6 x 9 + 2 the count should be considered. But that is just me.

 

I think that's key with wish cards, there should actually be a stated wish. People have gotten away from doing that. I've even seen spreads in old books that recommend making a separate little pile for the wish, but I never see anyone doing that. So it's not that 9C/9H isn't the wish card, it's just not being used that way. Simply inferring what your sitter wants from the question may not be specific enough. And I agree that there is attendance to consider - nearby cards can put a fly in the ointment. 

 

3 hours ago, gregory said:

@surreal there's a GREAT story by Robert Sheckley where the hero could wish for anything, but his enemy would get the same thing - doubled.

 

https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/138751/name-of-a-humorous-short-story-where-man-gets-3-wishes-but-enemy-gets-double-th

 

His first two wishes pan out far too well for his enemy, but then his final wish is for the perfect woman.

 

 

 

 

Well that's certainly more cheerful than The Monkey's Paw.  😁

Edited January 23, 2021 by katrinka

[katrinka]

4 hours ago, Helena said:

The wish come true card feels a bit too external.

 

I wouldn't consider that a disqualification.  The vast majority of questions have to do with external things.

[Beanie]

Hi I maybe too much of a simplistic reader but in my view 9 cups signifies emotional fulfilment and all that you desire emotionally shall come to the person in question, I’ve never looked at it as a wish card to me it seems it’s a done deal if nothing else changes, I’ve read the card the same way for people, wish card is a star but the person on RW is looking down so may not see their wish come true, or it’s a be careful for what you wish card etc to me 9 of cups is getting emotional happiness that is deserved after events etc and not a wish card to me it’s where the querent is at or going to be at x

[gregory]

Then where does that leave the 10, as completion ?

[Guest]

20 hours ago, Helena said:

I'm having a conflict about the meaning of the 9 of cups. Mostly, I understand it as emotional fulfillment within oneself. But I also hear it described as the wish come true card. That doesn't feel right to me. The 9s are solitary, so I see it as self-actualization, self-fulfillment, full of oneself in the extreme? The wish come true card feels a bit too external. Idk...thoughts? How do you interpret the 9 of cups?

 

It's 'the cat who ate the canary' card for me -- so yes, self-satisfaction, but if you ask the cat it's also a wish come true, no?  

 

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

what about the canary then? Kind of back to Gregory's Sitwell book...

[Helena]

16 hours ago, katrinka said:

 

I wouldn't consider that a disqualification.  The vast majority of questions have to do with external things.

What I mean is that the fulfillment is internal. It's a card of enjoying and celebrating personal successes. Those successes could be external, but not exclusively. Could be overcoming an emotional hurdle, or having the courage to do something you've never done. So, I agree that it's not a disqualification, but I think reducing it to the wish come true card is too simplistic. I feel like it's deeper than that. Then one begins the transition into the 10 of cups by sharing that fulfillment with others and then eventually the sense of fulfillment becomes intwined with the others as well. I feel the 9 to the 10 as a swelling bubble, if that makes any sense. 

 

@barkingdeer lol, the cat that ate the canary, yes, but I don't see it as a selfish card necessarily, or at least the man in the card wouldn't view himself as such. But the specifics could run the gamut I suppose. 

[Helena]

19 hours ago, timtoldrum said:

I do see the Nine of Cups as one of the wish-cards. It is not its prime meaning.  The card refers to the realisation of the heart’s desire, and can thus predict personal success and renown. If not well-placed it can intimate carelessness which can hamper achieving certain goals.

Re-reading this, this kind of encapsulates everything we've said, doesn't it? Complex. Could have positive or negative effects externally. Not everyone's desires of the heart are for the good of others, but would the one see it that way? 

 

Honestly, you're all awesome... I've really enjoyed this discussion. Such great thoughts and broadening of ideas. Love it. 

[Guest]

I view it as realising ones own dreams, as opposed to the 10's which are fulfillment that may come about in partnership with others. I think that still holds true even for

the 10 swords and wands. I've often seen things like depression depicted as 9 swords which is self-wrought unhappiness, it's happening within. But the 10 generally points to

an external circumstance that others were in involved in. 9 wands struggling to keep it together, while 10 wands is shouldering burdens which aren't properly yours.

[Grizabella]

How about a drinking problem?  That's something that's possible with this card.  And it could also lead to the end of a relationship when followed by the 10 of Cups, considering that 10's are then end of a suit and therefore could be seen as the end of a relationship or the relationship having gone as far as it can.  When there's a problem with alcohol or drugs within a relationship, it usually can't go very far in a constructive and binding way.

Edited April 4, 2021 by Grizabella

[Guest]

The RWS 9 of cups feels off to me, too.  The cups to me is a story of the pure and best case expression of a particular energy in the 1 and 2, and then from there becomes a list of how it becomes distorted and dysfunctional through our interpersonal interactions here on Earth.  The 9 reminds me of people who gain everything they wanted through their own efforts, and the resulting self satisfaction that results, which while isn't an inherently bad thing, it can and often does then turn badly wrong for everyone.  The 10 shows that focus on worldy satisfaction constellated onto something bigger, or "religious' and includes all kinds of other people - still not entirely beliveable as an end to the story, but that's the RWS.  The 9 feels smug, overbearing, precariously balanced.  Perhaps these are shadow aspects, in which case, maybe the picture is urging parts of your world to be projected onto it.  I don't know if it's right or wrong to do that.  It's kinda like intuition, but not.  I'd certainly be wary of it if I were reading for other people, which I don't.  My ideal (which may not be possible) is to read the card, not my experiences that the image triggers.  Maybe just use another deck and see if it helps?

[HOLMES]

For me the 9 od cups is the hermit manifesting in tbe emotional water world.

So it is about emotional wisdom.

You can gather all the booze for the party.. the guests are about to arrive. Yet some one has to clean up the mess. And pay the cheque.

Also in today pandemic . 

He is getting ready to watch his movie alone, the food arrived by door service. 

I think it is also representative of gifts given hosts of the party. 

Then there is ve careful of whst you wish for.  Think of in the movies where the part gets out of hand.

[Grizabella]

I looked into the book for the Tarot of the Enchanted Forest and for the 9 of Cups a wishing well is depicted and the author does say this is the wishing card but that there's a catch to it.  You have to want it, visualize it, and believe it's yours.  "Frivolous wishes can bring undesired results and half-hearted wishes are ignored by the magic well. Take your time and decide what you want.  Don't waste your wish."   To me, this means that you can't just wish and hope the Great Out There will bestow that wish on you. You have to carefully consider why you want this, what you're willing to do to earn it, and then once you know it's something worthwhile, you have to believe that if you have it, you'll do your best by it to bring about the best for all concerned. I've never thought of it as being a card that just says, "Presto, change-o, there you go sweetheart---have at it." with no regard for what it means for others.  

 

 

[kennethwattsreadings]

For me, the emotional fulfillment is a given. Always a very happy joyous card.

 

But also, Waite defined his 9 of cups as "material success" and the Order of the Golden Dawn assigned it the astrological association of Jupiter in Pisces. As as astrologer, this association has always resonated with me in its accuracy.

 

Jupiter is expansion, joy, coming alive, the child-like feeling of shining light you get in your chest. The card very much embodies this energy. But in the sign of Pisces..

 

Pisces is sweet, sensitive, child-like in their sweetness and innocence, emotional sensitivity, etc.... but Pisces can also struggle with addiction, escapism, illusion. I would imagine when big thunderous Zeus (Jupiter) rolls into the watery house of Neptune (Pisces), there's a risk things could get a little out of hand.

 

To be clear this is always a card about joy and happiness. But, for me, there has always been the slightest *touch* of a warning in this card. When the 9 of cups comes up, it usually means you're going to feel like you're emotionally coming alive, that life's a party even, but remember just like with parties.. drink water. lol Nothing wrong with remembering throughout the celebration to be kind to yourself, to not overdo it. (And if you do, forgive and try to be a little kinder to yourself next time.)

[kennethwattsreadings]

Maybe could also be what seems off to you about the 9 of cups to make a long story short? LOL (But I understand it was more the wish fulfillment thing.)

Edited April 27, 2021 by kennethwattsreadings

[Delta]

I guess it's the traditional meaning that shapes the "joy" interpretation here, but when I look at it I don't see any joyful vibes or emotional fullfilments. Especially not for the querent?

His body language is defensive and arrogant. It's more like "I have all these cups so I don't need to take any **** from you." That's how I see it. 😄

[DanielJUK]

Going back to the roots of the numerology, the 9's are cards which are the last stage of action in a suit before completion (10), it's almost a complete energy of the suit but we are still learning. They link to the Hermit (9) where we are learning wisdom and teaching ourselves. We have nearly mastered it but still learning and I think this is really important with the 9 of Cups. There is still a lesson for us to learn with each 9 card as we near completion.

 

the 9 of Swords is fears, nightmares and anxiety but it's almost too much thinking. the lesson is to keep things in proportion, often when we are up thinking all night, we realise next day that the situation is not that bad.

the 9 of Wands is the last push of action to make it, it's perseverance and resilience. It's lesson is you have the strength and courage and the last reserve of energy to make it

the 9 of Pentacles is achieving money, luck, work but it's not opulence and it's about treating yourself. The lady is in retreat in a walled off garden, it's done in a small way as a goal to continue progress

 

so to the 9 of Cups, it's emotional fulfilment and something positive but the lesson is the excess or how you handle these emotional fulfilling things. That Inn Keeper in the card often has a weird and smug expression in many cards, like the RWS version. His expression doesn't match the card being seen as just the most wonderful card and I think that is what is jarring. Also so many Cups behind them, the excess of that! There is a lesson with this card about how you deal with all emotional good stuff, do you do it to excess? do you become smug and unbearable? it makes me think of drinking with friends and the terrible hang over the next day or dinner with friends and feeling sick with too much food. I also see it as the hen night / stag party before the wedding, the last fulfilment of the single life before an emotional union.

 

I remember in one of the old tarot books (I can't remember which one but the concept has stuck in my mind forever more), the author says it is a wish card but also it's a becareful what you wish for! like when you rub a lamp and ask the genie for a wish and it goes terribly wrong! You wish for the best night of your life at a party for yourself perhaps, but what are the consequences? hang over the next day, regrets and a friend who won't answer your messages for weeks. The lesson is about handling that emotional fulfilment in a way with self-control and moderation. Perhaps just take 1 or 2 of those Cups from the Inn Keeper, 9 is just too much 🙂