How do you read 9 of cups (RWS) in general and in different positions in a spread?

[Strength8]

Hello,

This guy seems pretty satisfied and has cups (filled or otherwise) neatly lined up behind him with no other "distraction" around him. I don't grasp the full meaning especially if it shows up

1. as an obstacle or barrier

2. as an advice

3. next step

4. something to leave behind

5. feelings

and so on

 

What has been your experience with this card? if you use reversals, then how does that change the meaning for 9 of cups?

thanks for your time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gregory]

Some random thoughts:

 

1. as an obstacle or barrier - complacency

2. as an advice - count your blessings

3. next step - consolidate

4. something to leave behind - wishful thinking

5. feelings - smugness

and so on - and so on, as you say.

 

It ALL depends on context and the other cards.

 

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by gregory

[Strength8]

6 minutes ago, gregory said:

1. as an obstacle or barrier - complacency

2. as an advice - count your blessings

3. next step - consolidate

4. something to leave behind - wishful thinking

5. feelings - smugness

@gregory your random thoughts are appreciated 🙂

I have only remembered it for smugness and and in relation to wishes

Thank you for adding other thoughts to this card for me...

[gregory]

I could add ZILLIONS at random. Context is all !

[November]

Hi Strength8, some ideas: 

 

- as obstacle it may mean you think you don't deserve love or to be loved

- as advice it may mean to find happiness within yourself first or maybe even to be careful with what you wish

- as next step/outcome often says you won't get what you hoped for or at least this is what often happens to me 😅

- as what to leave behind maybe feelings of self-loathing 

- as feelings I'd say feeling happy with what you got

 

Anyway it always depends on the context and also if you use reversals. 

 

[Grandma]

HI @Strength8 - here are some ideas -

 

obstacle - someone being overly invested in material goods, always wanting more, never satisfied

advice - be careful what you wish for, you just might get it

next step/outcome- take inventory, let go of baggage

what to leave behind - again, take inventory

feelings - satisfaction or dissatisfaction, accomplishment, frustration with lack of accomplishment

 

I learn so much from these individual card meaning threads - thank you for posting!

[Strength8]

13 minutes ago, Grandma said:

obstacle - someone being overly invested in material goods, always wanting more, never satisfied

advice - be careful what you wish for, you just might get it

next step/outcome- take inventory, let go of baggage

what to leave behind - again, take inventory

feelings - satisfaction or dissatisfaction, accomplishment, frustration with lack of accomplishment

Thank you @Grandma this is really helpful. I will need to jot these ideas down 

taking inventory, letting go of baggage , dissatisfaction, frustration with lack of accomplishment are clicking when I think of some of the readings (I only use tarot for personal situations and growth) I have done in the past and this dude showed up..

 

For some reason, I struggle connecting with some cards and this is one of them

[Strength8]

2 hours ago, November said:

- as obstacle it may mean you think you don't deserve love or to be loved

- as advice it may mean to find happiness within yourself first or maybe even to be careful with what you wish

- as next step/outcome often says you won't get what you hoped for or at least this is what often happens to me 😅

- as what to leave behind maybe feelings of self-loathing 

- as feelings I'd say feeling happy with what you got

 

Appreciate your input, as always !

@November 🙂

these ideas make sense and thank you for sharing how it shows up in your readings because that helps in learning

[Misterei]

21 hours ago, gregory said:

1. as an obstacle or barrier - complacency

2. as an advice - count your blessings

3. next step - consolidate

4. something to leave behind - wishful thinking

5. feelings - smugness

@Strength8 I agree with What Gregory has said about 1,2,4,5

 

However I often read this card in a way no one has mentioned. To me this card is wish come true ...

... but SOMETIMES getting what you wished for ... isn't so great. Human nature is fickle. Maybe someone REALLY wants fame and money. They get those things ... yet still not happy.

 

In Vedic astrology we see this with Benefic and Malefic planets. Malefic planets give suffering ... but maybe that suffering leads to spiritual growth. A pleasant Benefic planet might actually block your spiritual growth if you become complacent (as @gregory mentions). Or people who were born into great wealth can be real a$$holes b/c they could buy all their friends and never learn humility.

 

To me ... this is how 9 cups might have a negative spin even though its a benefic card. You get your wish ... but it doesn't necessarily make you happy or serve your spiritual growth.

Edited February 24, 2023 by Misterei

[Strength8]

48 minutes ago, Misterei said:

However I often read this card in a way no one has mentioned. To me this card is wish come true ...

... but SOMETIMES getting what you wished for ... isn't so great. Human nature is fickle. Maybe someone REALLY wants fame and money. They get those things ... yet still not happy.

@Misterei you make a valid point about human nature being fickle (getting ones wish and still being dissatisfied) and I can see how that applies to 9 of cups.

50 minutes ago, Misterei said:

A pleasant Benefic planet might actually block your spiritual growth if you become complacent

hmm this is also interesting, it's like losing the "drive" to grow because nothing is challenging a person during smooth sailing

 

Thank you for sharing your take on it!! @Misterei

[gregory]

Lord yes - there's a wonderful story - I think by Robert Sheckley - yes: "The Same To You Doubled.- where the person who has three wishes knows that his enemy will get twice as much of whatever himself..... and what happens is....

 

 

Spoiler

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/72094202

 

Be very careful what you wish for.

[Strength8]

36 minutes ago, gregory said:

Lord yes - there's a wonderful story - I think by Robert Sheckley - yes: "The Same To You Doubled.- where the person who has three wishes knows that his enemy will get twice as much of whatever himself..... and what happens is....

 

 

  Hide contents

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/72094202

 

Be very careful what you wish for.

@gregory Thank you for sharing the link. I can't be sure I have read this particular one (will check it) but I have definitely read/heard similar version growing up (in different language, different culture)

and Agreed to on being careful what one wishes for 😄 

[Chariot]

It's funny, but reading through all these excellent ideas, it occurred to me that I don't actually 'have' a Wish card!  As in: "this card means your wish will come true."  For me, a wish card depends on what the wish is all about, and that is indicated by the nature of the card related to that particular wish.  (Example: I wish my boss would give me a rise in pay ...the upright 3 of Pentacles is 'wish fulfilled.'  Or: "I wish my soul mate would appear ...the upright 2 of Cups is 'wish fulfilled,' etc.)

For me, the 9 of Cups (upright) usually indicates that circumstances are right for hospitality.  Things are going well, personally and financially, especially in the home front, and there is a desire to share good fortune, throw a dinner party, invite visitors and friends over, to host overnight guests, etc.  It's the hospitality card. The person is all ready for visitors to come, and is looking forward to their arrival.  There is a desire to share abundance with others.

It's interesting to compare this card to the 9 of Pentacles, which also has to do with personal and domestic/financial well-being ...but seems to be more focused on inner/private enjoyment of peace and plenty.  It's a less extroverted card than the 9 of Cups.
 

For me, the 9 of Cups can also mean quitting at the top of your game and taking the winnings home.  There is no need to toil or risk any more.  You've achieved what you were working for.  That might be a 'wish come true,' but I see it more as an end result of what you've been working towards.  It's not a wish come out of thin air.
.....
The 9 of Cups (reversed) is where the negative aspects of this card will surface for me. Certainly the concept of smugness or complacency should be looked out for, if the card appears upside down, plus a tendency to judge others who haven't been as fortunate as you.   There can also be a warning against overindulgence.  Or, simply, the time is NOT right for hospitality just now, or visitors might be disruptive or unwelcome and no fun at all—and they may take advantage of your hospitality.  Or maybe you simply can't afford to be a host at the moment, as your personal circumstances are not all that great.

Edited February 25, 2023 by Chariot

[Strength8]

17 hours ago, Chariot said:

circumstances are right for hospitality.

@Chariot that is a good one too!!

I am somehow seeing him "hogging" "flashing" "hoarding" all the cups lol. I am trying to figure this card and  right now as I am also looking at him as a person (if a card was seen as a person) I am seeing him closed off with arms crossed, alone in his corner (not necessarily lonely) with many thing(s)  he is proud of. May be expecting others to come to Him and ask him to share or tell them about some deep emotions 

; and he might share or Not share his emotional experience(s)

 

17 hours ago, Chariot said:

It's interesting to compare this card to the 9 of Pentacles, which also has to do with personal and domestic/financial well-being ...but seems to be more focused on inner/private enjoyment of peace and plenty.  It's a less extroverted card than the 9 of Cups.
 

never compared it that way but I can see it  after reading this..

17 hours ago, Chariot said:

For me, the 9 of Cups can also mean quitting at the top of your game and taking the winnings home.  There is no need to toil or risk any more.  You've achieved what you were working for.  That might be a 'wish come true,' but I see it more as an end result of what you've been working towards.  It's not a wish come out of thin air.
.....
The 9 of Cups (reversed) is where the negative aspects of this card will surface for me. Certainly the concept of smugness or complacency should be looked out for, if the card appears upside down, plus a tendency to judge others who haven't been as fortunate as you.   There can also be a warning against overindulgence.  Or, simply, the time is NOT right for hospitality just now, or visitors might be disruptive or unwelcome and no fun at all—and they may take advantage of your hospitality.  Or maybe you simply can't afford to be a host at the moment, as your personal circumstances are not all that great.

Thank you for adding your experience on 9 of cups here @Chariot

Edited February 26, 2023 by Strength8

[amanda414]

Hi. I like all of the suggestions that have been brought up for each of the 5 placements of the 9 of cups card. And I'd just like to add my own interpretations for the 9 of cups in position 3.

3. Next step--ties in similarly with advice position: 'consider' what it is that you want. And is it fulfilling? Will your needs be met? Will whatever it is you're hoping for give/bring you lasting satisfaction?

Edited March 1, 2023 by amanda414