shadowcatto Posted June 2, 2023 Posted June 2, 2023 Hello, I'd wanted to post this in the individual tarot card meanings subforum but it seems I can't, perhaps due to restrictions for new users. I'm still trying to learn the nuances of meanings of different minor arcana cards, and finding it very difficult to differentiate between the 8 of cups and 6 of swords, both mean leaving behind, moving on and a change in situation/life stage to me. Could anyone help me see how they are different, in terms of meaning or perhaps interactions with other cards? Thanks!
joy Posted June 2, 2023 Posted June 2, 2023 Hello @shadowcatto welcome to the TT&M Forum. Correct your thread is in the wrong forum. However in order to post in that sub-forum you need 5 posts. Please read our rules here: https://www.thetarotforum.com/rules/ Once you have the 5 posts please contact me and I will unlock and move this thread. You can gain posts quite easily by starting a thread in the introduction area.
DanielJUK Posted June 2, 2023 Posted June 2, 2023 Now you have 5 posts @shadowcatto I've moved your thread to the right area for discussion This is the discussion of this thread.... 2 hours ago, shadowcatto said: I'm still trying to learn the nuances of meanings of different minor arcana cards, and finding it very difficult to differentiate between the 8 of cups and 6 of swords, both mean leaving behind, moving on and a change in situation/life stage to me. Could anyone help me see how they are different, in terms of meaning or perhaps interactions with other cards? Thanks!
FindYourSovereignty Posted June 2, 2023 Posted June 2, 2023 Hello @shadowcatto, and welcome to the forum. Initially the basic difference is the 8 of Cups connecting to a departure triggered by emotional awareness and the 6 of Swords being a departure over a mental awareness. For example, the 8 of Cups says emotionally one is moving on and the 6 of swords says mentally one is moving on. I believe in both cards this movement is not a surprise or forced like the 3 of Swords or the 10 of Swords.
DanielJUK Posted June 2, 2023 Posted June 2, 2023 In this area, we can give ideas of both cards but we cannot discuss it specifically for your situation. Just general ideas and discussion. 8 of Cups and 6 of Swords are different numbers in the order of the minors and also different suits, so whilst they might have similarities, they are different. But both have a strong theme of transition. The 8 of Cups (water) in RWS and many card images, shows a person walking away. This is an emotionally linked card (Cups), they have such negative emotions about a situation or issue, they just want to walk away. They want to turn their back on what is known and what they have accomplished, and walk into a difficult terrain with their cloak on and to what they don't know. They would like to turn to solitude and having nothing, just to get away from it. This card is about disappointment, a lack of fulfilment and abandoning the situation. But they are leaving it behind to go on a spiritual journey, their aim is for fulfilment. It's walking away for your own self-care and going on a spiritual personal journey to find meaning for yourself. The 6 of Swords (air) in RWS and many card images show a hooded woman and child being rowed away by the man on the boat. This card also has a sadness, she has left everything behind and got on that boat and is travelling to somewhere new. This card is often seen as a "regretful transition" but again they have to do it for their self-care, safety or sanity. This card could show actual travelling to new lands, so moving country and also the swords are on the boat, so whilst she goes somewhere for a new start or safety, her thoughts or even trauma, will travel with her. In this card you have to leave something behind for a better future ahead. This is swords, not cups, it's not about emotions at it's core but about thoughts and thinking. This might be logically the best thing to do or someone is trying to move on from their thoughts or trauma about a situation, rather than disappointment and wanting to abandon an emotional situation. The 6 of Swords is a calm after the storm, it comes after the 5 of Swords which has a lot of tension and fighting. The 8 of Cups is making a definite action and abandoning something after the choices of the last card (7 of Cups). There is a difference as well to think about that the 8 of Cups person is alone, going off with sadness, the 6 of Swords lady has her family and someone helping her get away. She has support and this card feels not quite as bad, like there are better opportunities in this new land (the bank the ferry is going towards). Like the 6 of Swords has nearly come to the end of transition, the 8 of Cups has just started 🙂 Just my ideas on it.
Grandma Posted June 2, 2023 Posted June 2, 2023 Not much to add since @FindYourSovereignty and @DanielJUK have provided so many ideas about these cards and their differences. I'd like to add that with the Eight of Cups, the destination is unknown, at least to the reader. The figure walking away may know more about where they are headed than the card reveals. With the Six of Swords, we can see where the traveler is headed. The traveler, head down and hooded, may or may not see the distant shore, but someone else is guiding them there. I'm talking about the RWS depictions of course, but Tarot themes are usually (hopefully) constant across decks.
FindYourSovereignty Posted June 2, 2023 Posted June 2, 2023 1 hour ago, Grandma said: Eight of Cups, the destination is unknown, at least to the reader. 7 hours ago, DanielJUK said: 8 of Cups person is alone, going off with sadness, the 6 of Swords lady has her family and someone helping her get away. 7 hours ago, DanielJUK said: Like the 6 of Swords has nearly come to the end of transition, the 8 of Cups has just started Thank you @DanielJUK and @Grandma, for sharing. 😊
shadowcatto Posted June 3, 2023 Author Posted June 3, 2023 Thank you all for lending your perspectives, considering the quality and atmosphere of the scene of leaving, people and events that may be before and after this scene greatly helps. Nice also to see correspondences between @DanielJUK's and @Grandma's ideas on where in the journey they are & whether the destination is known. Much appreciated!
Grizabella Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 (edited) Everyone has done such a good job here that maybe I don't have a whole lot to add but I'll offer a couple thoughts anyway. The 8 of Cups is a card that one might find in their reading that signifies having dealt with one's emotional state. For instance, having fully healed from a failed relationship or other emotional trauman and regained a healthier perspective, then moved (or is moving) on from it. The 6 of Swords, in my opinion, would be closer to the trauma, probably and would show the person having left the situation after realizing the danger of the situation. . If these two cards came up in a reading together, I might interpret them as showing a person who has been abused, then left the relationship and done the healing necessary mentally and physically to move on to another, hopefully safer, place in their lives. Edited June 5, 2023 by Grizabella
Guest Posted June 6, 2023 Posted June 6, 2023 I would like to add one thing to what @FindYourSovereignty and @DanielJUK has said. For me, the 8 of cups is also linked to some type of stability. There are things that the querent can see that is good in the situation but is (in a way) forced to walk away because of the emotions (cups) that the situation has caused them. The querent knows what they have but because of the negative emotions that are attached to those cups (situation), they would rather walk away and start over or see what else might be out there. I see this card as emotional pain causing a person to walk away from everything.
the.Hydra Posted June 23, 2023 Posted June 23, 2023 With the 6 of Swords... I don't see it as a full complete transition out of a situation or letting go of the past (yet.) Because of the swords still in the stabbed into the boat (if you're looking at the traditional RWS system.) There's hope, and a place to land, but you need to get to safety before dealing with what happened, how you feel about it, reconcile yourself to it, the thoughts/trauma, etc. Say the figures take out the swords, the boat would fill with water and likely sink. At best they would have to swim to shore, at worst they would drown. The child here, to me, implies handling the situation carefully so you can get to safety without possibly messing up the getaway and causing harm to this new beginning. Swords being mental energy, and also just painful weapons, for me mean that it'll be something that the querent will have to work through with some level of discomfort/angst. Possibly with help (person rowing.) The 8 of Cups is definitely abandoning something in search of something else/better. All those cups, but they're not what you need or are looking for or found out you really wanted. It's complete emotional detachment, moving on, letting go. Yes with regret and sadness, but completely nonetheless. With the heart that maybe, hopefully, the future holds what you're searching for. To me it's a more private pain or resolution because the figure is alone, but it will be discovered eventually. The 6 of Swords is a little more public I think.
DanielJUK Posted June 24, 2023 Posted June 24, 2023 After this thread, the 8 of Cups came up for me recently and following on from what @the.Hydra said, I really noticed in the card that the 8 cups are stacked in the front of the card, they are so left behind with the figure in the background walking away. I always notice the moon side eyeing as well (it's supposed to be an eclipse!). Also I see the swords in the boat in the 6ofS as taking the swords with you, the thoughts, trauma and worries. You haven't escaped everything as you get away.
Mi-Shell Posted June 24, 2023 Posted June 24, 2023 The 6 of Swords combines the symbolism of 6 = equilibrium with nurturing (motherhood) with Swords =strife, arguments, maybe even misfortune and setbacks. = the card after the 5 of Swords.... To regain the equilibrium the person takes what is near and dear - including valuable insights and self-worth and moves away. Her back is protected by the ferryman and she does not look back . The water stands for deep emotions, so she needs help to safely navigate these. She may be sad, but she is moving away from a storm and that points to inner strengths and hope for the future. As a little exercise you could think of several situations, where you yourself emerged from a setback and made up your mind to move on, towards success. The 8 of Cups is more like moving on and away from a huge disappointment, maybe even a destructive or co-dependent relationship. The double-faced moon points towards a shattered illusion - or a rude awakening... The person has a walking stick, and is on her/ his way towards a mountain in the distance - a long hard road of emotional recovery and most likely also personal spiritual, emotional growth. All the 8 cups are stacked and intact, but for this person they "do not do the trick anymore" Something deeper and more meaningful is needed.
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