We would worry less if we praised more.
Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.
Unknown

As we move into the deepest heart of Summer, yet with the whisper of first harvest only two weeks away, we welcome back a visitor who last appeared at this exact time last year. Say hello to the Four of Cups.

The Tarot’s suit of Cups is all about our emotional side, involving love, dreams, healing, and intuition. And, as we recently saw when the Four of Wands came calling, the Fours focus on grounding the energy of the suit, in order to establish stability.

But as we can see here, that groundedness can easily veer off into stagnation.

The figure in the card is turned towards the three cups on the ground. But does he really see them? What do they hold? Are they times from the past, or current circumstances? Perhaps they are various desires or loves, among which he feels he must choose.

Judging by his crossed arms that close off his heart, as well as his slight frown, it would appear that the young man (for indeed, Arthur Waite does say he is male) is feeling flat, annoyed, or discouraged. Or might he be grieving?

Maybe he is simply lost in thought, or even meditating in a partial lotus position.

I wish I could give him that much benefit of the doubt, however, this is not what Waite seems to have intended. Calling him a “wastrel,” Waite observes, “His expression not withstanding is one of discontent with his environment…weariness, disgust, aversion, imaginary vexations…”

Notice the resemblance of the mysterious Fourth Cup to the Ace of Cups. He seems completely unaware that it is being offered. The Ace has often been compared to the Holy Grail, which is the gift of Grace from God, representing Her unconditional love, freely given to us.

The young man’s clothing incorporates the colors of Earth (green), Fire (red), and Water (blue). Missing is the (yellow) Air, which is perceptive, understanding, and inspired.

Thus, his attitude may be preventing him from seeing the cup. We can only hope that his listless unhappiness will eventually become uncomfortable enough that he will turn away from staring at the cups before him, which do not bring him joy.

Welcome to the Season of Leo

This week, the Sun says farewell to its annual sojourn in Cancer, and beams down from the sign of Leo (in tropical astrology). Accompanied by a Full Moon, which is always in the opposite sign of the zodiac from the Sun, Annie Heese tells us:

The Leo Sun is proud and intensely individual–not content with simply being just one of the team. The Aquarius Moon, while individualistic as well, values independence and the team, community, and group spirit.

The Full Moon [Friday, July 23rd, 2021, at 10:37 PM EDT] illuminates this conflict.

When a Full Moon occurs, we can burst forth with proclamations and outpours that seem fresh and new, simply because they are not yet rationalized.

In fact, a Full Moon illuminates feelings, attitudes, and circumstances that are already in existence. These buried feelings now surface, and our realizations or emotional discoveries can feel dramatic.

This is a time of awakening to the need for others or to answer to humanitarian impulses.

Yet our Four of Cups figure hesitates. Do you?

Get Out of the Box

Perhaps you are finding it needful to pause for a moment this week. Is there a big decision that you need to make?

As you contemplate the choices affecting you, perhaps wishing for “none of the above,” another option is being granted by Mystery. This could be unexpected news, or simply an opportunity.

How might you, too, be stuck? All too often we may go over and over what we have known up until now, at the expense of missing a fortuitous alternative we could never have anticipated. We can only hope that such quandaries eventually become uncomfortable enough that we look elsewhere.

It is true that these dog days of Summer can leave us flat, but do not ignore an unexpected call that may be coming from Spirit and love. Answer!

If you must, you certainly should take the time to retreat and go within to dream, muse and reflect.  But don’t go so far inward that you miss this beautiful offering that was not even sought by you. Instead, get out of the box and look UP!

With a heart ready to give thanks, we would do well to remember that, like the fourth cup, our path is also seeking us.