Keywords to the Four of Cups Tarot Card Meaning:
Part of the reason Tarot enthusiasts and scholars of all skill levels pour over different deck renditions is to gain different perspectives. Inevitably, we encounter one image from a specific deck that rings our bells, and unfurls a trove of symbolic treasure to our psyche.
At least, this has been my experience, and I found myself incapable of adequately describing the potential of the Four of Cups Tarot card meaning without sharing with you the imagery of the Hanson-Roberts rendition of this card. Click here for the full image, or click on the thumbnail for a larger view of this card.
What struck me most profoundly were the pinecones looming overhead of the featured character. Pinecones are also esoteric symbols of the pineal gland (indeed, this gland looks just like a pinecone) which has been counted as a mystical gateway to spiritual experiences. It is that groundbreaking symbol that is at the crux of this card meaning.
Further, on the one side, we see the integration, union and potential elation expressed in the three cups gathered in the foreground (see meanings of the Three of Cups here). Yet, our central feature holds himself back while all around him stirs the magic, mystery, and infinite possibilities to experience life to its fullest - if only he would open his awareness to its presence.
The Four of Cups reminds us that we are the only limiting factor to our own endless gain. The Universe is a porous domain and from every orifice there dwells an opportunity for our highest advantage. It is up to us to open ourselves (uncross our arms), open our eyes (unleash our pineal-eye for a metaphysical view), and reach out to embrace all the enhancement that naturally flows to us (as depicted by the levitating/magically appearing cup in this card).
A few symbol meanings for the Four of Cups:
Clouds: Clouds hold the symbol meaning of revelation.
Consider out of the mists of our deepest thoughts suddenly an
epiphany comes, a bright idea comes out from nowhere - this is the
basic cloud symbol meaning. Depending on the card, clouds can also
symbolize confusion or clouded judgment. Primarily, clouds
represent higher thought and messages from the divine. Click
here for more clouds in the Tarot cards.
Tree:
Trees speak to us of being rooted yet reaching for ever higher
vantage points on our journey through living this life experience.
Trees also remind us of the words: "as above, so too below" spoken
by Hermes Trismegistus and countless others which imply what moves
in the ethereal produces as identical motion in the physical. We
draw this symbolic connection with trees because their root system
is visually similar as their branch system. We also gain symbolic
understanding from trees by utilizing another quote: "A man may be
judged by his fruits" - which begs the question, what kind of
fruit are you producing? For more on esoteric tree symbolism click here.
Some other questions the Four of Cups asks us: