4 of Cups

Keywords & phrases

• Quiet withdrawal
• Despondency
• Lack of motivation
• Lost mojo
• Boredom and apathy
• Introspection
• Meditation

First impressions

At first glance, this card speaks of despondency or ambivalence… but there is surely more to it than that.

What is happening in the card?

 A gentle-looking young man sits cross-legged under a tree on a summer’s day. His arms are also crossed over his chest. His gaze is lowered.

Three beautiful cups sit before him, a fourth is offered from that hand that appears on his right, as if from thin air. Here is a man who appears to have consciously taken himself out of the game – for the moment anyway. His focus is turned inwards.

What is on offer here? And why does he appear to reject it? What is stopping him from seeing the beauty around him? Why has he cut himself off from the flow?

How can we relate to this card?

The 4 of Cups is us when we are not fully engaging. For whatever reason, the young man in the card is ‘sitting this one out’ while life ebbs and flows around him.

Perhaps he’s ‘partied out’, had too much of a good thing, and needs to recharge his batteries or he is taking a quiet moment to reflect or meditate.

Another interpretation is that of despondency. He doesn’t seem able to appreciate what he has or what gifts are on offer to him. He’s in a bit of a ‘funk’ and I think we’ve all been there at one time or another. 

Other associations

Tree of life:
4th Sephira of Chesed – Mercy and the flow of lovingkindness – in the realm of B’riah – the world of creation, spirit and feeling.

Thoth:
Luxury, the Moon in Cancer

Major Arcana:
Associated with The Emperor – Key number 4

Message & affirmations

Today, I am truly grateful for the world and my place in it. I wish good things for myself and others and I am ready, open and willing to accept more love and abundance in my life. I am excited about all the ways this will show up for me.

My personal experiences of this card

Energetically, for me, this card is a bit ‘glass half full’. I can’t quite see that the man in the Rider Waite image is in a serene meditative state because of his crossed arms which seems to be sending out a strong blocking message.

I can’t help feeling that he’s being a little churlish. He’s not in the frame of mind to say yes to anything. And I know myself that state of mind when it’s ‘all a bit shit, really’.

It reminds me of times when I’m busy reeling off a well-tended list of all the things that are wrong with a situation and someone offers a solution. And honestly would they ever just keep their well-meaning suggestions to themselves while I wallow in my funk? If I was looking for answers, I’d ask for them, right?

Now I come to think of it, this could be hormonal, because it doesn’t feel rational and tends to pass by after a while and I’m back in the flow.

I also feel like to I want to get this guy’s attention and sling out some well-turned and much-used phrases like “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone” or “wake up and smell the coffee!”.

Events, situations & readings

In a relationship spread:
The 4 of Cups prompts you to examine how you are connecting with others. Is it possible that you have checked out of a relationship? Is someone reaching out to you (with a gift perhaps), but you can’t or don’t want to see it? Are you taking them for granted?

Or perhaps you really do just need a little time out and that someone is letting you know that they are there for you when you’re ready. Whatever, this person is making the effort to keep communication flowing.

This may also be a message of emotional self-care in the 4 of Cups – it’s ok for you to withdraw/holdback if what’s on offer does not feel that it would ‘fill your cup’ but would deplete it.

In a work/career/business spread:
This card could represent a feeling of despondency or complacency at work leading to a lack of motivation and action. What can you do to get your mojo back?

In a spiritual/personal development spread:
The 4 of Cups reminds you of the laws of attraction and abundance and the idea that there is enough to go around. First you have to assume an attitude of gratitude.

There might also be a self-care message here for you to take some time out for yourself to recover.

People & interaction with other cards

With the 4 of Swords, and other cards that focus on self-love and care, the message might well be to take some time for recovery and introspection. This would be amplified by the appearance of The Devil in a reading – suggesting that you examine your choices and how healthy they are.

The appearance of firey cards like the Ace of Wands or 3 of Wands might bring the much-needed spark to take inspired action and lift you out of a work slump. 

Questions, prompts & insights

Do you feel like you’ve lost your mojo at work or at home? 

What are you grateful for in your life right now? What would you like more of? How can you open yourself to more abundance?

Featured decks:
Main image from The Rider Waite Tarot.