Three of Cups: Two Love One (by the water)
Above: Three of Cups from the Tarot de Marseille (Jodorowsky/Camoin version)
We walked to the reservoir together as a trio today, walked to the water. Why have we never walked there together before? Always hopping into the car, pumping out fumes, aren’t we? And what a beautiful walk it was! Along the deserted country lanes, through the green hills, we walked as a trio: myself, my husband Lukasz, and little Euro. There was nothing but openness and hills for miles as we headed for the distant Gladhouse Reservoir, our destination at the foot of the hills. Like pilgrims we were, water itself as our holy destination, on a rare sunny day.
In the Marseille Tarot, two cups rest at the bottom of the card. Beautiful flower stems grow and reach around a solo cup at the top of the card. In many decks, the stems and flower buds create a heart shape, or even two hearts. The love of two for one is on display, the way that we looked after our old whippet, Euro, who was always at the centre of our mini-pilgrimage. Constantly checking in to see if he needed water, or if he was okay on his old, arthritic legs. Pulling him to the side of the road when we hear a vehicle approaching, his sad face looking at us with confusion as we demand he stand on the grassy verge in order not to be squashed by a passing tractor. Our love for him didn’t need highlighting like in this card though: it just was, and is, natural and present.
We didn’t spend a lot of time at the waterside itself when we eventually reached it. The hills became clearer, on the other side of the vast, calm waters. Geese honked, swans rioted, their noise like the voice of the loch itself. We rested in the pine tree woods at the bank of the reservoir, the sun peeping through the treetops onto our skin as Euro lay on his old side, enjoying the rest, but also eager to start the long walk back home.
Yes, this card is right for today. It could easily be seen as two people taking a third being – one who they love dearly – to the waterside. (Cups = the suit of Water.) Two folks looking after a third precious person/animal/being who needs care. In the purest sense, it could be someone giving birth after an act of love to one other being, after incubating them in all of that natural animal liquid for such a long time. But always love; the love of two for one, for one place, being or object.
That’s all for now, friends. Thank you for being here – and please check out my Therapeutic Tarot Sessions and my courses embracing Tarot and Nature if you’d like us to work together. You can also sign up for the Tarot Blog newsletter (different to my main newsletter) below to receive occasional email updates (roughly monthly) with the latest posts.
Smiles from Scotland,
Stephen
