Deviation Actions
Description
(2016), pencil on paper, 5.5"x10.5" backed with digital frame.
In the 10s all elements are subjected to full materialization. The 10s are dominated by the planet Earth. They are the most solid and crystallized manifestation of each suite.
For the element of Water and in the realm of feelings this means that we have passed the point of ecstasy and pure joy and are now sinking into the afterglow of an intense emotional experience. It is the nature of emotions that they cannot be pinned down. If they are fully materialized and we consciously examine them they tend to evaporate. If you are in a moment of intense fear or happiness and you consciously acknowledge that feeling it loses its intensity and dissolves.
A fully materialized feeling may also leave us somewhat exhausted, and so the impulse of the card is satiety, the feeling that we’ve had enough. We may be grateful for the experience, but it’s time to let go and move on to other things.
In the Rider Waite deck the card shows a family in an open, green landscape with a little cottage in the background. The man and woman hold on to each other and admire a rainbow that spans the sky with ten cups contained in the high arch. Next to them their two children play with one another oblivious to everything else. The atmosphere is one of intense joy, but the rainbow is fleeting and eventually the little group will return to their house and the aggravations, troubles and boredoms of everyday life. The Thoth deck shows 10 cups in a tree of life arrangement with golden rays connecting them before a rich crimson background. The card feels ornate and luxurious and a little static.
For my own card I wanted to capture the feeling of peace, relaxation and the calm at the end of an emotional journey and chose a view over a quiet lake with 10 boulders in the water summing up the number value of the card. The waters are clear and allow a view not just of the reflections of the landscape but also of what is under the surface.
In a spread the card indicates that you have found inner emotional fulfillment and are ready to let go with gratitude. We feel a moment of connection with the infinite and are at peace with our subconscious - the things above and below the surface are in harmony. We feel serene as we look back on our happiness and slowly let go to prepare ourselves for what comes next.
For a relationship-related question the card may indicate that you have reached your happily-ever-after and you now face the challenge of your story continuing past the fairy-tale ending. We can't remain in the honeymoon stage forever, so enjoy the closeness and happiness you share with a partner, friend or within your family and be grateful for it, but also start to think about what will come next and how you will manage the everyday together going forward.
If the card comes up for a business-related question you know that it won't get better than what you're looking back on right now. Take a break and review what you have achieved, but don't become complacent and rest too long on your laurels!
If the card is uncovered in an adverse or blockage position it could mean that you are unable to move beyond the present moment. You are terrified of letting go of your bliss, but your very act of clinging to your feelings will depress you and make you feel hollow. You may also rely too much on others for your sense of happiness and fulfillment, but ultimately lasting happiness and satisfaction must rest within yourself and the way you have made peace with who you are.
