Welcome to Tarot Thursdays! This week we will be exploring the Three of Cups and how it can be used as a prompt or brainstorming in our writing.
Tarot is an interesting thing. It’s based upon symbolism and metaphors through imagery. With these images the subconscious mind is tapped into through the story provided. Not everyone gets the same thing from a piece of art. Each piece will influence each person in a slightly different way.
Introduction of the Card
The Three of Cups is card number 38 in the deck and the third card of the Cups Suit in the Minor Arcana of the Tarot.
Let’s take a look at the following examples of Three of Cups below.
Card Examples
Notice the similarities between them and take note of their differences. Do any of these move you more than the others? Take your time and allow these cards to tell you their story.
My Analysis of These Cards
In each of these cards, a gathering of fellows is either depicted or suggested. They are enjoying each others’ company here. The dragon card has an air of quiet elegance, but it is still happy. They all show different reasons for a community to be celebrating.
Themes of the Card
Each card has a set of keywords associated with it that serve as themes for its image. These keywords will vary somewhat depending on who you ask.
According to the Learning the Tarot website, the keywords associated with the card are:
- EXUBERANCE
- FRIENDSHIP
- COMMUNITY
You can learn more about what this site has to say about this card here.
According to the Biddy Tarot website, the keywords associated with the card are:
- CELEBRATION
- FRIENDSHIP
- CREATIVITY
- COMMUNITY
You can learn more about what this site has to say about this card here.
What this Card Means to Me
This card captures a great deal of my best childhood memories. There wasn’t a holiday that didn’t have food to celebrate with. Not sure why the raised cups in these cards makes me think of this, but it does. The BBQs, the family reunions, the weddings, the gaming nights, campfires and s’mores – you name it, the food was there. Let the good times roll and the feasting begin.
And some of the best stories had feasts as well. Perhaps the most classic was in “The Hobbit” when Bilbo met the dwarves and they raided his pantry with gusto and singing.
The keyword I’m choosing for this card is: EXUBERANCE.
Music Playlist
In this spirit of all this, these are the songs I have picked out for this card.
The Writing Exercise
This exercise is a free write. Permit yourself to write whatever comes to mind based upon the theme of this card. Choose a keyword or key phrase and run with it to see what you come up with.
I would love it if you linked or pinged back what you wrote so I could see where you went with this.
Happy writing!
Mythic Tarot by Liz Greene (Author), Juliet Sharman-Burke (Author), Tricia Newell (Illustrator) © 1989
Dragon Tarot by Terry Donaldson (Author), Peter Pracownik (Author) © 1996
Universal Tarot by Lo Scarabeo (Author), R. De Angelis (Illustrator), A. E. Waite (Designer) © 2001
Tarot of Dreams by Ciro Marchetti (Author), Lee Bursten (Author) © 2015