This is a blog post describing the different meanings of the Eight of Cups tarot card in the Minor Arcana of the standard Rider-Waite deck. Read on to discover the different meanings of the Eight of Cups upright and reversed for money, love, and other situations in your life.
Eight of Cups Tarot Card Keywords
Upright: Walking away, letting go, escapism, reaching your limit, self-reflection, introspection, abandonment, tiredness, fatigue, strength, leaving a bad situation, loneliness, searching for the truth, withdrawal, disappointing situation, exploring unconscious feelings
Reversed: Stagnation, monotony, lack of self-awareness, no emotional maturity, false happiness, low self-esteem, low confidence, no self-worth, clinginess, fear of abandonment, fear of commitment, no financial security, poor mental health, bad relationship, bad luck
Eight of Cups as Feelings
The Eight of Cups upright represents your feeling like it’s time to walk away from something that no longer serves you. This comes with feelings of disappointment and sadness and a sense of hope and possibility.
You may feel a little disheartened or exhausted as you search for something new while knowing that the old has to go.
The reversed Eight of Cups suggests fear and resistance to making changes in your life. You may feel stuck or unable to move forward, even though you know you need to.
You could feel a lack of trust in yourself and your ability to make the best decision, as well as an inability to let go of things that are no longer serving you.
Eight of Cups as How Someone Sees You
The Eight of Cups upright reflects that someone may see you as courageous for leaving a situation and striving for self-discovery. They will likely recognize your strength of character and appreciate how you are trying to find emotional balance in your life.
In the reversed position, someone might see you as clingy or overly dependent on them for comfort. They may view you as stuck in a bad rut and unable to make the best decisions for yourself.
They could also see you as scared of commitment or afraid of leaving a situation, even if it doesn’t serve you anymore.
Eight of Cups as What Someone Wants From You
The Eight of Cups means someone wants to see you taking the initiative to make positive changes in your life.
They want you to trust yourself and be courageous enough to move forward, letting go of things that no longer serve you and striving for growth and self-discovery.
In the reversed position, someone might expect you to stay in a situation, even if it’s not ideal.
They fear commitment and do not want to risk the stability of the current situation, preferring to stay stuck. They may also want you to be dependent on them and rely on them for comfort or guidance rather than finding the strength within yourself.
Overall, they might expect you to suppress your needs in favor of their security.
Upright Eight of Cups Tarot Card Meanings
Generally speaking, the upright Eight of Cups appears when it’s time to let go and move on from something that is no longer serving you.
This is not always easy, and you may experience the pain and sadness of the loss. But deep down inside, you know it’s for the best.
This card also represents taking time out for self-discovery, personal growth, and finding new ways to look at life.
There is beauty in the sadness and pain if you know where to look.
You will learn so much about yourself and often will emerge with a new look on life once the dust settles from this difficult decision.
You will gain emotional strength, courage, and wisdom to face whatever life throws at you.
And you will be a better person for going through this experience.
Upright Eight of Cups Card For Love
If you’re in a committed relationship and the Eight of Cups shows up in your reading, the relationship is nearing its end.
Something is missing – usually emotional satisfaction and reciprocity.
You’ve tried to make it work for whatever reason, but your cup is empty, and you can’t take it anymore.
There’s disappointment and sadness, of course, but it’s time to let go and move on.
A more fulfilling relationship awaits – one that will provide you with the love and attention you need and deserve.
If you’re single, the Eight of Cups could signify that someone is not right for you.
It’s time to look for someone to treat you with respect and affection.
The only way to find true love is to open your heart again and explore the possibilities.
You may experience loneliness or disappointment, but eventually, you will find the perfect person for you.
This card reminds you to trust yourself and be courageous in your choices.
You may also feel tired of the dating scene or even look for a romantic partner altogether.
Your emotional strength is likely depleted because you’ve had a string of unsuccessful partnerships.
It’s okay to take a break, look inward and reflect on your needs and desires.
When you’re ready to start dating again, you will be in a better place emotionally, and the right person will surely come along.
Upright Eight of Cups For Money & Career
If your main concern is your career path when the Eight of Cups shows up, you have reached the end of the road with your current situation.
Whether it’s a dead-end job that doesn’t pay enough and has no room for growth, a business that has drained you financially and emotionally, or an opportunity that has not panned out as you had hoped – it’s time to let go.
You may have been working hard, but the rewards have not been forthcoming.
You are likely feeling disappointed and maybe even a bit discouraged, but this is a sign from the Universe that there is something else for you.
You have to be willing to let go of the old so you can welcome in the new.
Financially, the Eight of Cups means that you must look at your current situation and assess what is no longer working.
It could be time to cut back on spending, save more money, or invest in yourself so you can eventually make more money.
This card also encourages you to take risks if necessary, but do it with caution and don’t rush into anything.
Sometimes this card shows up when you’ve been supporting someone else financially to your own detriment.
You want to be a good person and help those you love, but if it’s draining you, you might need to scale back or pull the plug.
Reversed Eight of Cups Tarot Card Meanings
When the Eight of Cups appears reversed, it indicates that you are scared or resistant to changing your life.
You may be stuck in a situation and unable to move forward, although you know it’s time.
You may be suffering from a lack of self-esteem or self-worth, so you’re sticking with what you know because you lack the courage to take risks and leave your comfort zone.
You may also lack the self-awareness or emotional maturity needed to make courageous decisions that will benefit you long-term.
The thing about this is that deep down inside, you know what you need to do.
You understand that the longer you stick around, the worse things will get.
You are likely faking happiness and going through the motions while slowly dying inside.
It’s time, to be honest with yourself and face the truth: it’s time to move on.
Only then can you find true satisfaction in life.
Reversed Eight of Cups Card For Relationships
If you are in a committed relationship and the Eight of Cups shows in a reversed position, you know that you’re not being treated well and things aren’t working out, but for whatever reason you can’t seem to walk away.
This is a sign of codependency, clinginess and fear of abandonment.
You may be afraid to be alone or start over again with someone else.
This card is a reminder that it’s okay to end relationships when they are no longer healthy or beneficial for you.
It doesn’t mean you’re giving up on true love; you are bravely trying to find it in a better place.
The only way you can do this is by taking the necessary steps to move on, even if it scares you.
It’s time to free yourself from unhealthy relationships and trust that the right person will appear when you’re ready.
If you’re single, the Eight of Cups reversed means staying in your comfort zone and not taking enough risks to find love.
It’s time to put yourself out there, break the monotony, and open yourself up to the possibility of new love.
Have faith that things will work out if you take a leap of faith. Believe in yourself and invest in your happiness.
Whatever you do, don’t stay stuck.
Take action now and start living your best life.
Reversed Eight of Cups For Money & Career
The Eight of Cups reversed in a career reading means that you are seriously underpaid, underutilized, and unfulfilled.
You may even be stuck in a job you hate and unable to change it.
This card reminds you that your financial circumstances don’t have to stay this way.
It’s time to look for ways to increase your income and better use your skills, talents, and abilities.
On the other hand, this card could represent your being on the wrong career path because of outside forces.
You may earn lots of money, for example, but the work-life balance is non-existent.
On the outside, people may admire you for what you’ve achieved. You may even be faking happiness to keep up appearances, but deep down inside, you’re crumbling.
It’s time to re-evaluate your career path and make decisions that will benefit you long-term.
Make sure you are in the right job, one that is aligned with your values and brings out the best in you.
And don’t be afraid to take risks if it means achieving a better balance and overall better outcome in life.
You only live once, and you owe it to yourself to make it as good a journey as you can.
Final Thoughts On The Eight of Cups Card
Congrats on taking the first step to work with the tarot and learning to read for yourself and those you love!
The Eight of Cups asks you to take a good, hard look at your life and really evaluate what is working for you and what isn’t.
It reminds you that it’s okay to walk away from situations that are no longer healthy or beneficial for you.
This card encourages you to take risks, have faith in yourself, have courage, and make decisions that will benefit you in the long run.
This card also urges you to take a step back and look within to discover who you truly are, what your values are, and what type of life you want to create for yourself.
Remember, at the end of the day, no one can make decisions for you but yourself.
Take some time to look deep within and make decisions that will bring out the best version of yourself.
Everything you need to succeed is already inside you; all that’s left is for you to have courage and take action.
Good luck on your journey!
Oh and by the way…
Now that you’ve already begun your journey, the next natural step is to make sure you receive your free numerology reading.
Few things are as powerful as numerology for helping you improve your tarot readings.
But I’m not going to tell you that the information you’ll uncover will make you a better tarot reader.
It’s better for you to get your reading and find that out for yourself.
That way, it’ll be a much more personal, special, and beautiful experience.