8 of Cups

I seek answers to life’s big questions

The term “vision quest” was first coined by 19th century anthropologists to describe the rite-of-passage ceremonies of certain Native American cultures, usually undertaken by boys approaching puberty. Certain preparations were made before the initiate spent a period of days alone in his chosen place in nature. Often fasting for the duration, the boy had to overcome challenges and fears, in order to receive wisdom and guidance from nature and the spirit world concerning his purpose and how he might serve his tribe. This wisdom came in the form of symbolic messages in the physical world and through dreams. They can be viewed as both personal and collective events guided and witnessed within the community.

The ideas of venturing into the wilderness, removed from the routine activities and duties of life, to sit in sacred space, quieting the mind heightening the senses to travel deeper into the nature of self and existence is probably as old as humanity. In the artwork, a young man holds his head in sheer bewilderment when faced with the task of gathering the wisdom held in each cup. As one cup flies away, the flames of another lick the fuse of dynamite in its neighbor. A cup spurts noxious green gas and he is about to unwittingly kick over the cup filled with liquid gold and on we go…

The Eight of Cups very much reflects where I was at when I created it: ideas were flying away from me, some important documents I needed were locked away in a security-encrypted folder. I had a fever and I had to think about an art piece that was needed urgently. People were getting heated, tempers were fraying, and I was about to lose money as a result. Just to cap it all off, I discovered a huge patch of green mold in my office which kicked off billions of toxic spores as I removed it.

And that’s just how it is some days. We must venture into the wilderness of our lives together wisdom. Just by virtue of being born we are thrust into a vast, paradoxical, beautiful and infinitely complex wilderness. The important take away is, from time to time we need to take ourselves off to unfamiliar parts and be challenged. We must leave behind our comforts and routines to connect with the wilds of nature.

Conversely, the cities we inhabit and the tasks we are called upon to do are also nature. Our lives, just as they are, constantly offer us guidance, wisdom and healing. For the most part we are just too busy or preoccupied to stop and take note, receive the learning and allow ourselves to be transformed into a more effective and heart-centered people. In my case in relation to this card, it was art and life converging to tell me to take care of my physical body, deal with problems as soon as they happen, and call upon experts to deal with problems I could spend a month of Sundays trying to resolve.

The Eight of Cups suggests there is much wisdom and guidance to be gained wherever you are of its your intention. Creating sacred space to sit in nature, away from the habitual rhythm of life may also be very valuable; as the having and doing fall away, the being is left. In this culture we are conditioned to do the opposite: to focus on what we must have materially in our lives and do the work to manifest it in order to be happy. Be happy and let everything else find its place.