1 OF WATER
RWS Description: A hand holding a cup in its palm emerges from a cloud. There are five streams of water overflowing from the cup and water-lilies beneath. The dove holding a wafer bearing a cross in its beak, descends into the cup. There are twenty-six droplets. This appears to be a depiction of the Eucharist.
RWS Symbols
Dove: The dove of Spirit or divine grace. The dove represents confirmation of the Holy Spirit.
Wafer: The body of Christ.
Chalice: Within Holy Communion, the chalice symbolizes forgiveness of sin through Christ’s sacrifice. It prominently features the chalice used in the Mass. Upon the cup, amidst several small bells is the reversed letter M for Mary. When combined with the Cross on the wafer, this forms the symbol of the Médaille miraculeuse, also known as the miraculous medal of the Immaculate Conception.
Twenty-Six Droplets: The Divine Name has the value of 26 in gematria.
Keywords
UPRIGHT: Love, Compassion, Emotional Fulfillment, Vulnerability, Healing
REVERSE: Depleted, Repressed Emotions, Numb, Withdrawn, Detached
Interpretation: The Ace of Cups is about opening one’s heart to new emotional and spiritual beginnings. As the source of emotions, the Ace of Cups is the wellspring of feelings and intuition. It marks the beginning of deep emotional experiences, love, or spiritual connections, providing the foundation for emotional growth and relationships.
Correspondences
Sephira (Kether): 1 of Fire, 1 of Air, 1 of Earth
Elemental Powers of Water: Fire of Water, Water of Water, Air of Water, Earth of Water
Numerical Elements: 2 of Water, 3 of Water, 4 of Water, 5 of Water, 6 of Water, 7 of Water, 8 of Water, 9 of Water, 10 of Water
Card Details
1: Aces represent the source of the powers of each element. All ones represent the seed or divine spark of creative energy, and correspond to the first sephira, Kether, which is commonly referred to by Qabalists as the “crown.”
Tree of Life (Kether in Briah): The Ace of Cups corresponds to Kether in Briah. In the mental world, Kether is the source of emotions.
Sephira (Kether): The first sephiroth, Kether, is the primordial point from which the universe unfolds and to which all manifestation ultimately returns. Kether is associated with Neptune. Neptune represents the divine source, aligning with the Ultimate Reality principle. The Neptune archetype dissolves boundaries, allowing for us to embrace the experiences of all life forms with compassion and, in transcending the limiting ego, recognize the Divine Presence within everything.
World (Briah): All Cups correspond to the second of four worlds, the World of Briah (The World of Creation), which is also called the creative world. The element associated with the World of Briah is Water.
The Story of Water: The element of water, traditionally symbolized by the suit of cups in the Tarot system, exhibits an inherent connection with the domains of relationships and desires. The essence of this element is inextricably linked to the exploration and expression of emotions encompassing comfort, safety, danger, desire, delusion, contentment, love, and a myriad of other permutations that constitute the nuanced spectrum of human affective experience. The narratives and stories aligned with the water element revolve around the thematic explorations of desire, fulfillment, betrayal, disappointment, enchantment, thereby encapsulating the perpetual ebb and flow that characterizes the depths of the emotional experience in all its complexities.
Time of Year: Summer Solstice
Color (Hex Code): #FFFFFF
