Nine of Cups
-
Pictorial Key to the Tarot
A.E. Waite -
The Tarot
S. L. MacGregor Mathers -
General Book of the Tarot
A. E. Thierens
Nine of Cups
Description
A goodly personage has feasted to his heart's content, and abundant refreshment of wine is on the arched counter behind him, seeming to indicate that the future is also assured. The picture offers the material side only, but there are other aspects.
Divinatory Meanings
Concord, contentment, physical bien-être; also victory, success, advantage; satisfaction for the Querent or person for whom the consultation is made.
Divinatory Meanings - Reversed
Truth, loyalty, liberty; but the readings vary and include mistakes, imperfections, etc.
Additional Divinatory Meanings
Of good augury for military men.
Additional Meanings - Reversed
Good business.
Nine of Cups
Divinatory Meanings
Nine of Cups - Victory, Advantage, Success, Triumph, Difficulties surmounted.
Divinatory Meanings - Reversed
Faults, Errors, Mistakes, Imperfections.
Nine of Cups
Tradition
Victory, success, advantage, gain, triumph, superiority, etc. "The heart's content." (Waite) Reversed, the card seems even better: Sincerity, truth, loyalty, good faith, frankness, ingenuity, opening the heart, liberty, familiarity, etc. Concord, contentment, physical well-being.
Theory
Many of the addictions are very suggestive of the influence of the Water on the house of the heart, the Fifth; and we can only say, that they are fairly exact and to the point. The card must signify the realisation of hopes and wishes lying in one's own power or destiny, making one enjoy the fulness of life, and adopting the philosophy of Epicurus. There is no evil in it. It shows goodness and a jovial disposition, not only contentment and happiness in one's self, but also, owing to Leo-influence, the love of bestowing hospitality on other people and helping them.
Conclusion
Happiness, contentment, the fulfilment of wishes, bestowing benefits, hospitality, the heart's content,' loyalty, liberality, the joy of life, love of children; concord, well-being; success, advantage, satisfaction, etc. Joviality.
P.S.--In the more profane branch of divination this card is called the 'nine-months-card,' owing to the belief that it means pregnancy and expectance of childbirth. The latter is significant of the fifth house, the former confirms our idea, that the cups have to do with months in time.