The 5 of Cups has been stalking me recently, appearing upright at times and reversed at others, so I decided to make it the topic of this week’s blog post! Here you can get a sneak peek at the card — although remember that this deck is still a work in progress, so any images you see are subject to change.
The card is about regrets, about missed opportunities, moments in which life seems to have passed us by. We’ve lost something near and dear; of course the traditional teaching with this card is that despite what we’ve lost, something of value still remains.
This “positive spin” on the card may leave a lot to be desired, however. When we are hurting, having someone tell us to “cheer up” or to “look on the bright side” may do more harm than good. Sometimes we need to sit with our grief, embrace our sadness, maybe just have a good cry if that’s what it takes.
One of the key concepts behind this new deck — The Darkness Before the Dawn — is that each card is designed around traditional aspects, but not necessarily in the traditional way. My intent is to create images that spark emotions, images that are thought-provoking, images that call a reader to look closer and to question whatever they see.
The cards in the deck feature an essentially “monotone” palette: black, white, and shades of gray in between those extremes. But, even in the shadows, even in the darkest of times, we can find a bit of beauty or hope — or color. In The Darkness Before the Dawn each card — with one exception — includes a touch of color. Sometimes it’s just a mere suggestion; other times it’s a bright, bold burst of color; sometimes the color may be soothing; sometimes the color may be grotesque.
For the 5 of Cups in the deck, I chose to stay quite close to the traditional symbolism, and I chose blue as the color to represent both sadness and peace. Beyond that, however, I offer no interpretation for this card or for any others. What this card means is for the reader to decide.
So take a long look at this card, step into the shadows you see, and let it speak to you.
BTW: What card do you think it is that has no added color? HINT: It’s not DEATH.
