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Radiant: Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot- Five of Cups
Arthur Edward Waite, a well-established Western Hermetic Qabalist, was fully aware that the number Five is ruled by Geburah, the fiery Sephirah of Severity, rupture, and ordeal. Placing this force within the Suit of Cups, the element of Water, creates an immediate and natural antipathy: fire agitates, overheats, and disturbs placid waters. Emotion under the influence of Geburah cannot remain serene; it must be tested, scorched, and broken open.
This tension deepens further when the card is attributed to Mars in Scorpio. Mars, the ruler of Geburah, finds Scorpio to be its most corrosive and difficult expression—especially on the lowest plane of Geburah, where force no longer liberates but putrefies. Here, Water does not cleanse immediately; it rots first. This is not decay as punishment, but decay as the first stage of purification, the necessary dissolution before renewal can occur.
Yet the masculine intensity of Mars arrests this process. The putrefaction becomes internal rather than external, turning inward upon the psyche. Emotional release is delayed, fermented, and pressurized. Pleasure is anticipated but denied. Desire is present, but fulfillment is frustrated. The result is grief that lingers, sorrow that cannot yet flow, and emotional stagnation masquerading as loss.
Mars in Scorpio
Mars in the house of Scorpio is a powerful and intense placement in astrology. Since many aspirants have an interest in metaphysics and astrology, I'll provide you with some insights into the characteristics of Mars in Scorpio:
Intensity: Mars represents action, energy, and drive, and when placed in Scorpio, the sign of deep transformation and intensity, it amplifies these qualities. Individuals with this placement tend to approach their goals with great intensity and determination.
Passion: Scorpio is known for its passion, and Mars here intensifies that passion. People with Mars in Scorpio are passionate about their desires and pursuits, which can make them very focused and persistent in achieving their goals.
Determination: Mars in Scorpio individuals are determined and unwavering in their pursuits. They are not easily swayed from their path and are willing to put in the effort required to achieve their objectives, no matter how challenging.
Sexuality: Scorpio is a sign associated with sexuality and sensuality, and Mars in Scorpio individuals may have a strong and passionate sexual nature. They can be very intense and deeply connected in their intimate relationships.
Resilience: Scorpio is a fixed sign, and Mars in this position gives individuals a great deal of resilience. They have the ability to bounce back from setbacks and are not easily defeated by obstacles or adversity.
Investigative Mind: Scorpio is also associated with investigation and uncovering hidden truths. Those with Mars in Scorpio may have a natural inclination toward research, detective work, or anything that involves digging beneath the surface to discover hidden information.
Emotional Depth: This placement can bring emotional depth and intensity to one's actions. Mars in Scorpio individuals may have a powerful emotional drive that fuels their actions and decision-making.
Jealousy and Possessiveness: On the downside, the intensity of Scorpio can also manifest as jealousy and possessiveness. Mars in Scorpio individuals may need to be mindful of these tendencies in their relationships.
Power and Control: Scorpio is associated with power and control, and Mars here can make individuals highly attuned to power dynamics. They may have a desire to be in control of situations and may excel in leadership roles.
Transformation: Ultimately, Mars in Scorpio can lead to profound personal transformation. It encourages individuals to confront their own desires, fears, and limitations, leading to a process of inner growth and change.
Remember that the exact influence of Mars in Scorpio can vary depending on other factors in your natal chart, such as aspects and house placements. If you have specific questions or need a more detailed analysis, it's a good idea to consult with a professional astrologer who can provide personalized insights based on your complete birth chart.
Although Waite is the surname by which the deck is commonly known today, it is worth remembering that this system emerged through collaboration. Only a few years later did the cards come to be widely referred to as the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, acknowledging Pamela Colman Smith, whose illustrations carried Waite’s Hermetic intent into visual form.
Smith’s image of the Five of Cups renders this doctrine with stark clarity. A dark-robed figure stands with head bowed in despair. Behind him lies his castle—security, achievement, and identity—while a river flows quietly between past and present, crossed by a bridge that he cannot yet bring himself to walk. In the foreground, three cups lie overturned, spilling what resembles wine—or blood—symbols of emotional vitality lost in conflict. Behind him, unnoticed, two cups remain upright..
These overturned cups suggest a battle fought and technically won, yet paid for at too high a cost. Something precious has been sacrificed. The upright cups confirm that not all is lost, but Geburah’s cruelty lies here: the victory brings no joy. Triumph curdles into despair. The emotional body has survived—but it has not yet healed.
This is not mere sadness. It is the alchemy of sorrow, the stage where emotion must rot before it can be reborn.
The Triple Goddess Tarot - 5 of Cups.
The Triple Goddess Tarot Five of Cups concentrates unflinchingly on the raw interiority of grief itself. Unlike the Rider-Waite-Smith image, where loss is contextualized by aftermath and consequence, this card arrests the moment within sorrow, refusing distraction or escape.
A woman dressed in dark funerary robes sits upon a bench shaped like twin sarcophagi. Her head is lowered, long dark hair cascading forward to veil her face, while her hands rest crossed upon her lap in a posture of ritual stillness rather than collapse. On one side of her, two cups remain upright atop the sarcophagi; on the other, three cups lie overturned, spilling dark wine down their stone sides like congealed blood or unwept tears.
Behind her stretches a barren desert landscape beneath a large, blazing Sun, high and merciless in the sky. This is not the gentle solar warmth of comfort or reassurance—it is the unyielding light of consciousness itself. Nothing is hidden. Nothing is softened. Grief here is illuminated, not soothed.
This card dares the querent to let emotion move without repression. Grieving is not portrayed as weakness, nor as something to be quickly transcended, but as an essential initiatory phase of healing. The desert implies emotional depletion; the Sun insists that this depletion be witnessed fully. Until grief is allowed to flow, forward motion remains impossible.
Thus, this Five of Cups signifies mourning over what has been lost, emotional disturbance, and a temporary inability to move on—not because the path is blocked, but because the soul must first empty itself honestly.
Taken together, the Rider-Waite-Smith and Triple Goddess Tarot Five of Cups reveal grief as a two-phase Hermetic operation rather than a singular emotional state. In the RWS image, loss is framed through consequence: something has been won, something has survived, yet the cost of victory has rendered celebration impossible. Here grief arises from Geburah’s severity acting upon Water, producing inner stagnation, delayed release, and the bitterness of unfulfilled emotional expectation.
The Triple Goddess Tarot then strips away narrative and aftermath, confronting the querent with grief itself—silent, exposed, and illuminated beneath the unrelenting Sun. Where RWS shows the soul turning away from what remains, the Triple Goddess demands stillness and surrender, insisting that sorrow be fully inhabited before movement can resume.
Together, these cards teach that emotional renewal does not come from denial or premature optimism, but from allowing grief to complete its alchemical cycle: first recognized as loss, then endured as mourning, and only afterward transformed into clarity. In Western Hermetic terms, this is Water purified not by avoidance, but by conscious descent through severity into truth.
Eli's Hermetic Axiom
What is not allowed to be grieved will rot within the soul; what is fully mourned becomes the seed of renewal.
In Western Hermetic Gematria, the number 5 holds several significant characteristics and meanings across various traditions, particularly within Jewish mysticism and the Western esoteric tradition.
Jewish Gematria
Letter and Numerical Value: The number 5 corresponds to the Hebrew letter "ה" (Heh). Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value, and Heh is the fifth letter, representing the number 5.
Symbolism of Heh:
- God's Grace: The letter Heh is often associated with divine grace and benevolence. In Kabbalistic/Qabalistic thought, it symbolizes the breath of God and creation.
- Names of God: The Tetragrammaton (YHWH) contains two Hehs, emphasizing its importance in the divine name.
Pentateuch (Torah): The number 5 is significant as it corresponds to the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), which form the Torah. These texts are foundational to Jewish religious tradition and law.
Western Esotericism
Pentagram: In Western esoteric traditions, the number 5 is often represented by the pentagram, a five-pointed star.
- Microcosm: The pentagram is seen as a symbol of the microcosm, or human being, with each point representing a limb or the head.
- Protection: It is also used as a protective symbol, representing the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and spirit) and their harmony.
The Fifth Sephirah - Geburah:
- Tree of Life: On the Qabalistic/ Kabbalistic Tree of Life, the fifth sephirah is Geburah, which means strength or severity. It is associated with discipline, judgment, and the application of justice.
- Mars: Geburah is connected to the planet Mars, symbolizing action, courage, and sometimes conflict.
Tarot Correspondences
- The Hierophant: In the Tarot, the number 5 corresponds to the Major Arcana card The Hierophant. This card represents tradition, spiritual wisdom, and religious guidance.
- Minor Arcana: In the Minor Arcana, the fives of each suit (Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands) typically indicate challenges, changes, or disruptions, reflecting the transformative power of the number 5.
General Symbolism
- Human Experience: The number 5 often symbolizes human life and experience. It is connected to the five senses, indicating perception and interaction with the material world.
- Balance and Change: As a prime number, 5 represents independence and self-determination. It also symbolizes dynamic balance and adaptability, as it stands at the midpoint between 1 and 9, suggesting a pivotal point of transition.
In summary, the number 5 in Gematria and various esoteric traditions embodies themes of creation, divine grace, human experience, protection, discipline, and transformation. Its significance is multifaceted, reflecting both spiritual and material aspects of existence.
Being a highly emotional card, the Five of Cups indicates that the querent is experiencing:
Disappointment in love, intimacy, or marriage.
Unkindness or emotional withdrawal from friends or loved ones, whether deserved or undeserved, as clarified by surrounding cards.
The end of pleasure; sorrow arising from the loss of that which was expected to bring emotional fulfillment.
Sadness accompanied by deceit, treachery, ill-will, detraction, or kindness that has been poorly repaid.
Trouble or emotional distress arising from unexpected sources.
The death of what was loved—symbolic in most cases, but in certain supported layouts, this card may indicate the death of a loved one.
If reversed or ill-dignified by surrounding cards, it may imply:
News or messages that alter the emotional landscape.
Alliances, reconnections, or renewed bonds.
Affinity and emotional recognition.
Consanguinity, ancestry, or family matters resurfacing.
Return—either of a person, memory, or unresolved emotional matter.
False projects or emotional investments based on misplaced hope.
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