Nine of Cups
A contented man sits before nine cups arrayed behind him: the 'wish card' of satisfaction, pleasure, and emotional fulfillment.
Cups, IX
Upright keywords
- wish fulfillment
- satisfaction
- contentment
- pleasure
- gratitude
- well-being
Meaning when upright
Known as the wish card, the Nine of Cups says that what you have hoped for is within reach or already here. A well-fed man sits with folded arms before an arched table of nine cups, the picture of satisfaction; Waite describes a goodly personage who has feasted to his heart's content, with the future also assured. The card speaks of contentment, pleasure, comfort, and success enjoyed without apology. Waite adds that the picture shows the material side only, and modern readers note that the deepest satisfaction comes from gratitude rather than accumulation.
On the card
- stout man seated with folded arms and a satisfied smile
- contentment, pride, and self-satisfaction
- nine cups arranged in an arch behind him
- wishes fulfilled and displayed; the fullness of abundance
- curved counter draped in blue cloth
- plenty on show, while the cloth may hide what lies beneath
- red hat
- vitality, desire, and worldly enjoyment
- wooden bench
- rest and comfort after effort
- bright yellow background
- optimism, warmth, and success
- feet planted wide apart
- confidence and ease
In Waite’s words
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 meaning
Concord, contentment, physical bien-être; also victory, success, advantage; satisfaction for the Querent or person for whom the consultation is made.
- Reversed
Truth, loyalty, liberty; but the readings vary and include mistakes, imperfections, etc.
- Additional meaning
Of good augury for military men. Reversed: Good business.
Correspondences
- Element
- Water
- Astrology
- Jupiter in Pisces
- Sephira
- Yesod (9)
- Golden Dawn title
- Lord of Material Happiness
- Decan
- Mar 1 – Mar 10
- Number
- Nine marks culmination just short of completion, here the personal emotional satisfaction that precedes the shared fulfillment of the Ten.
To reflect on
- If I could have one wish granted right now, what would it be?
- What have I already received that I have not stopped to appreciate?
- Does what I am pursuing truly satisfy me, or only look like satisfaction?
In your readings
Hasn’t appeared in your readings yet.
Ask about this card
Marguerite, the traditionalist, answers from Waite’s text, what is drawn on the card and its correspondences. You can choose another reader in settings.