Card of the Week: Three of Cups

In which I reflect on squad goals and interconnection

From Sonia Lazo’s Rainbow Tarot

Keywords

friendship, collaboration, community, mutual support, reunion, joy, emotional growth, empathy, harmony

Brief Meaning

Three of Cups shows us a picture of joyful celebration and mutual support.

Three of Cups is one of my very favorite cards, and why wouldn’t it be? Three femmes raising a toast to each other—to themselves—as they dance in a circle. When I look at this image, I think of college reunions. I went to a women’s college on a fairy-tale campus and the opportunity to reconnect with classmates in that sacred space is important to me. We drink and dance and have fun but, when we gather together, we also celebrate each other’s victories and share the burden of our sorrows.

I also see the Three Graces. Greek writers identified this trio with different goddesses and different attributes over the centuries but, together, these archetypes represent artistic creativity, kindness, and social harmony—really, the best of humanity.

From Primavera, by Sandro Botticelli; mosaic from the House of Apollo (Pompeii); The Three Graces by Niki de Saint Phalle

The Graces are also associated with the natural world. Auxo—sometimes described as a Grace, sometimes listed as one of the Horae, goddesses of the seasons—is an avatar of spring growth. Antheia is the goddess associated with floral crowns worn during celebrations; symbolically, she unites growing things and human craft. Whether we’re talking about people working together or the impact of human action on all living beings, Three of Cups always talks to us about connection.

The first thing I thought about when I drew this card this morning was the 7th Principle of the Unitarian Universalist faith:

We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it. We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.  

My fellow UUs will note that this is proposed new language for the 7th principle. I’m using it here because I prefer it to the existing language. I appreciate it because it shifts the focus from just environmental concerns to maintaining right relationship with the planet, but also with each other. This, too me, is a holistic way of understanding the concept of interconnectedness. Reading these words, I think about what we owe each other and the earth we share.

Paying subscribers, keep reading for the Monday Message and some guidance for working with Three of Cups.