Eight of Cups in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
Eight of Cups Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Water
The Eight of Cups is a card of inner departure, of voluntary and reflective withdrawal, with the aim of rediscovering meaning, clarity and emotional truth. It speaks of that moment when what once nourished us is no longer enough, when we feel a powerful call to look elsewhere, differently. This is not a flight, but a courageous choice to listen to ourselves, even if it means a certain temporary emptiness. It invites you to trust in the process of detachment, to believe that the discomfort of the moment prepares the way for greater inner coherence. The Eight of Cups says: what you are leaving, you have loved. But what you’re looking for is even deeper and truer. Go forward in faith, the light awaits you beyond the mountains.
RWS Tarot : Arcana Eight of Cups readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Eight of Cups
In the sentimental domain, the Eight of Cups indicates an emotional distance or a need to distance oneself in order to find oneself again. If you are in a relationship, this card can signify an inner crisis, an emotional void or dissatisfaction that leads you to consider a radical change. It’s not always a brutal separation, but rather a gradual detachment, a desire to go and see elsewhere if love can vibrate more strongly. For singles, the Eight of Cups shows that you are leaving behind an old attachment or romantic illusion, in order to open yourself up to something more just, more in line with your current needs. This is not an angry break-up card, but one of conscious, calmed withdrawal in a quest for emotional truth. It’s telling you: it’s time to choose yourself, even if that means walking alone for a while.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Eight of Cups
At work, the Eight of Cups evokes the desire to leave a situation that has lost its meaning or its ability to nourish your heart. You may have invested a lot in your career, but now something inside you is yearning for something else: more meaning, more freedom, more alignment with your values. It may be a change of direction, a resignation, or a need to take a step back. This departure is voluntary, well thought-out and geared towards inner growth, even if on the outside it may seem risky. This is the moment to mourn a success that no longer fulfils you. The Eight of Cups invites you to follow the call of your heart, even if it leads you into the unknown. The important thing is not what you leave behind, but what you seek to discover beyond.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Eight of Cups
In financial terms, the Eight of Cups indicates that you may be ready to give up a certain comfort or apparent security in order to move towards something more in line with your inner peace. This could mean leaving a well-paid but meaningless job, selling an asset to lighten your life, or simply letting go of the pressure to possess. It’s not a card of sudden loss, but of a conscious choice for simplicity or sobriety. It tells you that abundance is not always where you think it is. Perhaps it’s time to rethink your relationship with money, not as an end in itself, but as a means of being freer, lighter and more in tune with who you are. Now is the time to be essential.
Family reading
with the card Eight of Cups
In the family sphere, the Eight of Cups may evoke the need to get away from an overburdensome family framework, or to take a break and rediscover your individuality. You may feel the need to cut off certain influences, free yourself from unconscious loyalties, or simply catch your breath away from family expectations. This does not mean that you are breaking ties for good, but that you need a space of your own, to hear your own voice. This card can also symbolise a temporary estrangement from a loved one, or the departure of a grown-up child. Either way, it’s a necessary and healthy transition, leading to a more balanced relationship in the long term. The Eight of Cups reminds you that sometimes withdrawing is an act of love for yourself – and even for others.
Spiritual reading
with the card Eight of Cups
On a spiritual level, the Eight of Cups is a card of inner quest, of voluntary self-denial, of detachment from illusions. You have undoubtedly followed a path, a teaching or a belief with fervour, but today something is pushing you to go further, deeper. You feel that what you have known is no longer enough, that a call is leading you towards a wider dimension of yourself. This card symbolises the inner pilgrim, the person who leaves what they know to respond to an irresistible inner voice. It can herald a spiritual retreat, a break with an old practice, or simply a great silence needed to hear your deepest truth. It tells you: don’t be afraid of the unknown – this apparent emptiness is the opening to a more authentic path.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
Eight of Cups and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Eight of Cups according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card Eight of Cups in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
