The Rider-Waite-Smith-Eight of Cups card illustrates the mundane meaning of "The Lord of Abandoned Success". The person on the Card has successful organized and stacked the eight cups, but without the balanced order of 4 above and 4 below and then wanders off as if losing all interest in them and leaving them abandoned and unused. Waite's card shows the deadened effects of Saturn on the element of water which produce discontent, disillusionment, and decline of interest in anything. Here is seen a man of dejected emotional aspect, as in drowning in his own previous emotional concerns, causing him to desert the happy emotions of his felicity, enterprise, and/or undertaking.

The minimalistic art of the Jungian Tarot Cards, rarely stimulates understanding of the card's meaning. Here, abandoned success, instability and/or leaving material success for something higher are the primary meanings of this card. However, the 4 silver- Cups, hovering above the blue waters, the color of the Water Element, may suggest emotional content, but the 4 above reflected in the 4 below, bespeaks of mediocracy and lack of motion, hinting at indolence. Hence, feeling and intuition are more important to this card, than thinking. The 8 of Cups is a card of romantically flitting from one idea to another. Here amusing parties are pursued, most often which captivate only briefly.

There is very little mastery in any area, although music and dance are the favorites and there may be an intellectual grasp of many subjects, understanding is always superficial.

This card shows an immature personality who is unable to make commitments. However, affiliations with partners, societies, associations and companies is indicated and although such affiliations may be short lived, they are profitable.

When the Eight/8 of Cups is thrown during a divination, the querent (or the one they queried about) will be or is experiencing:

• A depressive state of emotions. Success is abandoned, as there is a decline of interest in anything. 
• Positive things are thrown aside as soon as gained; not lasting even in the matter at hand. 
• Misery and repining without a viable cause.
•  A continual seeking after riches, without the emotional energy to gain them.
• Relinquishing control. 
• Transformation.

* If there are a lot of positive cards accompanying this negative one, there will be temporary success, but without further result.

If ill defined by surrounding cards (Jungian) or reversed (Rider-Waite-Smith) it implies:

• Suicide.
• Depression,
• Self-pity.

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