Upright Meaning
In a reading, the Nine of Cups often indicates a simple good time, especially that which comes after a challenging period. It assures us that, for now, we would be well served by allowing ourselves to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures that life has to offer us. It is time to breathe deeply and release the tension and strain we may have been laboring under.
The card crops up, too, when are feeling that we have everything we need in life, and are experiencing a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for our abundant state; the Nine is sometimes viewed as a card of wish-fulfillment: what we desired has manifested and we sit, now, basking in our good fortune - and rightly so.
The Nine of Cups, however, also suggests that life is, by its very nature, always in flux and that it is important to recognize the importance and beauty of the good times that come our way, and not be tempted to take these moments for granted.
Reversed Meaning
The reversed Nine of Cups can mean that we have a sense of superficiality concerning some aspect of our lives which is making us feel uncomfortable and unfulfilled. In this case, it asks us to connect with our higher selves, and our core truths, to make the changes necessary. The reversed card can also suggest that we have been too focused on making others happy, and have not taken the time to look within to discover what will bring us joy and contentment.
Finally, the Nine of Cups in a reversed position counsels that, however rejuvenating a fun time can be, there can be too much of a good thing, and we should be mindful that we are not exhausting ourselves by overdoing it.
The Nine of Cups is the card that represents the attainment of all that we desire: Cups symbolize emotional fulfillment, and the figure depicted is surrounded by them. Crucial to the card is a sense of gratitude: not just for what has been achieved, but the realization that it is a grateful mindset that may have been responsible for the manifestation of our wishes.
