Four of Cups Tarot Card Meanings

This card has an image of a man who is sat cross-legged under a tree with his arms also crossed; he does not look very happy.  In fact he seems to be staring morosely at three cups which sit before him and does not see a fourth cup being offered to him by a hand to his right.

Why is this man unhappy or upset and why is he focused on the cups before him?  Do they hold the answer or are they part of the problem?  He seems to be staring at them intent in finding something.  His body language clearly conveys that he is closed off by the way he crosses his arms and legs and this is probably why he does not see the cup that is being offered to him.  I feel like shouting “Stop looking at the problem; look around you for a solution.”

In the previous Cups cards, the subjects have either been close to the cups or the cup was over-flowing with water.  In this image, the man is removed from the cups, and instead is just fixated by them.  He seems stuck in whatever he is feeling.  Furthermore, the tree that he sits under would seem to provide him with some shade or protection.

The story, therefore, seems to be that although one may be stuck in whatever situation they are contemplating, there is an alternative.  All one has to do is to stop focusing on what is before us, and look around for something more.  The man could get up and pick up the cups before him, but he does not, he just remains where he is, even though he may not be happy there, it seems safer than having to get up and to do something.

These are the Four of Cups tarot card meanings we use in the Free Readings on Aquarian Insight:

There could be the sense of being ‘stuck in a rut’ at this time. You may feel unable to move and change and find yourself dwelling on what could be rather than what is. Are you counting all your blessings? What do you have now that you could be grateful for? There are opportunities for change available.