“Sometimes you have to give up on people, not because you don’t care, but because they don’t.”
— Unknown
Walking away, maturity, leaving what no longer serves, choosing peace over security
Overview
Walking away from something that no longer serves you
There comes a treacherous time in everyone’s life where we have to walk away from everything we know in search for something that better suits us. This is the card for that moment. With the moon overhead (symbolizing the unknown) and the dark night sky, this is the epitome of walking into the dark in hopes that something better awaits you for the dawn.
Whether this man is leaving his cups behind in the cover of night because he is a pariah to his fellow men, or if it’s for other reasons, this man is relying of the light of the moon to bring him to brighter horizons.
Symbolism
Eight cups are stacked in the foreground of this picture, as a man walks in the distance. After having crossed over a small creek of water, he makes his journey up a steep hill leading to a mountain. The moon high in the sky is the only light for him during this trip.
Meaning
Walking away
Leaving something behind that a majority of your mental, physical and emotional energy has been invested in it is not an easy task. Whatever it is, you are forced with the realization that your dreams are no longer matching up and it’s creating conflict in reality. Whatever this thing you’ve poured your heart into until it was empty, it has reached its apex and no longer is relevant in your story. Where ever you are going, this thing is taking a different path. You shared the road for a little while, maybe got a tiny bit too invested, and now it’s time to say goodbye.
Leaving what no longer serves,
Let it all go; it’s going to be hard but it’s ok. Focus on something else and all you’ll feel is a pinch. While it is hard to eliminate habits, like messaging someone 100 times a day. Attachment is a beast all its own though, take a break from people and distract yourself with more useful things like a hobby.
Choosing peace over security
The amount of heartache and pain you’ve dedicated to this thing isn’t worth the nightmares it brings. It’s a constant monster to feed, and you’re growing weary of feeding it. This may even be an abusive situation that is constantly fraught with criticism and arguments. Regardless of the situation, you finally made the wise decision to keep the peace with yourself, and move forward in life than to stay in the war zone another second.
Lost Cost fallacy
AS much as you endured to get here, and despite all the energy you have expended on this situation; when you look this beast in the eye you no longer recognize its heart. There is a part of you that is stuck knowing that this is goodbye, and that it’s time to extinguish the suffering in this creature, it’s hard to release something you’ve nurtured from the roots.
The ground is infertile here. The battle is useless. It’s time to put down the arms, and the tools required to fix it and face the situation straight on. There are no excuses, you are dragging this out longer than it needs to be.
You live, you learn, you move on.
Eight of Cups Reversed
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
— Dalai Lama
Emotional stagnation, fear of letting go, returning to what you know isn’t enough, Re-awakening of a shared dream
Overview
In the negative way, this is something that has taken its toll on you which has caused you to turn your back on it. In the more positive manner, the Eight of Cups reversed is a second chance. You or another person in the situation is reconsidering, and maybe turning back for their cups.
Meaning
Re-awakening of a shared dream
Someone looked back and realized how good they had it when you were around. They’re having second thoughts about their behaviors and manner in which they treated you. There will be an attempt to rekindle things, and it bring the dream back to life. Whether this was in business or as a relationship, the shared goal will circle back to you again, though there may not be a familiar face standing behind it.
Emotional stagnation
Emotionally, you aren’t growing and neither is the thing you’ve invested yourself in. A situation offers no depth and no growth. There’s nothing but peace, comfort, and silence. It’s very mellow, but without chaos present in other areas of your life, you’re not facing the conflict necessary to change internally
Fear of letting go,
Things have gotten heinous, and they have been for awhile. You’re barely making it at this point, and you’ve been in a place of discomfort for some time. This is the sign that you should let it go. It’s taking more from you than you can reasonably support. There’s just this crippling fear of what’s on the other side of that moon, which is stopping you.
Returning to what you know isn’t enough
You don’t have to be told twice that whatever you had wasn’t of your caliber. Yet, you choose to go back anyways. There was something about this place that has you completely enraptured in it. In terms of a lover, it’s someone you know you aren’t emotionally compatible with. They don’t woo you like they used to, they’ve never put in consistent effort. Yet you go back anyways.
Mistakes were made, but forgiveness is optional
Take a step back and really analyze what you’re about to do. Mistakes were made, that is granted. But are you giving this situation a fair chance, based on a single mistake. This is not all for naught, there is opportunity here. Do not cold shoulder it, look at it deliberately a second time.
Reconsider walking away
There maybe more here than you are willing to give credit for. Don’t abandon your manifestation. Too much effort was wasted here for you not to pull through.
There are clear sights for inevitable success if you are not afraid to look for the signs. Think about the situation, and what there is to gain from its utmost success. What worked, and what didn’t. Tweak the situation and then soldier on. The experience you will gain is worth more than this small moment.
