suit of cups – Maenad Tarot

Let the Right One (Slip) In: The Turning Point of the Cups

I often match up individual tarot cards with music, but rarely do I find a song that encompasses a journey across multiple cards as elegantly as Morrissey’s “Let the Right One Slip In.” This simple, joyful song rests on the turning point of the Eight of Cups, pointing back to the Seven of Cups and forward to the Nine of Cups. The first three lines alone map out the path:

Let the right one in
Let the old dreams die
Let the wrong ones go

Minor Arcana: The Journey of Cups

When studying tarot, we often learn about the Fool’s Journey through the Major Arcana, in which the cards form a story. The cards of the Minor Arcana form stories too, and seeing how each card builds on the last can help us understand the cyclical nature of the suits. In this four part series (find Swords, Pentacles, and Wands here), I’ll share the journey of each suit as I have told it to myself. These narratives are heavily based on the Rider Waite Smith imagery. Other decks may tell different stories! Today we will begin with the suit of Cups, associated with Water, the unconscious mind, love, relationships, intuition, and dreams.