An empty crossroads on a heath at night, a leaning signpost and poppy heads in the verge.

Cups · V

Five of Cups

Lord of Loss in Pleasure

The face of Five of Cups, engraved in gold on black, with its title, Lord of Loss in Pleasure.

Grieve what spilled, then turn around. Two cups are still standing.

Upright

Loss, regret and grief. Focus on what spilled hides what remains.

Reversed

Acceptance, forgiveness and moving on.

Show the spirits

The spirit work

In the Goetia, Buer heals and teaches philosophy by day; Bifrons tends the graves by night. A good card for grief rituals.

Where the card sits

Correspondences

DecanMars in Scorpio, 0° to 10°, the first face
Tree of LifeGeburah in Briah
Governing angelsLeuviah by day, Pahaliah by night
Image of the decanA fair woman, and two men striking her.
Show the spirits
Day spiritBuer, president
The seal of Buer

Appears in the shape of Sagittarius, when the Sun is in that sign. Teaches moral and natural philosophy, logic and the virtues of herbs; heals and gives familiars. Goetia 10.

Night spiritBifrons, earl
The seal of Bifrons

Appears as a monster, then a man. Teaches astrology and geometry, the virtues of stones and woods; moves the dead and lights candles on graves. Goetia 46.

Five of Cups in the guidebookAll seventy-eight cards

The Sablerune Tarot

In the making

Seventy-eight cards in fine gold line. Hear when the deck is ready to hold.

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Notes on sources

The meanings, the questions and the correspondences are the guidebook’s own. The paths, letters and astrology follow the Golden Dawn’s attributions; the angels are the Shem ha-Mephorash, as the deck gives them; the spirits, shown only when you ask for them, are the seventy-two of the Goetia. Where each comes from, and what is old and what is modern, is set out in the guidebook’s Notes on sources and seals.