Card for Tuesday, May 18th, 2021
The Two of Cups, inverted
paired with
Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva ursi)
The suit of Cups is related to the act of feeling. Cups encourage us to explore our imaginative self, our emotional responses, reactions, impulses, desires, dreams, and psychic connections. Inverted, this suit invites us to review our emotions about our emotions, so to speak.
Like all the twos, this is a card of balance, suggesting our need to bring ourselves back into harmony, to honor both the male and female energies found within each of us, to use all the tools at our disposal to realize the balance, a blending of wisdom and inner strength, for which we are looking.
The Two of Cups can be seen as "The Relationship Card" and, indeed, many do read it as the beginning or repairing of a romantic or close friend relationship but it may also refer to our animus and anima, the conscious and subconscious parts of ourselves. Inverted, the Two of Cups speaks directly to the importance of going deep within to examine our relationship with our self, the Light and Dark of it, as we strive to achieve equilibrium.
Uva Ursi is traditionally an herb of the genitourinary tract regulating fluid metabolism and treating inflammation. Uva ursi is a bitter, astringent, cooling diuretic that promotes inner cleansing of the body by assisting in the removal of toxins and waste. It can also assist with blood pressure regulation through fluid control. As an astringent, Uva Ursi tightens, tones, and strengthens mucous membranes, controlling cell permeability and providing a layer of protection to these most sensitive of tissues.
Known to be high in phenols, antioxidents, and tannins, Uva Ursi provides anti-microbial and anti-fungal protection as well and can assist in breaking up kidney stones and expelling gravel.
Spiritually, Uva Ursi helps us to clear obstructions and irritations so as to connect with the Divine Presence in all. It can symbolize the purifying stream of Universal Love, actualizing this energy through intentional acts of caring and gratitude.
The cards have seemed rather severe of late, with multiple Swords and Pan making regular appearances over the last two and a half weeks, since last we saw The Fool. For every challenge card though, we have been gifted a near equal number of cards paired with herbs known to remove impediments, soothe and support, raise physical energy levels, and regulate flow - of breath, of the digestive tract, and especially of fluids - which, ultimately, promotes the removal of toxins.
Today's card is no exception, calling us to focus on the coming together of all our strengths, to encourage us to accept in equal manner our positive qualities and that which still crosses us. We are being shown that, for every question, for each situation, there is an answer.
We would do well to drop how we think we should feel about how we feel. That is old, outdated information, serving no one, holding us back. In fact, we may be clinging to mere echoes of old words out of habit, without even realizing it. In releasing this unwanted material, we can better flow with the harmonious union of Yin and Yang, of Light and Shadow, of the physical and the spiritual. We can be in the moment, for the moment is all we will have left.
Continue to focus on all of your qualities equally; we are not whole if we disavow one half of ourselves. Come alive to the awareness that there is neither “good” nor “bad”, rather “gifts and talents” as well as “questions and life lessons”.
Awaken to the wisdom filled and oftentimes healing experiences being provided to you through these ever important moments. Love and care for yourself in perfect accord with The One. You in your entirety is what is needed and always has been. Embrace that awareness with all your heart and revel in the self that you already are. There is literally no one else like you. You can argue all you want but The Universe sees you as a blessing because you are.
*Information shared on herbs and their historical or traditional uses is for point-of-interest only. None of the above is meant to diagnosis, treat, or cure any health imbalances.*
**I was taught to read inverted cards as an invitation to go within, to apply the lessons of the card to our inner landscape, but not in a negative way. The more we remember to support our inner selves, the more we will have to offer in the outer world.**
