Eight of Cups as a Person (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Eight of Cups is the card of walking away, searching for truth, and letting go. The card shows a man walking away from eight cups in the foreground. The man has turned his back on these cups with a sense of loss and disappointment. He is leaving what he knows behind him. He is escaping at night, which suggests that there is an element of avoidance in his energy.  

The Eight of Cups reminds us that it is okay to let go and walk away when what is around you is no longer serving you or your needs. You do not have to stay out of duty or obligation. You have to do what is right for yourself. The Eight of Cups reminds us that there is no shame in walking away. 

Upright Eight of Cups as a Person

If the Eight of Cups appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person is wise beyond their years. This might surprise you at first. Behind their normal facade, they may have a lot of wisdom to share. This card is astrologically associated with Saturn in Pisces. Saturn, Father Time, carries a masculine, active, assertive energy while Piscean energy is feminine with passive, receptive energy. Saturn is serious, responsible, and atern. Pisces goes with the flow. We all have a little bit of both energies expressed in a balanced way, regardless of which gender we identify as.

For physical characteristics, the Eight of Cups as a person represents someone who doesn’t put too much weight on fashion or anything they wear. They may have a very wise worldview on fashion and style. For example, they may choose what to wear in an almost philosophical way, but at the same time, they don’t take fashion too seriously. They’re the type to care about how the garments they wear were sourced or produced. This is also the type of person who will treat their body like a temple, so they will eat well, and avoid living a sedentary life. Yet, they also make sure to not push themselves too hard. They truly believe that a healthy body correlates to a healthy soul. 

For emotional characteristics, the Eight of Cups as a person represents someone who carries their life lessons with them wherever they go. If you’re inquiring about somebody who is young, this person will carry life lessons from previous past lives with them. Don’t be surprised if they just start saying things wise beyond their years. That being said, they’re not living in the past or stuck in the past. In the upright, past experiences don’t embitter this person, they just make them more cautious and intentional. Because this card is astrologically associated with Saturn in Pisces, this person may have just had a spiritual awakening. 

For careers, the Eight of Cups can represent someone who works in upgrading and improving things, situations, or mindsets. This person’s raison d’être may also be to seek out truths. They might be an educator, an investigative reporter, or someone who helps people move on emotionally, or they may work in logistics or transportation. They may be an authority in some way, with its astrological association to Saturn in Pisces, probably in a branch of spirituality. They either hold a large amount of responsibility at their job, or they take their job very seriously. They may work in instilling Saturnian discipline into chaotic Piscean situations, so they could work in an addictions rehab center or a prison. 

The Eight of Cups as a person represents someone who makes you feel like you’re getting some level of wisdom from dealing with this person. Because this card is astrologically associated with Saturn in Pisces, and this card speaks of moving on and away, it is very likely that this person will be a karmic person in your life. They may come in kindly to impart wisdom, and part with you on good terms. This could be somebody you had a falling out with who taught you an important lesson. Whatever the case may be, this person plays a special role in your life. Alternatively, this could be a mentor who helps you move on and see a situation from a different perspective. 

Reversed Eight of Cups as a Person

If the Eight of Cups reversed appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person hasn’t learned a key life lesson they’re meant to learn in this lifetime. Alternatively, they may be unable to walk away from something that is clearly unhealthy for them. Because this is a Minor Arcana card, some of these traits will not be inherent aspects of their identity. If they are behaving unfavorably, they might just be going through a temporary phase. It may be a behavioral pattern that they can still unlearn, if they choose to. Good or bad, nobody is perfect, and people can use their free will to change for the better.

For physical characteristics, the Eight of Cups reversed as a person represents someone who is stuck in a rut about their looks. Or, their looks may reflect the rut they’re stuck in. They don’t feel confident but they’re not doing anything to help their self esteem. They’re not willing to try therapy or self-healing techniques such as journaling. They’re also not doing anything to improve themselves physically, such as getting a haircut or trying more flattering clothes. They may live a sedentary life, but they’re not doing anything to become more active. They might be stuck on something that they need to leave behind, such as smoking. Saturn in Pisces may also hint at addictive behavior or substance abuse.

For emotional characteristics, the Eight of Cups reversed as a person represents someone who is scarred, or even haunted, by past experiences. This doesn’t imply that they haven’t moved on from an ex or a negative experience. It just means that rather than becoming wiser and more cautious when faced with similar situations, they let that past experience define them. This is the type of person who will inadvertently “punish” new partners for their ex’s behaviors. They lack the empathy to ask others, “Who hurt you?” But then they leave people wondering, “What did I ever do to you to deserve this?” 

For careers, the Eight of Cups reversed can represent someone who works in similar fields as their upright counterpart. However, whereas their upright counterpart seeks the truth, the Eight of Cups in reverse thinks they’re seeking the truth, but they’re not on the right path. They may be misinformed or misled by their biases. On a much deeper level, drawing this card in the reverse may indicate that this person’s career choice is not in line with their life purpose. For example, perhaps this person decided to be an influencer or work in the entertainment business because it seems glamorous, but it’s leading them away from the life lessons they’re meant to learn during this lifetime. Saturn and Pisces represent having to learn difficult karmic lessons. 

The Eight of Cups reversed as a person represents someone who makes you feel like you have to move on from this person. Every time you meet this person, you wonder to yourself, “why am I still friends with this person? Why do I even bother asking this family member their opinion on my life?” Sometimes you immediately regret asking them your opinion on something that really matters to you. Your relationship with this person has likely expired, and you have outgrown this person. Whatever the case may be, it’s time for you to move on. 

Conclusion

For love readings, the Eight of Cups represents walking away and letting go of the past. Sometimes it is necessary for us to move on from what no longer serves us, in order to find our greater good. What may seem like a curse now may prove to be a blessing in disguise. The Eight of Cups reminds us that it is okay for you to let go of what is no longer serving you. You are not beholden to obligation and duty if it is not right for you. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.