Eight of Cups as Intentions (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 Intentions

If you are asking about someone’s intentions towards you, and you draw the Eight of Cups, that means this person intends to raise doubts about the depth of your bond with them. They aren’t sure if they made the correct choice in wanting to get close to you because of this uncertainty. They need to know if you can be helpful to their development or not. They don’t know whether to take your connection seriously or assume you’re just lonely.

The Eight of Cups as intentions means that they intend to weigh the decision to keep you close. What you’re giving them is appealing — they like it, but they want more. They plan on making more demands on you. But they can’t trust you enough to open up because of the fear of being abandoned. This prevents them from asking for what they want. The unsaid expectations and unmet needs are making them feel insecure about your connection.

For singles and those embarking on new relationships, the Eight of Cups is a sign of them intending to test the waters to see if they are truly ready to take the plunge. They have a lot of questions right now. Are you going to help them mature and grow? Could they handle the highs and lows of a future relationship? If they don’t know the answers to these questions, they can’t take any action.

For existing relationships, the Eight of Cups represents an intention to think about the direction of your relationship. They feel you don’t appreciate them. There are times when you don’t give them what they want. It’s making them question if these unmet needs will be answered. If you believe there is some validity to this, now is the time to have an honest discussion about it with your significant other.

If you are asking about an ex’s intentions, the Eight of Cups shows that they intend to move on and heal from your breakup. In any case, they no longer have any ties with your past relationship. It’s possible they still care about you, but they want things to remain the same. They have come to terms with the fact that you existed in their past and have decided to go on without you. If you’re asking if a reconciliation is possible, it may take some time for your ex to consider going back.

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, the Eight of Cups means that this person’s intentions are unclear. Although they love you, they don’t think they are ready to enter a long-term commitment. There is fear of being abandoned. Set expectations and be completely transparent about what you want from the relationship if you want it to succeed. Assuring them may be necessary.

Need more clarity on your relationship?

Ask unlimited questions in a safe space. Get the answers you need. Your situation is unique. Sibyl’s expert psychics are here to help!

Learn More

Reversed Eight of Cups as Intentions

If you are asking about someone’s intentions towards you, and you draw the Eight of Cups reversed, that means this person intends to leave you. However, something is holding them back. They cannot make a choice. They don’t want to confront this fear. Instead, they would prefer to have someone else decide for them.

The Eight of Cups reversed as intentions means that they intend to stay in their current situation of confusion. The dilemma here is that they don’t want to address their fears and hesitations. They are confused but don’t have the guts to get to the bottom of their problem. They prefer to suffer in silence than face their issues head-on.

For singles and those embarking on new relationships, the Eight of Cups reversed is a sign of them intending to sort their feelings first before making a move. The thought of being uncertain if they’re ready to enter a new beginning always lingers in their mind. They are being held back by numerous factors, such as unresolved feelings in the past. The problem is, they don’t want to open up and address their issue. For a relationship to flourish, the two of you must have open communication, which clearly lacks right now.

For existing relationships, the Eight of Cups reversed represents an intention to end the relationship. They are sick and tired of your constant bickering and miscommunication. However, they are hesitant to discuss their emotions at the moment. They have a deep-seated terror of their own feelings. They want to break up, but they’re too scared to actually do it. Now is the time to have the difficult chat you both need to save the relationship.

If you are asking about an ex’s intentions, the Eight of Cups reversed shows that they intend to move on from your relationship. However, they feel stuck. Your ex-lover has unresolved feelings for you, but they are unwilling to talk about them. They are either in denial about the reality of the situation, or they are too afraid to face it. They need to be truthful with themselves for a reconciliation to push through. Someone who seeks to avoid their emotions and whose genuine motives are unknown is not someone you should waste your time with.

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, the Eight of Cups reversed means that this person’s intentions are uncertain. They don’t want to end your relationship, but they also don’t see a future with you. This has something to do with their fear of their own emotions. They want to leave the decision-making to someone else because they are too afraid. If you look forward to taking the relationship to the next level, you may first need to have an honest conversation about your expectations and needs.

Real psychics. No scams.

Need intuitive advice but wary of getting scammed? Get honest answers, with no hidden fees. No “spell removal” upsells, we promise.

Learn More

Conclusion

For relationships and feelings, 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.