The Archetype and The Tarot: The Thief and Five of Cups
The Archetype and The Tarot: The Thief and Five of Cups
Through the Thief and the Five of Cups, this week we’re being called to recognize the love hidden within our losses and to release our grasping for what seems to be missing. Can we allow ourselves to feel the ache of grief and let it reveal the true value that remains? Can we trust that even in moments of emptiness, what is most precious cannot be taken from us?
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The Thief Archetype
This is another one of those archetypes that we tend to notice most readily on the shadow side…as someone who steals things. But the bigger pattern of The Thief involves the ability to discern value, as well as being a master of understanding concepts like ownership and possession.
In the light, The Thief can quickly recognize when something is valuable, be it a good idea, a worthwhile project, an argument to engage in, or a work of art. This brings a profound sense of clarity that prevents us from investing energy in ultimately dissatisfying endeavors. Even more importantly, The Thief in the light helps us understand the ephemeral nature of material possessions and gives us the gift of knowing that what truly brings fulfillment can never be stolen.
The shadow Thief is preoccupied by lack, and steals what they think they don’t have. I know none of us wants to outwardly identify as a shadow Thief, but I think we all have the potential for theft, and this can be a sneaky pattern.
I think one of the things we’re being asked to do this week, is look for ways this shadow pattern might show up for us.
Do we steal another’s time by perpetually running late?
Do we make backhanded comments and thereby steal another’s joy?
Do we share passwords for streaming services?
In what situations do we feel theft is justified? (For example, if a loved one was hungry and we walked by a king’s feast piled high with food that was likely to go uneaten, would we take a bit of bread to feed our family?)
Five of Cups
In this card, we see a cloaked figure standing near a river, mourning over three spilled cups while two still stand behind them. The sky is an expanse of gray and, in the background, a bridge crosses the river, leading to a distant castle or settlement.
To me, the fives represent a destabilizing event. In this case, it’s a disruption that shakes the foundation of our emotional life. The Five of Cups brings us face-to-face with loss, an inevitable part of being incarnated in this realm. In our culture, so much emphasis is placed on gain and achievement that experiencing loss can feel particularly devastating, like a stark and isolating experience of separation. There is a sense of not only grief but also of waste—of having invested so much into what has now been lost, with nothing left to show for it.
Yet, in this state of mourning, there is also liminality—a place between what once was and what might still be. The spilled contents of the cups are not gone but returned to the river, symbolizing a return to the source. The presence of the two upright cups reminds us that even in the depths of loss, something still remains (echoed by the image of the bridge leading back to the castle, back to stability). These cups can be filled once more, dipped back into the river to draw on what is yet available to us. Grief may overwhelm, but it also has the potential to transform, eventually leading us to new pathways of being.
When this card comes up in a reading, I believe we’re being called first to allow ourselves to feel the depth of our grief, to truly give in to the feelings of loss without rushing to transform them into something else. Put on the cloak of sorrow, let our shoulders slump, wail and keen for all the world to hear. By fully experiencing the pain and recognizing the value of the spilled cups, we honor what was lost. Then we can turn to see the two remaining cups and understand that while much has been taken, not all has vanished. The card invites us to trust that, when the time comes, we can replenish what remains by drawing from the river of life once more.
How does this pair work together?
The Thief, driven by a feeling of emptiness, reaches out to take what they believe they lack. In their grasping, the cups are knocked over, and what was precious spills onto the ground. As the liquid flows away, the Thief feels the sting of loss, certain they have ruined something valuable. Kneeling beside the fallen cups, they are overwhelmed by the desire to reclaim what seems forever gone.
But as they watch the spilled liquid join the river, a deeper truth begins to surface. The sharp ache of loss reveals the depth of the love that had once filled those cups—love that could never be confined to what was contained there. The Thief pauses, letting the pain speak and allowing themselves to feel the weight of their longing. In that stillness, they realize that the true value was never bound to the physical form, but had always flowed within them, beyond the reach of theft.
I believe this week’s call is to notice the places where our hearts have been broken open by loss and then find the steadfast treasure hidden there. Can we let the ache of grief be our guide, showing us what was truly precious all along? Can we allow the pain to point us back to the love that remains, and trust that what is of lasting value cannot be taken from us?
As always, please practice self-kindness and let’s be mindful of our capacities with this week’s pair especially. It helps me a lot to know that we’re in this together. Let me know how you’re doing with it all in the comments below. Blessings and love! 💖
P.S. We still have spots available for my 2025 Transformation Wheel Group and I’d love for you to join! Here’s what I wrote about it last week:
Many of you have asked me about personalized archetype/tarot readings and so, for the first time in a decade, I’ve decided to open the doors to my transformational wheel group. As part of this group, you’ll get a personalized archetype/tarot pair and interpretation every week for a year. I’ll be welcoming a few new souls to join me on this intimate journey for 2025. This unique offering is for those who are ready to explore deeply and embrace a year of growth, clarity, and transformation.
What to Expect:
November/December 2024: We'll begin with casting your chart of origin, revealing the twelve primary archetypes that shape your life. Together, we’ll uncover the foundational energies that guide you the most.
January 2025 and Beyond: As we move into the new year, we’ll dive into a private small group dialogue where each week, we’ll explore our unique archetype/tarot pairings. This space will be dedicated to sharing wisdom, offering support, and reflecting on the invoking and releasing work for 2025.
Monthly Gatherings: Toward the end of each month, we’ll come together via Zoom to weave our insights into a deeper understanding of the month’s overall message—one that will resonate uniquely for each of us.
Availability: There are only four slots available for 2025, ensuring an intimate, focused group experience.
Investment: I’ve set the price at $1500 (or $115/month for 13 months), striving to make this accessible while honoring the time, energy, and personal dedication I bring to each participant.
Who is This For? This journey is for those who are committed to deep introspection, open to sharing intimately within a small group setting, and ready to dive into the transformational work ahead. If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out to me directly at jennahiott@gmail.com to schedule a time for us to connect and see if this is the right fit.
Love this Jenna! As I consider this pairing, I feel the need to "let the ache of grief be our guide." just as you said. The beauty, medicine and healing lies in the grief. Moving through it like the river. Not turning to thievery to fix and relieve the pain which only steals away our moments to be present with what is. That rejection has a feel of addiction to it. Interesting that at the root of both of them, there is a longing to feel better. The difference is one is about closing down and taking, rather than entering, receiving and moving with the sadness, loss and grief. The prior, I question how can one really absorb when one is grabbing at the water. The latter, the hand is open in the water feeling the grace and beauty of flow. As I reflect, I do both of these movements. Though, learning to receive my moments more and more, no matter how they are showing up.
Beautiful Jenna. I feel as though I have been given a choice...do I choose to be in LACK or do I choose to CONNECT to the Greater Source? Do I choose to take away from myself the beauty of what I have (due to self sabotage) or do I Connect to the Beauty within myself and let that flow in the River and know that I am part of the River and no matter what side of the bridge I am standing I am still a part of the Greater Source.
A beautiful moment in time for me...as I consider what I have taken from myself and others, from Mother Earth as well, and then ponder what I can give back in my knowing of the DEEPER TREASURES that live within myself, the Earth and others.
Thank you, dear one. ✨💖💫