Eight of Cups

The Eight of Cups pictures a person walking away, their back turned as the moon lights their way. This card signifies abandonment, turning away, and leaving things behind when they no longer serve you. This collection tells the story of separation. Beginning with the reversed, the pieces in the first section illustrate a period of stagnation, restlessness, and uncertainty. A longing for escape. The before. Much like The Fool, poised on the edge of a cliff with a bundle over his shoulder, the narrator contemplates yet is unable to break away from cycles of familial responsibility, religion, and abuse. The following section– upright– focuses on the aftermath. The Fool has made her separation, yet not without consequences. The themes prevalent in these pieces include grief, trauma, haunting, and illness with the potential for joy, love, and freedom. The Fool’s journey ends with The World, a card representing fulfillment, achievement, and dance – a completion of the pilgrimage from innocence to enlightenment. The narrator is yet to be complete, but has been learning independence, growth, and her place on earth. She is learning to dance. [An accessible transcript to the project is included as a supplementary file.]