Playing with memories: Margarete Petersen’s Son of Cups

Son of Cups (trimmed):
© Margarete Petersen Tarot

The Son of Cups appears to swim with ease through water (although I think this is also a yoga pose – Margarete Petersen’s Sons all appear to hold yoga positions), over what look like tombs of ancient Egyptians. There’s a patch of something swimming above him; it reminds me of a sea turtle which I was once so very privileged to swim with... That gives me the sense of playfulness that I might associate with a Page.

 

Like the Son of Wands, the Son of Cups appears to be looking back through the past, learning from the ancients, so I suspect this is going to be a theme with the other Sons too! 

 

Margarete Petersen’s Sons have, according to her accompanying book, been given gifts by the other members of the Courts family.   The gifts this time are sensitivity (Mother), tenderness (sister/Daughter), and language of water (Father) – emotional language, perhaps, as a messenger?  Petersen writes of not being able to quench thirst, no matter how much water is consumed, as well as forgetting and remembering, and surrendering. Her words evoke a feeling of great sadness in me – a bit of a Swords/Cups cross-over.  Less playful, more soulful, perhaps.  But tender, sensitive, imaginative – yes, those work. The Son of Cups is the bringer of news about new relationships and the emotions they evoke, as he swims through his watery world.

 

Playful yet tender

Messages from memories
Imagination.


Margarete Petersen Tarot, AGM-URANIA, 2004