Master of emotional detachment? Margarete Petersen’s Father of Cups

We’ve returned to yoga poses in Margarete Petersen’s Father of Cups – he looks rather like a Buddha, in fact. He doesn’t look particularly watery, but I suppose he’s ‘going with the flow’ in his meditative pose!  Plenty of blue surrounds him, though.

 

Father of Cups (trimmed): © Margarete Petersen

I can see, in the unmoving image, the idea of not working from the emotional base, yet being able to understand it and remaining detached.  Spiritual; detached compassion.  In other decks I often feel that the King of Cups doesn’t always look particularly comfortable, unlike the other Kings. Here, though, I can see this as being able to empathize but still remained detached – a quality every good therapeutic counsellor strives for.

 

Feelings ebb and flow -

Compassion, understanding, 
Loving detachment.


Margarete Petersen Tarot, AGM-URANIA, 2004

Water of Water: Margarete Petersen’s Mother of Cups

I have to admit that Margarete Petersen’s court card images are a struggle for me – I rely so much on visual clues.  Here I have to remember what I’ve learned about the elements (many thanks to Alison Cross for hammering this into my brain!).  The Queen is Water of Water, and that does come across here. MP writes “I was born of the flow in every form”,, be it rain, river, ocean, springs, dewdrops, tears, sweat.  She nourishes, cleanses, and heals with compassion. She also dreams, bringing what’s hidden to light – a bit of the High Priestess, perhaps, with her intuition?  I can see how MP comes up with the ‘mature supporting guardian’.   

Mother of Cups (trimmed): © Margarete Petersen

I've noticed that all of Margarete Petersen's court cards contain a square boundary, within which most of the main image sits.  Here, the square boundary that contains all this love and compassion also seems to me to be rather restricting; can the water - the love, the wisdom - flow through it?  Perhaps this represents the 'thwarted' side of the Queen/Mother's nature - she can't always reach the people who seek her guidance... or perhaps the shadow side of this is emotional manipulation - all those hands pulling in different directions, many feet stamping through the water.



Love flows, compassion

Heals and cleanses, quenches thirsts,

Hidden dreams revealed.

Margarete Petersen Tarot, AGM-URANIA, 2004