(A version of this post originally appeared on my Patreon page on March 5, 2024. Join to unlock daily Tarot readings and more. Free memberships also are available.)

In this image of the Queen of Cups from the Deviant Moon Tarot, and even in the Rider-Waite-Smith version, the character seems to concentrate intensely on the contents of the cup.

At its best, this represents being in touch with your emotions, tapped into your intuition, and compassionate toward the people you come into contact with. On the shadow side, there can be delusion.

Delusion, as I see it, is believing things are the way you want them to be instead of the way they are so as to avoid the pain of acceptance. It’s an unhelpful way to regulate emotions. 

I can relate to that because I had used delusion as a coping mechanism for many years. I also think about my late mom. In her astrological chart, she had five planets in Pisces—a sensitive water sign that can be prone to wearing rose-colored glasses. And God love her, she had her moments.

The thing is that you can be productive and successful in nearly every area of your life and still be lost in your own emotional world.

Anger, sadness, and frustration are part of the emotional landscape. To truly be in control of your feelings is to acknowledge pain as well as joy.

Comments are welcome.