The Suit of Cups of traditional tarot is full of disappointing tarot cards, but the Nine of Cups bears a strongly satisfactory tone. In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the most popular tarot deck of the English-speaking world, the Nine of Cups is seen as a direct and joyful symbol of satisfaction, achieved goals, and fulfilled dreams and wishes.
The Rider-Waite version of the Nine of Cups portrays a content-looking man in fine garments. He sits smugly on a bench with his arms crossed in satisfaction, and a row of nine golden chalices sit behind him. His skin is darker than most of the Rider-Waite characters, and he wears a gaudy red hat on top of his head.
In a divinatory tarot reading, the Nine of Cups is seen as a sign of contentment and satisfaction. It may indicate a specific goal that will be met, a dream that has been adequately fulfilled, or a long-held desire that has finally come to fruition. The Nine of Cups, depending on its context in a tarot reading and its position in a spread, might symbolize financial wealth, an end to a difficult time period, or satisfaction in a relationship.
The Nine of Cups tarot card might also be viewed by some tarot readers as a symbol of sensual pleasure, including pleasures of taste and tactile sensations. In a tarot spread that relates to erotic or romantic fantasies, the Nine of Cups often indicates a satisfying and stable sexual relationship. It is an especially pleasing card to see when a marriage or other relationship is in jeopardy.
When reversed, the Nine of Cups' meaning becomes less optimistic, and is likely to signify overindulgence to the point of selfishness, or a dream that came true but wasn't actually what the querent of the tarot reading actually desired. It may be an urgent omen that the subject of the tarot reading has seen a previous goal become fulfilled, only to find that he still has a sense of unease and emptiness.
As the "Wish Card" the Nine of Cups is tarot's method of communicating the often-heard advice: "Be careful what you wish for." While it is a lucky and satisfying card when it appears in a tarot spread that relates to a dream or hope, it also carries a warning that the wish in question might not provide total satisfaction. Although the Nine of Cups is a good omen, it also demands careful evaluation of goals and values.
