Cups · Water
Nine of Cupsfor Leo · The Future
"Wish Fulfillment isn't the question. What you do next is."
Six quick picks first, then your reading
A card of abundance and luxury, but slightly unbalanced (maybe in your favor) due to the odd number placement of 9. It's the feeling of pride after a long struggle where you have come out the victor. There's abudance and wealth and success here, be proud of your accomplishments and relish the wins!
You accomplished a big goal-- be proud. This card is about feeling hard work pay off. Show off a little-- in a relationship perhaps you've finally crested a rough patch and are in a good spot (or you've just started dating someone who really excites you). At work you've just finished a project or gave a presentation that went well. If you are feeling unaccomplished, reflect on what you have achieved that deserves recognition (even if it's just from yourself)!
A reversed nine of cups can mean you are overindulging, being too prideful or in general arrogant. You've finally achieved a dream; and now you think you know everything about that dream. There's a fine balance with finally achieving something you dreamed of-- stay curious about what you don't know while still holding space for the joy of achievement.
Its place in the deck.
Where it shows up.
Nine of Cups for Leo in The Future
The Creator
Cups are the water suit, so the Nine of Cups sits in Cancer. Cancer sits directly beside Leo, the one relationship a sign cannot see clearly because it is too close to get any distance on. What it asks for is this: say the feeling to the person it is about. The difficulty is noticing it is being asked at all. Upright, it is nearly finished, and the last stretch of it is mostly solitary.
When reading about what comes next through a Leo lens, the Nine of Cups says that you feel like the future is something you can script into a highlight reel, something where your name is known (or your work is recognized), and something that should feel like it was always heading toward you. This has either created real ambition that pulls you forward, or left you unable to enjoy the present because it does not yet look like success. You already know what comes next, and you are afraid of what it will cost you to get there. The Leo blind spot in it is being ordinary, being forgotten, being the one no one thought to invite, being seen doing something mediocre.
In practice that can look like wanting something you had stopped admitting to, or a place that feels like home. Whatever form it takes, it is close to done and mostly solitary.
Somewhere else?
Keep the thread
Artemis remembers what you asked, and tells you when something comes back around.
Get Artemis Tarot