Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Three Graces/Three of Cups

In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae, the "Graces".  In Greek mythology, they were referred to as the "Charites".  They most frequently numbered three, from youngest to oldest and included Aglaea ("Splendor"), Euphrosyne ("Mirth") and Thalia ("Good Cheer").

The Charites were considered the daughters of Zeus (the CEO of Greek gods),and Eurynome (the Titan goddess of water meadows and pasture lands). Homer (author of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey") wrote that they were part of Aphrodite's retinue.  However, these resplendent creatures had there "dark" side as well as they were also associated with the Greek underworld ("Hades") and the Eleusinian Mysteries which celebrated the cult of Demeter (Goddess of the Earth, Agriculture and the Harvest) and her daughter Persephone (Goddess of the Underworld and Vegetation). 

In the tarot, these celebrated ladies are represented by the Three of Cups which in a reading are associated with "friendship" and "companionship". They represent a sense of "belonging" and "inclusion". Think of "groups" and "communities". They also symbolize "loyalty" and "devotion" and "trust". Their consciousness is truly evolved and there is no room for "betrayal" or "falsehood".

Amy bows low at the feet of all  her holy teachers and asks for humility and enlightenment.
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