Nine of Cups 1.2

Nine goblets sit overflowing with abundance, as yet untouched, but waiting to be taken. What delights await the one who seeks their bottoms? The Nine of Cups turned out to be one of those cards where Stephanie and I interpret it rather differently; fortunately for us, it didn’t significantly impact how we wanted to shoot the card.

Nine of Cups 2.1

For Stephanie, the Nine is a card of abundance, of riches, of self-indulgence in the best way; a feast that one rightly deserves, and will partake of, with no required sharing or penance. I have always read the Nine as the slightly more sinister side of all of these things- yes, there is no sharing, but not because it is a reward earned, but rather on account of selfishness. To me, the Nine is a card of miserliness and hoarding, of too much for one person, but kept regardless; a card of greed, and self-righteous accomplishment, and gluttony.

Nine of Cups 3.3

Either way, nine cups of dessert would fit the bill nicely! We had fantasized about making them all from scratch, but that didn’t end up happening. Stephanie made several, and I made a sorbet-and-cookies run to the local store. I’m not sure if the body language in the cards leans more to my interpretation or hers, which I think is a good thing- presumably someone looking at them for the first time will see whatever they want/expect to see.

Nine of Cups 4.2

I’m largely pleased with how these turned out; they feel very dreamy and fantastical, which I think suits the motif. We’re to the point of shooting now where it’s hard to make one indoor spot look different from other indoor spots, and I worry that this card and the Ten of Cups (coming next week!) are a little too similar, but it couldn’t be helped. Otherwise, this card is not my favorite, but I think it does the trick.

Nine of Cups 5.2

Stephanie’s take is here, and the full Flickr gallery is here.