Pisces II: An Incomplete Infinity ♓︎
As a Jupiter ruled decan of a Jupiter ruled sign, the first instinct is to associate it with ‘abundance’. Even the Tarot card for this decan, 9 of Cups, depicts an abundance of some sort. The man sits comfortably on his bench with his beautiful display of cups. He sits with his arms crossed: a clear action of his satisfaction. Perhaps even smugness. A subtle boast of all his accolades and wealth. Contrary to his arms, his legs are wide open: a keenness to attain even more. He is content but at the same time, he is open to gaining more achievements and hoarding more resources. It's a paradox. How can you have it all but still want more? An infinity that's incomplete.
Let’s consider an example that’s commonly used to understand limits in mathematics: The distance between two houses is 1 metre. In order to make it from House A to House B, you need to first cover half the distance between these two houses: 0.5 metre. Now the other 0.5 metre distance remains to be covered. In order to cover this distance, you need to cover half of it first: 0.25 metre. Having covered 0.75 metre, the remaining 0.25 metre remains. After covering half of this distance, our total distance covered is 0.875 metre. As we keep doing so, our total distance covered keeps increasing. However, it will never reach 1 metre. As the remaining distance keeps getting smaller, its half gets smaller too.
These ‘halves' will go on till ‘infinity’. We will keep inching closer to House B but will never reach it. You’ll always be a tiny distance away from your destination. A distance that is practically easy to cover, yet mathematically impossible to surmount.
If this example feels too complex, simply picture this graph. The curve will continue to grow closer to the x and y axis, yet never intersect with it.
This is the 9 of Cups. The feeling of almost having it all but knowing that something is missing: the last cup. Where do we find it?
This decan is ruled by the Moon in the Modern rulership system. Both the Moon and the Cups suit of Tarot depict our emotions. When we consider the themes of ‘abundance’ shown in this card, the interpretations write themselves: feeling too much. Having your emotions on display for everyone to see...and judge. But as much as this decan shows unapologetic emotional expression, it also shows what remains hidden. The shelf on which the cups stand is shrouded in a cloth. What lies underneath this cloth?
While the cups depict each emotion felt, the shelf hides all the emotions that remain buried. If the cups represent all that we have achieved, the shelf hides what we try to compensate for with our abundance of cups: our fear of not being enough.
Perhaps that’s why the man is facing away from the cups; avoiding the cups. Each cup he has serves as a bitter reminder of what he doesn’t have…
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Pisces II is about the lives we want to live, but can't. An abundance of dreams. Dreams that we convince ourselves can be achieved, but how do you make peace with dreams that can never be?
The cups symbolize all our life experiences. Having many stories to tell; a life truly lived. But with each life lived, there is a life we didn't get to live. A path we didn't choose. With each cup displayed with pride, there is a shelf hiding grief. With everything we have, comes the thought of everything we don't have. Couldn't have. Will never have?
In a decan that seems to be brimming with hope, it forces us to accept a harsh reality: A life lived is a product of all the lives that we couldn't live…
Here is a poem about Pisces II by me 💘
What is it like to have it all
And to still feel empty?
A cup that is always full
Feels stagnant
Water that is always rushing
Feels overwhelming
Can you really have it all?
Feel it all, smell it all
Taste all the colours of life in one lifetime
How do I have it all?
Live all the lives I dream of
Feel all the waters I wait for
I am lucky. I am lucky
To have it all
But how do I fit it all
In one lifetime?
