The Five of Vessels, as presented in the Wildwood Tarot deck, represents a complex intersection of grief, spiritual ecstasy, and transformative healing. While traditional Tarot systems often associate the number five with conflict, loss, and power struggles, the Wildwood interpretation offers a profound shift in perspective, viewing the card through the lens of shamanic tradition and the recognition of pain as an integral part of the life process. This article explores the multifaceted meanings of the Five of Vessels, contrasting it with the traditional Five of Cups, and delving into the concept of ecstatic healing as a path to spiritual renewal.
The Imagery and Symbolism of the Wildwood Five of Vessels
The visual representation of the Five of Vessels in the Wildwood Tarot provides the foundation for its unique interpretation. The card depicts a woman dancing passionately under a starry sky, within the shape of a pentagram drawn on the earth. She holds a mandrel and a shaking drum with a leather-covered head stylized as a face. A necklace of animal teeth flows across her chest. At the top of the star, five cups of water are placed, each surrounded by light, illuminated by candlelight despite the darkness.
This imagery stands in stark contrast to the traditional Rider-Waite Five of Cups, which typically shows a figure mourning over three spilled cups while remaining oblivious to two upright cups behind them. The Wildwood card shifts the focus from passive grief to active participation in the "rhythm of the universe's drumbeat." The woman's dance signifies a conscious engagement with the energies of the cosmos. The pentagram, often a symbol of protection and the five elements, frames her movement, suggesting a sacred space where transformation occurs. The cups, rather than being spilled, are arranged and glowing, indicating that the emotional vessels are present and active, albeit within a context of darkness and candlelight—symbolizing the illumination found in shadow.
Ecstasy as a Path to Spiritual Healing
The keyword "Ecstasy" is central to the Wildwood Five of Vessels. This is not merely a fleeting moment of joy but a trance-like state achieved through various spiritual practices. The sources indicate that ecstasy can be accessed through the "frenetic exertions of dance and drumming" or the "quiet contemplation of deep meditation, music, and art." It is described as a "strong and refreshing consciousness" that is "completely natural and conforms to the Shamanic tradition."
The primary motivation for seeking this ecstatic state is healing—specifically, "spiritual healing from the pain that can be brought about by the experience of physical and mental loss." The card suggests that the rhythm of the universe is steady and reliable, offering a moment to stop and participate in the dance of existence. This participation renews the source of energy through "washing in the great power of sincere and joyful ecstasy."
In this context, ecstasy is not an escape from reality but a profound recognition of it. It is the recognition of pain coupled with the simultaneous recognition of the "two cups still full." This represents a conscious move toward healing, an understanding that pain is an intrinsic part of the process of love and life. The card emphasizes turning pain into transformation, highlighting the healing available to those who suffer through a connection with the "truest form of love that flows through all of us."
Contrast with the Traditional Five of Cups
To fully grasp the depth of the Five of Vessels, one must understand its correlation to the traditional Five of Cups. The traditional card is widely recognized as a symbol of mourning, sadness, regret, and the difficulty of recognizing the good amidst loss. It speaks to a situation where loss and disappointment are inevitable, often accompanied by feelings of guilt or complicity in a tragedy. The image of a figure hiding their face in shame underscores the emotional weight of the card.
However, the traditional Five of Cups also carries a message of hope. Sources note that the card reminds the querent to "pay attention to what is standing and to what is still good." The presence of two upright cups signifies the potential for healing and the "healing power of love." It encourages the acknowledgment of grief but also implores the release of that grief to find a path forward. The river in the traditional imagery symbolizes the flow of time and the movement of life, suggesting that "all tragedies will pass in time."
The Five of Vessels integrates this understanding of loss and hope but reframes it through an active, shamanic lens. Instead of merely acknowledging the two remaining cups, the Wildwood card invites the querent to dance with them. It transforms the passive acceptance of hope into an active pursuit of ecstatic connection as the mechanism for healing. It validates the pain while providing a spiritual tool—ecstasy—to transcend it.
The Role of the Number Five in Tarot
The appearance of the number five in Tarot cards generally signals a disruption of the harmony established by the number four. It is often associated with power struggles, conflict, and the need to regain control. A reading containing multiple fives may indicate a period of significant struggle or a need for anger management and the release of withheld emotions.
Specific five cards illustrate these themes: * Five of Swords: Represents domination, pyrrhic victories, and the potential hidden costs of success. It suggests gaining something in a way not fully earned or succeeding at a cost that outweighs the reward. * Five of Wands: Often manifests when a break is needed, indicating a time of chaotic energy or competition that requires a pause to reassess. * Five of Pentacles: Signifies a loss of faith, unfaithfulness, disbelief, or deception. It casts doubt and represents hardship, though the surrounding cards heavily influence its specific message.
Within this landscape of conflict and challenge, the Five of Vessels offers a distinct alternative. While it acknowledges the underlying energy of struggle—specifically the struggle with loss and pain—it directs this energy toward spiritual breakthrough rather than external conflict or defeat.
Practical Applications and Insights
The insights from the Five of Vessels apply to various aspects of life, particularly in the realm of personal growth and emotional well-being.
Emotional and Spiritual Growth
The card serves as a guide for those navigating deep emotional turmoil. It suggests that the path forward is not found in suppressing grief but in finding a "trance-like state" where one can process emotions creatively and spiritually. For individuals facing physical or mental loss, the card encourages seeking out practices that foster ecstasy, such as dance, drumming, or deep meditation. It validates the pain but insists that transformation is possible through a connection to the "rhythm of the universe."
Financial and Material Challenges
In the context of financial readings, the Five of Vessels, or its traditional counterpart, may indicate a loss of money or a setback in investments. The advice offered is to choose whether to let this loss plague future decisions or to "let it go by learning a lesson and using that knowledge to your advantage in the future." While the past cannot be corrected, the future can be controlled by moving on with confidence. This aligns with the Wildwood theme of turning wreckage into something better.
Relationship Dynamics
The traditional Five of Cups is linked to the "Two of Cups," the card of perfect love and healing power. The Five of Vessels expands on this by suggesting that healing in relationships comes through acknowledging the pain inherent in love and actively participating in the "dance" of connection. It reminds us that pain is part of the process of love. For those experiencing guilt or shame in relationships, the card offers hope that these feelings will pass, but it also encourages a more active, ecstatic engagement with the healing process, perhaps through shared spiritual practices or creative expression.
The Shamanic Connection
The Wildwood Tarot draws heavily on shamanic traditions, and the Five of Vessels is no exception. Shamanism often involves journeying into altered states of consciousness to heal the soul. The ecstatic dance and drumming depicted on the card are classic shamanic tools for achieving these states. The card suggests that the querent has the ability to enter these states naturally. It is a call to remember ancient traditions where the boundary between the physical and spiritual was more fluid, and where healing was achieved through direct, ecstatic connection with the divine or the "truest form of love."
This connection is not reserved for a select few; it is described as flowing "through all of us." The card implies that the potential for this profound healing and spiritual fascination is accessible to anyone willing to engage in the necessary practices, whether they are active and frenetic or quiet and contemplative.
Conclusion
The Five of Vessels of the Wildwood Tarot offers a powerful and nuanced perspective on the universal experience of loss and grief. By correlating with the traditional Five of Cups, it acknowledges the reality of sadness, regret, and the challenges of recognizing the good amidst turmoil. However, it transcends the passive sorrow of the traditional card by introducing the concept of ecstatic healing.
Through its imagery of the dancing woman within the pentagram, surrounded by glowing cups, the card teaches that pain is not an endpoint but a catalyst for transformation. It encourages a conscious move toward healing, facilitated by a connection to the rhythms of the universe and the pursuit of ecstasy through various spiritual and artistic mediums. Ultimately, the Five of Vessels is a card of profound hope, reminding the wanderer that even in the darkest moments, there is a path to illumination and renewal through the "sincere and joyful ecstasy" of spiritual engagement.