The Ten of Cups showcases a transformation from the sinuous, climbing plant forms of previous cards to a more serene and complete image.
Gone are the intricate vegetal forms, replaced by the cups, with the tenth cup lying down, immense and adorned with a lid featuring a flower with four golden petals. Universal Love has cleared the emotional dramas.
At the center of the illustration, Shiva and Shakti embrace in a lascivious waltz. Their sensual and rhythmic dance may represent a struggle for the supremacy of the feminine over the masculine. Alternatively, the goddess might be playfully reminding her partner that virility is not synonymous with violence, and that true power comes from an openness to receptivity.
This depiction, inspired by the erotic statues adorning the exterior walls of the Khajuraho temples in India, offers an evolution from its granite counterpart. A closer look reveals the rounded belly of Shakti.
The sacred couple stands at the pinnacle of loving creation. Harmony is perfect between the spouses, and it is now time to pass on their gift of Love to their descendants, ensuring it is perpetuated through generations.
