No. 26

Five of Cups

At dusk beneath a gloomy sky, a middle-aged man walks alone along a narrow path, tears mingling with rain, reflecting the unspeakable anguish within his heart. The overturned chalices before him symbolize loss and regret -- the emotions that once brimmed with fullness now remain only as fading echoes. This traveler looks back on the past, his heart filled with irretrievable mistakes and remorse, as if every drop of water that slips away speaks of the sorrow of losing true love. Legend tells that he ultimately found understanding amid endless grief: failure is not the end, but an opportunity to rediscover oneself and seek renewal. This parable teaches us that even in our darkest emotional moments, we must bravely face our losses, for only by releasing past attachments can we welcome the soul's rebirth and true liberation after pain. [Imagery and Symbolism] A figure in a black cloak looks down at three overturned chalices on the ground (loss), from which red and green liquid spills. Behind stand two upright chalices (hope). A bridge and castle appear in the distance.