No. 29

Eight of Cups

On a drizzly evening, a weary traveler departs alone from a gathering that was once warm but has gradually lost its luster. He slowly picks up an empty chalice and resolves to pursue the truth and tranquility hidden in the distance. This cup once brimmed with laughter and emotion, but now only hollow echoes remain. The traveler walks along muddy paths, leaving the bustling city behind, silently affirming that departure is not an ending but the beginning of new life. Every step is filled with hardship and solitude, yet he believes that only by casting aside unfulfilling illusory emotions can he find the true haven for his soul. This parable tells us that sometimes we must bravely release past attachments to find true freedom and peace on a new journey, achieving inner transformation and transcendence. [Imagery and Symbolism] A man in red clothing abandons eight neatly arranged chalices under a moonlit night, walking with a wooden staff toward the wilderness and mountains (seeking and letting go).