Five of Cups

Five of Cups — Burke & Wills Expedition

The Bitter Cup of Ineptitude

The Five of Cups captures the hollow ache that follows hubris — when noble ambition is undone by misjudgment, miscommunication, and sheer human folly. In this image, the failed Burke & Wills expedition becomes a stark emblem of despair born not of fate, but of flawed leadership and poor decisions. The cups lie overturned in the dust — wasted resources, missed opportunities, and the precious water of life spilled through arrogance.

Wills sits beneath the desolate tree, hollowed by regret. Around him, the land — vast, unyielding, and ancient — bears silent witness to his suffering. Bonnie the Cockatoo perches nearby, a pale observer from the dreaming, watching as the expedition’s promise dissolves into dust. She reminds us that nature endures long after human pride has crumbled.

This card invites you to look unflinchingly at failure — not as tragedy alone, but as a teacher. It asks: Where have I refused to listen? Where have I overreached, mistaking determination for wisdom? Though grief and shame may linger, there remains the chance to learn humility, to pour new water into wiser vessels.

Reversed Meaning:

Acknowledging what went wrong. Accepting accountability. Learning through failure. Reclaiming dignity after loss.