It's National Novel Writing Month again, and once again I've signed myself up to write 50,000 words of a fresh fiction novel, without having the time nor the brainpower to do so. This year is particularly more difficult than years past, as I have a week-long conference to attend next week, a 5,000 word paper due for grad school the week after, multiple small projects on the go scattered throughout, and a puppy who is too young to understand the need to leave me alone. 

I just don't have time. But I'm going to do it anyway, because I do it every year and it's the one event that is purely for me and myself alone. I've never published a NaNo project, they just lie in different folders on various laptops I've owned over the years, but the writing of them has always brought me joy. 

This year is no different, I'm writing a young adult novel which is a genre I've never tried before and because I have no time for it later this month, I'm actually going to attempt to complete it in the next seven days, starting today. 

I'd better go do that.

Like the ten of cups reversed, sometimes life becomes too dysfunctional to handle, and our cups are splayed everywhere with their contents out all over the place and we just have to suck it up and do what we set out to do. But the reversed ten also tells us to find gratitude in the little overwhelming things that make life life, and do those obscure selfish things that bring us joy. 

The Ten of Cups upright is about obtaining the highest level of gratitude and emotional abundance. It is reunions, gatherings, marriage, and harmony.

Reversed, the Ten of Cups might be a dysfunctional family or broken home, or a lack of security in one’s marriage or housing. It sounds terrible initially, but even reversed there is a reminder to look around at all the things you can be grateful for. 
 
Questions answered by the reversed Ten of Cups:
Who? The dysfunctional family member 
What? Disharmony
Where? A social services department
When? The middle of March; 10 months after a divorce or broken home
Why? “Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.” ~Unknown
Yes or No? No

The Reversed Ten of Cups as:
…an action?

• Find things to be happy about
• Break up a difficult relationship
• Do not trust that person

 
…a place in your house?

• The half bath
• The kitchen sink

 
…a place in your city?

• Social services

• The DMV
• The school pickup line

…a place in the world?

• Reno, NV
• East Asia
• Seville, Spain
• Amsterdam

…something to eat?

• Bagged salad
• Takeout

 
…something to clean?

• The laundry
• Wipe the floors

 
…where to find the missing item?

• You lost it in a fight
• A parent or elder has it

 
…a color? Dysfunctional family

• Hillbilly Elegy
• Knives Out
• Parasite

 
…a new career?

• Divorce lawyer
• Child services
• Manual labor

 
The Ten of Cups reversed
Before any card: A lack of security caused by (card)
After any card: Unhappy home; dysfunction 

​The Ten of Cups is the ultimate emotional fulfillment card. A happy family is indicated in almost any deck. The Ten is not about immense wealth or luxury--although that could certainly be indicated by other cards in a spread--but instead, it is about obtaining the highest level of gratitude and emotional abundance.

Seeing the Ten of Cups in any reading is a great blessing. Even reversed, the emotional fulfillment may be lacking, but there is lots to be grateful for if you look around. 
 
Questions answered by Ten of Cups:
Who? The happiest person; the family 
What? Sheer joy
Where? A playground
When? The middle of March; 10 years;
Why? "Family is not an important thing. It's everything." ~Michael J. Fox
Yes or No? Yes
 
Ten of Cups
​Before any card: Be grateful for (card)
After any card: Blessings, success, family

The Ten of Cups as:
...an action?

• Be grateful for your blessings
• Start a gratitude journal
• Spend time with your family 

 
...a place in your house?

• Where your loved ones spend the most time
• The dining table.

 
...a place in your city?

• A church

• The community center
• The park
• A mall

 
...a place in the world?

• Denmark
• Iceland
• New Zealand
• Disney parks

...something to eat?

• Casserole
• Pasta
• A recipe passed down from an ancestor

 
..something to clean?

• The dining room table
• The Kitchen

 
...where to find the missing item?

• A loved one has them
• A child ran away with them during play

 
...a color? Happiness, family

• 10 Things I Hate About You
• The Addams Family
• Coco

 
...a new career?

• Publicity
• Fame
• Sales
• Creative arts

 
Ten of Cups combinations
With Lovers: Committing to a partnership leads to a lifetime of fulfillment
With Nine of Wands: Having gratitude requires work - Write down things you are grateful for.
With Knight of Cups: Trust your heart over your head and wishes will be fulfilled.
With Three of Swords: There is love in heartbreak. Ever mind the rule of three, what ye send out comes back to thee8
With Five of Pentacles: Focusing on wants not haves. Without love there is poverty.
​
8 Universal prophecy commonly attributed to Wiccan or Pagan rituals