Six of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

The card paints a tender scene filled with peace and kindness. Two carefree children are absorbed in play. A boy bends in a little bow, offering a fair-haired girl a cup filled to the brim with wildflowers.

The towers of an old castle rise in the background, and five more flower-filled cups stand around the children. The Six of Cups invites us to look back into our past and childhood, rediscovering our truest feelings and wishes.

The Six of Cups is a good sign, bringing a favorable forecast for every part of life! If you're married, harmony and happiness await your relationship. If you're looking for a partner, you'll meet the person meant for you very soon.

Plans put aside for one reason or another will start moving again. People from the past may reappear: a former lover, an old friend, or someone you haven't seen in a thousand years.

The card reveals the unbroken thread connecting your present to your past. Perhaps there are mistakes you need to avoid repeating. Or there may be forgotten, unfulfilled wishes that deserve a chance to come true now.

Take a dip into your memories. Think about your parents, your roots, and the days when you were young and carefree. These lovely thoughts will refresh you and help bring your current goals into sharper focus.

The Six of Cups also points to sincere people with good intentions around you. This is a wonderful time to begin productive partnerships without fear of betrayal or intrigue, and to ask for—and receive—help from loved ones and colleagues. But remember your own responsibilities and look around. Someone nearby may need a kind word, sympathy, or support from you, too.

Upright Six of Cups: Key Meanings

• Comfort, family happiness, stronger family bonds, help, support, and stability.
• A gift, an inheritance, a good financial position, or good news.
• Pleasant memories, meeting a former lover or friend, or nostalgia.

The reversed Six of Cups loses very little of its positive meaning. Wishes and people from the past return, and family relationships remain full of love, understanding, and tenderness. Difficulties are behind you. A phase of improvement and renewal is beginning!

Still, expect surprises. Something may happen ahead of schedule, sending you into a small flurry of activity and nerves. In the end, though, everything will settle down, and unexpected events won't stop you from reaching your goals.

Reversed Six of Cups: Key Meanings

• Good relations with relatives, mutual understanding, and family harmony.
• Worry, bustle, rushing, or hasty actions and decisions.
• New meetings, learning, or a discovery.

In a love reading, the upright Six of Cups predicts new meetings, flirting, and the first stirrings of bright, sincere feelings. It's a light, playful period when connections come easily and relationships are warm, trusting, and friendly.

The lovers delight in their dates, do wonderfully reckless things for love, and try everything to keep their mutual interest growing. Unforgettable meetings and the sweet early days of courtship carry them into a little paradise on wings of tenderness and lovely sensations.

Reversed, the card may warn that rushing things could harm a happy relationship.

How They Love

If you're asking about a crush or partner, the upright card describes someone whose feelings are vivid and very sincere—though not always consistent. Still, while you're together, being beside them is a delight!

Reversed, it describes someone sincere but hasty in love. They can fall at first sight, but it's unlikely to last a lifetime. A day or a month is more likely.

In a career reading, the Six of Cups predicts successful progress on plans you previously set aside. After an unstable spell, things are improving. There's a chance to make a profit and build promising partnerships. These may be your first exhilarating business successes.

Sincerity and trust shape your professional relationships, with no tension or mixed messages. Going to work feels like heading to a celebration, and each day brings creative pleasure and satisfaction.

Reversed, the card points to a wish to finish old business and focus on future projects.

As a description of someone, the upright card points to a very sincere, kind person who knows how to share their bright emotions with everyone around them.

Reversed, this is someone emotional, sincere, and easily swept up in a new interest. Enthusiasm catches quickly, but they don't always have the patience to finish what they start.

Upright, the card advises you to open up to sincere, meaningful connection. Loved ones, relatives, and friends are your greatest treasure and your strongest support.

Reversed, it advises you not to rush events or decide in the heat of the moment. Be responsible in your choices and actions, or you risk making a mistake.

Upright, the outlook is very positive. You'll be happy with how things are going and able to share that happiness with someone close.

Reversed, the outcome is uncertain. Carelessness and hasty judgments or actions may get in your way. Don't rush events or make decisions in the heat of the moment.

The Moon, and the Moon in Cancer: calm, good judgment, warmth, and peace of mind.

The Fool — Thinking back to childhood, happy memories, generous gifts for loved ones.

The Magician — Charity, helping loved ones, childhood dreams, sentimentality.

The High Priestess — Thinking about the past, a platonic relationship, heartfelt generosity.

The Empress — Childlike innocence, raising children, everyday wisdom.

The Emperor — Offering comfort, recommending a job, sharing what has worked for you.

The Hierophant — Meeting an old love, a childhood attachment, nostalgia.

The Lovers — Being naive in love, an older admirer, forbidden love.

The Chariot — A military veteran, retirement from service, a government position.

Strength — Taking someone under your wing, showing leniency, helping someone's career.

The Hermit — A path of purification; embracing traditions; chastity or fasting.

Wheel of Fortune — Resuming an activity; starting from scratch; becoming a mentor or coach.

Justice — Old attachments or connections; a fresh view of a problem; charity.

The Hanged Man — An interest in religion or ancestral traditions; wanting to share how you feel; making someone a little happier.

Death — Alternative medicine; muddled priorities; giving away the last of what you have.

Temperance — Forgiving someone you love; making peace with family or friends; a virtuous path.

The Devil — No good deed going unpunished; vice disguised as virtue; lies and shortsightedness.

The Tower — Holding on to lasting values; finding comfort in helping others; self-sacrifice.

The Star — Platonic love; affection; sharing plans or revealing a dream.

The Moon — Childhood memories; sharing experience; complicating matters or trying to justify yourself.

The Sun — Rethinking your position; looking within; finding kindness or compassion.

Judgment — Difficulty conceiving; an unplanned pregnancy; inherited illnesses.

The World — Nostalgia; looking inward; the subconscious; thoughts about the future.

Ace of Wands — Taking up long-standing projects; sharing experience; a need to find something new and original.

Two of Wands — Living in memories; naivety; inaction and fear of change.

Three of Wands — Childishness; taking action after a long break; a desire to create.

Four of Wands — The birth of a child; care and goodwill; sincere feelings; meeting an old friend.

Five of Wands — Hostility rooted in the past; a long-standing enemy or rival; a clash between generations.

Six of Wands — A romance with a former partner; a second chance; returning to a familiar way of life.

Seven of Wands — Resisting change; living in the past; retreating into your familiar little world.

Eight of Wands — Taking a step back; reconsidering your beliefs; becoming more accommodating and sensitive; recognizing past mistakes.

Nine of Wands — Living in the past; getting stuck in memories; shutting out recent events.

Ten of Wands — The weight of memories; immersing yourself in the past; futile attempts to change what has already happened.

Page of Wands — A naive young woman or man; a teenager; an innocent soul; volunteering.

Knight of Wands — Looking only ahead; living for today; picking up useful experience or an idea.

Queen of Wands — A short rest or nostalgia; returning to a former lover; a strict upbringing.

King of Wands — An old friend or acquaintance; reminiscing; examining the past.

Ace of Swords — Planning to have a child; firm principles; creating something and keeping an open mind.

Two of Swords — Doubts about becoming a mother; trying to leave old habits behind; needing a change of activity.

Three of Swords — Shortsightedness; doing more harm than good; misunderstanding the younger generation; childhood hurts.

Four of Swords — Fixating on the past; a need for spiritual growth; indulging in memories; forgetting the bad.

Five of Swords — An unsuccessful experiment; rejection and criticism from others; a failed project.

Six of Swords — Returning home; moving in with parents or with your children; reuniting with loved ones after a long disagreement.

Seven of Swords — A money-minded view of the world; childhood insecurities; not receiving enough love as a child.

Eight of Swords — A first child; a young mother or new parents; trying to do everything right; getting confused by different methods.

Nine of Swords — Remembering past mistakes; getting hurt through trust; gynecological health problems and difficulty conceiving.

Ten of Swords — Infertility; facing a cruel truth; falling into fraudsters' hands.

Page of Swords — Arguments over child custody; being wound up; putting your emotions on display.

Knight of Swords — Rash actions; all-or-nothing thinking and haste; an idealistic young man.

Queen of Swords — Favor from the authorities; a government handout or hidden motives; dependence on a system or an authority figure.

King of Swords — Following someone else's lead; taking what you're given; joining law enforcement.

Two of Cups — A relationship from childhood or youth; an old vow or promise; meeting a former partner.

Three of Cups — Childhood friends; pleasant company; a school reunion; happy memories.

Four of Cups — Being unable to make peace with the past; hiding your history; depending on other people's opinions.

Five of Cups — Mixed lessons from life; disillusionment with the past; hiding actions you're not proud of.

Seven of Cups — Living in the past; behaving like a child again; all-or-nothing thinking and naivety.

Eight of Cups — Hiding in memories; a childish or naive action; fear of responsibility.

Nine of Cups — Sincere joy; knowing how to enjoy life; good luck in your endeavors; pure intentions.

Ten of Cups — A good teacher; a sincere love of children; wanting a large family; having many children.

Page of Cups — Sharing joy or useful experience; offering good ideas; encouraging a sense of responsibility in others.

Knight of Cups — Charity or volunteering; a nonprofit organization.

Queen of Cups — A positive outlook; morals and decency; naive principles.

King of Cups — A trusting nature; the life of the party; a broad-minded person.

Ace of Pentacles — Kindness and tenderness returned; heartfelt gifts; responsiveness and generosity.

Two of Pentacles — Extravagance and a soft heart; giving alms; a lack of practicality.

Three of Pentacles — Faith in a new project; giving yourself completely to your profession; a figure from theater or the media.

Four of Pentacles — Hiding your vulnerability; concealing true feelings; acting indifferent.

Five of Pentacles — An impoverished inner life; a lack of prospects; mistaken or superficial conclusions.

Six of Pentacles — Being deprived of warmth or attention; an obsessive state; an inability to stand on your own.

Seven of Pentacles — An investment in someone's name; caring for the future; foresight and prudence.

Eight of Pentacles — Working on a relationship; giving more than you receive; feeling happy and valued in your profession.

Nine of Pentacles — A well-rounded person; patronage; sponsorship or joining forces with younger, emerging entrepreneurs.

Ten of Pentacles — Uniting under someone's leadership; becoming part of a whole; a marriage proposal.

Page of Pentacles — Working in social services; seeing the fruits of your work; receiving a public response.

Knight of Pentacles — Work in the service sector; conservatism; lasting values and knowing how to profit from them.

Queen of Pentacles — A successful career; reaching the top without hypocrisy; honor and respect.

King of Pentacles — Financial comfort; complete protection; a man who has taken responsibility.