Today we’ll cover the meaning and interpretation of the Queen of Cups tarot card. This is a part of a deep dive series on the tarot.
Summary
| Category | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Upright | Emotional intelligence, nurturing, intuition, sensitivity, compassion |
| Reversed | Emotional insecurity, mood swings, overemotional, self-pity, codependency |
| Astrology | Water signs – Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces |
| Love | Emotionally fulfilling relationship, understanding partner, deep connections |
| Career | Helping professions, artistic and creative work, working with the public |
| Finances | Emotional spending, generosity with money, investing in loved ones |
| Past | Emotionally nurturing upbringing, childhood memories, past relationships |
| Present | Emotions are front and center, need for self-care and boundaries |
| Future | Emotional growth, potential new relationship, following intuition |
The Queen of Cups tarot card description
The Queen of Cups tarot card typically depicts a queen sitting on a throne, holding a cup in her hand. The cup is often depicted as overflowing with water or emotions, symbolizing the queen’s ability to understand and nurture the emotions of others.
The queen is usually depicted as being serene and calm, with a gentle and caring expression on her face. She is often dressed in flowing robes and wears a crown or headpiece.
The background of the card may include imagery of water, such as a lake or ocean, as well as natural elements like flowers and trees. These elements are meant to represent the queen’s connection to her emotions and intuition.
In some depictions, the queen may have a crescent moon symbol on her head, crown or throne, indicating her connection to the subconscious mind, intuition and emotional receptivity.
Overall the Queen of Cups is associated with the qualities of love, compassion, nurturing, and emotional balance, often representing a motherly figure or a woman who is sensitive and in tune with her emotions.
The Queen of Cups card keywords
Some keywords associated with the Queen of Cups card that you can memorize are:
- Emotions
- Intuition
- Love
- Compassion
- Nurturing
- Emotional balance
- Receptivity
- Motherly
- Sensitivity
- Water
- Subconscious mind
- Inner wisdom
- Empathy
- Healing
- Creativity
- Emotional intelligence
- Kindness
- Caring
- Supportive
- Understanding.
Astrology of the Queen of Cups card
The Queen of Cups is often associated with the astrological sign of Cancer. Cancer is a Water sign, which aligns with the imagery of the overflowing cup on the card and the queen’s connection to emotions.
Cancer is known for its emotional depth and sensitivity, as well as its strong intuition and connection to the subconscious mind. This aligns well with the themes of emotional balance, compassion, and nurturing that are associated with the Queen of Cups.
Additionally, Cancer is a Cardinal sign, meaning that it has leadership energy—this aligns with the imagery of the queen sitting on the throne.
This can indicate that the Queen of Cups is someone who is able to take charge of their emotions and use their intuition to guide them in their decisions and actions.
It’s also important to notice that astrology is one of the many ways to interpret tarot cards, and there is no one definitive answer to this question, as different tarot readers may have different associations between tarot cards and astrological signs.
Upright Queen of Cups tarot card meaning
What is the meaning of the upright Queen of Cups card?
The upright Queen of Cups is a tarot card that represents emotional maturity, compassion, and nurturing. It is associated with the ability to understand and empathize with others and to create a peaceful and harmonious environment.
The traditional interpretation of the upright Queen of Cups is a card of emotional maturity, nurturing, and compassion. It represents someone who is in touch with their emotions and able to use them to understand and support others.
This person is often described as a kind, caring and supportive figure, who is able to offer emotional healing and guidance to those around them.
In readings, the upright Queen of Cups can indicate the person receiving the reading is in a place where they are able to access their emotions and intuition, and are able to use this to make decisions and navigate relationships in a positive way.
It may also indicate the presence of a supportive and nurturing woman in their life, or that they will be able to take on this role for someone else.
In a more specific sense, it can indicate they are going through a period of emotional stability and balance, and that they are able to understand and empathize with others. It can also suggest showing kindness, caring and support towards others, and they are able to create a peaceful and harmonious environment.
It can also indicate a creative and artistic nature, as well as a connection to the realm of the subconscious, dreams, and imagination.
Example upright Queen of Cups reading
In a tarot reading, the upright Queen of Cups might come up in a spread when someone is seeking guidance on how to handle a difficult emotional situation.
The card could be interpreted as a sign that the person should tap into their own emotions and intuition to understand and empathize with the other person involved in the situation.
For example, let’s say a person is going through a rough patch in their relationship and they are feeling very hurt and upset.
The upright Queen of Cups in this reading could indicate that the person should take some time to process their own feelings and try to understand where their partner is coming from.
It could also suggest that the person should be more nurturing and compassionate towards their partner, and try to offer emotional support and healing.
In another example, the upright Queen of Cups can indicate that the person who is receiving the reading is going through a phase of creative inspiration and they should tap into their subconscious mind and imagination to come up with new and creative ideas.
Reversed Queen of Cups card tarot meaning
What is the meaning of the reversed Queen of Cups tarot card?
The reversed Queen of Cups represents emotional confusion, instability, and a lack of balance. It can indicate that the person receiving the reading is struggling to understand and control their emotions, and may be experiencing a lack of empathy and connection to others, or being too passive or too dependent on others for emotional support.
The traditional interpretation for the reversed Queen of Cups is a card of emotional confusion, instability and a lack of balance.
It represents someone who is struggling to understand and control their emotions and may be experiencing a lack of empathy and connection to others. This card can also indicate that a person is being too passive or too dependent on others for emotional support.
In a reading, the reversed Queen of Cups can indicate that the person receiving the reading is currently in a state of emotional turmoil and instability.
They may be unable to access their emotions or intuition, which can make it difficult for them to navigate relationships or make decisions. It may suggest that the person is struggling to understand their own feelings and the feelings of others, and they may be closed off emotionally.
It can also indicate that the person is not being honest with their own emotions and is not being authentic with their feelings. It can also show a lack of creativity and a disconnection with the realm of the subconscious and imagination.
Example reversed Queen of Cups reading
In a tarot reading, the reversed Queen of Cups might come up in a spread when someone is seeking guidance on how to handle an emotionally confusing situation.
The card could be interpreted as a sign that the person is currently in a state of emotional turmoil and instability, and they may be unable to access their emotions or intuition, which can make it difficult for them to navigate relationships or make decisions.
For example, let’s say a person is going through a rough patch in their relationship and they are feeling very hurt and upset but they can’t seem to understand why they are feeling that way.
The reversed Queen of Cups in this reading could indicate that the person is currently in a state of emotional turmoil and instability, and they may be closed off emotionally and not able to understand their own feelings or the feelings of others.
This could be a sign that they should take some time to process their own feelings and try to understand where their partner is coming from.
In another example, let’s say a person who is an artist is facing a creative block and can’t seem to come up with new and creative ideas.
The reversed Queen of Cups in this reading could indicate that the person is disconnected from their subconscious mind and imagination and they need to tap into their emotions and intuition to overcome this block.
Meanings of the Queen of Cups in tarot positions
Depending on the position of the Queen of Cups card, you will need to interpret it differently.
Love Queen of Cups tarot meaning
In a love context, the Queen of Cups represents emotional balance and stability. She is a deeply intuitive and nurturing figure, who is able to understand and empathize with her partner.
She can represent a person who is able to give and receive love with ease, and is able to create a deep emotional bond with their partner.
When this card comes up in a love reading, it can indicate that the person receiving the reading is in a place of emotional balance and stability in their relationship.
They are able to understand and empathize with their partner and are able to offer emotional support and nurture the relationship. This card can also indicate that the person is able to give and receive love with ease and that they have a deep emotional bond with their partner.
It can also indicate that the person who is receiving the reading should tap into their own emotions and intuition to understand and empathize with their partner, and also indicates that the person should be more nurturing and compassionate towards their partner.
In a reversed position, the Queen of Cups can indicate that the person is struggling to understand their own emotions or the emotions of their partner. They may be closed off emotionally and unable to offer emotional support or nurture the relationship.
Career Queen of Cups tarot meaning
In a career context, the Queen of Cups represents creativity, intuition, and emotional intelligence. She is able to understand and empathize with her clients or colleagues and is able to create a deep emotional connection with them.
She is able to think and act with compassion and understanding, which can make her a valuable asset in any work environment.
When this card comes up in a career reading, it can indicate that the person is in a place of emotional balance and stability in their job. They are able to understand and empathize with their clients or colleagues, and are able to offer emotional support and nurture the work relationships.
This card can also indicate that the person is able to use their intuition and creativity to find new solutions and ideas in their work, and that they have a deep emotional connection with their clients or colleagues.
It can also indicate that the person who is receiving the reading should tap into their own emotions and intuition to understand and empathize with their clients or colleagues, and also indicates that the person should be more nurturing and compassionate in their work.
In a reversed position, the Queen of Cups can indicate that the person is struggling to understand their own emotions or the emotions of their clients or colleagues.
They may be closed off emotionally and unable to offer emotional support or nurture work relationships. It can also indicate a lack of creativity and a disconnection with the realm of emotions and intuition.
Finances Queen of Cups tarot meaning
In a financial context, the Queen of Cups represents stability, balance, and emotional intelligence. She is able to understand and empathize with her financial situation and is able to create a deep emotional connection with her money.
She is able to think and act with compassion and understanding, which can make her a valuable asset in any financial situation.
When this card comes up in a financial reading, it can indicate that the person is in a place of emotional balance and stability with their money.
They are able to understand and empathize with their financial situation and are able to offer emotional support and nurture the relationship with their money.
This card can also indicate that the person is able to use their intuition and creativity to find new solutions and ideas to improve their financial situation, and that they have a deep emotional connection with their money.
It can also indicate that the person who is receiving the reading should tap into their own emotions and intuition to understand and empathize with their financial situation, and also indicates that the person should be more nurturing and compassionate in their relationship with their money.
In a reversed position, the Queen of Cups can indicate that the person is struggling to understand their own emotions or the emotions related to their financial situation.
They may be closed off emotionally and unable to offer emotional support or nurture their relationship with money. It can also indicate a lack of creativity and a disconnection with the realm of emotions and intuition in regards to financial matters.
Advanced modern tarot interpretations of the Queen of Cups card
I always like to examine other, modern decks to see what can be read into their symbolism.
The reason for this is that every person will have different decks, so it’s good to learn how to go with your gut on what you see. This is the best way to have a good interpretation of the moment.
Too many people stick to a learned reading instead of going with the flow. Remember, each reading, deck, person, position, and question is different. Reading the cards is an art, not a science.
Here is a new interpretation of the Queen of Cups tarot card:
In a modern context, the Queen of Cups can also symbolize the importance of self-care and self-compassion.
She is a reminder to take care of ourselves emotionally, to be kind to ourselves, and to practice self-compassion. She can also represent the importance of emotional boundaries, and the ability to say “no” to people or situations that are not healthy for us emotionally.
When this card comes up, it can be a reminder to tune in to your emotions, to be kind to yourself, and to make decisions based on your intuition. It can also indicate that you may be in a place of emotional balance and stability and you should trust your feelings and be open to the support of others.
In a reversed position, the Queen of Cups can indicate a struggle with emotional intelligence, which may manifest as difficulty in expressing one’s feelings, difficulty in empathizing with others, or difficulty in taking care of oneself emotionally.
It can also indicate a disconnection with one’s emotions and intuition, and a lack of self-compassion.
Back to the Minor Arcana list.
The previous card was the Knight of Cups tarot card and the next card is the King of Cups card.
References
- Dean, L. (2018). The Tarot Companion: A Portable Guide to Reading the Cards for Yourself and Others. Fair Winds Press.
