The Six of Cups Tarot Card Meanings Explained Simply

Today we’ll cover the meaning and interpretation of the Six of Cups tarot card. This is a part of a deep dive series on the tarot.

Summary

CategoryMeaning
UprightNostalgia, memories, childhood, innocence, happiness
ReversedStuck in the past, inability to move on, naivety
AstrologySun in Scorpio
LoveReconnecting with past partners or friends, happy memories
CareerFinding a job or career that brings joy and happiness
FinancesReceiving unexpected financial help or gifts
PastChildhood memories or events from the past
PresentEnjoying the present moment, being in the company of loved ones
FutureA time of happiness and joy, finding comfort in the past

The Six of Cups tarot card description

six of cups tarot card meanings

The Six of Cups in the Tarot typically depicts a young child, often a child prince or princess, offering or receiving a cup filled with flowers.

The child is often depicted as standing in a garden or a courtyard with a peaceful, nostalgic, or sentimental mood. The background of the card often shows a castle or a large building, which represents the child’s past or heritage.

The flowers in the cup often symbolize nostalgia and a longing for the past.

The card may also depict a sense of innocence, purity, and nostalgia. The number 6 often represents balance, harmony, and nurturing.

Together, the imagery on the Six of Cups card suggests a sense of nostalgia for a happier, simpler time, and a longing to return to a state of innocence and purity.

The Six of Cups card keywords

Some keywords that are associated with the Six of Cups in Tarot include:

  • nostalgia
  • sentimentality
  • childhood
  • innocence
  • purity
  • harmony
  • balance
  • nurturing
  • giving and receiving
  • memories
  • heritage
  • past

Additionally, the Six of Cups may also be associated with themes of forgiveness, compassion, and emotional healing. This card can also represent a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time, and a longing to return to a state of innocence and purity.

Astrology of the Six of Cups card

In tarot, the suit of Cups is often associated with the astrological element of water and the astrological signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces which are known to be emotional and intuitive.

The number 6, which the Six of Cups represents, is associated with the planet Venus which is associated with love, harmony, and balance.

The Six of Cups can also be associated with the sign of Scorpio which is associated with emotional depth and transformation through the process of letting go of the past and forgiving. This card can also be associated with the sign of Cancer which is associated with emotions, family, and home. It can be a reminder to nurture relationships and to be open to receiving and giving love.

Overall, the Six of Cups represents emotional balance, harmony, and the ability to let go of the past, and it could be a sign of a sentimental and nostalgic time in one’s life.

Upright Six of Cups tarot card meaning

What is the meaning of the upright Six of Cups card?

The Six of Cups in tarot represents nostalgia, sentimentality, and a longing for the past. The card symbolizes emotional balance, harmony, and the ability to let go of the past, and it can indicate a renewed connection with loved ones from the past, emotional healing, and self-discovery.

The traditional meanings and interpretations of the upright Six of Cups typically revolve around nostalgia, childhood memories, and a longing for the past. The card often represents a sense of innocence and purity, and a desire to return to a simpler, more harmonious time.

In terms of relationships, the card can indicate a renewed connection with an old friend or lover, or a reconnection with family members or loved ones from the past. It can also signify forgiveness and emotional healing within relationships.

On a more personal level, the card can indicate a time of emotional balance and harmony and a sense of emotional well-being. It can also represent a time of inner growth and self-discovery.

In terms of career and finances, the card can signify a sense of nostalgia for a former job or career, or a longing to return to a previous state of financial stability.

In general, the upright Six of Cups suggests a time of reflection, nostalgia, and a desire to return to a simpler, happier time. It is a reminder to nurture relationships and to be open to receiving and giving love.

Example upright Six of Cups reading

The Six of Cups in this position suggests that you may be feeling a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past.

You may be reminiscing about happier times, or feeling a sense of longing for a simpler, more innocent time in your life. This card is a reminder to nurture and appreciate the relationships in your life and to be open to receiving and giving love.

You may also be experiencing emotional healing and a sense of balance and harmony in your emotions.

This is a good time to reflect on your past experiences and let go of any negative emotions that may be holding you back. In terms of career or finances, you may be feeling a sense of nostalgia for a former job or career, or a longing to return to a previous state of financial stability.

Reversed Six of Cups card tarot meaning

What is the meaning of the reversed Six of Cups tarot card?

The reversed Six of Cups means disappointment, disillusionment, and a lack of emotional fulfillment. It suggests a need to let go of negative past experiences and work on emotional healing and inner growth, and focus on building emotional connections and balance in the present.

The traditional meanings and interpretations of the reversed Six of Cups typically suggest a sense of disappointment, disillusionment, or a lack of emotional fulfillment.

The card can indicate a feeling of being stuck in the past, or an inability to let go of negative past experiences. It can also indicate a lack of emotional balance or a sense of emotional instability.

In terms of relationships, the card can indicate a lack of emotional connection or a sense of emotional distance in a relationship. It can also indicate a lack of forgiveness or unresolved issues from the past.

On a more personal level, the card can indicate a lack of inner growth or a feeling of being emotionally blocked. It can also suggest a lack of emotional support or a sense of emotional isolation.

In terms of career and finances, the card can signify a lack of financial stability or a feeling of being stuck in a job or career that is no longer fulfilling.

In general, the reversed Six of Cups suggests a need to let go of negative past experiences, and to work on emotional healing and inner growth. It is a reminder to focus on the present and to work on building emotional connections and balance in your life.

Example reversed Six of Cups reading

A real-world example of interpreting the reversed Six of Cups could be a situation where an individual is feeling stuck in a previous relationship and can’t move on.

They may be holding onto past hurt and disappointment and not able to forgive their former partner or even themselves. This card could indicate that they need to work on letting go of the past and focus on their emotional healing in order to move forward.

They may need to focus on building new emotional connections and finding balance in their emotions.

They might also want to consider seeking the help of a therapist or counselor to work through their feelings and gain new perspectives on their past relationship.

Additionally, the reversed Six of Cups can also suggest that the person is feeling emotionally blocked, and isolated and could be lacking emotional support. It might be a good idea for them to reach out to friends and family for support, or to seek out new social connections.

Meanings of the Six of Cups in tarot positions

Depending on the position of the Six of Cups card, you will need to interpret it differently.

Love Six of Cups tarot meaning

In a love context, the Six of Cups can indicate a renewed connection with an old flame or a reconnection with a past love.

It can signify forgiveness and emotional healing within a relationship, and a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, more harmonious time in the relationship.

The card can also indicate a sense of emotional balance and harmony in a current relationship, and a sense of emotional well-being. It can also indicate a strong bond with a family member or loved one. It is a reminder to nurture relationships and to be open to receiving and giving love.

Career Six of Cups tarot meaning

In a career context, the Six of Cups can indicate a sense of nostalgia for a former job or career, or a longing to return to a previous state of financial stability.

It can also indicate a sense of emotional balance and harmony in your current career, and a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. This card may suggest that you should focus on nurturing relationships with colleagues and clients and to be open to giving and receiving support.

Additionally, it can suggest that now is the time to find a balance between your work life and personal life.

The card can also indicate that you should be looking to let go of negative past experiences related to your job and instead focus on emotional healing and inner growth.

Finances Six of Cups tarot meaning

In a financial context, the Six of Cups can indicate a sense of nostalgia for a previous state of financial stability or a longing to return to a simpler, more comfortable financial situation.

It may suggest that you should focus on nurturing relationships and connections that may bring financial opportunities. The card can also indicate that now is the time to find balance in your financial situation.

It could suggest that you should be looking to let go of negative past experiences related to your finances and focus on emotional healing and inner growth in order to find balance.

Additionally, this card can indicate that you should be open to receiving and giving support in order to improve your financial situation.

Advanced modern tarot interpretations of the Six 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 Six of Cups tarot card:

The Six of Cups represents the concept of “digital nostalgia.”

In today’s world, many people have access to a vast amount of information and memories through technology and social media. The card could represent a longing for the past as seen through the lens of technology, and a desire to reconnect with people and memories from the past through digital means.

The card could also represent the idea of curating and preserving memories through technology, such as creating a digital scrapbook or photo album.

In this context, the card could be interpreted as a reminder to balance the present and the past and to be mindful of how technology is shaping our understanding of the past and our relationships with it.

six of cups tarot card interpretations

Back to the Minor Arcana list.

The previous card was the Five of Cups tarot card and the next card is the Seven of Cups card.

References

  • Dean, L. (2018). The Tarot Companion: A Portable Guide to Reading the Cards for Yourself and Others. Fair Winds Press.