The Six of Cups symbolize the joy of nostalgia, the comfort of home and childhood innocence. In the card itself, there are six cups filled with white flowers. Two children are depicted in the foreground, and one is passing a cup to another. This handing of the flowers from the boy to the girl shows the passing of traditions and happy reunions. The children seem to be in a castle of sorts, that we can imagine give them a sense of security and comfort.
Upright Meaning Guide
Six of Cups Upright Tarot Card Key Meanings:
Children, childhood memories, past influences, yearning, homesickness, nostalgia, reunions, playfulness, youthfulness, innocence, creativity, kindness, goodwill, simplicity, childishness, immaturity, sharing, gifts, charity, family, support, protection, childhood issues, childhood abuse
General Meaning and Interpretation (Upright)
In general context, the Six of Cups Tarot card can represent nostalgia, childhood memories and focusing on the past. When this card appears in a Tarot spread you may be being influenced by past events, reminiscing about the past or thinking about someone from your past. The Six of Cups is also the Minor Arcana card of children, young people, and youthfulness and can represent having children or taking care of or working with them. It can signify simplicity, playfulness, innocence, goodwill, and sharing. It can also represent protection and family. If you have been going through a tough time, the Six of Cups may be telling to take the support available to you from family and close friends. When the Six of Cups appears in a Tarot spread it can also indicate that you are being childish or immature. If combined with certain supporting cards it can, in some cases, indicate childhood abuse. It can also signify homesickness for those that live abroad.
Love & Relationships (Upright)
In a love Tarot reading, if you are in a relationship, the Six of Cups can simply indicate that you and your partner are childhood sweethearts. If the surrounding cards are positive, it can signify having children. However, it can also indicate problems or issues being caused in a relationship by immaturity or childishness. It can signify that your relationship is being held back because you are yearning for a past love or that a previous partner is influencing your relationship or causing arguments. If you are single, the Six of Cups can signify a past lover coming back into your life, becoming romantically involved with a childhood friend or finding love in the area where you grew up.
Money & Career (Upright)
In a career reading, the Six of Cups is generally a good omen. It signifies creativity, sharing, and goodwill. When this card appears it is a great time to get involved in creative or team projects. It can also indicate working with young people or children. In relation to finances, the Six of Cups can represent giving or receiving gifts or charity. It can also represent receiving an inheritance. The Six of Cups can also appear when you are thinking of making a will or in the process of making one.
Health (Upright)
In a health reading, the Six of Cups can simply be telling you to be charitable or caring towards someone with ill health, they may need your support more than you know. It can also be an indication that a fast-paced life may be causing you undue stress or illness, try to simplify your life as much as you can and get back to basics. If you are trying to conceive the Six of Cups is a good omen as it represents children and family.
Spirituality (Upright)
In a spiritual context, the Six of Cups can indicate that you need to keep spiritual practices simple. Our spirituality an intrinsic part of who we are but sometimes in our eagerness to connect to spirit we can over-complicate things. If you have been struggling to connect, go back to basics. The Six of Cups can also indicate that you may find yourself rediscovering rituals or traditions from your childhood and integrating them into your spiritual practice.
Reversed Meaning Guide
Six of Cups Reversed Tarot Card Key Meanings:
Letting go of the past, focusing on the future, maturity, growing up, leaving home, independence, rose-tinted view of the past, boredom, lack of creativity, stagnation, being stuck in the past, resolving childhood issues, childhood abuse, stolen innocence, completing therapy/counseling
General meaning and interpretation (Reversed)
In a general context, the Six of Cups reversed can signify letting go of the past and being ready to move on to the future. It can be an indicator of growing up, becoming more mature or leaving home. It can also indicate letting go of childhood issues or childishness. The Six of Cups reversed can indicate childhood abuse or stolen innocence. This Minor Arcana card reversed in a Tarot reading can also indicate overcoming such abuse so look to the supporting cards for clarification. If you have been going through counseling or therapy, the Six of Cups reversed can be a good omen, signaling that you have worked through the issues of the past and are ready for a fresh start. Alternately, the Six of Cups reversed can indicate that you are stuck in the past or looking at past events through rose-tinted glasses if that’s the case you need to bring your focus back to the present moment and appreciate what you have today.
Love & Relationships (Reversed)
In a love Tarot spread, if you are in a relationship the Six of Cups reversed can represent boredom or a lack of passion in the relationship. Although the relationship gives you security, you may be finding it stifling. If you are single, the Six of Cups reversed can indicate that you are ready to put your past relationships behind you and move onto something better. Alternately, it can indicate that you are still looking at your past relationship through rose-tinted glasses and comparing anyone new you meet unfavorably to your ex. In order to move forward, you need to remember that your past relationship is over for a reason. Holding onto the past will not change anything and you could end up wishing your life away. Give someone new a chance! The Six of Cups can also signify that childhood issues or childhood abuse may be preventing you from finding the love you deserve or affecting your ability to open up to your partner if you are in a relationship.
Money & Career (Reversed)
In a career context, the Six of Cups reversed can indicate that you are feeling bored in your current role or that it’s stifling your creativity. You may decide to leave the security and safety of this job to do something that you will find creatively fulfilling. It can also indicate working with children or young people who may have been traumatized or are disadvantaged in some way. This, while worthwhile, could be emotionally draining for you so make sure you take care of your own well-being too. In a financial context, the Six of Cups reversed can indicate that you are becoming financially independent and mature in the way you manage your finances. For a young person still living at home with their parents, it can indicate becoming ready to move out and live independently.
Health (Reversed)
In a health context, the Six of Cups reversed can be an indicator that any health issues you are suffering from may either be genetic or a physical manifestation of unresolved childhood issues/trauma. If you are planning a family, the Six of Cups in a reversed position can represent fertility issues or problems conceiving.
Spirituality (Reversed)
In a spiritual context, the Six of Cups reversed can indicate that now is a time to discover new beliefs and try new things rather than clinging rigidly to the beliefs or traditions you learned in childhood. Keep what works for you but don’t be afraid to branch out and incorporate new ideas that appeal to you.
Reference:
Labyrinthos, 2019, 10/31/19, (https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list/six-of-cups-meaning-tarot-card-meanings)
Lisa, 2019, 10/31/19, (https://www.thetarotguide.com/six-of-cups)