Six of Cups
Affirmation
I freely give myself to others, expecting nothing in return.
Symbolic Attributes
- Element:
- Arcana:Minor Arcana
- Suit:Cups
- Archetype:
- Numerology:6 (The Adjustment: cooperation, collaboration, interaction)
- Hebrew Alphabet:
Keywords
Description
Children in an old garden, their cups filled with flowers.
Light Meaning
- Donating your time and talents to others
- Taking satisfaction in knowing how your efforts will aid others
- Creating a win-win scenario
- Giving even when you know repayment is not possible
- Being motivated to do a good deed
Shadow Meaning
- Linking your sense of self-worth to the appraisals of others
- Striving to appear more needy than you really are
- Taking undeserved or unmerited charity
- Bragging about your charitable efforts
- Profiteering in times of distress
- Refusing to share a burden
Questions to Ask Yourself
- •What gifts do I possess? How freely do I give them?
- •How can I practice unconditional giving?
- •How would things change if I became a more charitable person?
Personal Meaning
Issues around children, childhood and childbearing. Also feelings, relationships and experiences we associate with childhood.Be sure to examine your actions and motives and be sure that they are rooted in good will and noble intentions. Keep your situation as simple as possible and try to have fun, appreciating all the good things life offers.
Feelings, relationships and experiences we associate with childhood. A sense of wonder, simplicity, happiness and innocence.
Issues around children, childhood and childbearing. Also feelings, relationships and experiences we associate with childhood.Be sure to examine your actions and motives and be sure that they are rooted in good will and noble intentions. Keep your situation as simple as possible and try to have fun, appreciating all the good things life offers.
Personal Reversed Meaning
Put aside your rose coloured glasses and face the facts with a higher degree of brutality. Romanticizing or over-simplifying isn't going to help this matter. Alternatively, this card can signify guilt or ill will.
A missed childhood. Feelings of guilt, ill-will or suspicion. Not being allowed or able to be happy and carefree.
Facing facts and seeing them with a degree of brutality. Romanticizing or over-simplifying isn't going to help this matter. Alternatively, this card can signify guilt or ill will.
Fortune Telling
- •A stingy spirit is strangling your enjoyment of life
- •Loosen up and think of others for once, why don't you?
How to Interpret This Card in a Reading
A guide to deepening your understanding of Tarot symbolism.
Context is Key
No Tarot card exists in a vacuum. While the meanings above provide a foundation, the true significance of this card depends on where it lands in your spread. Is it in the past position, indicating a phase you are moving away from? Or is it in the outcome position, suggesting a potential future? Always consider the neighboring cards — they often tell a story that modifies or amplifies the message.
Trust Your Intuition
Traditional meanings are the starting point, but your intuition is the compass. When you look at the card imagery, what draws your eye first? A specific color, a symbol, or a facial expression might trigger a personal memory or feeling. That immediate reaction is often the most relevant message for your current situation, even if it differs from the standard definition.
Understanding Reversals
If this card appears reversed (upside down), don't fear it. Reversals often suggest an internalizing of the card's energy, a delay, or a need to revisit the lesson before moving forward. It can also indicate that the "shadow" aspects described above are currently more active, inviting you to bring them into the light for healing.
Connecting with the Element
Remember the suit this card belongs to. Wands speak to passion and action (Fire). Cups dive into emotions and relationships (Water). Swords navigate the mind and conflicts (Air). Pentacles ground us in the material world and resources (Earth). The Major Arcana represents larger life themes and soul lessons. Filtering the card's meaning through its elemental lens will give you a grounded, practical way to apply its wisdom to your life.