Three of Cups
Affirmation
I allow my actions to reflect my true emotions.
Symbolic Attributes
- Element:
- Arcana:Minor Arcana
- Suit:Cups
- Archetype:
- Numerology:3 (The Result: expression, productivity, output)
- Hebrew Alphabet:
Keywords
Description
Maidens in a garden-ground with cups uplifted, as if pledging one another.
Light Meaning
- Celebrating your feelings or connections with others
- Expressing joy through song, dance, or physical affection
- Working together with others who share your feelings
- Performing acts of service as a way of saying, I love you
- Embracing unconventional romantic arrangements
Shadow Meaning
- Mistaking giddiness for true affection
- Being dominated by manic emotions
- Expecting everyone to always feel the same way you do
- Demanding unreasonable support from friends or family
- Partying to a dangerous or unhealthy extent
Questions to Ask Yourself
- •What's worth celebrating in my life?
- •How can I demonstrate my feelings in appropriate ways?
- •What can I do to show my partner how I really feel?
Personal Meaning
Draw your friends and loved ones to you. Freely give and receive help and support. Celebrate the gift of friendship in your life and keep it alive.
A time when you were surrounded by loved ones and you felt embraced and happily content.
This is a time to draw your friends and loved ones to you. Perhaps you need support, or can give help to another. Celebrate the gift of friendship in your life and keep it alive.
Personal Reversed Meaning
Feelings of being alone and misunderstood. Do not withdraw into yourself. Reach out for others to restore a feeling of community.
A time when you felt alone and misunderstood. You might have withdrawn into yourself and shut others out.
You may be feeling alone and misunderstood. This is not a time to withdraw into yourself. Reach out for others to restore a feeling of community.
Fortune Telling
- •Unconventional romance is coming your way: a love affair with someone you've always dismissed
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.