The Six of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

The Six of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

The Six of Cups is a pleasant little card that can indicate that there are a lot of positive energies surrounding you at this time… so long as they are balanced.

First we will talk about the good of the card and then we will discuss the pitfalls. This card represents nostalgia and ideal times of your life. Often the card will come at a time in your life when you need solace or healing because it represents the need to focus your energies on more simplistic outlets. It’s an excellent time to center your energies on clearing out the messes in your life that are unnecessary.

If you are feeling that there is a lot going on in your life and you are being sucked in by a whirlwind of events or stressors understand that you have the power to slow things down. It can be difficult to separate out what needs your attention right now and what you can let go. The Six of Cups can tell you to go back to the basics and rather than working on cutting aspects out of your life completely reworking areas of your life so that they aren’t taking out so much from you personally.

The imagery on the card shows a boy handing a younger child, seemingly a female, flowers. There is no hint of monetary exchange and it is often interpreted as a loving or childish gesture. The colors of the card are all indicative of spirituality and emotional strength. It is also a pleasant card in regards to the fact that there is no real downside to this card. Generally it shows the positive nature of universal love. The love in the card is represented as that between families and because of this it is a good omen for fertility and childbearing – as well as a great card involving familial bonds.

On the darker side of this card it can be a warning. Too much of a good thing sometimes is a bad thing and in this card that is the case. Depending on what other cards in your reading the Six of Cups, it can be showing that you are focusing too much on the past or reverting to childish behaviors. Be wary of this card paired with many reversed cards, specifically the 2 of Cups or the Lovers card reversed. If you see this card in your reading you may want to consider ways in which you could be possibly acting immature or childish in your own life to be sure that the card is not a negative omen for you.

The Six of Cups in Love

The Six of Cups in Love can indicate problems in a relationship when there are disagreements or arguments going on that one or both people in the relationship are not being mature. They are not meeting in the middle as they should and usually there is an indication of being selfish. While the card is positive and in certain aspects because it can show positive leanings toward family and children, when dealing with relationships specifically between people it usually reverts to the simpler meaning and simple isn’t always good regarding love.

The Six of Cups in Health

When the Six of Cups comes up in health usually there is a need to slow down or to “stop and smell the roses”. There may be ongoing health issues as well that flare up or illnesses from childhood that you are susceptible to and should avoid right now. In the case where you are concerned about another person, the card indicates that that person needs care and that you should be assisting them. They need your help or the help of others in general to get on the mend.

The Six of Cups in Work and Wealth

The Six of Cups in work will usually show a very good and creative time for you. It’s an excellent card when referring to working with a group. Right now your main focus needs to be on the simple approaches and avoid making anything too complicated or overly ornate so that you don’t miss your goal or deadline.

Six of Cups Advice

A tree's roots stretch out long and twisting, while the trunk towers above in a showering of leaves, it is what lies beneath that keeps the tree standing tall. Our past is our legacy, positive energy surrounds the Six of Cups like blossom blowing in the spring air. 

Just like the flower-filled cup being offered on this card, life is presenting you with opportunities for growth and expansion. It asks you to flick back through the past chapters of your life like you’re rereading your favourite book - is there something familiar that could be of use to you now?

Sometimes it is a mentoring figure from your childhood that this card calls upon, a parent or an older sibling. In your past, there is insight and wisdom, lessons which may have since been forgotten and a guiding hand that will bring you to new beautiful places in the future - make sure you utilise these gifts of your history. 

Six of Cups Yes Or No

Reconciliation, reconnection, a new lease of life - these are all qualities deep within the Six of Cups card. Like a full moon reappearing in the night sky, this card honours the cycles of life and the wondrous possibility of forgiveness and redemption. All this is to say, it has a specific and important type of positive energy; its answer to your question is yes. Keep your eyes fixed on the future while carrying the lessons of the past, this affirmative answer may serve you very well. 

Six of Cups Past

The past is thick with nostalgia and precious memories, you may find yourself dwelling more and more in these past chapters of joy. But like a treasured photo album, if you dip into your own history too much the pages will become dogeared and the keepsake will eventually lose its value. It’s fine to mine the past for inspiration and love, but make sure you’re not looking back more than you look forward - if you are, you might just end up missing the new, beautiful experiences right before your eyes. 

Six of Cups Present 

Hard work warrants big rewards; sometimes it seems we plant so many seeds, yet so few actually sprout in times of drought.  Good news! A new season of prosperity comes this way; observe this card, see the chalices filled with beautiful flowers and how they’re shared between two kindred souls with free-spirited butterflies surrounding them. 

Now is a great time to make friends, a connection might just spark new streams to hydrate and nourish other areas of your life. All those seeds you planted are about to come into season, roll up your sleeves and get ready to enjoy the harvest - beautiful spring and all its new creatures are here just for you. There is so much to enjoy, this is a wonderful card to see in your present position. 

Six of Cups Future and Outcome

Our lives are like towers, sometimes we’re building upwards towards the sky, sometimes we have setbacks and have to take a rest and recuperate. To keep your ascent steady and purposeful, you must recall the lessons and values of the past. After all, you wouldn’t be as high as you are without them. What materials have you used before, what served you best? 

Think of the decisions that worked out well for you and try and understand why. Doing so may just enable you to unfurl your greatest desires and manifest them into reality, like a ribbon coming loose and blowing in the wind. With an equal measure of craft and reflection all your wants and dreams are possible, just make sure you’re putting your full existing experience to use and you’ll sail as smoothly as a yacht on a sunny day. 

Six of Cups Love Reconciliation

A long-lasting love, youthful years that have been spent growing together like two strings of ivy that have become intertwined over time. The Six of Cups frequently appears here when a relationship has been formative and long-lasting, possibly even signifying childhood sweethearts.

For some, this card carries a message of deepened commitment - could now be the time to start a family? But for others, it may be pointing to a lack of maturity that is unbalancing your partnership, or even a wistfulness for a lost romance that is distracting a partner from their current coupling. A steady and responsible interrogation of your romance is in order, be as fair-minded and honest as a judge - sometimes, we must let go of even long-burning romances. 

Single? Perhaps not for long, a long lost love - a figure from the pages of your past - looks set to make an exciting reenterance. Sometimes we think of the past coming back to haunt us, but don’t let prejudice hold you back, sometimes love just needs time to come into full bloom. 

Six of Cups As Feelings

Warmth, heady and intoxicating like nostalgia. These are the feelings of the person you inquire after; to them, you are like an ambient Christmas evening - magical and full of potential. While there may not be sparky passion in this person’s feelings, there is definitely a sense of comfort and maybe even familiarity. The trust they have in you is like that shared between family members, while this might not spell romance, it certainly looks like a beautiful and steady friendship. 

Six of Cups As Friendship

Is there anything sweeter than reconnecting with an old friend? The women on this card demonstrate the beauty of two souls reaching out to one another, their respective joy exploding in a shower of butterflies and stars.

Sometimes we grow apart from friends, only to grow back together again as life’s path converges once more. Pick up that old phone book, dial around - now is the perfect environment for reconnection and it may just lead to a friendship that lasts a lifetime! All bets are off, and hearts are open - what more could you ask for?

The Six Of Cups in the Reversed Position

When you reverse the Six of Cups you are taking the possible mental health concerns – especially from ones that stem from childhood. Also, notice how my cups above are filled with flowers --- when this is reversed the flowers fall out. What is falling out of your cup in life? The innocence of the card is turned upside down and can relate back to past trauma or abuse that you are still working through (or need to) as an adult. The card is a concerning card in the reversed position because it shows there is a need for help but you are likely feeling like you have nowhere to turn or no one to help you. It also can be a bad sign for finance because it shows that there is a level of irresponsibility revolving around money or concern for money. It is also a warning for you to not be too stuck in the past and to be willing to move forward on your path at this time.

Six of Cups Reversed - Love and Romance

Dwindling passion, a flame that blows out in the wind - is the oomph gone from your partnership? Commitment is important, but so is joy and love in daily life. Your relationship can’t rely on familiarity alone, if it does, it’s like a recipe missing its seasoning. 

Remember to focus on the now in your relationship, don’t idealise days since past or dwell on loves you’ve had before. If your thoughts are going everywhere but the here and now, you need to seriously consider why that is - perhaps the fire of your love has been snuffed out permanently?

For those without a partner, an even darker message emerges - it could be that a past traumatic experience is impeding you from finding a romantic partner in the present. There is no shame in this struggle, try and focus on self-love. You, like all people, are deserving of love; there is so much beauty in your soul, and with time it will open out to another partner like a small tulip on a hot day. 

​Six of Cups reversed - Family and Home

There is no history like family history, it stretches back and back and back to the beginning of time. It is this that makes it your foundation, but also what adds more complex twists and turns than a crime novel. 

Sometimes past events begin to haunt the family home - there is the exchanging of blame and feelings of bitterness. This card suggests exactly that, emotions are running high and there is a possible danger zone for the most vulnerable members of your family. 

Sometimes, this card even calls to attention abuse that has gone unnoticed. While this is not pleasant to consider, take pains to ensure that everyone within the family unit is safe and comfortable. From there you can work on reestablishing positive bonds and lessening resentment. Forgiveness is truly a gift, especially in matters of small pettiness. Work on swallowing your pride and in reward you will find a happier, healthier family. 

Six of Cups Reversed - Work and Finances

Watching the clock, the minutes ticking away so slowly - why does time pass so agonisingly when you’re bored? This reversed card sees your lack of enthusiasm for your work. The rat race has stalled to more of a crawl...now could be a time for a change of speed. Wallowing is never the answer, but change often is. 

Alternatively, the inverted Six of Cups can also highlight an important but emotionally draining job. This is especially true of roles involving work with the disadvantaged or the vulnerable. Your work is honourable, it brings more good into the universe - but don’t forget to give yourself breaks when you need them. If you burnout it won’t help anyone, least of all yourself. 

Six of Cups Reversed - Health and Wellness

Humans are complex organisms, like beautiful yet confounding machines there are so many processes needed to keep things working, it sometimes feels like occasional breakdowns are inevitable. 

Here, it is the Six of Cup’s relationship with the past and inheritance that can illuminate hereditary illnesses that are passed down genetically. If you know of family ailments possessed by your parents, now may be the time to seek medical advice in these same areas. 

With peace of mind and professional advice, you can take the best and most effective road to full health and vitality. Remember, never beat yourself up about health problems, you are only human and challenges such as this only teach you to be more grateful for the health you do have (just like a rainbow after the rain).

Six of Cups Reversed - Personal Spirituality

Faith can be slippery - it requires a mixture of opposing things: tradition and innovation, solitude and collaboration. It is, of course, important to honour the classic practices of personal spirituality, but sometimes it is necessary to your spiritual development that you reach out and try new things, too. 

Faith should not transform into stubbornness, instead, it is about experimenting with ways of uncovering personal enlightenment in whatever form that takes. Expand your horizons, and who knows what incredible leaps of personal progress you might make with an open heart and mind.  

Six of Cups Meanings in Keywords

Upright

• Old lovers together
• Waters of the past
• Mirror of reflection
• Memories
• Filters of the mind
• Childhood love
• Reminiscing

Reversed

• Change is accepted
• Memories are not blocking
• Childhood problems
• Lack of creativity
• Mirror of time