Six of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

Six of Cups Keywords

Childhood memories, innocence, past life/lives, reunion, nostalgic (nostalgia), reminiscing, recollecting

Six of Cups Numerology

6

Six of Cups Astrology Zodiac

Water: Scorpio

Six of Cups Tarot Suit

Minor Arcana, Suit of Cups

Journal Prompts for Six of Cups Tarot Card

– Do I long to return to something/someplace/someone from my past? If so, why and how does this serve me?

– What can I do to heal/release/let go of any heartache, pain, etc from my past?

– How can I nurture/heal my inner child?

Six of Cups Card Meaning

Tones of yellow/gold, highlighted by blue and red, color the imagery of the Six of Cups. Six chalices, each containing a five-pointed, white flower decorate the scene. This is a unique feature of the cups suit, as it is the only one with flowers planted in the chalices.

There are two children facing each other, standing among the flower-filled cups in the foreground. The elder child hands a chalice to the younger one. The white flowers in the image are symbols of the innocence and purity that the children, themselves, represent. Off to the left and just barely noticeable, is a male adult figure walking toward a house/castle in the background.

*Based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck

Six of Cups Upright

The Six of Cups tends to conjure feelings of yesteryear, nostalgia and of what was. Memories and past times are often associated with this card. The children in the foreground symbolize such reflections toward childhood, and the past.

The innocence and purity that the Six of Cups represents encourages you to share and/or approach your situation with an open heart. To not be afraid or hindered from connecting to your emotions and expressing what you are feeling. Generally, this card appears as a sign of reconnection, friendship, friendliness and that you are safe to allow your inner child to come forth.

Generosity and/or the act of sharing is another quality that may be revealed with this card. You are safe to both give, receive and share with those around you when the upright Six of Cups is present. There may be a gift and/or offering symbolized by this card as well. Whether this gift is money, something material, resources, skills, etc–these are gifts that are given from the heart and/or have some nostalgic appeal.

Due to the association of “memories” that this card touches on, you may benefit from reflecting on the past in terms of lessons learned and experiences gained. 

At times, this card may appear as a sign that you may reunite and/or reconcile with someone from your past. Where there have been challenges and/or conflicts previously, this energy is a sign of healing. Depending on your inquiry, this could relate to romance, family, friends, etc. Additionally, you may be returning or longing to reunite with someone, something or even someplace from your past.

If the 6 of Cups appears in a love-based reading, it can be an indication of a soulmate type of relationship. It is generally favorable to see this card upright, especially when inquiring about love. The person that you are in a relationship with (or hoping to be) is likely someone whom you might share a deep and meaningful soul connection with. 

Whether your question is about a lover or a friend, the Six of Cups upright position may also evoke feelings of familiarity. For example, meeting someone for the first time and having a strong sense that you may have met this person before, perhaps in a past life. This energy could also represent a connection in which no words are needed. The communication between the two of you comes from the heart and soul.

If you are asking about career or work-based circumstances, the Six of Cups may mean that you are and/or will feel comfortable in your job/work environment. The people you work with may feel very familiar to you and/or you may meet people through your work who feel like you’ve met them before. You are likely in a very nurturing, supportive space if this energy appears in your reading. It is possible that you might be thinking about going back to a career path, job, etc that you had moved on from previously.

Six of Cups Reversed

When the Six of Cups is in the reversed position, it may appear as an indication that you are having difficulty letting go of the past. You may be fixating on something/someone from the past. You could also be having trouble moving on from a person, place and/or situation. 

Being affected in such a way may prevent you from releasing, healing and/or overcoming heavy emotions/emotional blocks. There may be certain conversations and/or moments from the past that are haunting you or blocking you from moving on or even reconciling with someone. For example, if there was an argument or disagreement, you may be relieving it rather than resolving the situation (whether internally or externally) and focusing on the present.

Additionally, you may struggle to feel emotionally safe, comfortable and/or able to share your feelings. Some part of you may be emotionally blocked or stunted when the reversed Six of Cups appears.

Conversely, you may be working to heal past trauma(s)–whether it is associated with your childhood, a previous relationship and/or a difficult situation. This is an opportunity for you to connect with your inner child and to work on healing this aspect of yourself. You may finally be ready and/or in a safe space to recognize how your childhood needs were not met so that you can acknowledge any lack/abuse/etc and turn things around.

If the reversed Six of Cups appears in a tarot reading regards to love, there may be childhood trauma that is creating tension and/or difficulties between you and your partner. One or both of you may be holding on to painful memories, taking away from your/their ability to be present to the relationship. There may be nostalgic attachments to previous partnerships getting in the way of your (or their) ability to connect more fully and authentically. Do your best to be self-aware and/or to communicate with your partner to avoid confusion, fear, doubt or even resentment.

When relating to finances and/or career, the reversed Six of Cups your past could be affecting your ability to make confident choices in the present moment and/or as it applies to your future prospects. Make sure that you are not holding yourself back by fixating on failures or successes from the past, one way or another.