Six of Cups

Card Description

The Six of Cups depicts a scene of innocent giving - an older child offers a cup filled with flowers to a younger child in what appears to be a village courtyard. Six cups filled with white flowers surround them. In the background, a guard walks away from the scene, and old buildings create a sense of a familiar, safe hometown.

The imagery evokes the simple pleasures of childhood - gift-giving without expectation, the safety of home, and the pure joy of small gestures. The flowers in the cups represent the beauty of memories that bloom in our hearts long after the moments have passed.

Upright Meaning

When the Six of Cups appears upright, it invites you to reconnect with your past in a positive way. This might mean revisiting childhood memories, reconnecting with old friends, or recapturing the innocence and wonder you once felt. The past holds gifts for you now.

• Fond memories and nostalgia
• Reunions with childhood friends or family
• Return to a familiar place or hometown
• Innocence, playfulness, and childlike joy
• Gifts from the past influencing the present
• Simple pleasures and uncomplicated happiness

Reversed Meaning

When reversed, the Six of Cups warns against being trapped by the past. You may be viewing memories through rose-colored glasses, clinging to outdated relationships, or unable to move forward because you're too focused on what was instead of what is.

• Being stuck in the past
• Unrealistic or distorted memories
• Refusing to grow up or mature
• Naivety that is no longer appropriate
• Childhood wounds affecting the present
• Need to release the past and embrace the future

Six of Cups in Love

Upright: A past love may return, or you might meet someone who reminds you of simpler times. This card can indicate childhood sweethearts reuniting, love rooted in shared history, or bringing more innocence and playfulness into your current relationship. There's a sweet, pure quality to romance now.

Reversed: You may be comparing current partners to past loves, or an ex returning may not be as positive as it seems. Be careful of idealizing past relationships or partners. It's time to see love as it is now, not through the lens of nostalgia.

Six of Cups in Career

Upright: You might reconnect with former colleagues or return to a previous job or field. A career that connects to your childhood dreams or interests may be calling you. Skills and experiences from your past are valuable assets now - don't underestimate what you learned long ago.

Reversed: Clinging to outdated skills or past career glory may be holding you back. The job market has evolved, and you need to evolve with it. Let go of how things used to be and focus on building relevant skills for the future.

Symbolism

• The Children: Innocence, pure intentions, simple joy
• The Cups with Flowers: Beautiful memories, gifts from the past
• White Flowers: Purity, innocence, sweet remembrance
• The Village/Courtyard: Home, safety, familiar territory
• The Guard Walking Away: Protection no longer needed, security
• Old Buildings: The past, history, roots and foundations