The Meaning Of The Six of Cups Tarot Card

New to Tarot? Just pulled the Six of Cups? If the innocent Six of Cups was pulled out of your deck and you want to know what it means, keep reading!

The Six of Cups wants you to let your inner child lead and share with those that you love! This card is nostalgic, reminding you of what matters, and sometimes, that means that giving is better than receiving. Embrace simple joys, like spending time with loved ones.

The Six of Cups is about keeping your heart soft in a world that wants you to harden your heart, but this card doesn’t want you to be so naive that you are taken advantage of. Be wise, but stay open-hearted.

Want to know what else this card is wanting to share with you? Read on!

Key Facts

Upright Meaning of The Six of Cups

The Six of Cups is reminding you of what matters. This is a card that is strongly connected to nostalgia, and when you see it, you’re meant to remember the simpler times from the past. It’s time to take a trip down memory lane and reconnect with your roots!

When you see this card, you’re meant to cherish the happy memories from your past and remember the people that you shared those happy memories with. Whether these took place during holidays, school times, or any old time, now is a good time to reminisce.

The Six of Cups shows us one child giving another child a cup filled with gifts, and this reminds us how important it is to share, whether we are sharing actual physical gifts with other people or sharing our time, our homes, or our memories with others.

This card is very emotional, as many past relationships are. Sometimes, this card lets us know that we will have an emotional reconnection with people from our past. Whether this person is an old friend or a lover from the past coming back, be open to reconnecting!

The Six of Cups also encourages you to go back to your roots to honor the experiences that have guided you to become the person that you are today. Who were you as a child, and who are you now? Answering this question can be enlightening for other situations as well.

You’re being led to embrace your sense of innocence and sensitivity instead of being cynical or pessimistic about life. When you are able to see things from a more optimistic and kind point of view, you’re more likely to find success.

Love and Relationships – Upright, The Six of Cups

In love, the Six of Cups let us know that it’s important to be open to reconnection. The Six of Cups is a very sentimental card and may want you to reconsider a relationship that failed in the past or never truly began. Find the one who got away!

Since the Six of Cups is strongly connected to sharing as well, make sure that you’re sharing with your lover. When you’re able to be honest about how you feel and talk openly with the other person, you’re allowing them to do the same.

This card also encourages you to know your partner’s love language or to start learning it. When you’re able to give them what they need to feel loved, the relationship is much more likely to progress smoothly. Let them know your love language as well.

Career and Work – Upright, The Six of Cups

When you see this card in a career reading, the Six of Cups is bringing a time of more harmony between you and your coworkers or your boss. You may also feel more fulfilled in your role where you work, or you may find a job that satisfies you more than your previous work.

The Six of Cups knows that you have past experiences that provide you with valuable insights into your career. You may also have learned skills that will now come in handy in the workplace. You’re finding innovative solutions by going back to your roots.

This card encourages you to seek out those who are generous and who are willing to share their insight and their expert opinions with you in the workplace as well. Don’t be afraid to seek out good advice from those who could mentor you.

Health and Wellness – Upright, The Six of Cups

The Six of Cups appearing in a health reading lets you know that it’s essential to pay attention to your emotional health and your physical health in order to create harmony within. Everything should be balanced!

As long as you’re able to embrace joy on your health journey, you’re more likely to find success. Having exercise partners can also help you to succeed right now, as working on a team is encouraged with this card.

This card is all about figuring out what helps you to feel joyful and then incorporating it into either your activity or your diet. You may also want to gamify your health routine, as this may activate your inner child and get them involved with improving your health!

The Six of Cups wants you to reflect on your past patterns and traumas that may still influence you now because it might help to work with a professional who can identify these issues and help you work through them. Seek out growth.

Spiritual Context – Upright, The Six of Cups

In spiritual readings, the Six of Cups can mean that you need to reconnect with your inner child. What brought you joy in the past can help you reconnect with your spirit and find joy again now. Don’t be afraid to embrace more childish activities right now.

The Six of Cups encourages you to reconnect with people from the past, especially those with whom you may have an unresolved business so that you are able to find healing. Grudges need to be put to rest, and hatchets need to be buried!

It’s important to embrace the spirit of forgiveness and healing. When you’re able to heal your spiritual wounds, you can then tend to those of others, especially those that you may have hurt in the past. 

The Six of Cups is generous, nostalgic, and able to go back to the past to learn about the present and the future. 

Reversed Meaning of The Six of Cups

The Six of Cups can appear upside down, meaning that you need to be aware of nostalgia that is bringing negative energy to your life. You might be dwelling too much on the past, or you could be holding grudges that are hurting you.

The Six of Cups reversed is trying to tell you to be aware of stagnation because focusing too much on the past can cause you to remain stuck back then. You need to bring yourself back into the present, and sometimes, you need to plan for the future.

This card reversed is a sign that there hasn’t been enough forward movement in your life, and it’s time to address any past traumas or negative patterns that are holding you back. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it; some are ready to help you.

This card can also indicate that you might not be allowing yourself to give back or that you may not be allowing others to help you. This is a card of sharing, and if you are not willing to share burdens as well as blessings with the people that you care about, make a change.

When you see this card reversed, you’re meant to make sure that you are living in the present while still honoring the past and remembering that the future is coming! Make it a good one!

Love and Relationships – Reversed, The Six of Cups

When the Six of Cups appears reversed in a love reading, it can mean that you might be idealizing the past with an ex-lover. Make sure that you aren’t wearing rose-colored glasses when you’re thinking about this relationship, and address any emotional baggage.

The reversed Six of Cups is warning you that you might not be sharing with your partner and that you need to be more open and vulnerable with them, as well as more generous. It can also warn you that your partner is engaging in these energies with you.

When you see this card reversed, it’s important to reevaluate your connection and the place that certain people deserve in your life. Some people need to remain in the past, while others may deserve a second chance. Don’t just trust words; trust actions.

Career and Work – Reversed, The Six of Cups

When it comes to career, the reversed Six of Cups is telling you to pay attention to imbalances in your workplace. You might be giving too much, or you might be receiving too much without doing your fair share.

The reversed Six of Cups is letting you know that you might not be living in the present, and this could be causing you to stagnate in your workplace. If you’re always reminiscing about the glory days but you’re not making any new goals, this needs to be remedied.

It could also mean that there are conflicts and unresolved issues with colleagues or bosses that are holding you back. Make sure that these emotional tensions are not interfering with your work, and do what you can to create more harmony in the workplace.

Health and Wellness – Reversed, The Six of Cups

The Six of Cups reversed in a health reading often indicates that dwelling on past traumas or negative memories is causing you to experience negative health effects. Make sure that living in the past isn’t causing you trouble in the present.

This card reversed in a wellness reading means unhealthy coping mechanisms or unhealthy habits could be preventing you from listening to your body’s actual needs and not allowing you to address the emotional baggage. Try to move on to self-care and past destructive habits.

When you see the Six of Cups upside down here, you’re meant to move forward with your health practices and make sure that you’re not just making empty promises to yourself. The more that you procrastinate, the worse that you may feel in the future.

Spiritual Context – Reversed, The Six of Cups

When the Six of Cups appears reversed in a spiritual reading, don’t forget to pay attention to how the past is affecting your spiritual life. Mentally living inside of memories can cause you to stagnate unless you are able to pull yourself out of this, either with help or without.

This card can mean that you’re struggling to let go of memories, either positive or negative, or let go of past beliefs that no longer serve your spiritual journey. You might be attached to a spiritual practice from your childhood, but it is unhealthy for you.

When you see this card reversed, it’s letting you know that you’re meant to introspect and then detach yourself from what’s holding you back. Be open, and don’t be afraid of giving back. The more you cling right now, the more difficult this time period might be. 

When the Six of Cups is reversed, you’re meant to share more, focus on the present, and honor the past, instead of stagnating, running away from the past, or closing yourself off.

The Six of Cups: Yes or No

The Six of Cups is often a yes since it is a positive and generous card, but since it is so connected to the past as well as nostalgia, it can also ask you to consider the past when answering your question.

Often, if you’re asking about a past situation, it is more likely to be a yes, but you are meant to be honest and realistic about the situation and the changes that you and the other person have made.

However, if you’re asking about a situation that has ended, remember to be introspective about why it ended and if it is an energy that you want to reintroduce into your life. Not all people deserve a place in your life.

Otherwise, it can remind you to be generous or to seek out kind and compassionate–spirited people in order to reach success.

When the Six of Cups is here, the answer is yes, or to consider the past.

The Six of Cups and Astrology

In astrology, the generous, peaceful Six of Cups is associated with Scorpio. Ruled by Mars, Scorpio shares the same deeply connected and loyal energy that the Six of Cups has.

The Six of Cups’s energy will likely feel more natural to you if you’re a Scorpio, and similarly, if you are a water sign, as Cancer will align with deep emotional connection and sharing resources, and Pisces will understand charity and compassion.

The water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces will emotionally identify with the Six of Cups!

The Six of Cups and Numerology

In numerology, the Six of Cups is represented by the number 6. 6 represents harmony, generosity, charity, and balance. 

The number 6 is giving back to those who need it and is asking you to be generous like them and to give with a cheerful heart. The number 6 is supportive and balanced and just wants the best for everyone involved.

Responsibility, fairness, and warmth are key factors for the number 6, so dig deep and figure out what must be done to help you and the people around you. 

Number 6 helps us to be kind to others as well as ourselves, as well as to be nurturing and balanced.

The Six of Cups as a Daily Card

The Six of Cups as a daily card is a reminder to go back to your roots, especially when you need spiritual guidance, and to savor the present. After all, all of this will be a memory someday.

Don’t forget to embrace your inner child today, and stop and smell the roses because children notice the world around them instead of hurrying to where they need to be. Make sure that you are viewing your world with more innocent eyes today.

Whether you’re going back to good old memories or reconnecting with a friend from the past, make sure that you are taking the best mental snapshots that you can in the present. The better your present, the better the memories will be!

The Six of Cups wants you to honor the past and share with others, but don’t get so stuck in the past that you forget to live in the future.

The Six of Cups in Relation to Other Cards

All tarot cards have other cards in the major and minor arcana that back them up by complementing their energy, or that challenge them by contrasting their energy. Are you doubling down or finding a balance? Let’s find out!

• Six of Cups’s innocence + The Fool’s carefree nature = Embracing your innocent side and seeing the world with new eyes
• Six of Cups’s meaningful relationships + The Lovers’ emotional connection = Deep emotional connection with another person
• Six of Cups’s harmony + The Ten of Cups’s long-lasting happiness = Happy connections that last a long time, harmonious connections with others
• Six of Cups’s desire to share + The Nine of Cups’s satisfaction = Sharing a sense of satisfaction, sharing wealth and comfort
• Six of Cups’s nostalgia + The Eight of Cups’s moving on = Honoring the past while still living in the present

Complementary Cards

• The Empress: The Six of Cups shares nurturing, thankful, and emotional wisdom with the Empress
• The Ace of Cups: The Six of Cups has the same overflowing emotion and ability to renew as the Ace of Cups
• The Page of Cups: The Six of Cups has a shared curiosity and emotional exploration with the Page of Cups
• The Four of Wands: The Six of Cups shares celebration, harmony, and abundance with the Four of Wands
• The Ten of Pentacles: The Six of Cups has a similar security, connection, and nostalgia as the Ten of Pentacles

Contrasting Cards 

• The Tower: The Six of Cups isn’t as chaotic or destructive as the Tower, indicating a need to make gradual changes and not be shocked when the future comes
• The Five of Swords: The Six of Cups isn’t as conflicting or argumentative as the Five of Swords, indicating a need to find harmony with others or within yourself
• The Eight of Swords: The Six of Cups isn’t as restricted or trapped as the Eight of Swords, indicating a need to free yourself and not get stuck in the past
• The Knight of Swords: The Six of Cups isn’t as swift or assertive as the Knight of Swords, indicating a need to balance sensitivity and ambition
• The Ten of Swords: The Six of Cups isn’t as exhausted or final as the Ten of Swords, indicating a need to cherish the good memories and let go of the bad

When the card in the Six of Cups is with a complementary card, it might be telling you to go for it, but in a specific way! If a card in the Six of Cups is with a contrasting card, figure out what needs balancing out.

Conclusion

The Six of Cups wants you to cherish all that’s come before but also to embrace the present and all there is to love here, too. Let go of all the worries and the fears that you’ve accumulated into adulthood, and ask yourself: what would my inner child do?

When you’re able to answer this question, you’re better able to have fun and see the silver lining of the dark clouds in your life. Find the innocence that used to come to you so easily, and let your sense of wonder guide you to a better future.

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