Six of Cups - Rider Waite Minor Arcana

A pleasant image; two children pictured with six cups; filled with flowers. The Six of Cups looks back to the past; nostalgia and good memories come to light here.

While the previous card deals with regrets, the Six of Cups looks back to the past in a more positive light. Think back to your best memories; not always childhood. This is what the Six of Cups represents.

At a glance

The Six of Cups is a tarot card that belongs to the Minor Arcana suit of Cups, which represents emotions, feelings, and relationships. This card is often associated with nostalgia, childhood memories, and a sense of returning to the past. It can indicate a time of healing, forgiveness, and renewal.

In a reading, the Six of Cups often signifies a return to a simpler, more innocent time. It can indicate a desire to revisit the past and reclaim lost aspects of oneself. This card can also suggest that you are feeling nostalgiciac for a time or relationship that has long since passed.

The Six of Cups can also suggest that you are ready to let go of past hurts and grudges, and move forward with a renewed sense of forgiveness and understanding. This can be a time of emotional healing and growth, as you allow yourself to release the pain of the past and embrace a brighter future.

In terms of relationships, the Six of Cups can indicate a time of rekindling old friendships or reviving a sense of connection with a loved one. It can also suggest a willingness to forgive and move forward in a relationship, rather than dwelling on past mistakes.

In a more practical sense, the Six of Cups can indicate a time of abundance and prosperity. It can suggest that you are receiving help or support from others, or that you are able to give back to others in a meaningful way.

Overall, the Six of Cups is a positive and uplifting card that suggests a time of healing, forgiveness, and renewal. If this card appears in your reading, it may be a sign that it is time to let go of the past and embrace a brighter future.

Card meanings

Past

A loving upbringing and positive memories of childhood and the recent past are echoed in the Six of Cups. Things may have been simpler in the past, and this may be a feeling you are longing for right now.

Life does get complex as we get older; but we can’t stay as a child forever. Often we play down our achievements. Think about the things you are managing in life right now; others may struggle but you perform effortlessly.

Present

Nostalgia is all good and great, but we can get lost in the past, longing for a time that was better, instead of looking to make our present into a better future.

The Six of Cups in the present position can represent that you should look to what you have now. In future you may look back and treasure these present moments. Even the worst, most boring experiences can have a silver lining.

Personally, I have worked a few bad, dead-end jobs in my time. At the time I hated them, but looking back I appreciate the people I met, and the fun we had.

Future

Consider your future and how you want to remember your present. We don’t make the right choices all the time but we can make the most of the choices we do make.

In future, are you still going to look back to memories from your past, or from now? Don’t rest on what you have achieved. The Six of Cups should suggest that you should continue making good memories, and not rely on what you have already done.

Work, careers and education

Simplicity is the key here. The Six of Cups in regards to your job or education should mean that you should look to your base passions and interests if you want to be happy.

Are you working a dead end job or studying an extremely boring subject? This might just be the wrong path for you. You may need to exercise that creativity in your own time if your job doesn’t allow for it. If you feel you can, then invest your time into your job or education path and make it your own.

Love and Relationships

If you’re in a relationship, you may be missing how you felt at the start. This is normal, and all relationships go through a honeymoon phase.

The Six of Cups suggests a longing for the past generally. You can always rekindle how you felt by revisiting places you used to go to together; perhaps revisit the location of your first date?

If you’re single then again, look to the past; someone you used to be interested may come into your life. Generally, keep things simple. A child does not concern itself with anything other that their base needs. This may be a good practice for you to follow.

Wealth

Are you spending money on things you think you need, but don’t actually want? As we grow up, there are pressures to purchase expensive things to show how mature we are; cars, houses, certain types of clothing.

The Six of Cups revels in simplicity and childhood. As a child, what did you care about? Why not pursue those dreams and desires now? Money is a strange issue, one a child is right to have trouble understanding.

We want and need it when we don’t have it, but when we have too much we rarely know what to do with it. Money does not create happiness, but the using it has potential to.

Health and well-being

The Six of Cups is a good card to draw for health; the childlike aspects of the card should show that your health is great or at the very least improving.

Consider your mental state more than your physical; are you still thinking about bad choices or events from the past? Don’t walk away from the past, but don’t get tied up in it either. Consider your lessons learned.

Other associations

Element: Water

As a Yes or No question: Yes

Keywords

Childhood, simplicity, nostalgia, family, childhood, helping others