The Six of Cups is very fitting of a card to follow the preceding five. The Six of Cups shows a scene of childhood love and children at play. The cups in the scene are not only full but brimming with foliage, showing love blossoming between two young people. There is a feeling of thinking back to better times here, and it beautifully illustrates how things are so simple when one is young and that there is a need to go back to that mindset in terms of the querent’s relationship or marriage. There may be a need to recreate the past as is shown in the card and nurture the foliage of the six cups displayed. Sixes in the Minor Arcana help to show where things are coming back into balance and where things are evolving.
In reference to the Six of Cups, the feelings in a romantic partnership are being righted and the relationship is evolving to the next level of closeness.
When more than one six appears in the same spread, there is an appended message available to the querent. Pairs of sixes help show where one can benefit from accepting or asking for a favour from another in regards to romance or an existing relationship while three of them sheds light on happy voyages with lovers and luck in love that is caused by or associated with companions. Perhaps someone is set up on a date through a friend. Having four sixes in a spread indicates success in regards to a childhood dream or public recognition, and could herald high school sweethearts getting married. The Six of Cups is all about looking into one’s romantic past in order to gain insight and inspiration for the future.
The Six of Cups in an Upright Position
An upright Six of Cups is a reminder of the querent’s past relationships, friendships, and romantic life. There will be a great deal of memories surfacing that cause a lot of emotion, and the nostalgic mood will remind the querent of the passion that was present during the beginning of their current relationship or remind them of the joyful times in a former relationship. There may be a reappearance of old lovers or friends from school for the querent or their partner, and it will bring joy from the good old days back to the forefront. The querent and his partner may also visit places they used to frequent as children or in the beginning of their time together, and discoveries could be made about unresolved issues and situations in the past. There is also a feeling of pride about one’s roots, and genealogical research may ensue. An admirer may leave the querent or his lover a gift, and there could be a journey in the works that has the potential to be very sentimental. This could also refer to the couple’s children.
The meaning of all Minor Arcana cards can be modified by the cards that surround it. Court cards from the Minor Arcana (Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings) all represent people. They have corresponding physical characteristics as well as their own astrological correspondences. The Six of Cups is related to the past and one’s childhood relationships and lovers. If there are issues, meetings, or other occurrences that have to do with these people, the court cards in the same area of a reading will reveal their identities more clearly. If there has been something that requires healing from a past relationship or an ex-lover is planning on resurfacing, they will also be shown by court cards in the vicinity. The inclusion of Major Arcana cards can further focus the intentions of this card in a tarot layout. One example is when the Emperor and swords surround the Six of Cups: this can show that one’s childhood relationship with their father was not very satisfying. Another instance is with the Hanged Man, which can show one who needs to grow up.
The Six of Cups in a Reversed Position
The reversed position of each card of the Minor Arcana is really as it states: an inversion of the card’s meaning. This is true for the Six of Cups as well. The cups in the reversed version of the card are turned over, but luckily, the foliage contained in them is established enough to remain intact, showing that any conflict or upset of the status quo will not affect the querent’s relationship due to their being such a solid foundation between the two partners. There may be an ex-lover who comes back into town and causes conflict between the querent and their partner, or the querent is the ex-lover causing problems in another’s relationship. There may be a conflict with a partner’s ex-lover as well, or a meeting between two former lovers that goes sour very quickly or ends badly. The Six of Cups in its reversed position could also be referring to an old love or friendship that ended on bad terms. The nostalgia of the card is still very alive, but there seems to be little benefit from revisiting the past when the Six of Cups is in reversal.
The reversed Six of Cups can also show a lack of imagination, and the loss of innocence. There may be trouble with leaving the past behind oneself, and there is an indication of the querent or his partner having issues with not letting go of things from their childhood such as a poor relationship with a parent. This would a wise time for the querent or his mate to finally let go of the pains of childhood, looking forward instead to better days. The querent would be better suited to do exactly this: look forward and not back when the Six of Cups is shown in a reversed position.
Key Terms
- Nostalgia
- Memories
- Past loves
- Old friendships
- Returning ex-lovers
- Examining one’s past
- Returning home
- Revisiting painful past issues
- Discovering secrets from the past