The Ten of Cups shows ten cups in glorious splendour displayed in the heavens over a family of two lovers and their children. The cups are gleaming in the rays of the sun and are surrounded, perhaps, by a rainbow, signifying that the divine is blessing the family below. Tens in the Minor Arcana show the very end of the journey. There is finality in the meaning of all ten cards, and this is also true for the Ten of Cups, which displays a scene that reveals what happens with the querent and his lover after they have walked away and into the sunset after the Nine of Cups. This can be a card of complete achievement where the goals have all been fulfilled and there is no longer anything left to fret about or toil for. All tens represent completion and the end results of all of the drama, work, soul searching, and conflict the querent has had to endure in order to earn his rightful place, in this case, alongside his lover and the rest of his family.
When more than one ten appears in the same spread, there is more to reveal to the querent. Pairs of tens shows that there are long-lasting, almost permanent losses or gains in the querent’s vicinity while three of them points to ending in terms of a final letting go of past loves, past friends, and property that the querent no longer needs to hold onto. This can imply a move into a new forever home or distancing oneself from the people he no longer wants to give his energy to. This seems to be some social housekeeping of sorts, but it does need to be accomplished in a fit and delicate manner. Having four tens in a spread indicates, unfortunately, a massive collapse of the present circumstances. It is like the floor has fallen out from under the querent in this situation, and he is called upon to have a major rebirth and new outlook on life.
The Ten of Cups in an Upright Position
An upright Ten of Cups heralds the ultimate completion of the journey towards perfect happiness in love. This is another card that shows wishes coming true, coming after the first in the Nine of Cups. There is an opportunity here for the querent to experience the emotional security and pure bliss in love. There may be a marriage that has been in the works for quite some time, and a feeling of being complete. There is a peacefulness that is inherent in the Ten of Cups when it is found in an upright position in a tarot layout. There is also a wonderful feeling of accomplishment and pride in what one has been through in order to achieve such a blessing in the world of emotions. The Ten of Cups also shows that the contentment of this period is long lasting and the querent will find himself surrounded by loyal supporters, friends, family members, and lovers.
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 Ten of Cups shows emotional and romantic rewards for the commitment the querent has shown during this life. Any court cards that come near the Ten of Cups in a spread augur the types and descriptions of the people who will help to bring the current state into a better period than ever thought possible. These may be your friends and the support system that has gotten you to this point in your romantic life. The are Major Arcana cards that can modify the meaning of the Ten of Cups during a reading. Some good examples are cards like the Tower, which shows the happiness of the Ten of Cups as more of a delusional state than a reality while a Chariot card and another ten will show a marriage abroad or to someone living in another country.
The Ten 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. The Ten of Cups, in this context shows that the querent’s happiness could be imagined; the contentment shown is a facade that has been put up to hide serious mistakes in the area of love. The querent may have married someone with the idea that there was affection present in the relationship, but can clearly see that their partner has other motives. This could be the case in a relationship where one of the parties has the ability to keep another very comfortable with gifts and other luxuries, but there is little adoration when the gifts stop coming.
In contrast, there may still be happiness, but there could still be an issue that hasn’t surfaced or is being hidden for the sake of the children in the relationship or in order to spare the querent or his lovers’ feelings. On the other hand, people surrounding the couple may believe that the love they share is illegitimate or invalid in some way. Whether or not this is true will depend on which cards fall closest to the Ten of Cups in its reversed position. The querent may also find himself in a situation where he still has secrets and emotions he isn’t yet ready to reveal about his relationships. This may mean a secret love or crush that he hasn’t explored that he wished he had, or the querent may wish to explore relationships with other people. The querent may still get his wish, but it may be more difficult to attain, or there is still work to do with the promise that the querent will eventually experience the joy depicted in the Ten of Cups.
Key Terms
- Romantic delight
- Wishes granted
- Supremacy in love
- Completeness