6 of Cups in a tarot reading – tarot interpretation
6 Cups Marseille Tarot
To understand any minor card meaning in tarot we first need to appreciate its place within the entire system of tarot. So, with the 6 of cups we first see that it’s part of the suit of cups. Cups are ruled by water and symbolise our emotions and ability to bond with people, places and things. All minor cards relate to the major cards, most especially the major cards sitting at the same number. Here we are studying the number 6. The major tarot cards relating to number 6 are The Lovers and The Tower. The 6 of Cups is more heavily influenced by The Lovers card.
The Lovers Card depicts a young man standing at the cross-roads of
The Lovers Marseille Tarot
life. He stands in the present; the here and now. He has a decision to make. Should he go forwards into relationship and cut the apron strings as depicted by the older woman symbolising his mother, or stay home a while longer? Above his head the putti clouds his judgement by shooting arrows of desire towards his lover, yet he looks towards his mother for guidance. It’s a time of confusion and upheaval, a time when the future beckons yet the past threatens to hold us back. We know the past, after all we’ve already lived it, and we cling to it purely because we know it.
Don’t worry that the symbol is a story about a man. This dilemma happens to all of us whether male or female. We all face times when we need to discriminate and choose what will be the best way forwards for our long term benefit.
6 of Cups Waite Tarot
If we now bring this theme of The Lovers into the realms of cups and emotions we see that the 6 of Cups relates to emotions from the past, present and future. We stand in the present and look to our past and imagine the future. We consider how something did feel and how something might feel again, or how something new might feel. We assess everything with the emotions; there is no logic here.
In the Rider Waite deck, as illustrated by Pamela Colman-Smith, he describes it as ‘A card of the past and memories, looking back, as-for example-on childhood…’but this is only part of the interpretation.
Here are a few examples of how we might see the 6 of Cups during a reading. Surrounding cards always modify the meaning.
Nostalgia and dwelling on the past. This interpretation for the 6 of Cups is seen when the card is reversed. The questioner is more interested in the past and memories than in the present.
Tidying up and having a good clear out in the home (or workspace). It’s sounds like a very mundane interpretation but when we have a good sort out, maybe getting up in the loft or out in the garage to sort out all of that stuff we’ve been holding onto for years, it becomes a major operation in our life. Each item that we pick up holds a memory, reminds us of a loved one or a time in our life when we were happy or sad. Photos can be one of the most stirring possessions to sort out, because people we love, or once loved, look right back at us. Do we need to keep their image physically in our life? Other items such as a box of mementos from holidays stir us to sit down and reminisce, while that old vacuum cleaner, that really doesn’t work anymore, reminds us of the investment we put into buying it and how important a piece of equipment it was at the time. Do we still need these things? Do we need these items in our life to stir the memories, or can we live without them? Every single object we look at, or touch, needs a decision made, and an action taken.
This interpretation for the 6 of Cups is often seen when next to the 6 of Swords, The Lovers or the 4 Batons.
Decorating or refurnishing the home (or workspace). This interpretation for the 6 of Cups is often brought about by one of those moments when we step into our living space and suddenly see it with fresh eyes. We see it as others might and realise that the furnishings are old fashioned, the walls grubby and it all looks a bit tired. It feels like living in the past. Depending on surrounding cards here we can find everything from a complete overhaul and getting the decorators in, to popping out and buying a few new cushions for the sofa to add a splash of this season’s fashion colour so that we appear modern and on trend.
It can also be the task of rearranging the furniture so that a room looks fresh, new and different. Many Geminians like to rearrange their furniture one or twice a year.
This interpretation for the 6 of Cups is often seen when next to the 4 Batons, Ace of Batons or 3 of Coins.
6 Cups Marseille Tarot
10 Coins Waite Tarot
4 Batons Marseille Tarot
Moving house/relocating. This is a very important issue for people and the 6 of Cups stands at a pivotal point when we move house. We clear all of our stuff out, make decisions about what to take with us and what to throw away, pack what we want to keep into boxes and transport it to our new home. Exhausting! Along with the arrival at the new home arise all sorts of overwhelming emotions, especially as we’re tired from all of the work and organisation. The pang of nostalgia. The sense of already missing our old neighbours and wondering if they really will keep in contact. The sudden rush of love for our new home, the excitement, and then the concern over whether this new kitchen really is a blue room and whether the appliances we’ve brought over will suit.
The past collides with the present and our future life in the new home appears before us like an adventure. Which way will it go? Will we enjoy our new home and love it for as long as the old one, or will the romance dwindle and fade?
Moving house goes in cycles and those cycles are represented by the 10 of Coins and the 4 of Batons. The 10 of Coins is the seat of power of the family type home and the 4 of batons is the new home. We start off by leaving the 10 of coins and making our way to the 4 of Batons. During our adult life we may have several 4 of Batons type homes, but eventually a large percentage of us end up with a 10 of Coins type home all of our own. Even when retired we go and buy a home large enough for our children and our children’s children to come and stay in. It becomes the ‘family home,’ the place that the younger members of the family gravitate towards when they say they are going home for the weekend.
When the 6 of Cups is turned after the 9 of Coins it often means that a youngster is leaving home, often to go to university or to move into their first flat. The 9 of Coins symbolises a place of safety, and with it placed in the reading prior to the house move symbolised by the 6 of Cups, it means that if everything goes dreadfully wrong that there is a safe place to return to.
Knight Cups Marseille Tarot
A friend or romantic partner from the past reappearing. Most often this interpretation for the 6 of Cups has the Knight of Cups close by during a reading. The knight of Cups is romantic and exciting, yet never stays around for long. We don’t expect them to appear, yet we don’t anticipate them disappearing quite so soon either. In some contexts the 6 of Cups simply means ‘an old flame.’
An interest in history. Some people work as historians, but for many of us it’s a passing interest when on holiday and we look around ancient monuments or classical buildings. Mostly this will show when the 6 of Cups is next to the 3 of Coins symbolising architecture.
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Wow! The wisdom i have come to expect from the author of The System of Symbols still surprises me and you are giving it away here!
Thank you 😀
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Hi Leonard! 😀
Have you boosted Toni with a review yet on amazon.com and co.uk? Hint! Hint! ;D
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[…] if it’s as simple as being born in the same town, yet meeting each other many miles away. You can read more about the Six of Cups in my article on the […]
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Toni — I see the knight of cups with the six of cups here… Would it showing up with the king of cups perhaps I dictate that return of a past love is slightly ore imminent ? Thanks … The synchronicity here is incredible..
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Hi Elaina, When the 6 of Cups is next to the King of Cups the lover from the past is more likely to already be with a female questioner. It means that the relationship is established and the couple have a history together. The man is very likely to have positive, similar qualities to the woman’s father, and this is what has attracted her to him.
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In this case, it is a very much established relationship…. But they have been estranged for quite some time, however, it would feel the time has come for things to realign, might they take this as a sign of such a occurrence happening soon?
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Hi Elaina, in a romantic reading if it is just the 6 of Cups and the King of Cups then no estrangement is suggested. If there are other cards in the reading suggesting estrangement then this combination implies that that the couple will be friends because they know each other well.
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Hi there, what if you got 2 of cups, 6 of cups and judgement for you and an ex – regarding why he contacted me? We ended because I had to move away.
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Hi Emie,
To me this sounds very sweet, and encouraging. The 2 of Cups is the falling in love card and the 6 of Cups refers back to the past; so there is your history together and the affection between you. In this context the Judgement card can simply mean that he misses hearing your voice, or would like to hear your voice. It also suggests that there was so much unsaid between you, so much that he would still like to say. You didn’t mention whether this was a voice call or written, but from these cards I’d say that he’s missing you and would like to hear from you.
Hope this helps,
Toni
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I just drew six cups knight cups empress. For same person I did the relationship reading for. Maybe the bf is connecting with past gf or her and she is not telling all
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Hi Marie,
I think you could be so right on this.
six cups knight cups empress
That combination of six of cups AND knight of cups is such a strong indiaction that someone from the past is going to reappear in someone’s life. Nothing suggests that they’ve arrived yet, but the Empress does talk about them having a comfortable relationship and mayeb even have not only romantic but also sexual feelings for each other.
Toni
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Hi Toni, I drew the Queen of swords, hanged man, eight of wands, Fool, King of cups, the 6 of cups, the lovers and the 10 of cups. It seems so good towards end of spread regarding a relationship with my ex who wants me still, having his baby. But doesn’t resonate with how I feel, he was cheating for some time & has shown arrogance about it more than sorrow, defense. It has confused me. Keep getting mixed meanings from one extreme to the other, run a mile or it’s worth trusting now? Am I wrong in the mixed message I see? Unless someone new??
Many Thanks
Petra
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Hi Petra,
I can see why you’re confused.
The Queen of Swords is how you feel about this guy, bitter, sexually rejected and lonely even when you were in a relationship with him.
The Hanged Man shows that you were always waiting for things to change.
The Eight of Wands is a very quick card and highly sexually charged, and as it’s followed by the Fool it looks like he cheated on you one time too many so you were off!
You hung around, got kicked, and in the end couldn’t take any more.
However, up pops the King Of Cups, which is the card of the father, so it’s interesting that he says he wants you to have his baby. It also shows his kind side (Which is probably why he’s so popular with the ladies)
The 6 of Cups and the Lovers are the two pivitol cards here. The 6 of Cups dwells on the past, it looks back, but it also asks you to take knowledge from the past and move forwards. The Lovers is all about standing at the crossroads and having to decide whether you stick with the same old habit or change and go for something different.
The 10 of cups is the outcome card. Happiness.
We can see from The Queen of Swords, Hanged Man and Eight of Wands, that this man never made you feel good enough. He made you feel a Fool. The 6 of Cups will remind you of this, and the Lovers will ask if you want to relive that over and over again or try for something new.
To my mind the 10 of cups is saying go for the new and don’t look back.
I hope this helps,
Toni
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Wow Toni, yes that says it all and is precise to how I felt throughout, torture and no proof and no affection but wouldn’t let me go. Ended it so many times. I am heavily pregnant now which is why he wants me, well I believe it’s the baby he wants, not me. I never felt loved in any way. So I have ended it once & for all since finding out all the horrors I have since being pregnant, extreme cheating, not one off mistake including long term affair (with a mutual ‘friend’)as well as many one off’s. He stopped when I got pregnant but it’s too late, went through hell the whole time.
I keep being told there is someone on the horizon that I can’t see yet so yes this was not about me & him working out. I believe I’ll meet someone in the future who respects and understands real love. Like me.
Many thanks for looking at these, it is a certain clarification. I got a bit mixed up as thought it was about him and us being together again. You’ve helped heaps! All the best x
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Hi Petra,
I’m so glad my interpretation helped.
You’ve already lived your past and know how bad it feels.The Queen of Swords showed that.
There is happiness on the horizon for you.
Good luck,
Toni x
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Hello Tony… I drew the Moon, temperence reversed, Justice upright, wheel of fortne upright, ten of cups reversed, five of cups reversed, six of cups upright, seven of cups upright, and the two of cups upright. Now my husband left about two months ago and well I was doing a reading to see what our future holds. I’m new to tarot readings, your response would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi Patricia,
Your reading implies that your husband will return, but that your realtionship will always have this time of separation hanging over you, and that it will be difficult to lay it to rest.
The Moon is a card representing fear, which is where you’re at now that he’s gone.
Then you have temperance reversed, which means that you’re putting on a brave face, but others can see how truly upset you are.
Jutsice upright followed by the wheel of fortune suggests that in time he’ll return, as you’re kamicly linked, a little bit like moths to a flame.
Then you have 10 of cups reversed showing happiness that is marred by some underlying sadness.
The five of cups is about the close connection you have to your husband, and the six of cups refers to the past and building a a new future. So this make sme think that’s he’ll come back.
However, the 7 of cups is all abut fantasy and wishful thinking, while the 2 of cups is about being in love. These last two cards mean that if he does return any romance between you is based on fantasy, because the 6 of cups and the past affects how you truly feel.
If it isn’t your husband returning then it could be that you turn to an old flame for comfort, believing that you can love someone else, even though you have never truly emotionally let go of your husband.
Hope this helps,
Toni
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Toni,
I wanted to give you feedback. A past lover did reappear. He routinely comes into her work. This was the ‘lover’ that had aims to meet her out at a hotel….lol! She talked to him and did not pursue anything with him, yet, to my knowledge.
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Hi Marie,
Thanks for the feedback. Wow! I bet you want to know what happened next 🙂
Toni
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[…] 6 of Cups in a tarot reading – tarot interpretation … – 6 of Cups in a tarot reading – tarot interpretation To understand any minor card meaning in tarot we first need to appreciate its place within the entire system of …… […]
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Hi nice infomation. Ive just done a past present future reading. Whit my question if an ex will contact me. My cards were king of cup knight of cups and 6 of cups. Could anybody shed any light on this please.
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Hi Rhys,
Your spread is very hopeful for future contact with your ex.
The King of Cups is the male lover, someone who is kind and thoughtful.
The knight of Cups is the lover who turn up unexpectedly.
The 6 of Cups implies that this person is someone you know from your past.
From this spread I would say that they will contact you.
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That’s good lets hope so. Thank you for ypur advice
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Hi all . I’m new to reading and would like some advice on my past present future. Question asked will a friend contact me in November. Cards were king cups knight of cups six of cups.
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Hi, I’ve just been looking for 6 Cups (past) and the tower (future) relationship between two cards and that’s how I came across your site. I recently met an old flame after 17 years. We had lovely, carefree holiday romance, just before I went to study abroad. He was so heartbroken he had to leave his village and join the army to forget. I wasn’t aware of this for years, as I had too many things to do and discover in a new country, college. We never broke up, but I thought at the time it was a holiday romance and no promises were made. We didn’t have mobiles or emails then to keep in touch, years passed and last summer I met him after so many years and instantly all the feelings came back to both of us. I actually cried after that meeting and I don’t even know why. I was hit with all these emotions and reality that is now very different than it was while we were together. He immediately started pursuing me with messages and hasn’t stop to this day, threatening to abandon everything to be with me (I was his first love). I’ve fallen in love, but I don’t want him to give up everything for me and I was clear about it, as I’m afraid I can’t promise the same to him. I won’t go into more details, but as someone who has, as a result of this, taken up tarot trying to find an answer and advice, I am astonished as how cards portrayed my situation. This was my first ever Celtic cross spread:
1. Primary factor (The Hermit)
2. Factor for change (Two cups)
3. Past (Six cups)
4. Future (The tower)
5. Attitudes & Beliefs (Ace of cups)
6. Root Cause (The Hierophant)
7. Aa you are (Page of wands)
8. Outside environment (the Moon)
9. Key factor (Lovers)
10. Outcome (Queen of Cups)
I think I should prepare myself for some serious upheaval. How would you interpret Queen of Cups as an outcome? I hope it isn’t me STILL trying to work things out, as my brain hurts, as well as my heart. It’s been 5 months now.
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Hi brankap2014,
Your spread shows that this is a highly charged emotional relationship that you have with this man.
1. Primary factor (The Hermit)
2. Factor for change (Two cups)
3. Past (Six cups)
4. Future (The tower)
These cards say that you have kept your feelings secret (hermit) that you are in love (2 cups), that you have memories from the past, and yearnings for each other (6 cups), but that the future holds huge questions regarding who you are now and who you might have been. (Tower) Would you both be the same people now if you had stayed together back then?
5. Attitudes & Beliefs (Ace of cups)
6. Root Cause (The Hierophant)
7. Aa you are (Page of wands)
This section is very interesting. Your attitudes and beliefs card, the Ace of Cups, say that you both believe in love and open heartedness, which begs the question that if you now both have partners whether you love them, or if you love these people in a different way, yet it is still love.
Root case as the Hierophant says that with this old love you have very easy communicaton and actively listen to each other.
The Page of Wands says that this situation has sprung you both back to feeling youthful and alive, prepared to make mistakes and learn by them.
8. Outside environment (the Moon)
9. Key factor (Lovers)
10. Outcome (Queen of Cups)
The outside environment represented by the Moon says that you are both afraid of moving forwards into this relatonship.
The Key factor card is very pertinent as the Lovers is all about having to make a huge decision.
Your outcome shows you as the Queen of Cups, the content female who is happy with her situation. It’s the card of the mother, nurturer and lover.
The Lovers doesn’t say which path you will choose! So there is no easy answer here. But the question I would ask you is that if you don’t go with this man will you be able to be content in your life without him? If you can set him aside and be truly happy, then the queen shows no change. If you cannot, then the queen shows you going with him.
It would be wise to ask the cards for more clarity regarding the Lovers decision, and how you deal with the fears thrown up by the moon card.
I hope this helps,
Toni
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Hi Toni, thank you so much for your reply. This is a lovely surprise, as I moved countries and logged in into my wordpress account after a very long time. I had to make a decission after all. Thank you again! Branka
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