Six of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

6 of Cups Tarot Card Keywords

6 of Cups Tarot Card Description

The Rider-Waite Six of Cups (or 6 of Cups) card portrays two children in a quaint village square. One child hands a flower-filled cup to the other, symbolizing a pure exchange of kindness and emotional warmth. The five additional cups are also brimming with white flowers, symbols of innocence and sweetness. In the background, a figure walks away, hinting at the passage of time and the contrast between past and present.

This tarot card's imagery evokes simpler times, when love was given freely and received with open hearts. The tender gesture between the children is a call to reconnect with your inner child, to cherish the soft spaces within yourself that still believe in joy and trust. The stone buildings suggest the permanence of memory, illustrating how certain emotions endure, regardless of the passage of time.

To be honest, there’s something about this card that always feels like a quiet hug from the universe.

Upright 6 of Cups Meaning

When upright, the 6 of Cups often signals a return to the past—emotionally, mentally, or even physically. It may refer to someone from your history reappearing or a memory surfacing that helps you make sense of the present. In general readings, it’s a card of kindness, heartfelt connections, and revisiting meaningful moments with new eyes.

Emotionally, this tarot card feels soft. It carries a sense of peace and sweetness that can’t be faked. However, it also asks you to reflect on whether you're idealizing the past. Is the comfort you’re seeking rooted in reality, or are you hiding from the present?

For some, this card in the suit of Cups might be a literal invitation to visit home or reconnect with people who shaped you. For others, it’s a nudge to remember what once made you feel whole. If you're feeling lost, this card whispers, “You’ve been here before, and you survived. You’ll do it again.”

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Upright 6 of Cups Love Meaning

In love readings, the meaning of the 6 of Cups in love is deeply tied to emotional innocence and romantic nostalgia. This card often points to rekindled relationships, past lovers resurfacing, or simply reminiscing about the early, sweeter stages of a current partnership.

It’s the “I miss the way we were” card. In some cases, it suggests reconciliation is possible, especially if both parties have done the inner work. In others, it represents the type of gentle, emotionally safe love that feels like coming home.

However, be mindful: while this card often brings warmth, it can also hint at idealizing a relationship or partner that no longer exists as you remember. It’s okay to miss someone. But does that longing serve your growth or keep you stuck?

Want to know how your connection is evolving? Check with a love tarot reading for more insight.

Upright 6 of Cups Career Meaning

The upright 6 of Cups in career suggests returning to a previous job, reconnecting with an old network, or rediscovering a passion you once loved. It favors roles involving children, caregiving, or emotional fulfillment. If your current path feels off, this card nudges you to reflect on what once brought joy.

Upright 6 of Cups Meaning in Finances

The Six of Cups can bring financial gifts or support from family and friends. It also hints at past investments now maturing. There's a warm, karmic sense of receiving help when you need it. Just be mindful not to overspend out of sentiment.

Upright 6 of Cups as Feelings

When someone feels the 6 of Cups as feelings, they’re likely experiencing warmth, trust, and a deep emotional familiarity. This person may see you as a safe place, a connection that reminds them of home or simpler times.

They might feel nostalgic, sweet, and possibly a little sentimental. In some cases, these feelings are romantic; in others, they’re platonic but profound.

If you’re asking about how someone feels about you, this card is a strong “They care deeply, and they’ve thought about you a lot.”

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Upright 6 of Cups As Actions

As actions, the 6 of Cups points to heartfelt gestures—like reconnecting with someone from the past, offering kindness, or giving a thoughtful gift. Expect gentle, meaningful moves rather than bold ones. It’s a card of sincerity and emotional memory in motion.

Six of Cups Reversed Meaning

The six of cups reversed reveals emotional stagnation and unresolved memories. It speaks to holding onto the past so tightly that it clouds your present. Nostalgia becomes escapism, and innocence turns into avoidance.

This card may show up when you're stuck replaying what was, unable to embrace what is. In some cases, it warns of clinging to immature mindsets, unrealistic expectations, or even codependency rooted in early life dynamics.

It gently urges you to honor your past without letting it dictate your future. Ask yourself: are you growing or hiding? Are you remembering or reliving?

Honestly, this reversal feels tender and a little heavy. But there’s power in recognizing when your emotional roots need repotting.

Six of Cups Reversed Love Meaning

The six of cups reversed love meaning often points to trouble letting go of an ex or holding onto an outdated version of a current relationship. You might be longing for something that once was but no longer exists in its original form.

This card can also indicate repeating patterns based on childhood wounds or romantic fantasies that prevent healthy intimacy. In some relationships, it suggests one or both partners are stuck in emotional immaturity.

Healing begins when you stop looking backward for answers that live in the present.

Reversed 6 of Cups Career Meaning

In career, the reversed 6 of Cups hints at regret over past professional decisions or a reluctance to move forward. You might feel stuck in a role you’ve outgrown or nostalgic for an old job that no longer aligns with your goals.

It’s time to update your story and take steps that reflect who you are now, not who you used to be.

Reversed 6 of Cups Meaning in Finances

Financially, this card can indicate difficulty adapting to new circumstances or clinging to old spending habits. Emotional attachment to the past may be impacting your ability to make practical financial decisions.

Ask yourself if you're avoiding change because of comfort or fear.

Six of Cups Reversed as Feelings

Emotionally, someone experiencing the six of cups reversed as feelings may be hesitant, closed off, or wrestling with past disappointments. They might feel nostalgic but also guarded, afraid of repeating old mistakes.

There’s a strong undercurrent of unresolved emotion here, often tied to family dynamics or formative experiences.

In some cases, this person may genuinely care, but their emotional baggage makes them slow to open up. Healing takes time, and this card is a sign they’re not quite there yet.

Six of Cups Reversed as Actions

As actions, the reversed Six of Cups may indicate avoidance. Someone could be holding back, resisting reconnection, or unconsciously reenacting old emotional patterns.

Rather than reaching out, they might withdraw or approach with caution.

This isn’t about rejection necessarily. It’s more about fear, hesitation, and the quiet work of emotional recalibration.

Is 6 of Cups a Yes or No Card?

So, is the 6 of Cups a yes or no card? In most upright readings, it leans toward a gentle yes. This card brings heartfelt energy, emotional authenticity, and safe connections—qualities that align with forward momentum, especially in matters of love or reconciliation.

However, the six of cups reversed yes or no meaning is more complex. Reversed, it often signals a not yet or conditional no. Emotional clarity may be missing, or the past may still be exerting too much influence.

Use this card as a guide, not a verdict. Ask yourself, “Am I looking back for healing or hiding from growth?”

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FAQ

What is the meaning of the Six of Cups?

The Six of Cups generally signifies emotional memories, nostalgia, and a longing for the simplicity of the past. Upright, this card reflects kindness, reconnection, and emotional warmth—often pointing to past relationships, childhood influences, or heartfelt reunions. The reversed meaning of the Six of Cups tarot card shifts toward emotional stagnation, unrealistic nostalgia, or difficulty letting go of what once was. It asks you to honor your past without being ruled by it.

What is the advice of the Six of Cups?

The Six of Cups advises you to reconnect with what once brought you emotional peace or purpose, but not to idealize the past. Reflect with compassion, but keep moving forward with awareness of how the past shapes the present.

Is 6 of Cups a soulmate card?

Yes, the 6 of Cups is often interpreted as a soulmate card, especially in love readings. It can represent deep soul ties, past-life connections, or the feeling of “home” with someone familiar. However, discernment is still important—comfort doesn’t always mean compatibility.

What does the 6 of Cups mean in the future?

In a future position, the 6 of Cups suggests a meaningful reunion, a return to something emotionally important, or revisiting a place, person, or mindset that once brought joy. It may also signal healing through memories or past experiences coming full circle.

What is the 6 of Cups warning?

The warning of the Six of Cups is about getting stuck in the past. It cautions against clinging to outdated emotional patterns, idealizing former relationships, or using nostalgia to avoid present challenges. Growth requires presence, not just remembrance.