Six of Cups is one of the most talked-about cards in the deck — and no wonder.
Six of Cups upright
Nostalgia, childhood, innocence, reunion, simple kindness.
Six of Cups reversed
Stuck in the past, rose-tinted memory, leaving home, growing up, releasing old ties.
Keywords: nostalgia, childhood, innocence, reunion, simple kindness
The classic reading (Waite, 1911)
- Upright: A card of the past and of memories, looking back, as—for example—on childhood; happiness, enjoyment, but coming rather from the past; things that have vanished. Another reading reverses this, giving new relations, new knowledge, new environment, and then the children are disporting in an unfamiliar precinct.
- Reversed: The future, renewal, that which will come to pass presently.
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is the oldest layer of the card — modern readers soften and expand these meanings.
Golden Dawn correspondences
- title The Lord of Pleasure
- Decan Sun in Scorpio
- planet Sun
- zodiac Scorpio
- decan 10–20
Fortune telling with Six of Cups
- A stingy spirit is strangling your enjoyment of life
- Loosen up and think of others for once, why don't you?
The light and the shadow
In its light, Six of Cups: Donating your time and talents to others Taking satisfaction in knowing how your efforts will aid others Creating a "win-win" scenario Giving even when you know repayment is not possible Being motivated to do a good deed
The reversed trap of Six of Cups: Linking your sense of self-worth to the appraisals of others Striving to appear more needy than you really are Taking undeserved or unmerited charity Bragging about your charitable efforts Profiteering in times of distress Refusing to share a burden
Questions to ask Six of Cups
- What gifts do I possess? How freely do I give them?
- How can I practice unconditional giving?
- How would things change if I became a more charitable person?
The extended portrait, upright
The Six of Cups represents a time of nostalgia, reminiscence, and innocence. It is a card of the past, and may indicate a return to childhood memories or a desire to reconnect with the past. This card may also indicate a need to embrace childlike wonder and joy.
The extended portrait, reversed
When reversed, the Six of Cups can indicate being stuck in the past, naivete, or an overly sentimental nature. You may be dwelling on the past and finding it difficult to move forward or let go. This card may also indicate a need to be realistic and grounded in the present.
Card details
- Arcana: Minor Arcana — cups suit
- Yes or no: a soft yes
- Published: July 27, 2026
Read Six of Cups in context
- Six of Cups — love meaning
- Six of Cups — career meaning
- Six of Cups — money meaning
- Six of Cups — yes-or-no verdict
- Six of Cups reversed, in full
Six of Cups in combinations
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Six of Cups and Three of Swords
The wider web of symbols
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Zodiac: Scorpio — card of the Scorpio decan