Six of Cups
Warm memories and simple kindness soften the heart. Let the past give you strength.
- Card
- Minor Arcana · Cups (Water)
- Upright keywords
- Nostalgia, Innocence, Memories, Childlike joy
- Reversed keywords
- Stuck in the past, Immaturity, Escapism, Moving forward
- Yes or no
- Leans yes
Traditional correspondences Golden Dawn: Lord of Pleasure / Thoth: Pleasure / 2nd decan of Scorpio · the Sun / Sephirah: Tiphareth (Beauty)
Upright meaning
Warm memories and innocent kindness comfort the heart.
In a sunny courtyard a child offers another a cup filled with flowers. The Six of Cups is nostalgia, innocence and simple kindness: memories of childhood, reunions with old friends, a return to your roots. Upright, it brings comfort and gentle joy.
Reversed meaning
Clinging to the past. Bring that warmth into the present.
Reversed, the past holds you back. You may idealise how things were, avoid adult responsibilities or cling to an old relationship. Take the warmth of memory with you, but live in the present.
For ways of reading reversed cards, see how to read reversals.
Love
A sweet, innocent love, or reconnecting with someone from the past.
Idealising an old relationship. Look at the present.
Work
Returning to old skills or a familiar place.
Resisting change because of how things used to be.
Money
Gifts or help from family.
Spending to recapture the past.
Relationships
Reunions and kindness between friends.
Holding on to outdated friendships.
Health
Comfort and gentle self-care.
Avoiding growing up or dealing with things.
Tarot does not diagnose physical conditions. If you have symptoms that worry you, please see a doctor.
Mind and spirit
Healing your inner child.
Living in memories.
As a person
A childhood friend, or a kind, gentle person.
Someone stuck in the past.
Timing
An old connection or memory resurfaces within weeks. In the calendar, early to mid November is also a guide (roughly November 2–12).
Advice
Let warm memories give you strength.
Bring the past’s warmth into the present.
Questions to ask yourself
- What memory comforts me?
- What did I love as a child?
- Am I living in the past?
A common misreading
The Six of Cups isn’t only about the past. It can also mean kindness and generosity in the present.
The story of this card
Six restores harmony after loss. The heart finds comfort in simple goodness and memory.
The Waite deck’s picture and symbols
In the Waite deck a child hands another a cup filled with white flowers in a courtyard. Other cups with flowers stand around, and a guard walks away.
History and differences between traditions
The Golden Dawn title is Lord of Pleasure. The Waite–Smith image introduced the theme of childhood.
Words for today
My memories give me warmth.
I live gently in the present.