Minor Arcana · 14 cards
Suit of Cups
Cups are the suit of Water. They speak of feelings: love, friendship, joy, sadness, nostalgia, intuition and dreams. Cups are most often the cards that answer questions about relationships and about what a person is really going through.
- Element: Water
- Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
- Feelings and relationships
All cards of the suit of Cups
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Ace of Cups
The Ace of Cups is the beginning of a feeling
Yes/No: Yes
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Two of Cups
The Two of Cups is the union of two people
Yes/No: Yes
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Three of Cups
The Three of Cups is friendship and celebration
Yes/No: Yes
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Four of Cups
The Four of Cups is apathy and discontent
Yes/No: Likely no
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Five of Cups
The Five of Cups is the bitterness of loss
Yes/No: No
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Six of Cups
The Six of Cups is childhood, memory and simple kindness
Yes/No: Likely yes
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Seven of Cups
The Seven of Cups is a choice among illusions
Yes/No: No
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Eight of Cups
The Eight of Cups is about walking away
Yes/No: No
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Nine of Cups
The Nine of Cups is the wish card
Yes/No: Yes
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Ten of Cups
The Ten of Cups is family happiness
Yes/No: Yes
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Page of Cups
The Page of Cups is tenderness, intuition and creative news
Yes/No: Yes
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Knight of Cups
The Knight of Cups is a romantic on the road
Yes/No: Yes
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Queen of Cups
The Queen of Cups is empathy and depth of feeling
Yes/No: Yes
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King of Cups
The King of Cups is calm amid the waves
Yes/No: Yes
How to read the suit of Cups
The suit of Cups runs from first infatuation to emotional fulfillment. The Ace of Cups is an open heart and a new feeling, the Two is mutual love and union, the Three is friendship and celebration. The Four is apathy and being jaded, the Five is grief over what was lost, the Six is memories and childhood. The Seven of Cups is a choice among illusions (in Heinrich Pangrau’s deck, some very modern temptations float in the cups: a laptop and a screen with a growth chart). The Eight is walking away in search of meaning, the Nine is wishes fulfilled, the Ten is family happiness.
The Cups court cards are sensitive, emotional people: the dreamy Page, the romantic Knight, the intuitive and caring Queen, and the wise, reserved King who knows how to manage his feelings.
In work matters, Cups point to creative and helping professions, the atmosphere in a team and emotional satisfaction. Reversed Cups speak of suppressed feelings, disappointment, emotional dependence or self-deception.
Draw your card of the day
See which card comes up for you today and read its detailed meaning.
Frequently asked questions
What does the suit of Cups represent in tarot?
Feelings, relationships, intuition and the inner world. Cups show what a person is going through, what their heart wants and how open they are to others.
Are Cups always about love?
Not always. Cups are about any feelings: friendship, family ties, creative inspiration, nostalgia, sadness. But in questions about relationships, this is the key suit.
Which Cups cards are the most positive?
The Ace, Two, Nine and Ten of Cups. The Nine is called the “wish card,” and the Ten is a symbol of a happy family and emotional harmony.
What does it mean when there are many Cups in a spread?
The situation will be decided by feelings, not logic. It’s important to be honest with yourself about what you want and not to mistake fantasies for reality.