Minor Arcana · Cups: From the Ace of Cups to the Ten of Cups
December 28, 2025
By Rechen
10 min read

Minor Arcana · Cups: From the Ace of Cups to the Ten of Cups

The Emotional Sphere;Connection to Intuition and Spirituality;Hierarchy Reflects Emotional Growth;Duality in Upright vs. Reversed Meanings;Focus on "Connection" Over "Acquisition"

Ace of Cups

Positivity · Loveliness · Ambivalence

Card Interpretation

A resplendent golden chalice, encrusted with jewels and etched with an inverted "M", rests at the very center of the card.From symmetrically positioned clouds on the right side of the frame, a delicate hand extends to cradle the sacred cup right in the middle of the scene.Above the chalice hovers a white dove, its beak clutching a disc engraved with a cross, bearing it toward the cup’s heart.Five streams of water surge upward from the chalice, then curve into cascading columns, dotted with glistening blue droplets all around. These rivulets of blue water flow down into an abyss below, where the surface is blanketed with lotus flowers and leaves.

Upright

  • Fruition and harvest
  • The stirrings of love
  • Marriage
  • Abundance
  • Smooth sailing in all endeavors
  • A sense of profound happiness

Reversed

  • Instability and unrest
  • An empty, hollow heart
  • Absence of love
  • Unrequited affection
  • Hidden shadows lurking beneath moments of joy

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Two of Cups

True Love · Equality

Card Interpretation

A man and a woman, each wearing a floral wreath on their head, face one another and raise their chalices in a gesture of mutual respect. The man leans forward slightly, embodying an active, outward-flowing masculine energy; the woman stands poised and steadfast as a mountain, symbolizing a reserved, inward-turning feminine power. Suspended between them is a staff entwined by two serpents—a classic symbol of healing. The lion’s head atop the staff represents communication, while its outstretched wings signify the Holy Spirit.The entire scene exudes a mystical power of union and partnership.

Upright

  • True love and passion
  • Marriage
  • Beauty and joy
  • Harmonious relationships
  • Mutual understanding

Reversed

  • Falsified love
  • Divorce
  • Friendship marred by mutual suspicion
  • Opposition and conflict
  • Unfulfillable longing

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Three of Cups

Celebration · Alliance · Community · Feast

Card Interpretation

Three women clad in vibrant attire, their heads adorned with wreaths symbolizing harvest, stand in a circle, raising their chalices in joyous celebration. Their faces beam with happiness, surrounded by pumpkins and gourds; one woman holds a cluster of grapes, completing the scene of abundant harvest. The three women have hair and eyes of different hues, and their garments are distinct—each a unique individual with her own personality, yet they coexist in perfect harmony. The circle they form denotes equality, with no hierarchy among them. This card, symbolic of festivity and teamwork, radiates an atmosphere of triumphant celebration. The Three of Cups is also an emblem of friendship. Beyond revelry, it carries the meaning of a stalemate: opposing forces are evenly matched, locked in a standoff that holds a multitude of possibilities.

Upright

  1. A situation proves difficult to resolve
  2. A decision needs to be made
  3. A happy, fulfilling marriage
  4. A fresh start in life
  5. Reconciliation of conflicting relationships
  6. Healing of past wounds

Reversed

  1. Overdoing things or going too far
  2. Joy turning to sorrow; excess leading to misfortune
  3. Happiness accompanied by pain
  4. Unhealthy eating habits
  5. Procrastination and indecisiveness

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Four of Cups

Dissatisfaction · Apathy · Withdrawal · Infidelity

Card Interpretation

A man leans against a tree, wearing an air of utter boredom and listlessness. His eyes are tightly shut, and his arms are crossed over his chest in a defensive posture. Before him stand three chalices in a row, symbolizing his past experiences; he stares at them silently, trapped in the mire of bygones. A fourth cup extends toward him from the clouds—a symbol of a new opportunity. Yet this passive, withdrawn man rejects it outright. Life seems to hold no interest for him whatsoever; he displays complete indifference and coldness toward everything around him.

Upright

  1. Persistent feelings of loneliness and boredom; a need to find a pursuit that feels meaningful
  2. Physical and mental exhaustion; time for rest and recuperation
  3. Profound disappointment and loss of faith in life
  4. A lack of interest in anything; a sense of existential emptiness

Reversed

  1. New interpersonal connections on the horizon
  2. Discovery of new methods and opportunities
  3. Emergence from a period of low spirits

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Five of Cups

Grief · Loss · Disappointment

Card Interpretation

Beneath a somber, gray sky, a man cloaked in black hangs his head in mourning over three overturned chalices before him. A bridge spans the river in front of him, leading to a village in the distance—a sign that he has the chance to embrace a new way of life. Three cups lie spilled at his feet, but two more still stand upright behind him. If he never turns around, he will never see them, forever believing himself to be utterly alone and helpless. Yet hope lurks just beyond his despair: if he picks up the two standing cups and crosses the bridge, life can begin anew. Otherwise, his days will be condemned to endless suffering.

Upright

  1. Overwhelmed by regret, trapped in a state of hopeless misery
  2. A partial setback leading to doubt about one’s overall path
  3. A sense of inadequacy or flaw
  4. Meaningless socializing and empty interactions
  5. Profound disillusionment; questioning life and its purpose

Reversed

  1. The return of old friends; the sweetness of the past reentering your life
  2. Rekindling of an old relationship; reconciliation between estranged spouses
  3. A comeback from adversity; regaining confidence in life
  4. Forging new alliances and partnerships

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Six of Cups

Childhood · Memories · Homesickness · Care & Generosity

Card Interpretation

In a vividly colorful garden, a little boy holds a chalice brimming with flowers to his nose, as if about to present it to the little girl standing before him. The entire scene is steeped in a rich, fairy-tale charm, evoking a longing for childhood memories. The Six of Cups represents people and things linked to the past. It also signifies homesickness—much like the manor in the card, a place filled with blooming flowers, laughter, and carefree joy, as warm and comforting as home itself. Just as the boy tenderly offers his flowers to the girl, this card also embodies care, nurturing, and the spirit of giving.

Upright

  1. Trapped in nostalgic reveries, unable to move forward
  2. Childhood experiences leaving an indelible mark, shaping present emotions and behaviors
  3. Reunion after a separation
  4. Prone to sentimentality and emotional instability
  5. A homesickness as thick and lingering as mist

Reversed

  1. Good fortune is imminent; patience and perseverance are needed
  2. Greater focus on the future than on the past
  3. Embracing long-term planning; living and striving with foresight

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Seven of Cups

Confusion · Imagination · Dreams · Choice

Card Interpretation

A man gazes at seven chalices floating among the clouds above him, wearing an expression of helplessness and despair. He laments his losses and cries over spilled milk. Moreover, the objects contained within these cloud-borne cups symbolize castles in the air—nothing more than the idle daydreams and fantasies of the man. Beyond that, the man’s confrontation with the seven cups also represents a moment of choice.

Upright

  1. An unrealistic attitude toward life
  2. Fickleness and inconsistency; going back on one’s word
  3. Chasing success through wishful thinking rather than action
  4. A habitual daydreamer
  5. Resorting to deceit and fraud

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Eight of Cups

Abandonment · Dissatisfaction · Action · Sacrifice

Card Interpretation

On a moonlit night, a man dressed in red leans on a walking stick and departs, leaving behind the eight chalices he worked so hard to build. The surrounding area is a murky swamp, symbolizing stagnant, blocked emotions. He leaves because he discovers a flaw in the cups he has crafted.Thus, in pursuit of a single perfect cup, he abandons the eight he has already made. He could have taken them with him on his quest, yet he chooses not to. His red clothing and shoes symbolize his strong drive and capacity for action. The central theme of this card—abandonment—is plain to see.The missing perfection in the eight cups signifies that nothing in this world is ever truly flawless. Those who refuse to settle for less will continue their search. In this way, the Eight of Cups also represents the spirit of sacrifice.

Upright

  1. Abandoning plans and giving up halfway; a lack of perseverance and patience
  2. A tendency toward paranoia and excessive suspicion
  3. Weakness and loss of strength
  4. Love turning into mere rationality
  5. Ceasing all efforts and progress

Reversed

  1. A new romance on the horizon, or a positive turning point in life
  2. A string of joyous celebrations and happy events
  3. Invitations to dances, banquets, or festive gatherings
  4. In the midst of hard work and determined striving

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Nine of Cups

Pleasure · Contentment · Dreams Come True

Card Interpretation

A man sits contentedly before a neat row of chalices, having attained everything his heart desires. The entire scene radiates an atmosphere of profound satisfaction and joy. It is clear that the Nine of Cups represents all forms of sensory pleasure—delights for the eyes, taste buds, and touch. On a personal level, this card hints at one’s current state of life: a time of fulfillment and comfort.

Upright

  1. Abundant material prosperity
  2. A heart filled with happiness and contentment
  3. Favorable circumstances and conditions
  4. Great potential and promise for the future
  5. Achievement of success

Reversed

  1. Potential material losses
  2. Prone to making mistakes in daily life
  3. A heart consumed by dissatisfaction and resentment
  4. Lack of self-restraint, leading to significant physical decline
  5. Starting projects with enthusiasm but failing to follow through

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Ten of Cups

Emotional Bonding · Family · Fulfillment · Harmony

Card Interpretation

This is a scene of familial bliss: a husband and wife embrace, each raising a hand toward a cluster of chalices and a rainbow—symbols of a beautiful life. Two children frolic nearby, filled with joy. In the distance stands their home. It is a warm, touching tableau. This card primarily represents groups united by emotional ties, such as families, communities, companies, or close-knit circles of friends. The Ten of Cups signifies personal maturity and fulfillment, embodying the joy and contentment found in harmonious relationships.

Upright

  1. Inner peace and emotional well-being
  2. Recognizing current happiness as genuine and tangible; a deep sense of contentment
  3. A happy family or a harmonious work environment
  4. Love bringing physical and spiritual joy

Reversed

  1. A constant state of inner unease and emotional turmoil
  2. Loss of friendship, or the departure of a valuable business partner
  3. Presence of domestic violence in one’s life
  4. Strained interpersonal relationships marked by conflict and opposition

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Published on December 28, 2025

Last updated on December 29, 2025

Written by Rechen