Five of Cups Tarot Card Meanings

Five of Cups Upright Meaning

The Five of Cups is a card of grief, disappointment, and the painful in-between phase where something has been broken but you're not sure how to let go. It often shows up when the heart is still tangled in what should've/could've been. Two cups still stand in the background, full of potential, but the focus is on the three that have spilled. That's the emotional truth of this card: you're allowed to mourn what didn't work. But you're also being asked not to forget what's still out there.

This card doesn't rush healing. It just asks that you stay open to it.

Upright, the Five of Cups represents sorrow, regret, or emotional fallout from a situation that didn't go the way you hoped. Whether it's a breakup, betrayal, or just a period of emotional disillusionment, the grief here is real and valid. However, the card also contains a gentle turning point. The two upright cups behind the figure represent remaining love, possibility, or perspective that's easy to miss in the fog of loss.

This is not a card of collapse -- it's a card of choice. What you focus on next will shape what happens next.

The Five of Cups is layered with symbolism of grief, regret, and emotional perspective. A cloaked figure stands with head bowed, gazing at three spilled cups -- symbolizing loss, disappointment, or what's no longer available. Behind them stand two upright cups, often unnoticed, representing what still remains: hope, connection, or emotional resources that haven't been lost. A river flows between the figure and a bridge in the distance, symbolizing the emotional process required to move forward and the potential for crossing into a new chapter. The card's somber palette and posture reflect sorrow, but its imagery gently reminds us: not all is lost -- you just have to look up.

Five of Cups Reversed Meaning

Reversed, the Five of Cups often signals a shift. You may be ready to forgive, to heal, or to finally turn around and reach for what's still available. It can mark the beginning of emotional recovery, a slow thawing after a long internal winter. Alternatively, it may indicate that you're stuck in rumination, unable to move forward because the pain has become a familiar shelter.

Either way, the reversal is an invitation to broaden your perspective. This painful passage is a part of your story, but that story is far from over.

Five of Cups Advice Position

Let yourself grieve. Let yourself feel it all. At the same time, don't get so focused on what's gone that you miss what's still with you. There's no shame in this moment, no matter how you're handling the pain, but remember that healing begins the moment you look up. What's broken may not be reparable, but something beautiful can still grow from the loss.

Five of Cups Love Position

In love, the Five of Cups can speak to heartache that's still tender, whether it's fresh or long past. You may be grieving a relationship, nursing regrets, or trying to forgive someone (or yourself). If you're in a relationship, this card can signal emotional distance, disappointment, or a longing for what once was, but it also suggests that reconnection is possible if you're both willing to acknowledge what's been spilled and rebuild from what remains.

Five of Cups Career Position

Professionally, the Five of Cups can signal setbacks or missed opportunities that hit you where it hurts. Maybe a role didn't pan out. Maybe your heart just isn't in it anymore. This card asks you to honor the loss but also look at what's still available to you. Sometimes a supposed failure is actually redirection.

Five of Cups in a Yes or No Card Reading

The Five of Cups is a card of loss. If you're looking for simple Yes or No guidance and receive the Five of Cups, the answer is NO. Wait until you're emotionally prepared to move forward.