Six of Cups Tarot Card Meanings

Six of Cups Upright Meaning

The Six of Cups is the card of memory, nostalgia, and emotional roots. It often appears like a gentle wave from the past, inviting you to reconnect with something (or someone) that felt pure, meaningful, or true. This card can signal reunions, forgiveness, or the return of a feeling you thought you'd outgrown. Innocence, not ignorance. Love without armor.

But don't mistake softness for stagnation. The Six of Cups isn't about living in the past -- it's about healing from it, and maybe, if you're ready, reclaiming the version of you that knew how to love without fear.

Upright, the Six of Cups suggests emotional renewal through reconnection. You may be revisiting old relationships, childhood memories, or creative dreams from your earlier life. The past wants your attention -- not to trap you there, but to remind you of something essential you've left behind. This card often brings warmth, tenderness, and a softening of emotional defenses.

It can also represent the experience of giving or receiving heartfelt care. Think kindness without expectation, support that reminds you what it feels like to be truly safe in someone's presence.

The Six of Cups is filled with symbolism that evokes nostalgia, innocence, and emotional memory. In most depictions, one child offers a cup filled with flowers to another, representing kindness, emotional generosity, and the purity of heartfelt connection. The cups are often set around a quaint village or courtyard, suggesting safety, roots, and the sweetness of where you've come from, whether that's a hometown, a past relationship, or a simpler emotional state. The surrounding scene is quiet and familiar, emphasizing emotional security and the comfort of revisiting something once cherished. This card's imagery gently invites you to take a walk down memory lane (without getting lost on the way).

Six of Cups Reversed Meaning

Reversed, the Six of Cups may point to being stuck in nostalgia or idealizing the past to avoid the present. Maybe you're clinging to an old love, an outdated version of yourself, or a romanticized idea of what once was. It's okay to miss it, but don't build your future around a memory.

This card reversed can also call you back to the present moment. Are you avoiding growth by longing for how things used to be? Maybe you're ready to bring those lessons forward and incorporate them into your personal evolution.

Six of Cups Advice Position

Reach back in time … but don't get stuck. Your past holds treasures and lessons worth bringing into the present. What did your younger self believe about love, joy, purpose? What parts of you still long to be remembered and welcomed home? Find them. Listen to them. Let them teach you how to trust again.

Six of Cups Love Position

In love, the Six of Cups can suggest reconciliation, sweetness, or a connection that feels familiar in the best way. It might point to someone from your past resurfacing or a new person who stirs something old and tender within you. There's a softness to this card -- affection without agenda, love that flows easily. It's an invitation to skip the irony and cynicism in favor of sincerity.

Six of Cups Career Position

In a career context, the Six of Cups can point to meaningful mentorships, creative fulfillment rooted in your personal history, or a return to a professional path you once loved. It may be time to revisit an old idea, collaborator, or calling with fresh eyes. What used to inspire you could still hold value, and now, you've got the experience to guide it.

Six of Cups in a Yes or No Card Reading

The Six of Cups is a card of innocence and nostalgia. If you're looking for simple Yes or No guidance and receive the Six of Cups, the answer is YES. Get in touch with your inner child as you move forward.