The Five of Cups tarot card, one of the Minor Arcana of a traditional tarot deck, is a somber card representing disappointment and sadness after a loss. In divinatory tarot, it is generally viewed as a card of disappointment, but not tragedy. The Five of Cups emphasizes the necessity of seeing the "silver lining" of a bad situation.
In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the Five of Cups has powerful and moving imagery, but carries a distinctly sad tone. A man, dressed in a black cloak of mourning, stands facing three cups that have fallen over. Two of the cups held a red liquid; the other, a blue liquid. Although two full cups stand behind him, he faces the negative aspect of the situation. In the background, there is a river with a bridge, and a castle or village just beyond the bridge.
To most tarot readers, the Five of Cups is seen as a symbol of "crying over spilt milk", or feeling deeply distressed about a situation that, while unfortunate, is not horrific. The Five of Cups encourages the subject of the tarot reading to turn around and see the positive side of the situation. Although three cups are lost, two remain. It often symbolizes feelings of regret and sorrow over past mistakes.
The querent of the tarot reading may be experiencing pangs of remorse over mistakes and carelessness. He may feel that he has made poor decisions or failed to adequately protect his hopes and dreams. Depending on the context in the spread and the question asked by the tarot reader, the Five of Cups might symbolize the end of a relationship or the failure of a dream.
The meaning of the Five of Cups card becomes even more profound and direct when the card is reversed. Rather than indicating mere disappointment, the reversed Five of Cups indicates utter sorrow, and even a sense of mourning, over the loss of a dream or hope for the future. It might especially indicate that the tarot reading's subject lost an opportunity for fulfillment because of carelessness or selfishness.
Whether upright or reversed, the Five of Cups tarot card commands that the tarot reader encourage faith and hope in the person who is feeling a sense of disappointment. Love and hope will prevail over past mistakes, and it is better to learn from them and move on than continue to dwell in the sorrow of past regrets. A road, bridge, and castle loom in the background and two cups remain standing: it is important to follow one's heart and make do with what is available.
