The Suit of Cups, also called the Suit of Chalices in some tarot decks, is one of the four basic suits within traditional tarot. Its equivalent in playing-card tarot is the Suit of Hearts, and tarotologists typically associate it with emotional, spiritual, and creative aspects of life and personal development. It is associated with the symbolic element of water and the zodiac signs Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer.
Because cups have often been used to as Freudian or spiritual symbols for th uterus, the Suit of Cups is strongly associated with fertility and the Divine Feminine. In tarot, the Suit of Cups is based in emotion and intuition rather than logic or reason, but it is filled with clarity and divinity achieved through compassion.
Based on the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the most popular tarot deck in the English-speaking world, the following are the fourteen tarot cards that compose traditional Suit of Cups. Click each tarot card's name for a detailed explanation of its meaning and symbolism.
Ace of Cups: New beginnings. The strength of love and fertility. A hopeful new relationship, a creative endeavor, or a new baby. Blessings and emotional satisfaction.
Two of Cups: he union of opposite forces, to create a strong and powerful bond. Marriage, resolution of interpersonal conflicts, close friendship, solidarity, and love.
Three of Cups: Joy, celebration, and merriment. A time of satisfaction. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and live for the moment.
Four of Cups: Dissatisfaction, boredom, and discontent. Inability to be happy with what is given. Doubts, apathy, and withdrawal. Lack of motivation or resolve.
Five of Cups: A sense of loss and despair after a minor tragedy. Disappointment, sadness, and mourning. A situation that is not as bad as it seems.
Six of Cups: Nostalgia, happy memories, and the innocence of childhood. Love that is unconditionally accepting. Lasting bonds and friendship.
Seven of Cups: Idealism, fantasy, and illusion. Failure to see reality for what it is; perception clouded by imagination. The Seven Deadly Sins.
Eight of Cups: Disillusionment. Leaving behind something that once seemed important. Loneliness and isolation during a time of change and personal reflection.
Nine of Cups: Satisfaction. Goals achieved. Wishes granted. A time of gluttony and fulfillment. Needs, wants, and desires addressed entirely.
Ten of Cups: Joy, total fulfillment. Happiness within a family, sacred union, and fertility. Love, acceptance, and dedication; a happy marriage or relationship. An end to worries and fears.
Page of Cups: Versatility, adaptability, and flexibility. Enjoyment of the arts. Intuition, insight, and clarity. An enthusiastic, adaptable, artistically gifted young woman.
King of Cups: Honesty, truth, and sensitivity. Change, elasticity, and free-thinking. A young man who is seeking the love of someone else. The pursuit of an emotional, spiritual, or creative endeavor.
Queen of Cups: Affection, deep love, devotion, and loyalty. Maternal acceptance that is unconditional. A mature woman who is respected for her wisdom and dedication to those she loves.
King of Cups: Calmness, reassurance, and fatherly love. Evenness, temperance, keen judgment, kindness, and deserved compassion. A fatherly man who is wise, caring, and spiritually enlightened.
