Five of Cups

What Does The Five of Cups Tarot Card Mean?

The Five of Cups in tarot represents a period of grief and disappointment. It's often depicted with a figure mourning over spilled cups, with the remaining cups standing unnoticed. This card symbolizes the pain of loss, whether it's a relationship, opportunity, or another aspect of life. It focuses on the feelings of sorrow that come with dwelling on what has been lost, often to the exclusion of the potential that still exists.

The Five of Cups invites reflection on your losses but also urges you to recognize and appreciate what remains and the possibilities that still await. If you draw it during an expert-guided tarot reading session, it's a reminder that while grief is a natural process, it's important to eventually turn your attention to the positive aspects that remain in your life.

The Five of Cups Upright Tarot Card Meaning

Upright, the Five of Cups indicates experiencing a sense of loss or disappointment. This card suggests that you might be focusing heavily on what you've lost, which is overshadowing the opportunities or blessings that are still present.

The Five of Cups speaks to the need to process your grief and to learn to let go of what can't be changed. It encourages you to acknowledge your feelings of sadness or regret but also to begin the process of looking forward to the positives that remain. It's a card of emotional learning, where the challenge is to balance mourning your losses with moving forward.

The Five of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Love & Relationships

In love and relationships, the Five of Cups can signify a period of emotional pain, such as a breakup, unrequited love, or disillusionment. It might represent mourning the loss of what a relationship could have been. This card encourages you to allow yourself to feel your emotions but also to remember that this is not the end of your emotional journey. There are still opportunities for love and happiness ahead, even if they're not apparent in the moment.

The Five of Cups Meaning: Money & Career

In the context of career and finances, the Five of Cups may indicate disappointment, such as a missed job opportunity, financial loss, or dissatisfaction with your career path. It suggests that while it's important to acknowledge these feelings, dwelling on them can prevent you from seeing other opportunities or solutions. The card advises finding a balance between learning from these disappointments and not allowing them to consume your focus.

Upright Meaning: Past

Reflecting on the past, the Five of Cups in an upright position may highlight periods where you experienced significant loss or disappointment. It could represent times when you focused more on what you lost than what was left, impacting your emotional growth and perspective on life.

The Five of Cups Reversed Tarot Card Meaning

When reversed, the Five of Cups suggests a shift in perspective after a period of grief or disappointment. It indicates the beginning of healing and the acceptance of past losses. This card signals a time when you are starting to focus on the future and the positive aspects that remain in your life.

The reversed Five of Cups represents moving on from regret, learning to forgive (yourself or others), and releasing the hold that past sorrows have had on you. It's a reminder that healing is a process and that recognizing and embracing the good that still exists can be a significant step in overcoming emotional pain.

The Five of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Love & Relationships

Reversed in the context of love and relationships, the Five of Cups can signal recovering from heartache or the healing of emotional wounds. It suggests that you are moving past a period of emotional turmoil and are ready to open your heart to new experiences. For those in relationships, it indicates overcoming past issues and focusing on building a stronger and more positive future together. It's a sign of forgiveness, acceptance, and the willingness to let go of what has been holding the relationship back.

The Five of Cups Meaning: Money & Career

In a reversed position regarding career and finances, the Five of Cups suggests overcoming past disappointments and looking toward new opportunities. It might indicate a renewed sense of motivation and the ability to see potential in your career or financial situation. This card encourages a proactive approach to overcoming setbacks and a focus on future goals rather than past failures. It's a reminder that every loss or setback can also be an opportunity for growth and a new direction.

Reversed Meaning: Past

Looking back, the Five of Cups reversed may indicate that you have come to terms with past losses and have started to move beyond the grief or disappointment that once dominated your thoughts. It reflects a period of emotional recovery, where lessons from the past have begun to shape a more positive and hopeful outlook for the future.

Is The Five of Cups a Yes or No Card?

The Upright Five of Cups Meaning: Yes or No

In a yes or no reading, the upright Five of Cups generally suggests a no, indicating that the focus on loss or disappointment might be overshadowing other aspects or possibilities. It's a sign that the current emotional outlook may not be conducive to a positive outcome in the situation in question.

The Reversed Five of Cups Meaning: Yes or No

Reversed, the Five of Cups in a yes or no reading leans towards yes, suggesting that moving past disappointments and focusing on the positive aspects can lead to favorable outcomes. It indicates that acceptance and emotional healing are key to turning the situation around for a better resolution.

Reading The Five of Cups in a Spread

In a tarot spread, the Five of Cups’s position and surrounding cards provide insights into your emotional state and your responses to loss or disappointment.

Five of Cups and The Star. This combination suggests that healing and hope are on the horizon. The Star brings a sense of optimism and renewal, indicating that the difficult emotions of the Five of Cups will eventually lead to a brighter future and emotional healing.

Five of Cups and The Eight of Swords. Together, these cards might indicate feeling trapped by your emotions or a negative mindset. They suggest that your perspective may be limiting your ability to move forward and see the positive opportunities available to you.

Five of Cups and The Six of Cups. This pairing can point to nostalgia or being stuck in the past. It suggests that memories or past experiences are influencing your current emotional state, potentially hindering your ability to embrace the present and future.

Five of Cups and The Ten of Wands. When these two cards appear together, they indicate being burdened by emotional weight or past regrets. It's a sign that you may be carrying emotional baggage that is hindering your progress and adding to your sense of loss or disappointment.

Five of Cups and The Knight of Pentacles. This combination suggests a slow but steady path to recovery. The Knight of Pentacles brings a practical and methodical approach, indicating that healing from emotional pain will take time and patience but will ultimately lead to growth and stability.