six of cups tarot
Cups
Six
water
nostalgia...
Six of Cups Keywords
Quick Interpretation
Six of Cups is the Six of Cups in the Minor Arcana, representing nostalgia and childhood memories.
Card Symbolism Analysis
Analysis of card symbolism
Card description
The picture has a retro and nostalgic tone, like time condensed in old photos. A richly dressed boy is bending down and handing a chalice filled with white flowers to a little girl. The girl looked up at the boy, her eyes full of trust and joy. There are five other chalices, also filled with flowers, scattered around the courtyard. In the distance is a large and cozy mansion, and guards are walking leisurely - this is a safe and protected world.
symbolic elements
🌸 Six chalices filled with flowers
White flowers symbolize pure emotions and blessings. All six cups are full, representing abundant love and memories. These flowers are not luxurious exotic varieties, but simple, rustic white flowers – reminding us that the most precious things are often the simplest.
👦 The boy giving flowers
The boy represents the caregiver - perhaps an older brother, a friend, or a past self. His stooped posture shows tenderness and patience, a kind of giving without expecting anything in return. Some interpretations believe that this boy represents "memories of the past" conveying blessings to us now.
👧 Girl receiving gift
The girl represents the innocent recipient - she has no doubts or calculations, she simply accepts the kindness. Her existence reminds us: sometimes, learning to accept is also a virtue. Allowing yourself to be loved and cared for is an important message that the Six of Cups wants to convey.
🏠 The big mansion in the distance
The house symbolizes security, stability and a sense of belonging. This is not a cold castle, but a warm home. It represents the refuge of childhood, or the safe place that our hearts long to return to. No matter how chaotic real life is, this home is always there waiting for you.
🛡 ️ Guards in the distance
The presence of guards suggests that this is a protected space. Children can play safely without worrying about threats from the outside. This symbolizes the feeling in childhood that the world is safe - a sense of trust that we often lose as adults.
🌿 Courtyard garden
A garden is a natural space that is cared for by humans, symbolizing a protected growth environment. There are no dangers of wilderness here, only the beauty of careful cultivation. It represents those times spent in love and how those experiences shape us.
Core Symbolic Elements of the Six of Cups
Upright Meaning
Correct meaning of the tablet
core message
The Six of Cups is a card full of warmth. It invites you to return to a state of innocence and reconnect with those wonderful memories. This might mean reuniting with old friends, returning to a familiar place, or finding your inner self untainted by worldly sophistication.
psychological level
Your heart is longing for a simple and pure joy. Maybe real life is too complicated - the calculations of interpersonal relationships, the pressure of work, the anxiety about the future - making you miss the era when you didn't have to think about anything. The Six of Cups is not about escaping reality, but it is about reminding you: that innocence never disappears, it's just buried.
reality
You may meet old friends, former colleagues, or even your first love whom you haven't seen for a long time. You may also return to the place where you grew up as a child, or receive messages from the past. These reunions often bring warm feelings.
Someone might give you a gift—not necessarily something expensive, but something thoughtful. There may also be people who offer to help you without asking for anything in return. This pure kindness is the energy of the Six of Cups.
You may be dealing with family-related matters, or the impact of childhood experiences is surfacing. This may be an opportunity for healing, or it may be a problem that needs to be faced.
You may meet old friends, former colleagues, or even your first love whom you haven't seen for a long time. You may also return to the place where you grew up as a child, or receive messages from the past. These reunions often bring warm feelings.
Someone might give you a gift—not necessarily something expensive, but something thoughtful. There may also be people who offer to help you without asking for anything in return. This pure kindness is the energy of the Six of Cups.
You may be dealing with family-related matters, or the impact of childhood experiences is surfacing. This may be an opportunity for healing, or it may be a problem that needs to be faced.
Suggestions for action
• Take time to look back at old photos or mementos and let the good memories nourish you
• Connect with old friends you haven’t seen for a long time and regain that sincere connection
• Doing things you enjoyed as a child but “feel childish” when you grow up
• Practice giving without purpose – buy a friend a cup of coffee, give a small gift
• If you have the chance, go back to the place where you grew up
Reversed Meaning
Reversed card meaning
Core warning
The Six of Cups Reversed has two completely different meanings. Positively, it means you are ready to let go of the past and move forward. Negatively, it may suggest that you are overly obsessed with memories, or that childhood trauma is affecting your present.
possible performance
You decide not to live in the shadow or aura of the past. No matter whether the past was good or painful, you choose to face the present and take responsibility for your life. This is a sign of maturity.
You're ready to step out of familiar surroundings and explore new possibilities. Maybe it's moving, changing jobs, or ending a safe but stagnant relationship. Although change is scary, necessary growth requires this courage.
You may be too nostalgic for the "good old days" to live in the present. Constantly comparing "how good it was before" will make you miss the opportunities and happiness you have now.
Unpleasant experiences from the past may be affecting your present—perhaps a childhood of neglect, hurt, or insecurity. These wounds need to be seen and healed, not continued to be suppressed.
You decide not to live in the shadow or aura of the past. No matter whether the past was good or painful, you choose to face the present and take responsibility for your life. This is a sign of maturity.
You're ready to step out of familiar surroundings and explore new possibilities. Maybe it's moving, changing jobs, or ending a safe but stagnant relationship. Although change is scary, necessary growth requires this courage.
You may be too nostalgic for the "good old days" to live in the present. Constantly comparing "how good it was before" will make you miss the opportunities and happiness you have now.
Unpleasant experiences from the past may be affecting your present—perhaps a childhood of neglect, hurt, or insecurity. These wounds need to be seen and healed, not continued to be suppressed.
Adjustment suggestions
If you are about to spread your wings and soar, this card blesses your journey. Take the nourishment that the past has given you, but don’t be tied down by it. If you find yourself stuck in old memories, try asking yourself, "What am I running from?" Sometimes dwelling on the past is because you're afraid of facing the challenges of the present.
Energy comparison between upright and reverse positions
Love Guidance
love guidance
single
Fate may come from past connections - maybe an old classmate who you haven't seen for many years suddenly contacts you, maybe you meet someone you like in a place you frequented during your childhood, or maybe you meet someone through a family introduction. The characteristics of this relationship will be warm, innocent, and not too scheming. If you've been looking for "the right person," try looking back at those old friends you've neglected.
Those with a partner
This is a relationship as innocent as a child's. There is no intrigue or power games between you, just pure love and trust. This card encourages you to do "childish" things together - play games, watch cartoons, go to an amusement park. Get back the silly joy you had in the early days of your relationship. If there is some tension in the relationship, try to communicate in the simplest way possible without overthinking it.
Compound opportunities
The possibility of compounding exists. The Six of Cups often represents the reappearance of an old flame, or nostalgia for a past relationship. If you had a good time together, those memories could be the basis for starting over. But please note: getting back together is not about going back to the past, but about establishing a new relationship on the premise of accepting each other's growth and changes.
relationship advice
• Stay innocent at heart and don’t let past hurts make you worldly.
• Recall the reason why you fell in love in the first place and relive the feeling
• When giving love, don’t worry about the return
• If there are family issues that affect your relationship, they need to be dealt with properly
Reversed love warning
Reversed may mean that you or your partner still can't let go of your ex and always compare your current relationship with the past. It may also imply that childhood experiences are affecting your relationship patterns - maybe you need a sense of security too much, maybe you don't know how to trust people. Recognizing these patterns is the first step to healing. Another possibility: You're ready to leave a "safe but no future" relationship.
Career Analysis
career analysis
work development
You may get help from past experiences—perhaps an old colleague recommending a job opportunity, perhaps a skill you learned years ago that comes in handy now, or perhaps returning to a company or industry you once worked in. The Six of Cups also represents good development in work related to children, such as education, children's products, talent teaching and other fields.
Workplace interpersonal
The workplace atmosphere is warm and harmonious, and colleagues get along with each other like family. This is a work environment where you feel safe and cared for. If you are a supervisor, this card encourages you to lead your team in a caring manner rather than in an authoritarian manner. Giving with kindness will build a good reputation for you in the workplace.
Suitable career direction
The Six of Cups is suitable for work related to childhood, memories, inheritance, or areas that require innocence and creativity.
Reversed career warning
Reversed may mean that you are too attached to the old way of working and are unwilling to learn new skills or accept changes. It may also imply that you should leave that "too comfortable" environment - growth requires getting out of the comfort zone. Another possibility is that the work environment is no longer as welcoming as it once was, and you need to re-evaluate whether you should stay.
Academic Advice
academic advising
learning attitude
Study with childlike curiosity and you will gain unexpected results. Don't rush to think "what's the use of this", just enjoy the fun of gaining new knowledge. If you're tired of studying, try thinking back to what you were passionate about as a child—maybe that's what you really want to pursue.
Exam luck
The exam fortune is stable. Reviewing old knowledge will be particularly efficient - those things you thought you had forgotten are actually still deep in your memory. If there is a teacher or senior sister who is willing to help with guidance, take advantage of this kindness. Your foundation is solid, believe in yourself.
Suggestions for further study
It will be easier for you to choose a field related to your past learning experience for further study. It is also suitable for studying majors related to children and families. If you’ve had a “childhood dream” that you’ve been shelving, now might be a good time to pick it up again.
Reversed Academic Warning
Reversed may mean that it's time for you to try new territory and not stay in your familiar comfort zone. It may also suggest that you have lost your childhood passion for learning and have become just studying for a diploma or a job. Try to get back to that pure curiosity.
Financial Analysis
Financial Luck Analysis
Good fortune
You may receive gifts, red envelopes, or financial support from family members. Inheritance is also a common symbol of the Six of Cups. Overall, wealth is "given" - not by making big money through aggressive investments, but by gaining support through favors and goodwill. This card also reminds you: give to others in a timely manner, and blessings will come back in a cycle.
investment advice
This is not a card suitable for risky speculation. The financial energy of the Six of Cups is conservative and sound, as simple as putting your pocket money in a piggy bank. If you want to invest, choose an area you are familiar with, or an industry related to childhood, family, and tradition. Don't be greedy, "just enough is enough" is the financial philosophy of this card.
Reversed wealth warning
Reversed may represent family financial problems, or expected financial aid not arriving. It may also imply that it is time for you to become financially independent and no longer rely on family members or past savings. Another interpretation is: Your goodwill efforts have not been reciprocated, and the money you lent may not be recovered.
Health Guidance
health guidelines
good health
The health energy of the Six of Cups is gentle. It recommends taking care of your body in the same natural, uncomplicated ways you did as a child—going to bed early and getting up early, drinking plenty of water, and going outside to play instead of staring at a screen all the time. If there are health problems, this card suggests that they may be related to childhood eating habits or lifestyle, which are worth examining and adjusting.
mental health
Reminiscing about good times is great for your mental health. Looking through old photos, listening to songs you loved as a kid, catching up with old friends – these can bring warmth to your heart. If you are dealing with childhood trauma, this card encourages you to face it while also reminding you that there is good in the past, don't just remember the pain.
Reversed health warning
Reversed may represent childhood experiences that are affecting your current physical and mental health - perhaps bad habits developed at the time, perhaps unprocessed psychological trauma. It may also suggest that you are too obsessed with nostalgia and ignore your current health needs. Live in the present and take good care of yourself now.
Deck Matching Interpretation
Interpretation of deck matching
Combination with Major Arcana
Six of Cups + Fool
A new beginning of innocence. You embark on a new journey with a child-like attitude, without baggage or prejudice. It’s a very refreshing combination, perfect for trying something you’ve never done before.
Six of Cups + Lovers
Feelings like first love. Your love is pure and beautiful, without any calculation. It may also represent the development of a romance with a childhood playmate, or the relationship returning to its original sweetness.
Six of Cups + The Hermit
Look to the past for wisdom. You need time alone to sort out your memories and find the meaning of life from past experiences. This is a deeply healing combination.
Six of Cups + World
A full circle. You have traveled a long journey from the past, and now you have finally integrated all your experiences. The seeds of childhood have blossomed into mature flowers.
Six of Cups + Moon
Buried childhood memories are emerging. It may be beautiful, or it may be a shadow that needs to be faced. Dreams may bring messages about the past.
Combination with the Minor Arcana
+ Five of Cups
Healing after loss. Recalling the good times of the past can help you get over the sadness of the present. But also be careful not to over-glorify the past because of the pain of the present.
+ Ten of Cups
Perfect family happiness. This is a very warm combination, representing family harmony and emotional perfection. It feels so good to be home.
+ One of Wands
Childhood dreams can now come true. Those things you wanted to do as a kid, now you have the chance to do it. Keep that pure passion.
+ coin six
Financial support from family or old acquaintances. This is a very blessed combination, which means you will receive selfless help.
+ Three of Swords
Childhood wounds need to be healed. Past experiences of betrayal or loss are affecting you and need to be faced and dealt with.
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