Dive deep into the suit of Cups

What do the Cups mean in tarot?

Cups are vessels in which to hold that which can’t be held in the hands. Yes, cups are meant for drinking, but they can hold more than liquid. Cups hold what is tangible but unwieldy. In this case, they are a good match for the emotions and intuitive insights with which they’re associated. These are felt strongly, but they can be hard to grasp. Yet cups can be shared, and with them emotional connection.

Because of their association with water, Cups also offer the potential for losing oneself and murkiness. And of course, depending on what’s in the cup, it can be easy to become intoxicated.

Quick Concepts for the suit of Cups

Ace of Cups: the gift of communion, connection, and profound experiences

2 of Cups: shared affection, give and take of emotion, union of souls, Venus in Cancer

3 of Cups: celebration, friends and loved ones, expansion of community, Mercury in Cancer

4 of Cups: calm, emotional stagnation, sacred pause, Moon in Cancer

5 of Cups: emotional unrest, intense feelings, moving on, Mars in Scorpio

6 of Cups: exploring psychological depths, exposing secrets, past memories, Sun in Scorpio

7 of Cups: daring to dream, intoxication, selfish desires, Venus in Scorpio

8 of Cups: realignment, repressed emotions, chasing dreams, Saturn in Pisces

9 of Cups: emotional fulfillment, expansion of joy, dreams achieved, Jupiter in Pisces

10 of Cups: family, reinvesting in relationships, sharing love, Mars in Pisces

Page of Cups: someone who is emotionally open and unafraid of murk if it allows for growth, the earth of water, Libra–Sagittarius

Knight of Cups: someone who passes through life as if half-dreaming, ready to turn fantasy into reality, the fire of water, Pisces (primary) and Aquarius (shadow)

Queen of Cups: someone who easily empathizes and finds themselves at home in the unconscious and psychic realms, the water of water, Cancer (primary) and Gemini (shadow)

King of Cups: someone who easily negotiates the conflicting needs of head and heart, the air of water, Scorpio (primary) and Libra (shadow)

Let’s dive deep into these cards

This is an ongoing series. Every other week on Instagram and Tumblr, I post a series of Deep Dive images tied to one minor arcanum. I’ve completed the aces and pips, so it’s just the court cards that are left. The court cards are not all here yet, but I know that you’ll learn a lot about the Cups if you read on! And if you’re looking to read tarot more deeply like me, learn to read tarot deeply with my courses that go beyond the tarot basics.