Five of Cups

To gain a more complete understanding of the Five of Cups, an overview of the suit and number is provided first.     

Overview of the Cups

Aliases: Chalices

Element: Water

Zodiac: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio

Playing Card Suit: Hearts

Class: Artists and Visionaries

Rules: The Heart

The Cups focus on emotions and matters of the heart. 

Tarot card meanings for the Cups suit tend to guide emotional questions of almost any nature. 

Connected to the element of Water, this suit rules the Zodiac Water signs of Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio.

If you want to see all of the Tarot cards in the Cups suit, visit The Cups

The Cups is the Tarot suit long connected with any issues of emotion. 

Ruled by water, feelings can run high when this suit makes an appearance.

When looking at the meaning of each Tarot card in the Cups suit, make note of what other suits are present. 

If there are also a lot of Coins or Wands, this indicates what is actually happening.

The presence of a number of Cups or Swords cards can suggest that this is more subjective, what the querent is feeling.

If you're just learning to read Tarot cards, use the position in the Tarot layout as well as the meanings to guide you. And never forget to listen to your gut instinct, even if it means the changing the official definition slightly.

Synopsis of the Fives

Five is the number of rebellion and change. Where Four gave us the rules, Five is where we decide to break them regardless of consequences.

These are the battles that are fought to break old habits and create new changes. Five will shake us up and force us to strive for progress.

The four main elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water are complemented by the fifth, Spirit.

While Five isn't comfortable, the hard times will be overcome and positive changes eventually welcomed.

Upright Tarot Card Meaning:

When the Five of Cups appears in a reading, it is a sign that we're looking at what we don't have rather than what we do.

One of our deepest held beliefs was shattered and we were mourning its loss. 

Now is the time to suck it up and get over it!  We need to look at what remains and decide what role it can play in our lives.

Often appearing when a relationship is challenged, it is important to use the Five of Cups to reassess what is left. 

Perhaps a vow has been broken or our partner has been emotionally distant - can we work with what remains to heal</p>

In order to decide, it is time to move beyond sadness into contemplation.                                                                             

Reversed Tarot Card Meaning:

The Five of Cups reversed often signals that an emotional reunion is on the horizon. A friend or lover may suddenly reappear, giving you the chance to possibly rebuilt your relationship.  

With the new knowledge and experiences you have, it could become even stronger the second time.

The emotional hurt experienced leaves you cautious and better able to decide whether a second chance is worth the risk.     

Tarot Card Keywords:

loss, destruction of ideals, broken dreams, old wounds, unaware why things went wrong, emotional loneliness, restrained hope, new chances, rebuilding old relationship, emotional wisdom

Leave the Five of Cups and return to Discover-the-Meaning-of-Tarot.com