Queen of Cups Tarot Meanings
The card of emotional security, empathy, and care.
Last Updated: April 23, 2024.
The Queen of Cups is the thirteenth card in the Suit of Cups (also known as the suit of Goblets or Vessels) and one of the fifty-six suit cards from the minor arcana. In divinatory tarot, the Suit of Cups is typically associated with the element of water.
It traditionally represents emotions, intuition, relationships, and creativity. Each card of this suit can provide insight into different aspects of our lives such as love, friendship, family, and emotional well-being. The Queen of Cups is the epitome of the Doting Mother archetype, as well as the Doting Wife.
Divination practices such as cartomancy can help us make decisions, offer guidance, and help us tune into our intuition when we are at a crossroads in our lives. Understanding the meanings of each tarot card can help you sharpen your interpretative skills so you can get the most out of your readings.
In this article, we will discuss the meanings of the Queen of Cups in various tarot reading contexts as well as the different symbols and nuances that can be found within this court card.
Pictorial Symbolism in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck
The Queen of Cups is depicted as a beautiful woman, as she sits on a throne by the edge of the sea. She is holding a cup with angel-shaped handles, which represent care and mercy. The cup is sealed, symbolizing the thoughts from the queen’s subconscious.
The Queen of Cups wears a blue robe and cape. The clothing represents her connection to the source of the subconscious (the ocean), from which creativity and intuition come. They are very similar in colour to the sea, in front of which she sits.
The throne on which she sits is made of stones and decorated with images of fish, and sea nymphs, all symbolizing the subconscious. She sits and looks at the cup, holding the base with both hands. She does not pay attention to the waves in front of her because she is focused on her spirituality.
Above her, there is a clear blue sky, and under her feet, there are colourful rocks. In front of her, there is a lot of water. One could say that she is seated at the edge of the ocean. The ocean is in motion, but there is no storm, only small wavy lines. Her feet do not touch the water, which symbolizes emotions and spirit.
The Queen of Cups key correspondences
Upright Keywords | Compassionate, caring, spiritual, intuitive, calm, empathetic, loyal, loving, easily wounded |
Reversed keywords | Being self-absorbed, dependent, careless, sober, weak, needy, unfaithful, jealous, stubborn. |
| Yes or No | Yes |
| Numerology | 13 (XIII) |
| Element | Water |
Ruling Planet | Pluto |
| Astrological Sign | Cancer |
Associated deities | Frigg, Aphrodite, Brigid, Hathor, Isis, Yemaya, Oshun, Kuan Yin, Sedna, Mari, Lakshmi |
What does the upright Queen of Cups mean in the Tarot?
Queen of Cups represents nurturing energy in tarot. She bears caring, motherly energy. Queen of Cups asks us to pay attention to our intuition and our gut feeling about any situation. The Queen of Cups has the gift of magick too.
The well-being of others is very important to her, which is why she uses her remedies consciously and purposefully for everyone who needs her help. By caring for others, she gets her effort back in the form of gratitude and appreciation. We usually don’t rely on our intuition in everyday life.
It is mostly disturbed by thoughts and other feelings. It is important to reconnect with ourselves and have a state of mind like the calm sea in the picture on the card. This card in the upright position tells us that we know what the answer is.
The answer lies in ourselves and we need to reconnect with our intuition to get the answer.
What does the upright Queen of Cups mean in a love reading
This empathetic woman does not always represent a friend or wife in a relationship, but sometimes also a person who helps with problems. Otherwise, the card symbolizes a caring wife who takes care of marriage and family in a great manner.
For singles, she speaks about the ability to win people’s hearts simply by caring for them. You have what it takes to make a deeper bond with the person you like. However, make sure that your generosity and care are not one-sided and that your counterpart shows the same degree of responsibility towards you.
When choosing a partner you should listen to your inner voice which will guide you in the right direction. This card can also announce a new person coming into our life, someone who embodies this energy of the Queen of Cups. When it comes to love, the Queen of Cups knows what she wants, and she’s not afraid to go after it.
However, the thing about the Queen of Cups is that she can get carried away easily. She is easily caught up in emotions and may have a tendency to overlook red flags just because she loves a person.
In a relationship, the Queen of Cups shows us the importance of mutual care and compassion between partners. With our partner, we experience most of the ups and downs in life together, and it is not uncommon for conflicts to arise.
The Queen of Cups is a good sign for love and relationships. It indicates that there is a nice balance in the relationship, that equal love is shared, and that there is trust and respect on both sides.
What does the upright Queen of Cups mean in a career reading?
The Queen of Cups in a career reading suggests that you should trust your intuition and let your emotions guide you. You have strong emotional intelligence and empathy, which allows you to connect with others on a deeper level.
This can be a valuable asset in careers that involve counseling, healing, or creative fields. You are able to understand and communicate with others in a way that is compassionate and supportive. When it comes to money and wealth, the Queen of Cups brings good news. She can predict prosperity and abundance. We should get help and advice to ensure our financial success.
This Queen is a symbol of creativity and imagination. You may find success in careers that involve artistic expression or where you can use your imaginative abilities to come up with innovative ideas. Trust your instincts and use your emotional intelligence to navigate any challenges that come your way.
Her card suggests that you bring a nurturing, empathetic, and creative energy to your work. Trust your intuition and use your emotional intelligence to succeed in your chosen career path.
The Queen of Cups as feelings/emotions
The Queen of Cups is a beautiful card that radiates warmth and positive emotions. When this card appears in a love reading, it often signifies that your special someone feels deeply connected to you.
They are not only attracted to you but are also in love with you. This person sees you as their soulmate and wants to take care of you. They are invested in their emotional world and committed to building a lasting relationship with you.
It indicates a strong emotional bond, one that is nurturing and supportive, bringing joy and happiness to both partners.
The Queen of Cups as a person
As an archetype, the Queen of Cups represents the nurturing mother, the empathetic counselor, and the creative artist. She is a healer and a listener, offering comfort and support to those around her.
She is in tune with her own emotions and those of others, allowing her to connect on a deep level with people. The Queen of Cups also represents the intuitive and psychic aspects of our being, encouraging us to trust our inner voice and follow our hearts.
The Queen of Cups is a symbol of emotional intelligence and intuition. She is compassionate, nurturing, and empathetic, with a natural inclination towards helping others.
She is a true embodiment of feminine energy, representing creativity, sensuality, and maternal instincts. The Queen of Cups is emotionally mature and wise, with a deep understanding of human emotions and needs.
She is a warm and supportive presence in people’s lives, bringing comfort and understanding when needed. She is an inspiration to us all to embrace our emotions, connect with our intuition, and lead with compassion and empathy in our interactions with others.
The Queen of Cups as advice
The Queen of Cups is a nurturing and caring presence in our lives, always ready to lend an empathetic ear and provide comfort when we need it most. This card reminds us to express gratitude for the love and care she brings into our lives and to pay it forward by being there for others in their times of need. It’s important to listen deeply and give support to those who may be going through a difficult time.
When it comes to making decisions, the Queen of Cups advises us to tune in to our emotions and intuition. Trusting our inner guidance can help us navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and grace.
Surrounding ourselves with people who bring us a sense of calm and peace is also important. Whether it’s family, friends, or a beloved pet, being in the presence of those who lift our spirits can be deeply healing.
For advice, she wants you to nurture your feelings and take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally.
What is the zodiac or astrological sign associated with the Queen of Cups?
Most of the time, this card is associated with Cancer. However, sometimes it is associated with other water signs too. Queen of Cups is just like Cancer signs, a very emotional and compassionate person. They are motherly, protective and loyal.
Is the Queen of Cups a yes or no card?
The Queen of Cups is not a card pulled to provide a yes or no answer, but rather a card that encourages you to connect with your emotions and intuition to make decisions in your life. I have answered the following though for examples of how to better understand her.
Below are some of my interpretations, as an experienced tarot practitioner, based on different types of questions:
Querent Question: “Will I get the job?”
- Card interpretation: Yes, if you are nurturing yourself and other people in relation to this role.
Querent Question: “Is this new person in my life good for me?”
- Card interpretation: Yes, as this card indicates a strong emotional connection and maybe a lifelong one too.
Querent Question: “Will I achieve my current goals?”
- Card interpretation: Yes. Let your intuition lead you, prioritize self-care along the way and surround yourself with calm, peaceful support.
Querent Question: “Should I start my own business?”
- Card interpretation: Yes. Your gut feeling can help you in choosing your way, so ensure to listen to your heart along the way.
What does the reversed Queen of Cups mean in the Tarot?
The reversed Queen of Cups shows that we are very careless with our fellow human beings at the moment. We are too busy with ourselves and revolve around our thoughts and feelings, which is why we are increasingly losing contact with others.
Sometimes, we need time for ourselves and to bring our thoughts in balance. There may be a lot of emotions that are bothering the person at the moment. They may be holding these feelings back.
This card can speak about being involved in other people’s drama in life. It is good to give support, however, it should not have an impact on our well-being and emotional stability.
The reversed Queen of Cups is a reminder to pay attention to your emotional and intuitive needs and to take steps to connect with your inner self in order to find balance and fulfillment in all areas of your life.
What does the reversed Queen of Cups mean in a love reading?
The person is not listening to their intuition when looking for a partner. Additionally, the card can talk about careless or even jealous partners. The reversed Queen is not in balance with her emotions and may explode when things are not going her way.
It is important to clarify your own feelings and thoughts before getting involved in a new partnership. Love only arises when we are willing to share feelings with someone else and don’t lock them up deep inside of us.
In the reversed position, the Queen of Cups speaks about a selfish partner. It can even represent someone who could have co-dependency issues. Dependence can be financial or emotional and always carries the risk that we could be used by the partner. The card can also speak about someone being emotionally immature.
Generally speaking, you may be feeling unfulfilled in your relationships, and may need to take steps to address this.
What does the inverted Queen of Cups mean in a career reading?
The reversed Queen of Cups indicates that the person cares too much about their job. Maybe if the person is too involved and wants to make everything on their own, things could end wrongly.
Difficult challenges in the job cannot be mastered as a lone wolf, but only together as a team. The person may be very careless at work and have a mental problem that blocks them currently.
The card can speak about someone being overly sensitive to the mood of other people. The reversed card speaks about financial insecurity too.
And finally, this card touches on notes of creativity and feeling blocked or stuck in your current career path. You may also be struggling to connect with your coworkers or clients, and may need to work on building stronger relationships in order to succeed.
Take some time out to prioritize your self-care and nurture yourself a little, even if it means phoning in sick or missing a day of work or two (they will cope without you, truly) but it’s time to give yourself a reset and a moment of pause to think about what you actually want in terms of your career right now.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Queen of Cups card is a powerful symbol of being compassionate, caring, spiritual, intuitive, calm, empathetic, loyal, loving, being easily wounded. When this card appears in your reading, it is often a sign that you have compassionate energy around you right now, or that you are embodying this caretaker archetype, and the world is grateful you are here. Please don’t let this title keep you from acknowledging red flags, however, and ensure that any challenges that come up are met with love.
Despite its association with mysticism and occultism, the tarot has grown to become much more than a simple “fortune-telling” tool. For many tarot practitioners, it is a complex system made of symbolic imagery and psychological considerations (Jungian archetypes for example) that can be used for self-exploration, meditation, and personal transformation.
The 56 lesser arcana cards relate to the day-to-day events of our lives, the more mundane aspects of our existence. Even though that part of the tarot is about the “smaller picture”, it symbolizes the constant choices we make that shape our lives, our characters, and ultimately our destinies.
Have you ever had a reading where the Queen Of Cups appeared? What was the outcome? What does that card mean to you personally? How do you interpret this card in your own tarot practice?
Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments below. Additionally, If you want to know more about the different tarot cards, feel free to check out my complete list of all 78 tarot cards and their meanings.
Written by Lizzie Burgess
I have been reading Tarot for more than 15 years. I have always enjoyed using my intuition to provide clarity and insights to others. Tarot is one of my favorite forms of divination, and I love sharing that passion with like-minded folks.
Learn more about the Suit of Cups
This page is part of our comprehensive list of the 56 minor arcana tarot cards & their meanings. If you enjoyed the read, then you’ll love the following articles.