The Suit of Cups and its Role in Tarot
Last Updated: November 20, 2023
The Suit of Cups, sometimes known as Chalices or Goblets, relates to all the lovely jubbly emotions of ours! Linked to the element of water, the Cups can represent the astrological signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Just as water is known to ‘go with the flow’, for being adaptable, for being calm and tranquil, it also has the ability to be chaotic, a true force of nature, overpowering, and over time it has the persistence to even reshape the land.
As with any of the other Minor Arcana suits, the Cups too have their own positives and negatives. The positive side of the Cups can represent creativity, embracing your emotions, imagination, romantic interest, and heartfelt connections.
Yet the negative side of the Cups can represent a lack of creativity, being too overly-emotional, feeling like you can’t fully express how you feel, people-pleasing, listening too much to your heart over your head, and not being realistic about matters
Wand Symbolism
Just as you would use a magic wand to cast a spell, said spell would be made up of energy, our willpower, of our desire to cast something beneficial, or sometimes destructive. As, within the terms of magick, we are all familiar with wands having the ability to produce ‘good’ spells and ‘bad’ spells depending upon the will of the spellcaster.
With your own wand in hand, you have the ability to cast any spell you like based upon your personal desires at that given moment. Will your wand be used for better or for worse? Will you think before wielding that magical weapon?
The wand is one of great potential and great destruction, just as the Wand suit itself represents both the best and worst sides of our temperament and actions.
In magickal history, especially within the fantasy realm, we think of the enemies to be the ones who wield a wand (or staff) for their own benefit without consideration for others. The Wands cards in the Minor Arcana can too show us to be the big bad wizard with our negative traits – such as impulsivity, greed, and selfishness.
But like the typical ‘hero’ of the story, we have the ability to wield that wand to do good, to create good, to push onward for the greater good. Wands are used to wield the will of our own power, our words, our desires, and with them we can create or we can destroy.
Wands In A Reading
If you’re doing a tarot reading, and many Wand cards show up, it’ll only be natural for you to be wondering what exactly are the Wands telling you? To put in bluntly, the Wands want you to deal with life instead of just letting life deal with you. Essentially, it’s all about having your chin up, your shoulders back, and taking action!
Trusting in your spark of creativity can be worth it, pushing onward can be worth it, committing to that bold action can be with it.
If it’s looking negative overall, then the Wands can also pop up to warn about your current actions and your mindset, especially if you are acting out in selfish and egotistical ways. Such traits will not serve you, and the Wands will be showing up in their masses to tell you to check yourself, hun.
The Wands can also represent people in your life, whether this is directly a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), but be mindful that this could also be yourself! However, the cards can relate to a person with another sign, and just represent them based on personality/who they are acting as in the given situation the cards are describing.
What the Wands can mean depending upon the type of reading you’re doing (and remember that each card will specifically go into more details, whether that be positive or negative) so let’s check them out in a bit more context:
In a general reading
The Wands can be looking to fuel you with a new burst of life and energy to make sure you give yourself the ‘oomph’ you need! You can turn your passions into something significantly impactful in your life. The Wands will be supportive of trying to make your dreams become your reality.
In a love reading
The Wands are fire, they are passion, and boy oh boy they can absolutely suggest that this romance will be burning hot and bright! It’s easy to get lost in the moment with this one, especially sexually, but it can also suggest hot tempers and arguments! All in all, this romance will be a wild one either way! Burning bright and fast, whether that is for better or for worse.
In a career reading
You’ll do your best, and be at your happiest, in a job where you feel challenged and as though you are truly valued. Work within a creative industry could potentially suit you well, or one that compliments you spiritually. But the Wands can also warn that no career is worth burning yourself out over.
In a money reading
You have the potential to improve your finances via your creative interests, passions, and hobbies, and you’ll enjoy this too. But the Wands can also be warning you to not take too many risky chances for the sake of thinking luck will always be on your side.
In a health reading
Your splendidly active activities could be keeping you in tip-top shape! But there is always the risk that we are overdoing it. So on one hand, you could be doing the best thing for yourself, but on the other you could be doing too much and having a negative impact on your health. Wands, in this case, could also be indicating the inner-drive you’ll need to battle an illness.
How the Wands interact with the other minor arcana suits:
Swords
Allow your knowledge to bond with your ambition and guide you forward appropriately.
Cups:
Use your emotions to ignite that spark and follow what is lighting you up inside. Let your emotions fuel your passions, let yourself be inspired!
Pentacles:
Be practical about your approach with your creative outlets, you may need to look into new ways of doing things.
A look into the meaning of each Cups card
Ace of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Ace of Cups is associated with Love, compassion, happiness, connection, pregnancy, celebration, the start of something emotional.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Ace of Cups represents introspection, self-love, disappointment in love, disconnection, repression, depression, bad news, miscarriages or abortions, and cancelled events.
- Numerology: 1
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Mercury
- Astrological sign: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
- Yes or No card? Yes
Two of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Two of Cups is associated with union, balance, connection, promise, harmony, relationships, partnerships, and equality.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Two of Cups represents imbalance, separation, fracture, and betrayal.
- Numerology: 2
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Venus
- Astrological sign: Cancer
- Yes or No card? Yes
Three of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Three of Cups is associated with friends, creativity, community, celebrations, party, group work, reunions, achievements, and happiness.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Three of Cups represents Loneliness, excessiveness, independence, retreat, rivalry, envy, suffering, broken engagements, infidelity, cancelled events, lack of social life, and bitchiness.
- Numerology: 3
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Mercury
- Astrological sign: Cancer, Mercury in Cancer, July 1st – July 11th
- Yes or No card? Yes
Four of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Four of Cups is associated with sacrifice, waiting, procrastination, helplessness, doubt, isolation, apathy, boredom, and negativity.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Four of Cups represents motivation, initiative, sociability and excitement for new opportunities.
- Numerology: 4
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Moon
- Astrological sign: Cancer
- Yes or No card? Maybe
Five of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Five of Cups is associated with regret, disappointment, failure, pessimism, focusing on loss, grief, unwelcome change, and trauma.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Five of Cups represents contentment, moving on, self-forgiveness, healing, releasing emotions, and recovery.
- Numerology: 5
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Mars & Pluto
- Astrological sign: Mars in Scorpio, October 23rd – November 2nd
- Yes or No card? Maybe
Six of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Six of Cups is associated with the past, childhood, nostalgia, innocent, reconnecting with past-relationships, reunions, familial support, memories and creativity.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Six of Cups represents being stuck in the past, resentment, lack of playfulness, maturity, unresolved childhood abuse, childhood issues, boredom, and lack of creativity.
- Numerology: 6
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: The Sun
- Astrological sign: Sun in Scorpio, November 3rd to November 12th
- Yes or No card? Yes
Seven of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Seven of Cups is associated with fantasy, illusion, thoughts, imagination, wishful thinking, dreams, lots of options, and multiple possibilities/choices.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Seven of Cups represents reality check, clarity, sobriety, temptations, lack of choices/opportunities, unrealistic fantasies, lack of commitment, plans, and avoiding issues.
- Numerology: 7
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Pluto & Venus
- Astrological sign: Scorpio, Venus in Scorpio.
- Tarot Timing: November 13th to 22nd
- Yes or No card? Yes
Eight of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Eight of Cups is associated with the past, childhood, nostalgia, innocent, reconnecting with letting go/moving on, seeking a higher purpose, heading to higher ground, and withdrawal.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Eight of Cups represents stagnation, avoidance, fear of change, and staying in a bad situation.
- Numerology: 8
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Neptune
- Astrological sign: Pisces (Cancer, Scorpio)
- Tarot Timing: 19 – 28 February
- Associated Deities: Juno, Calypso
- Yes or No card? No
Nine of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Nine of Cups is associated with wishes coming true, dreams actualised, self-care, treating yourself, positivity, joy, contentment, satisfaction, celebration, success, fame, pleasure and acclaim.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Nine of Cups represents unfulfilled wishes, unhappiness, broken promises, burnout, self-hatred, addiction, neglecting needs, dissatisfaction, depression, and disappointment.
- Numerology: 9
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Jupiter & Neptune
- Astrological sign: Jupiter in Pisces
- Tarot Timing: March 1st – March 10th
- Associated Deities: Osiris, Bastet
- Yes or No card? Yes
Ten of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Ten of Cups is associated with love, peace, harmony, a happy home, completion, reunions, marriage, children, blessings, and creativity.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Ten of Cups represents a broken home, dysfunction, broken communication in the family, lack of security, lack of stability, fertility issues, neglect, and abuse.
- Numerology: 10
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Mars
- Astrological sign: Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio
- Tarot Timing: March 11-20 in the 3rd Decan Wheel in Pisces
- Associated Deities: Baldur, Ame-no-Uzume, Wangmu Niangniang, Baubo, the Charites
- Yes or No card? Yes
Page of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Page of Cups is associated with artistry, beauty, style, sensitivity, intuitivity, psychic ability, spirituality, proposals, marriage, births, inner child work and overall happy news.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Page of Cups represents an unhappy child, difficult childhood, emotional immaturity, broken dreams, broken proposals, vanity, obsession, envy, escapism as well as unfortunate news.
- Numerology: 11
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Venus, Neptune
- Astrological sign: Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio
- Tarot Timing: February 19th to February 28th, June 21st to June 30th, October 23rd to November 2nd
- Yes or No card? Yes
Knight of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Knight of Cups is associated with Creativity, romance, charm, imagination, and beauty.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Knight of Cups represents having an overactive imagination, being unrealistic, jealousy, and moodiness.
- Numerology: 12
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Neptune
- Astrological sign: Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio
- Yes or No card? Yes
Queen of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the Queen of Cups is associated with compassion, caring, spirituality, intuitiveness, calmness, being empathetic, loyalty, loving, and being easily wounded.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the Queen of Cups represents being self-absorbed, dependent, careless, sober, weak, needy, unfaithful, jealous, and stubborn.
- Numerology: 13
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Pluto
- Astrological sign: Cancer
- Associated Deities: Frigg, Aphrodite, Brigid, Hathor, Isis, Yemaya, Oshun, Kuan Yin, Sedna, Mari, Lakshmi
- Yes or No card? Yes
King of Cups
- When drawn in the upright position, the King of Cups is associated with emotional balance, compassion, diplomacy, creativity, wisdom, tolerance and devotion.
- When pulled in the reversed position, the King of Cups represents emotional imbalance, indifference, manipulation, unproductive, dishonesty, repression and violence.
- Numerology: 14
- Element: Water
- Planetary correspondence: Neptune
- Astrological sign: Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio
- Tarot Timing: (Pisces season, dates according to Decan Wheel etc) 9 February – 10 March
- Associated Deities: Neptune, Njord, Poseidon, Odin.
- Yes or No card? Yes
Conclusion
What’s a world without emotions? We’d all be machines. But…we aren’t. We’re far from it! Emotions are what make us who we are, they can define our actions, our beliefs, and help explain the decisions we make throughout our life.
The Cups are an important suit to the Minor Arcana as they can provide true insight into our hearts, to the true feelings we feel within our bones, and even bring to light the emotions we may be hiding ourselves from. No one likes a light being shone on emotions we don’t want to face, but the Cups are important here as how can we progress and move forward if we just seek to shut off and function like robots?
The Cups will bring to the surface how we truly, whole-heartedly feel and with that we can 100% see what does and doesn’t serve us – sometimes the big bad villain in our lives being ourselves! It’s not uncommon for us to be our own worst enemy, especially when it comes to emotions. It’ll always be one thing to go “this is the best solution because it’s the most logical” but you must always be able to counteract it with “perhaps, but what does your heart want?” and that is what the Cups can help do for you!
So you will greatly benefit from familiarising yourself with your Cup cards; yes it can be hard, especially if you aren’t prepared to face certain emotions, but you don’t need to dive into the middle of them and drown yourself – you’re allowed to take your time. Just make sure to actually spend that time with them! As with all of the tarot cards, they are only here to serve you – even if they can be blunt and argumentative at times…they’re still here to help!
Written by Amy Gent
Continue your tarot journey ✨
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