The 6 of Cups tarot card represents nostalgia, childhood memories, innocence, and living in the moment. This emotionally fulfilling card often appears when we need comfort from our past. It brings back the carefree joy of childhood to help deal with current challenges. The 6 of Cups meaning also relates to soulmate connections and successful reconciliations.
In this article, we’ll explore the 6 of Cups meaning in an upright and reversed position. You’ll learn how this card influences your love life, career, finances, health, spirituality and answers yes or no questions. We’ll also explain the 6 of Cups connections to numerology, the astrological sign Pisces and zodiac houses. Finally, we’ll look at common tarot card combinations involving the 6 of Cups.
6 of Cups Key Facts
| Upright Meaning | Reversed Meaning | Yes/No Interpretation | Numerology | Element | Planet | Zodiac Sign |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nostalgia, innocence, childhood memories, inner child healing, soulmate connections | Clinging to the past, emotional immaturity, avoidance | Yes | 6 | Water | Venus | Pisces
6 of Cups Tarot Card Description
The Rider-Waite Smith 6 of Cups illustration features a young boy and girl dressed in flowing capes and gowns from medieval times. The children appear to be siblings or childhood friends who share a close emotional bond. Behind the children flows a river with six golden goblets. The cups signify happy memories from the past. Orange lilies in the foreground represent purity, passion and deep spirituality.
This gentle card evokes pleasant childhood memories and past relationships. The 6 of Cups meaning embraces nostalgia and reminds us to simplify life to regain childlike joy and innocence. When this card appears in a reading, you’re being encouraged to reconnect with people or passions from your youth.
The Upright 6 of Cups Tarot Card Meaning
Love Relationships
The upright 6 of Cups meaning is strongly associated with soulmate connections and reconciliations in romantic relationships. This card often appears when you meet someone you share a strong spiritual or emotional bond with.
The 6 of Cups can indicate a karmic relationship that extends beyond one lifetime together. You and your partner may feel like you’ve known each other forever. This card reminds you that true love should have friendship, caring, comfort and safety at its core.
If you’re single when the 6 of Cups appears, you may meet someone who reminds you of your first love or crush. They’ll evoke pleasant memories of when love seemed sweet, simple and innocent. Past-life connections are also possible when this card appears in a love reading.
In an existing relationship, the 6 of Cups can signal a rekindling of romance and affection. Married couples can use this card to reignite the spark of new love they felt early in their relationship. Planning dates that remind you of when you first met can help strengthen your bond.
Career
In career Tarot readings, the upright 6 of Cups meaning indicates work involving children, history, nostalgia, family or close-knit groups. You may find success and emotional fulfillment through these themes. Teaching and counseling roles often correspond with this Minor Arcana card.
The 6 of Cups can also represent taking a temporary break from your career to relax and reminisce about joyful memories from the past. Make time for play and inner child healing to recharge your creativity and imagination. Nostalgic hobbies like collecting antiques or vintage fashion can also provide inspiration.
Finances
Financially, the 6 of Cups signifies gifts, surprises and unexpected windfalls from others. You may receive an inheritance, bonus or other monetary reward from long-ago investments. Someone from your past could repay an old debt or loan as well.
This card also signals financial aid coming your way, possibly from family members or government programs. Be strategic and save this money for the future rather than spending it frivolously in the moment. Past wise financial decisions will pay off now.
Health
In health and wellbeing readings, the upright 6 of Cups represents healing childhood wounds and tapping into your inner child’s carefree attitude. Make time for play, creativity and hobbies you enjoyed as a kid. Laughter, leisure and nostalgia are wonderful medicines.
You may also benefit now from alternative medicines and holistic therapies that access your inner child’s pure energy. Acupuncture, Bach flower essences, aromatherapy, crystal healing and energy work align with the 6 of Cups. Find natural ways to heal pain rooted in childhood traumas or family issues.
Spirituality
The presence of the 6 of Cups in spiritual Tarot spreads indicates a return to innocence in your relationship with the divine. Embrace activities that evoke wonder, awe, imagination and presence. Allow your inner child to guide you.
This card also signals a past life connection. Someone from a past life may enter your world now to teach an important spiritual lesson. Pay attention to déjà vu moments and synchronistic meetings when the 6 of Cups appears.
The Reversed 6 of Cups Tarot Card Meaning
Love Relationships
When the 6 of Cups appears reversed in love readings, it cautions against being stuck in the past. You may pine for an ex-partner or idealize childhood connections. Fantasizing about the “good old days” with soulmates prevents you from living in the present.
You may also give romantic partners too much power to “complete you” or heal your childhood wounds. True healing must come from within. Similarly, partners may project unrealistic expectations onto you based on their fantasies.
The reversed 6 of Cups advises releasing nostalgic illusions so you can build healthy, independent relationships today. Judge partners for who they are now, not who you want them to be.
Career
In career matters, the reversed 6 of Cups signals that clinging to past ways of working is holding you back. Colleagues may see you as immature and unwilling to adapt to new processes or technology. While change is hard, sticking rigidly to tradition will limit opportunities for growth.
You may also feel frustrated that a current job doesn’t measure up to the nostalgic ideal you hold from childhood dreams. Fantasizing prevents you from making realistic plans and goals. Balance nostalgia with practical steps grounded in today’s realities.
Finances
Financially, the reversed 6 of Cups cautions against excessive spending on comfort pleasures from childhood like toys, candy, collectables or other nostalgic items. Be careful not to waste money reminiscing about the past. Similarly, don’t lend money to unreliable people from your past without safeguards.
You may also avoid budgeting and long-term financial planning. This card reminds you to handle adult money responsibilities. Make mature, thoughtful financial decisions instead of acting impulsively like a child.
Health
For health, the reversed 6 of Cups warns against self-medicating with food, alcohol or drugs to avoid painful memories from childhood. Escapism provides temporary relief but won’t resolve core issues.
You may also neglect your inner child’s needs for play, creativity and lightheartedness. All work and no play leads to burnout. Take time to heal old emotional wounds through counseling, energy therapies and positive childhood Regression hypnosis.
Spirituality
In spiritual contexts, the reversed 6 of Cups indicates spiritual immaturity and lack of wisdom. You may cling to simplistic childhood beliefs instead of maturing into more nuanced faith. Or you view divinity solely through the lens of early religious conditioning without examining other spiritual perspectives.
This card reminds you that a childlike sense of awe toward life’s mysteries can coexist with reasoned, adult spiritual wisdom. Seek teachings that nurture both.
6 of Cups Tarot Card in Yes or No Questions
The 6 of Cups indicates a yes when it appears in a Yes/No Tarot reading. Its energies are extremely positive, uplifting and optimistic. Expect good news regarding relationships, soulmates, financial gifts, healing and spiritual connections when this card appears. The Yes meaning is reinforced when the 6 of Cups appears in an upright position and weakened when it is reversed.
6 of Cups Tarot Card and Numerology
In numerology, the number 6 represents harmony, balance, nurturing and responsibility. The suit of Cups relates to the emotions, relationships and imagination. Combining these numbers, we get a meaning of harmony, compassion and service in relationships. There is a nurturing quality present.
The number 6 vibes well with the 6 of Cups imagery of innocent children sharing an emotional bond. It brings sweetness, sharing and compromise to relationships. Yet 6 sometimes carries burdens by putting others’ needs first. Find balance through inner child healing.
6 is the number of the caregiver – teacher, counselor, volunteer. It provides emotional support to others. This fits the 6 of Cups themes involving children, family ties, and counseling/teaching careers.
Master number 33 reduces to 6 (3+3=6). This master number amplifies the 6’s loving, compassionate energy. It links to the soulmate connections and spiritual wisdom in the 6 of Cups meaning.
6 of Cups Tarot Card and Astrology
In the Tarot, the suit of Cups corresponds with the water signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. The 6 of Cups card most closely aligns with Pisces energy.
Pisces is represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions. This symbolizes the constant conflict between fantasy and reality experienced by this dreamy, mystical sign. The 6 of Cups meaning embraces this dichotomy, reminding us to balance nostalgia with mature presence.
Pisces rules spirituality, imagination, arts, sacrifice and service – all 6 of Cups themes. Pisces intuition provides insights into past lives and soulmates represented by this card.
The planet Neptune also rules Pisces. Neptune governs illusion, mysticism and escapism – warnin signs when the 6 of Cups reverses. Yet Neptune helps us access divine compassion and transcend ordinary reality when the card is upright.
In astrological houses, the 6th Cups corresponds with the 4th house of home, family, ancestry and childhood. This fits the card’s emphasis on early memories, family ties, nostalgia and inner child healing.
6 of Cups Tarot Card Combinations
The Lovers + 6 of Cups – Soulmate union, romantic friendship, playful flirtation, childhood sweethearts, perfect match. A balanced, harmonious partnership based on true love.
The Empress + 6 of Cups – Loving mother figure, maternal instinct, nurturing children, pregnancy, starting a family, parenting with patience and compassion.
Death + 6 of Cups – Letting go of the past, bittersweet nostalgia, moving on from childhood traumas, closure.
6 of Cups + 10 of Cups – Happy family, close siblings, joyful home life, playful children. Domestic bliss, peace and harmony.
6 of Cups + 5 of Cups – Lingering pain from childhood, grief over lost innocence, unfinished business from the past. Forgetting past sorrows.
6 of Cups Tarot Card Designs
The Rider-Waite Smith 6 of Cups depicts a nostalgic scene from medieval times, with two children dressed in capes exchanging cups. Modern tarot decks portray the 6 of Cups meaning through:
- Young children playing together
- People reminiscing while looking at photo albums or childhood mementos
- Childhood versions of the cards’ characters
- Nostalgic scenes like old-fashioned weddings, first dates or family holidays
- Symbolic objects like teddy bears, balloons, toys, candy or ice cream cones
- Fantasy elements like unicorns, fairies, dolls, pixies, castles and rainbows
FAQs
What does the 6 of Cups mean in a love reading?
The 6 of Cups represents soulmate connections, karmic bonds, renewing romance in relationships and meeting someone who reminds you of childhood loves or crushes.
What does the 6 of Cups mean in a breakup reading?
The upright 6 of Cups can indicate reconciling with an ex-partner and rekindling affection. Reversed, it cautions against idealizing the past and fantasizing about former relationships.
What zodiac sign is the 6 of Cups?
The 6 of Cups relates to the zodiac sign Pisces. Both are dreamy, nostalgic and imaginative. Pisces intuition enhances the 6 of Cups’ insights into past lives, spiritual connections and inner child healing.
What does the 6 of Cups mean in future position?
In the future position, the 6 of Cups predicts pleasant surprises, gifts or rewards from past efforts paying off. It also signals meeting someone who awakens spiritual memories, past-life bonds or childhood comforts.
Is the 6 of Cups a Yes or No card?
The 6 of Cups means Yes in Tarot readings where it appears as a direct answer to a Yes/No question. Its energies are extremely positive for matters related to relationships, finances, spirituality and inner child healing.
Key Takeaways
- The 6 of Cups represents nostalgia, innocence, inner child healing and soulmate connections. It reminds us to find comfort in childhood memories.
- In love readings, this card indicates soulmates, past life bonds, reconciliations and rekindled romance.
- For career and finances, it signifies succeeding through pursuits related to children, history and family as well as unexpected monetary gains.
- The 6 of Cups encourages holistic healing therapies and reconnecting with your inner child’s creativity and wonder.
- Reversed, the card cautions against being stuck in the past or unrealistic fantasies. Release nostalgia to live fully now.
Conclusion
The reflective 6 of Cups tarot card provides gentle guidance when life feels challenging. It reminds us to draw strength from joyful memories and heal emotional wounds through reclaiming childlike innocence. By releasing unrealistic nostalgia and integrating the gifts from past and present, we can receive the 6 of Cups’ blessings in relationships, self-care and finances for a fulfilling future.
