Tarot Cups (Minor Arcana)

Tarot cups are one of the four suits in the Minor Arcana in a tarot deck- these suits are Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. Each has a unique symbolism and association that helps the reader understand what the cards are saying. Whether you are learning to read tarot or simply want more insight into the cards that were pulled during your personal reading this is the place to start learning what the Cups have to say.

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards. Read more about them here.

The Seven Of Cups Tarot Card From The Rider Wait Tarot Deck.

Tarot Cups are associated with water and the water signs of the zodiac (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces). Many tarot beginners think “well sure, this makes sense because cups hold water!” But that really isn't what the symbolism means. I consider the original Rider-Waite deck to have some of the best symbolism.

Water is the sign associated with emotions, thoughts, and feelings. It’s the symbol of what’s going on internally with a person; the dialogue you have with yourself, the feelings you experience, and the way you interpret other people’s actions.

All of these things make up our psyche, which is the way we view the world and our beliefs about how the world works. It’s such a sensitive, integral part of our humanness that we can lose sight of how our psyche is driving our actions. We don't see where our feelings really stem from. In some cases we're afraid to confront our bad, hurtful, or shameful thoughts.

This great mystery of the psyche and how it affects us and our actions is why psychology (the study of how the mind works) is such an interesting and complex field of study. Two people can experience the same event at the same time and they will remember, and interpret, it differently. Scientists are always trying to figure out what makes people tick.

With tarot you have the ability to gain a little more insight into that mystery if you're willing to listen to the cards.

Insight into the psyche is what makes Tarot Cups such a useful tool. This suit helps us step outside of our normal thought process and view things from a new perspective. These new perspectives can be very helpful in getting us over a hump or out of a rut in our emotional lives.

Often you'll find tarot readers talking about how the Cups relate to matters of the heart, love, and relationships and then focus solely on that interpretation. It’s important to remember the vast range of feelings a person has and allow the cards to speak freely to all those emotions. Tarot Cups do not just focus on love (or lack of love). While the cards are extremely useful for reframing life and gaining deeper insight into ourselves and our situations, we must remember to be open to all they are saying.

Tarot Cups Basics

There are ten number cards and four face cards (also called the “Royal Arcana”) in the Suit of Cups. The suits always start with an Ace and end with a King, which feels familiar to a regular deck of playing cards.

The Ace is the first card of the suit and nearly always represents a new beginning. Generally, aces are optimistic outlooks.

Next come the number cards 2-10. Each of these has specific meanings such as particular trials or successes. The suit of Cups cards are laid out to progress from 2 to 10 in order to show a journey. As the cards move closer to 10 the journey becomes more arduous, has setbacks, and requires more fortitude from the querent (the person receiving the reading). By the time 10 comes up the journey has ended or is coming to an end very shortly.

The Ten Of Cups Tarot Card From The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck.

Finally, the Royal Arcana ends the suit and consists of a page, a knight, a queen, and a king. Each of these cards points more to a person and their personality, or how they handle a situation, than the actual situation itself. They are extremely helpful for realizing how others see you. They also alert you to the people you should be looking for in your life for guidance or whom to avoid.

All the cards work together with a common goal of sharing the most information possible with you. Understanding each card’s role within the context of the suit, within the context of the deck, and as a solo card are necessary for a useful and enlightening reading.

Tarot Cups Key Meanings

Ace of Cups- The Ace of Cups alerts us to new beginnings and an extremely optimistic and hopeful outlook for love, relationships, and even fertility. This card is a positive card in any context but if it comes up in a reading about a relationship it bodes extremely well.

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Tarot Cups (Minor Arcana)

Tarot Cups Basics

Tarot Cups Key Meanings

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