Hello! Welcome back to our exploration of the Suit of Cups.
In our last lesson, we began the emotional story of this suit. We saw the initial spark of feeling in the Ace, the connection of the Two, the community of the Three, and the contemplation of the Four. The story took a turn with the Five of Cups, introducing the first experience of loss and grief. We left our protagonist dwelling on three spilled cups, a poignant image of disappointment.
Today, we will continue that story. We will see how we move through grief, explore new possibilities, and work toward ultimate emotional fulfillment. Your goal for this lesson is to learn and be able to interpret the upright meanings of the Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten of Cups. This will complete our journey through the numbered cards of this suit.
An Overview of the Journey's End
Let's begin with a video that walks through the narrative of these next five cards. This will give you a good overview of the emotional arc we're about to study, from healing and memory to ultimate joy.
Online Tarot Course: Class 3 - The Suit of Cups
In this segment from his 'Online Tarot Course', Joe Monteleone explains the meanings of the Six through Ten of Cups by analyzing their imagery. This will provide a great visual and narrative foundation for the rest of the lesson.
Please watch from 00:13:13 to 00:21:03. The video will cover all five cards in sequence: the Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten of Cups. Pay attention to how the story flows from one card to the next.
Now that you have a sense of the path ahead, let's dive deeper into each card's meaning and place in the story.
Six of Cups: Healing Through Nostalgia
After the raw grief of the Five of Cups, the Six offers a gentle step toward healing. This card takes us back to the past, but not to dwell on loss. Instead, it invites us to remember the sweetness, innocence, and simple joys of childhood or happier times. It's a card of nostalgia, kindness, and reconnecting with our inner child.
The article 'The Suit of Cups' from This Might Hurt Tarot offers a modern and insightful take on the cards. Let's read the section on the Six of Cups to understand its connection to memory and joy.
Please read the section titled 'Six of Cups: The Childhood Nostalgia Card'. Focus on how the card encourages you to connect with past joys as a form of healing.
As the reading explains, the Six of Cups is often about looking back fondly. It can signify reuniting with old friends, visiting a childhood home, or simply engaging in activities that brought you pure, uncomplicated happiness.
- Keywords: Nostalgia, happy memories, childhood, innocence, kindness, gifts.
- In a Reading: This card suggests that healing from a recent disappointment (the Five of Cups) may come from reconnecting with a simpler, more innocent part of yourself. It asks: What past joys can you bring into your present to nurture your heart? It can also literally point to people or events from your past re-entering your life.
Seven of Cups: The Fantasy of Options
Having found some comfort in the past, the Seven of Cups turns our attention to the future. But this is not a future of clear plans; it's a future of daydreams, fantasies, and myriad possibilities. The card shows a figure confronted by seven cups, each holding a different enticing or mysterious prize. It's a card about choices, but also about the potential for illusion and indecision.
Let's continue with the 'This Might Hurt Tarot' article to explore the Seven of Cups.
Please read the section 'Seven of Cups: Frozen By The Fantasy of Options'. Notice the warning this card contains about getting stuck in daydreams instead of taking action.
The key message of the Seven of Cups is the double-edged nature of imagination. It's wonderful to dream of what's possible, but there's a danger of becoming so overwhelmed by options, or so in love with the fantasy, that you never make a real choice.
- Keywords: Choices, options, fantasy, daydreaming, illusion, indecision.
- In a Reading: This card signals you're in a phase of considering multiple paths. It's a call to clarify what you truly want versus what is merely a tempting illusion. Are your options real and attainable, or are you getting lost in a "what if" scenario? The card prompts you to move from passive dreaming to active choosing.
Eight of Cups: The Courage to Walk Away
The Eight of Cups is the direct answer to the dilemma of the Seven. It represents the moment of decision and action. After contemplating all the options, the figure in this card makes a difficult choice: to walk away from a situation that, while seemingly stable, is emotionally unfulfilling. They leave eight cups behind to embark on a journey toward something more meaningful, even though the path ahead is unknown.
The 'This Might Hurt Tarot' article provides a powerful interpretation of this card of emotional transition.
Please read the section 'Eight of Cups: The “I’m Leaving My Cups Behind Me!” Card'. Focus on the idea that this is about abandoning something that is no longer working for your emotional well-being.
This is a profoundly important card for personal growth. It represents the courage to admit that something you've invested in—a relationship, a job, a belief—is no longer right for you. It's about choosing your own emotional and spiritual integrity over a situation that drains you.
- Keywords: Walking away, moving on, disillusionment, seeking more, emotional journey.
- In a Reading: This card signifies a time of transition. It suggests you know, deep down, that it's time to leave a situation behind. It’s not necessarily an easy or happy choice, but it is a necessary one for your long-term fulfillment. It asks: What do you need to walk away from in order to find what is missing?
Test your understanding!
Imagine you're asking your tarot cards for guidance about your career. How would the advice of the Seven of Cups differ from the advice of the Eight of Cups?
Show answer
The Seven of Cups would suggest you are in a brainstorming or exploration phase. You might be dreaming of many different career paths (starting a business, changing fields, going back to school). The advice would be to clarify these options, do your research, and figure out which ones are viable and truly align with your desires, rather than just getting lost in the fantasy of it all.
The Eight of Cups, on the other hand, is much more definitive. It would indicate that you've already realized your current job is emotionally unfulfilling. The card's advice wouldn't be to dream about options, but to have the courage to actually leave—to resign, start a job search, or otherwise actively move on from a situation that you know is no longer serving you, even if the next step isn't fully clear yet.
Nine of Cups: Personal Happiness & Gratitude
After the difficult journey of the Eight of Cups, we arrive at the Nine. This card is often called "The Wish Card" or the "Lord of Happiness." It shows a very content, satisfied figure sitting with nine cups proudly displayed behind them. This card represents a deep, personal sense of happiness, contentment, and gratitude. It's the feeling of having your emotional needs met and your wishes fulfilled.
Let's read about this very positive card in the 'This Might Hurt Tarot' article. Note the distinction it makes between the happiness of the Nine and the happiness of the Ten.
Please read 'Nine of Cups: The Happiness Card'. Pay attention to the idea of this being an 'internal happiness' that you create for yourself.
The happiness of the Nine of Cups is self-made and deeply personal. It's not dependent on anyone else. It's the joy that comes from self-love, from achieving personal goals, and from appreciating the blessings in your life.
- Keywords: Wishes fulfilled, satisfaction, contentment, gratitude, personal joy, feeling blessed.
- In a Reading: This is one of the most positive cards in the deck. It signals a period of profound happiness and fulfillment is upon you. It's a reminder to practice gratitude and to savor the moment. Your hard emotional work has paid off, and it's time to simply enjoy the rewards.
Ten of Cups: The Culmination of Joy
If the Nine of Cups is personal, internal happiness, the Ten of Cups is that happiness overflowing and shared with others. It is the ultimate "happily ever after" card in the tarot. It depicts a loving family celebrating under a rainbow of ten cups, representing emotional fulfillment, harmony, and blessed community.
Finally, let's read the 'This Might Hurt Tarot' description for the finale of our story.
Please read 'Ten of Cups: The Happy Family Rainbow Card'. Note the broad definition of 'family'—it can be biological, chosen, or adopted.
The Ten of Cups represents the pinnacle of emotional well-being. It’s the joy of the Nine expanded to include deep, harmonious connections with others. It's the peace and security that comes from being surrounded by love and belonging to a supportive community.
- Keywords: Lasting happiness, family, harmony, community, fulfillment, love, "happy ever after".
- In a Reading: This card points to a state of deep, lasting joy, particularly in your home and relationships. It can signify happy family life, strong friendships, and a sense of belonging. It's the emotional jackpot, the feeling that you are exactly where you are meant to be, surrounded by the people you love.
Conclusion
You have now completed the story of the numbered cards in the Suit of Cups! We have traveled from the first tentative offering of emotion in the Ace to the ultimate, shared joy of the Ten.
Key Takeaways:
- Six of Cups: Healing through reconnecting with past joy and innocence.
- Seven of Cups: Being faced with many options, fantasies, and the need to make a choice.
- Eight of Cups: Having the courage to walk away from what is no longer emotionally fulfilling.
- Nine of Cups: Achieving deep personal satisfaction and contentment; the "wish card."
- Ten of Cups: The culmination of shared joy, family harmony, and lasting happiness.
This journey from Six to Ten shows a progression from healing (6), to choosing (7), to acting (8), to personal fulfillment (9), and finally to shared fulfillment (10).
In our next lesson, we will shift elements again, moving from the emotional realm of Water to the intellectual realm of Air. We will begin our study of the Suit of Swords, which explores the landscape of our thoughts, challenges, conflicts, and truths.