Five of Cups – Tarot Card Meaning

The Five of Cups, or Chalices, appears when you have recently suffered some setbacks in life. You are feeling pessimistic about the future because of what has happened, so you are unable to see the opportunities that you still have. It is time for a mindset reset.

Upright Tarot Card Meanings – In Brief

In the upright position, the Five of Cups suggests that you are feeling a sense of regret or failure due to recent setbacks. You are dwelling on what has gone wrong, which is preventing you from seeing the opportunities that you still have. It is time to let go of the past and change your mindset so you can move forward.

Reversed Tarot Card Meanings – In Brief

In the reversed position, the Five of Cups suggests that you are blaming yourself for recent problems in your life, but you are ready to forgive yourself. But you are looking for permission to forgive yourself and move on. This card can appear to give you that position.

Five of Cups – Tarot Card Description

While the Five of Cups card appears differently in different decks, most pull on the symbology represented in the Rider Waite deck.

A man in a long black cloak looking downcast. He is staring at three cups that are overturned and spilled. There are two full and upright cups behind him that he does not seem to be able to see. The spilled cups represent lost or failed opportunities, while the upright cups represent new opportunities.

In the distance, there is a bridge over a wide, rushing river that leads to a castle. This represents a path to safety and success, but the man can’t see how to get there.

Number – 5

The number five represents adaptability and change. It suggests that challenges and changes in life should not be seen as setbacks, but rather as opportunities to learn, grow, and find new opportunities that you had not previously imagined.

Element – Water

The suit of Cups represents the water element in the Tarot and speaks to our emotions. It often calls on us to question how we are feeling and why. It reminds us that while our emotions can be difficult to manage, we have them for a reason. Listen to what they are telling you.

Five of Cups – Upright Tarot Card Meaning

When the Five of Cups appears in the upright position, it suggests that you have recently suffered some setbacks in life. Things haven’t worked out in the way you expected. But you are turning this into a bigger problem by focusing on the failure and what is lost, so you can’t see the possibilities and opportunities that you still have.

The Five of Cups can appear to remind you that there are things that are beyond your control, and you shouldn’t blame yourself for things that you can’t control. Instead, you should focus on what is within your control, which is your attitude, mindset, and what you do next.

There is nothing productive to be gained from dwelling on the past. Honestly evaluate what happened and what you could have done differently, take on the lessons learned, but then let go of the past and find ways to move forward.

What to do?

When the Five of Cups appears upright in the Tarot reading, it is a sign that you need to move past whatever regret or disappointment you are feeling over recent setbacks. This negative focus is preventing you from seeing what you can be doing now to better your life. In fact, failures happen for a reason, and you may soon find yourself on an even better path if you can let go of the past and make good decisions for the future.

Five of Cups – Reversed Tarot Card Meaning

When the Five of Cups appears reversed in a Tarot reading, it suggests that you are currently blaming yourself for something. While we all have to take responsibility for our actions, don’t shoulder burdens for things that are not your fault and you cannot change.

The Five of Cups in the reversed position can encourage you to move on from something. Remember, when you hold onto things from the past, you anchor yourself so that you can’t move forward. While you should take responsibility for your actions and learn, you don’t need to beat yourself up forever.

What to do?

If the Five of Cups appears in the reversed position in a Tarot reading, it can be a sign to give yourself permission to forgive yourself and move forward. Better than blaming yourself and making choices to make a better life for yourself and the people you care about.

5 of Cups in a Love Tarot Reading

In a love tarot reading, the Five of Cups symbolizes a period of mourning, loss, or regret related to one’s romantic life, indicating a focus on what has been lost rather than what remains or could be gained. It suggests that the querent may be dwelling on past heartaches, breakups, or missed opportunities, potentially hindering their ability to see potential for new love or the value in existing relationships.

This card encourages the individual to process their grief, learn from past experiences, and start to turn their attention to the cups that are still standing, representing the possibilities and love that still exist or await them.

5 of Cups in a Career Tarot Reading

In a career tarot reading, the Five of Cups signifies feelings of disappointment, regret, or focusing on professional losses, such as missed opportunities, job loss, or failed projects. It suggests the querent is dwelling on past career setbacks or dissatisfaction, which may be preventing them from recognizing potential opportunities for growth and advancement that are still available.

This card encourages a shift in perspective, urging the individual to acknowledge their disappointments while also moving forward by embracing the positive aspects of their career that remain or new paths that may open up.

5 of Cups in Relation to Other Tarot Cards

The Five of Cups’ interactions with other Tarot cards can offer a deeper understanding of the querent’s emotional journey and the potential for moving beyond current challenges. Here’s how the Five of Cups relates to a selection of specific cards, providing nuanced interpretations:

• The Star: When paired with the Five of Cups, the Star card signifies hope, healing, and renewal following a period of loss or disappointment. This combination suggests that after a time of mourning and reflection, the querent is on the path to emotional recovery, with a renewed sense of optimism and faith in the future. It encourages the individual to focus on healing and to remain hopeful, as brighter prospects are on the horizon.
• Strength: This card represents courage, inner strength, and resilience. Together with the Five of Cups, it emphasizes the need for emotional fortitude in the face of adversity. It suggests that through embracing one’s inner strength and confronting feelings of loss or regret, the querent can overcome their challenges and emerge stronger and more resilient.
• The Tower: The Tower symbolizes sudden upheaval, destruction, and the breakdown of existing structures. When it appears alongside the Five of Cups, it might indicate that the querent’s feelings of loss are due to a significant, unexpected change. This combination highlights the importance of finding solid ground after a tumultuous event, encouraging the querent to seek stability and to rebuild from the ashes of what was lost.
• Six of Swords: This card is about transition, moving away from turbulence towards a more peaceful state. Paired with the Five of Cups, it suggests that the querent is beginning to move past their grief or disappointment, heading towards a period of healing and recovery. It signifies progress and the necessary journey of moving from a difficult phase into a calmer, more stable situation.
• Three of Wands: Representing foresight, expansion, and looking ahead to the future, the Three of Wands with the Five of Cups indicates that it’s time for the querent to start focusing forward. This pairing encourages planning for the future, leveraging the lessons learned from past disappointments to make better choices and to embrace new opportunities with optimism.

The relationship between the Five of Cups and other Tarot cards helps to paint a fuller picture of the querent’s emotional landscape and the potential for growth and healing. By considering these interactions, a reader can offer insights that motivate the querent to navigate their feelings of loss or regret while encouraging them to remain open to the possibilities that lie ahead.

Five of Cups Tarot Reading

When the Five of Cups appears in a Tarot reading, it probably means that you have recently suffered from setbacks or failures, and you are suffering from feelings of regret, failure, and disappointment. The card reminds you that while you should take responsibility for your actions, beating yourself up and dwelling on spilled milk will act like an anchor that keeps you in place.

It is time to let go of your negative attitude and start thinking about what positive steps you can take to move forward and build a better life.