ELEMENT
Water
CUPS POWERWORDS
Emotions, Love, Relationship
SIX OF CUPS POWERWORDS
Innocence, Play, Friendship
QUICK MEANING
The Six of Cups is a card of joy, happiness and innocence. It is a happy time for you now with friends and family. Enjoy the moment.
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Traditionally this card means happy news about children. It also can mean friendships from the past and reunions. It also indicates childlike wonder.
CARD DESCRIPTION
Two children play in a courtyard surrounded by cups overflowing with greenery and white flowers. The older child is handing the younger a cup and behind him another cup stands on a pedestal. In the background stands a house/manor/castle. To the left of the card a soldier/guard walks away into the distance. The card is happy and colorful.
SYMBOLS
Two Children
The children face each other and they are happy. The older child hands the younger child a cup in a sign of friendship and affection. These children represent love, friendship and fun.
Six Cups
There are six cups and each of them contain white flowers and greenery. These cups represent growth, potential and gifts of love.
White Flowers
The white flowers have five petals. The white color represents purity and innocence. The five petals reminds us of the pentagram – the image of universal balance of the four elements and spirit. A mystical symbol that reminds us that in connection and love we can find the Divine.
Greenery
The Greenery represents abundance which this card makes us feel.
The Pedestal
A sign of structure and elevation. There is honor in maintaining friendships, giving love and being loyal. On the pedestal is an x. Literally ‘x marks the spot’ and a guide towards being in the moment.
The Castle
The castle can represent home, emotional security and positive goals. Right now the figure is far from there but with choice he can make his way back.
Courtyard
The children stand in a courtyard. A safe place – a holding space.
Soldier / Guard on Path
An adult walks away from the scene suggesting that the children are safe enough to be on their own. The figure could also represent letting go of the ‘adult’ side for a while and enjoying the play and innocence of being in the moment. There are three figures in this card – the guard and the two children. Which one is represented in the reading? The surrounding cards and your intuition will guide you.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU EXPLORE THIS CARD MORE
Your Inner Child
I think this card is a perfect example of exploring your Inner Child. Our Inner Child is our childlike aspect inside of us. Most work on the Inner Child looks at the pain and the trauma but I tend to look at the positive and potential also. By meeting and liberating our Inner Child so much love and six of cups energy is available to us.
If we have a healthy happy childhood then this card often pops up. If we have a lot of trauma from our childhood I often see this card reversed. Either way, it is a great card to launch you into self exploration. One of my favorite Tarot decks to explore this aspect of ourselves is the Inner Child Cards and I highly recommend them. If you want to learn more about the Inner Child check out this famous Book . When we liberate our Inner Child, much happiness and joy awaits us.
So lets explore your Inner Child today. Here is a spread I use when the question of childhood comes into a reading or a woman wants to get in touch with her Inner Child.
Pull out the Six of Cups card and put it in a prominent place so you can see it when you do this exercise.
Ask the following question while shuffling the cards and pull out three cards: What does my Inner Child want from me?.
Write the answer in your journal.
Next put the three cards back in the deck and shuffle again asking the next question, What does my Inner Child want to heal right now? and pull three cards.
Finally after returning these three cards to the deck, shuffle and ask the final question, In the next month, in what way can I play?
So if you get the Six of Cups card, perhaps ask some more questions around your Inner Child…
Do you connect with your Inner Child?
Is your Inner Child frightened?
Is your Inner Child wounded?
What did you love to play/do as a child? Can you do that again?
Other questions to ask about this card…
What friendships make your heart warm? Are you keeping up the connection?
Can you give unconditionally?
Do you feel more fulfilled with friends or when alone?
Can you let loose and play?
Can you do a creative activity simply for the act and not for the result?
GOLDEN DAWN / QABALA
The Hermetic title for this card is ‘Lord of Pleasure’.
On the Tree of Life, the Number Six cards sit on the balanced Sphiroth Tiferet which represents harmony. After the energy from the Divine enters Kether at the top of the Tree of Life, it next flows to Chokhmah. Chokhmah is the place of wisdom. The energy then flows onto Binah which is the energy of understanding. Then the energy leaves this upper triangle of energy (called the Supernal) and flows down to Chesed, the energy of Mercy. Then the energy flows to Gevurah which is a difficult Sphiroth representing severity and possibly suffering. Then the energy flows to Tiferet which is at the center of the Tree of Life. It represents balance and harmony.
ASTROLOGICAL
Ruled by the Sun in Scorpio
SIX OF CUPS REVERSED
When this card is reversed the energy is blocked. You cannot access your innocence or inner child. You are too serious, perhaps even in your friendships. This card is a reminder to lighten up!
Two important questions to consider with a reversed Six of Cups:
Why are you so serious?
When is the last time you laughed or let someone tickle you?