Six of Cups
The Six of Cups symbolizes nostalgia and a longing for childhood innocence, often romanticizing memories that have become silhouetted and distant. Its imagery warns against the temptation to escape into memory and reminds us that while the past is a pleasant place to visit, we must return to and live in the present. Reversed, the card indicates clinging to the past—obsessive remembering or selective re-writing of personal history—that can keep one stuck and impede maturation. It encourages healthy reflection, letting go of unrealistic expectations, and nurturing present relationships.
Keywords
Card Name
Six of Cups
Poem
Poem: There's a special joy we hold for memories of the past. And an even greater sorrow when we find it cannot last.
Meaning
Meaning: The Six of Cups represents nostalgia and a longing for childhood innocence. The image depicts a pod of dolphins leaping into the sunset. Silhouetted, yet fading into the background, much the same way our memories, blurry and distant, are easily romanticized. In this way, the Six of Cups warns against the temptation of escaping into memory. While the past is a nice place to visit, we live, and must return, to the present.
Reversed Meaning
In its reversed position, the Six of Cups indicates you are clinging to your past, obsessively memorizing or selectively re-writing your personal history.
Upright Keywords
Upright keywords: reunion, childhood, nostalgia, generosity, happiness, dealing with children, mentorship, childish pleasures, nurturing, sparing someone's feelings
Reversed Keywords
Reversed keywords: naiveté, escapism, being stuck in the past, unrealistic expectations, over-simplification, maturing, childhood trauma
Visual Description
Three dark dolphin silhouettes arc across a rosy sunset sky above a seascape of stylized waves. Six goblets stand in a row along the lower foreground, with one cup raised slightly higher on a pedestal at the center. Swirling water and curling spray frame the scene, and a glowing sun sits low on the horizon. A small decorative banner at the top shows the Roman numeral VI.
Children of Litha tarot
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