Exploring the Six of Cups

Forum Library > Using Tarot Cards Threads By Month > Exploring the Six of Cups

sagitarian	11 Feb 2003
This card makes NO sense to me. Especially the children in it, that has really thrown me off! Any helpful insight would be really appreciated. (fyi, I have the universal waite deck)

blackmon487	11 Feb 2003
This is a card of simple goodness, it encourages us to be kind, generous, and forgiving. This card may predict children in your future or refer to children you already know, or concerned about. This card also focuses on the past, an event has revived memories or triggered issues from the past. This is the card labeled "Nostalgia" which means thinking about our childhood past along with the people who influenced it. A longing to turn back the hands of time. Times which have passed by and vanished. When the cards on either side portray figures who are gesturesing toward the six of cup, walking, riding toward it, or holding a lamp toward it, the "Tarot" may be indicating the answer to your question lies in the past, or someone is returning from the past. In romance, both partners or in sync with each other's feelings and support each other's dreams. Reverse, may tell of a desire to return to an old relationship, or an appearance of an old friend of old love may return. I thought you may enjoy the information above, it is from the page of James Rioux, ATA-CPTR. http://www.ata-tarot.com/resource/cards/index.html ENJOY!!!

Aoife	11 Feb 2003
I think it can also refer to our inner child - the 'sorting' of those aspects of our inner child which we are happy to integrate into our conscious self, particularly in our interactions with others, and those we would prefer to keep hidden.

blackmon487	11 Feb 2003
I agree, I think the inner child is one aspect of this card we seem to overlook.

Trogon	12 Feb 2003
I would like to add that, to me, an aspect of this card is a certain innocence, or even naiveté. It brings to mind one's first love as a youngster, "puppy love" if you will. It also makes me think of a child-like way of looking at things... not just naiveté, but a sense of wonder and exploration as well. On the other hand it also brings to mind a longing for that sort of innocence... the innocence of your childhood when times were simpler, your biggest responsibility was doing your homework or a few chores and everything was new and fun. On the negative side, it brings to mind the person who lives too much in the past. Their feelings of nostalgia keep them from enjoying the here and now. Hope this has been of some help...

Umbrae	12 Feb 2003
Wonderful card! Inner child sure…perhaps even an Ashenputen romance… In my opinion this card is about the dangers of attempting to outdistance memory, and not making peace with it. Folks spend years attempting to bury their own past. Plays mayhem with the inner child… Yes, this card is about your past...

sagitarian	12 Feb 2003
I really appreciate all that have posted their interepretations! I look forward to hearing others opinions and ideas on this card. I can definitely see where it would reflect childhood memories, or current children.

Diana	12 Feb 2003
In illustrated minor decks, the 6 of Cups has always been my favourite. In the Marseilles decks, I like it too! You find three cups on the left and three on the right (vertically) and they are separated by a beautiful stem with three flowers - the one in the middle is shaped like a cross. But the stem definitely separates the two pairs of threes and they do not meet, as if they are ignoring each other. So one needs to work on reconciliation so as not to squander the potential that the cups hold. Dialogue is needed, a hand of friendship should be held out, a realisation that differences can be complimentary and need not be enemies. I realise this has little to do with the children that are being discussed in the above posts. Although children are often battling between a desire to be independent and a desire to remain little - they need to learn to reconcile these two aspects of themselves. And after all, aren't we all children at heart?

HOLMES	12 Feb 2003
one aspect not yet dealt with is the choice to recieve the cup or say no,, you can not diddly dally with as the man or woman will move on to the next card leave you behind. using other numbers,, 15 16 17 to connect with the number 6. one can see that the hidden levels of the devil, tower, and star here. the hidden levle of the devil suggest like they have said nostraglia is holding you back , and it is up to you to move forward and receive the cup from someone new . the tower says is this choice you made based on a good foundation ? or is it destined to fail? and at this point does it matter when it concerns the matters of the heart? and finally the star suggest that we in the darkest hour will have the stars to guides us. and here that star is the giving and recieving of love. for myself i am a nostraglic type so i like to think that the love i gave another has never died and perhaps some day will come back to me. it has in a way , old time loves come back to talk to me,, to hug for a short time before they moved on to their lives. i let them go back to their lives as i didn't choose to recieve the cups as they have their own lives now. hmm in retrospects perhaps the devil simply means fear of the choice ? yup lots of stuff in the six of cups.

Woof	12 Feb 2003
I like this card in the Alchemical Tarot. In that deck cups are vessels and the image on the card is of a woman using one vessel to fill five others. From one of the vessels a flower grows. To me the woman looks tired and a little worn. The book that comes with the deck, which is written my Rosemary Ellen Guiley, states that love means to nurture and true love to give what is needed. There is an implication to be wary of smothering and that true love requires the ability to distinguish what someone needs. I also read into it a warning not to neglect oneself when nurturing others, and a reminder that the nurturer deserves nurturing as well. Kind of a different emphasis than most RW interpretation but one I have found valuable. Woof

sagitarian	12 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by HOLMES one aspect not yet dealt with is the choice to recieve the cup or say no,, you can not diddly dally with as the man or woman will move on to the next card leave you behind. hmm in retrospects perhaps the devil simply means fear of the choice ? WOW, never even considered this before, how could I miss that. Wonder if that's why later in life (4 of cups) he is reluctant to accept the help, that maybe in some way, accepting the cup as a child brought forth negative karma, and now isn't sure what to do with this gift being given a second time around? Perhaps the devil does have some part to play in this...VERY INTERESTING!

Francesca	13 Feb 2003
I find that sixes have some hidden agenda. WHy is he giving the girl the flowers? It is a sweet gesture, but the motives behind it should be questioned. On the surface, the card depicts sweetness, innocence, happy memories, etc, but is it all so much sugar-coating? THe question of the sixes is; What's really going on here?

Moongold	13 Feb 2003
I'm looking at the Morgan Greer version which is floridly pretty but with a certain old fashioned picture book style about it. Young boy offers pretty girl a cup with a white flower in it. Other cups to front of card, all with flowers. Very 1970's. Its a happy card, full of gentleness and promise after the sadness of 5 cups. I've read somewhere that the sixes are supposed to be about harmony and this one certainly is. CUPs is the gentlest of all the Tarot suites and this card is a beauty. Let's enjoy what gentleness and fun we have before we become puzzled by choice and abundance (7) Cups and wanting to disappear (8 Cups) or have some other less than favouraable *8* event occur. Moongold

SummerRaine	13 Feb 2003
I recently did a reading for a woman who needed to know the best path to take in regard to her relationship future. It seems that she had some sort of decision to make, and was unsure what to do. I did a one card reading for her and drew the Six of Cups. I interpreted this card to mean that perhaps she was torn between some old love or committments from her past which still held great meaning for her, and her new loyalties. The Six of Cups card advised her to bear in mind old relationships, allegiances, or feelings that may actually have bearing on her current relationship and the decision she needed to make. Perhaps a childhood love was still uppermost in her mind. Or parhaps a geographical location was beckoning her to return. The Six of Cups card reminds us to never forget where we have come from, and to carry our past loves, relationships, hopes, and dreams with us, for they are part of the fabric of who we are. Nostalgia, fond memories, old loves and friendships, the simplicity of times past, are all part of the meaning of this card. My intuition told me that she was perhaps torn between two lovers; one from the past and one from the present - But I don't know if I was accurate or not. At any rate this is the basic gist of the reading I recently did when I drew the Six of Cups.

Kitty	13 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by sagitarian This card makes NO sense to me. Especially the children in it, that has really thrown me off! Any helpful insight would be really appreciated. (fyi, I have the universal waite deck) I too struggle with this card - yes they say it can mean nostalgia - but for me the 6 of cups has shown simple kind gestures....will give example......6 of cups came up in my daily readings a month or so ago a couple of times, on one occassion I arrived at work to find a siamese fighting fish with a lovely bowl etc on my desk - it was a suprise from some of the students we have at work - a thank you for looking after them and teaching them during their year - very unexpected but touched my heart as it was very kind, and they went to alot of effort. The other occassion the 6 of Cups came up......was a day of 44 degress here in Melbourne, overnight it wasn't didn't get down below 30 degrees. Was trying to get some sleep but just staring at the ceiling - then out of the blue a friend called - he had been thinking of me - that things had been a bit tough lately for me- suggested I come into his bar for a drink - wasn't sleeping so said okay- then as arrived he said he has a suprise......took me on a long drive in his mercedes convertible - all around melbourne over the bridges so I could see the city lights - simple, thoughtful and kind. Hope my experiences of the 6 of Cups helps.......

Kitty	13 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by HOLMES for myself i am a nostraglic type so i like to think that the love i gave another has never died and perhaps some day will come back to me. . Holmes, your comment struck a chord with me - I think that is what I feel about the 6 of Cups - my above life experinces of the card is about giving and recieving - I had shown care towards those people because I cared about them - they showed they also cared in the form of a gift - the cup being offered.

blackmon487	13 Feb 2003
I think the different explanations which we have all experienced with this card will allow each of us the ability to see this card in a new light when it turns up in our spreads. Thank you all for your insights.

Kazz	14 Feb 2003
The 6 of cups in the Rider Waite deck has the small figure with 2 faces, one which looks up at he other figure and one which is looking away. Depending on which face you first see in this card, it can be either...embracing the past, or unexcepting the past. Apart from " past loves" it can also indicate a new love or friend, that seems like you have known each other for years, and also the connection can be from a past life.....Just my thoughts.:D Cheers Kazz :TQC

blackmon487	14 Feb 2003
I feel this card, in the RW deck, may also symbolize the need to accept or offer an apology to an individual which may have spoken indiscreetly, or caused feelings to be hurt. So it could suggest renewing your friendships.

Alex	19 Feb 2003
I see this card as a re-collection of what has survived after the five of cups. If anything has survived or if there was a real tie between the two, the nostalgia and reflection on past accomplishments can bring a sense of renewal to the relationship.

Major Tom	20 Feb 2003
I have to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. :D The discussion informed my recent completion of the 6 of Cups for Major Tom's Tarot. })

Kitty	19 Apr 2003
Thirteen explains in her tarot basics as the "ah ha" experiences. I have struggled with seeing the meaning of the 6 of Cups for a long time.... Until now!! I had the 6 of Cups and the star for my daily cards for thursday - looked at them quickly, didn't give them any thought and went to work. Then I experienced the 6 of Cups later that night....received phone call from friend - met at bar for drinks for friends birthday- but the night turned out to be different. It was nostalgic, went to a all club with a group of friends who hadn't all been out together in a long time, danced around to music we all used to love, and met a old flame of mine - realised I still love him. The night has really helped to heal some of my recent loss and disappointment. So nostalgia, friends from the past, old loves, the girl/boy next door - ah ha! Everything falls into place, it all makes sense! Is this the essence of the 6 of cups?!

gloria	20 Apr 2003
There are a couple of books which describe the 6/cups card in RWS deck as a dwarf offering cup to a child. But surely the card pictures a little old lady with white hair, not a child. What are your ideas on the castle and guards in the background?

Silverlotus	20 Apr 2003
I've always seen the card as an older child offering a cup to a younger child. :) The colours in the Universal Waite make it appear this way, since the smaller figure doesn't have the white hair you mention. I see the house in the background as their home. It is part castle and part cottage, so it is both secure and comforting. Overall I see the picture more or less as an idealized childhood. The children get along well, home is safe and comforting, etc.

firemaiden	20 Apr 2003
The children have bizarre little red caps. In Germany I have seen children wearing exactly those caps.

NeXoRiouS	20 Apr 2003
In Universal Waite, there's another man dressed in white walking towards the buildings. Guess it means looking back. If it is really as I presumed, the buildings signify past memories. The buildings are a fort and cottage which could mean worries and sweet memories respectively. I guessed so, please pin point me if I am wrong.

Silverlotus	20 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by NeXoRiouS In Universal Waite, there's another man dressed in white walking towards the buildings. Guess it means looking back. If it is really as I presumed, the buildings signify past memories. I didn't notice that third figure until you mention it, NeXoRiouS. Interesting. I'm not sure what to make of him. Perhaps he is a guard, adding to the feeling of safety I get from the card.

gloria	20 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Silverlotus I've always seen the card as an older child offering a cup to a younger child. :) The colours in the Universal Waite make it appear this way, since the smaller figure doesn't have the white hair you mention. I see the house in the background as their home. It is part castle and part cottage, so it is both secure and comforting. Overall I see the picture more or less as an idealized childhood. The children get along well, home is safe and comforting, etc. Many thanks for your views

Trogon	21 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kitty ... [snip] So nostalgia, friends from the past, old loves, the girl/boy next door - ah ha! Everything falls into place, it all makes sense! Is this the essence of the 6 of cups?! Yep Kitty... sounds about right to me... :laugh: Sounds like you had a great time! Good for you!

galadrial	21 Apr 2003
I read in a book that the older person in the card can represent the past giving a gift to the younger person, or future. This card has always meant to me that the emotional enviornment I create for my son now will become his childhood memories in the future. In fact I recently drew this card as the ''Blessing" card in the Gypsy Gold Spread. For the "Future (if this blessing is implemented)" I drew the Tower. In the deck used, there are two figures with wings flying away from the Tower. I interpreted this as meaning that if I continue to conciously create a stable, loving enviornment for him now, then when it is time for him to leave home we will both be strong enough to fly into the future.

punkangelgcm437	27 Apr 2003
In my deck (tarot of the moon garden), the 6 of Cups has a wall, and every other brick is 1 higher than the other. So it looks like this. * * * ****** And on the top brick there is a cup. The brick wall also looks to me like a memories wall, like its old and has attachment to it. it also has lots of flowers and plants around it, but most of my cards have that on them in this deck so I dont they play a significant role.

Butterfly	27 Apr 2003
Here's my thoughts on the card. I should say- this card taunts me, so I'm quite biased about it's meaning. In the tarot of the moon garden vases of cut flowers are seperated from the garden by a fortress wall. And the thing to think is that by seperating them to preserve their beauty they will actually die a lot faster than the garden from which they came. That is, in trying to hold onto memories, you are in fact "killing them". Being a prisoner of the past. Applying this to Rider Waite, perhaps the fortress is keeping the little girl/old woman (in the original she is both) from the garden she loved. She is being handed the vase of flowers as a memory of the garden she loved so. From memory there is no garden visible in the card. Why doesn't she garden instead of having cut flowers that will ultimately die. So, I see it as being held back, or living death, by holding on to memories.

firemaiden	27 Apr 2003
Butterfly, I found what you wrote very original, and poetic besides. This is going in my journal. Synchronicity is at work here, you reviving this thread. I had just logged on having in mind something to say about the six of cups. This time from the Dürer Deck. In the Dürer Deck it is a baptism, four cups are carved into the stone of the baptismal font, and two more in gold repose on its border. A blissfull mother, backed up by her husband is holding out her baby -- and the baby is receiving drops of holy water from a monk -- it could even be Saint John himself. Over the scen flies a lone dove. I am not sure what to make of the baptism, or even if it can count as memory. Does one remember one's baptism?

Forum Library > Using Tarot Cards Threads By Month > Exploring the Six of Cups

Originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Feb 2003, and now part of the Forum Library. Take part in active threads about Using Tarot Cards.