Six of Cups

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Moon in Pisces as a symbol of poignant, nostalgic memories, or Moon in Cancer as a symbol of romantic dreaminess.

SIX OF CUPS This card carries us into the land of memories. It shows that the past still lives within us, that we return to it in romantic reveries or in poignantly nostalgic experiences. Such a detached-sentimental view of things may either clarify and brighten our picture of the world, or cloud and darken it. And, since the card is in one way or another connected with the past, when an appropriate question is asked, it may point to certain episodes or impressions from our childhood.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

SIX OF CUPS Pleasure The second decan of Scorpio, from November 1 to November 11. Astrological equivalents: Virgo, Pisces, Venus, Neptune, the Sixth and Twelfth Houses. The second decan of Scorpio expresses the idea of a deep awareness of the hidden processes of the collective unconscious, granting power over them. The observation of life's mechanisms and the mastery of them through grasping their essence makes it possible to control a situation and elevates a person above others. This decan is ruled by the Sun, which governs the heart and at the same time a person's self-awareness, fusing feeling and reason into one. But, on occasion, Uranus or Neptune is regarded as the patron of this decan, since it does not abuse power but rather has a tendency to relate to feeling reasonably, which may, as a consequence, lead to a somewhat detached view of the world. Yet its meaning lies not in withdrawing into the otherworldly, but in the ability to live in the present, and for this one needs not only depth of thought but also a childlike spontaneity. On the TAROT card a vendor, dressed in the garb of a jester selling flowers, with a smile presents a flower to a little girl. On the cloth of the stall is the Saint Andrew's cross of compassion. The vendor trades his wares — in this is revealed the nature of Scorpio, the passionate accumulator of wealth and human emotions. But the white flowers in the cups serve as a symbol that the emotions have been purified down to their most primary and immediate manifestations: only those feelings remain which lead a person back to the sources of life. Now he can offer them as a gift to the one who has need of them: passion that is dangerous to those around has been transformed into universal love and compassion. Participation in the passions of the world is perceived by the vendor as a game — hence his jester's attire. But this does not prevent him from expressing love: his power in the world is expressed as compassion for people. The trap lies in placing one's own group above others, in the hostile opposition of insiders and outsiders. In the Pamela Smith deck this card signifies childhood, the past, and is depicted in the form of playing children. This symbol reflects one of the aspects of the SIX OF CUPS, which returns us to the past. But in essence the SIX OF CUPS is still a card of Virgo, since through it the action of the planet Venus in the sign of Virgo is strongly manifested. Venus in Virgo is in its fall, and therefore the card bears the imprint of a certain powerlessness. At this stage emotion becomes spiritualized and passes into love for all that exists. The appearance of this card in a spread may indicate a situation that requires of you tolerance, a rising above vanity, and true spirituality. In this card Virgo is, as it were, embodied in all her highest manifestations: mercy, help, kindness — that which the ancient Greeks called "therapeia."

UPRIGHT POSITION In the upright position the card signifies memories, past attachments from whose influence you have freed yourself, people and things that have vanished, childhood gone by, nostalgia, bringing joy to others. A long-standing fellowship, trust founded upon what has been lived through together, true friendship. Here the love of the homeland and the homeland itself may also be implied. Old friendship that gives rise to no difficulties in communication. A feeling of harmony.

REVERSED POSITION In the reversed position the card, on the contrary, is wholly directed toward the future. It signifies new possibilities opening up ahead; coming events, the expansion of one's worldview, foresight of what is to come. The card may also signal that in the near future your plans may require correction, without which they may collapse.