Six of Cups
A complete guide to the Six of Cups in the Rider–Waite (Waite–Smith) deck: meanings, love/career/health insights, timing, card combinations, and how to turn nostalgia into nourishing action.
Introduction to the Six of Cups
The Six of Cups evokes nostalgia, simple joy, and acts of kindness. It points to safe belonging—places, people, and memories that refill the heart. The card invites you to draw strength from the past without getting stuck there: remember, receive, then share.
Place in the Cups Journey
After the grief of the Five, the Six restores warmth and trust. It is the recovery cup: gentleness, play, and supportive community mend the heart and prepare it to love courageously again.
Symbolism of the Six of Cups (Waite–Smith)
Each detail centers innocence, safety, and giving:
- Two children: Innocence, trust, mentorship, and generous exchange.
- Six flower-filled cups: Beauty freely given; memories that still nourish.
- Courtyard/village scene: Home base; a protected space for thriving.
- Gloves/gesture of offering: Courtesy, care, and thoughtful boundaries.
- Guard figure in background: Protection; the world is safe enough to play again.
- House with chimney: Warmth, family, and sustainable comfort.
The image teaches: let what was sweet remind you how to give and receive now.
How to Read the Six of Cups
Themes: nostalgia, reunion, kindness, childhood joy, safe environments, supportive community, memory as medicine.
Position in the spread
- Past: A nurturing home, mentor, or joyful season formed your strengths.
- Present: Reconnect with supportive people/places; choose the gentle path.
- Future: A reunion, homecoming, or healing experience warms the way ahead.
Focus areas
- Love: Reconciliation, childhood sweethearts, or creating a cozy, caring dynamic.
- Career: Team culture and mentorship; revive a proven idea; client care > flash.
- Health: Inner-child work, soothing routines, and environments that support healing.
- Spirituality: Gratitude, altar of memories, honoring ancestors/lineage blessings.
- Timing: Within 6 days/weeks; Sun in Scorpio; around reunions, anniversaries, or home visits.
Card combinations
- With The Sun → radiant reunion; pure joy and celebration.
- With Judgement → a calling from the past returns for completion/service.
- With Two of Cups → heartfelt reconciliation or soul-level bond.
- With Six of Pentacles → generous giving/receiving; community support.
- With Death → release outdated nostalgia; keep the blessing, not the bind.
From Nostalgia to Nourishment (4 Steps)
- Remember: List 3 memories that make you feel safe/seen; extract the core need they met.
- Recreate: Design one small ritual or habit that meets that need now.
- Reconnect: Reach out to one person from your “good village” or build an equivalent.
- Redistribute: Offer a simple kindness (time, skill, gift) to keep the circle flowing.
Ready to turn sweet memory into present-day support?
Joy Jar
Write 10 warm memories; pull one when you need a mood reset.
Home Corner Refresh
Create a cozy nook with a photo, candle, and a comforting object.
Kindness Token
Plan one thoughtful gesture you can offer this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Six of Cups only about the past?
It honors the past but points to present nourishment—recreate what was healthy and let go of what no longer fits.
What does it mean in love?
Reconciliation, sweet affection, or building a safe, playful bond. Sometimes it signals a familiar soulmate vibe.
Career meaning?
Mentorship, client care, and culture matter. Revive a trusted method; make work feel human and supportive.
Health message?
Choose gentle consistency: sleep, warm meals, walks, therapy. Inner-child work can accelerate healing.
How do I work with this energy?
Curate supportive spaces, schedule time with “your people,” and offer small acts of generosity to keep joy circulating.
Ready to feel held and hopeful again?
Use the Six of Cups to rebuild warmth and belonging:
- Get an AI check-in to identify your “good village” and next caring step.
- Design a weekly ritual that recreates a favorite safe memory.
- Plan a reunion or gratitude message to someone who nurtured you.