The Five of Cups tarot card denotes feelings of misery, loss, or grief. These emotions come as a result of the loss of something important to you. This might be the death of a loved one or the end of a special relationship.
The overall mood of the card is negative, but there are indications of hope, as well. It may seem that all is lost, but the truth is, you are just failing to see the positive.
Five of Cups Key Facts
Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Five of Cups tarot card meaning, and its connection to love, career, and life, below you can find a quick overview of the most important facts connected to this Cups card.
| Upright | Sadness, loss, despair, loneliness |
| Reversed | Finding peace, acceptance, healing |
| Yes or No | No |
| Number | 5 |
| Element | Water |
| Planet | Pluto and Mars |
| Astrological sign | Scorpio |
Five of Cups Tarot Card Description
To fully understand the Five of Cups tarot card meaning, we will first take a look at the illustration, colors, and symbolism of this Cups card.
The Five of Cups tarot card depicts a man clothed in a black cloak facing away. His head hangs in despair as he looks down at three overturned cups at his feet.
Because this man is so focused on the fallen cups, he fails to see the upright cups behind him – representing new opportunities and potential. All he needs to do is turn around to see them.
In the background, we see a bridge crossing a large river to a castle or home. The river denotes that the sadness or despair that he feels is keeping him from his home, where he will feel safe and at rest. While the bridge is a message to ‘build a bridge’ and leave the past behind and make the best of what remains.
Five of Cups Tarot Meaning
The Five of Cups in the upright position means that you are focusing on the negative. Perhaps a loved one has recently died or you lost your job, and you are having trouble coming to terms with this.
When we lose someone or something we love, it can be challenging to see the positive. We allow ourselves to be overcome by the sadness, regret, and loneliness that results from an event such as this.
However, if you take the time to look around, you will find many positive aspects of this event. Your family will come together in support and love, and you will be closer to it, for example.
This goes to show that even in the darkest times, there is always a shining beacon of hope. All you must do is open your eyes and look around for it.
The main advice of the Five of Cups is to let go of the past and move on. Grief, sadness, and negativity will only hold you back from your fullest potential.
Don’t be a victim of life’s circumstances, instead, try to take a look at the bright side!
Money and Career Meaning
The Five of Cups in a career reading could foretell a loss of a job. This event might leave you feeling discouraged, disappointed, and unproductive.
You must remember that a door closed means another opens in another area of your life. If you spend too much time dwelling on the negativity of the situation, you won’t have the energy to seek out a new opportunity.
Even though it is tough to be unemployed, even for a short amount of time, you must focus on the positive.
There is an excellent opportunity for you in your future, and it might also be better than the one that you lost.
Love and Relationships Meaning
In a love spread, the Five of Cups could mean heartbreak in your future. The end to your partnership will likely come as a surprise to you and will leave you feeling abandoned and alone.
Even though the relationship is over, you might find yourself still having constant thoughts about this person and wishing for the relationship to begin again.
When you notice this pattern of events, remember that everything happens for a reason. If this person wasn’t happy with you before, that is not likely to change, regardless of what steps you take to make that happen. The best choice you can make is to pick up the pieces and move on.
If you are single, the Five of Cups calls attention to despair you feel stemming from a past relationship that didn’t work out.
You probably still feel an attachment to this person, and you are ignoring or avoiding prospective new relationships as a result. You must remain aware that you are only hurting yourself when you do this.
The relationship you were in doesn’t define the love you will feel in the future. You must work on letting go and moving on so that you can live the happy life that you deserve.
Health and Spirituality Meaning
When it comes to your health, the Five of Cups most commonly represent mental health issues. These issues can come in the form of depression or anxiety.
When you are feeling overwhelmed, you aren’t best equipped to come up with a solution to your problems. Now is the time to reach out for professional help so that you can be delivered from the negativity that binds you.
Five of Cups Reversed
In this paragraph, we will talk a bit more about what it means if you’ve pulled the Five of Cups tarot card in the reversed position (upside down).
The Five of Cups reversed stands for overcoming the obstacles that face you. If you have lost a loved one, you will soon gain acceptance of the loss.
If the end of a romance caused you to despair, you can expect that the closure you seek is on the horizon. It has been a long journey to where you stand now, and you should be proud of your accomplishments.
Continue focusing on the positive things in life, and you will find yourself in high spirits no matter what you have to overcome.
If there is still a feeling of shame or guilt about something that happened in the past, the Five of Cups reversed tells you that it’s time to forgive yourself and move on.
You did everything you could, took responsibility, and learned your lessons. And since you can’t change the past, it’s now time to focus on the present and future.
Once you’re able to do so, new opportunities will come your way. Be open and take risks, you’re gonna be amazed at how things will unfold!
Five of Cups: Yes or No
The Five of Cups embodies grief, sadness, and feeling at your absolute lowest. The intense emotion you feel likely derives from an unexpected, traumatic event that occurred in your life. The overall negative connotation of this card means that the answer to your yes or no question is no.
Five of Cups and Astrology
The Five of Cups is connected to the Scorpio zodiac sign. Scorpio is all about delving into the deep, hidden layers to unearth secrets and mysteries. This is also the sign of loss, release, symbolic death, and rebirth as initiation. The ruling planets of Pluto and Mars also affirm this. Both are highly powerful, energized, and focused planets.
Important Card Combinations
In combination with other cards, the Five of Cups still denotes feelings of misery, loss, or grief. But it also tells you that if you’re able to leave the past behind and focus on positive things. Below you can find the most important card combinations of the Five of Cups.
Five of Cups and Ace of Cups
The Five of Cups and the Ace of Cups in a spread together tells of the end of a fling.
Although the conclusion of this relationship may come as a shock to you, know that it is for the best. The partnership was bound to be unsatisfying for both of you, so the end was necessary.
Concentrate on pouring love into yourself and finding yourself at this time in your life. You will attract a fulfilling relationship when the time is right.
Five of Cups and Seven of Cups
Are you regretting a decision that you made recently? The Five of Cups and the Seven of Cups are representative of that decision.
Perhaps you have resolved to change careers, but you have found the job market to be unenticing. Push forward and keep looking for the right fit for you.
It may take some time, but it’s essential not to settle. Otherwise, you risk ending up in the same situation later down the line.
Five of Cups and Eight of Cups
The Five of Cups and Eight of Cups are telling you that it’s time to face your sorrows. If you have lost someone close to you, it can be difficult to allow yourself to feel the sadness inside.
Still, you must grant yourself the time to feel these emotions. Eventually, the sadness you feel will subside as long as you allow yourself the time needed to process this loss.
Five of Cups and Knight of Cups
If the Five of Cups and the Knight of Cups appear in a spread together, it is time to walk away from a relationship you have.
Perhaps a friend has been taking advantage of you, or a family member is causing you stress. Whatever the circumstances, you can be sure that what you do now will have a positive impact on your future.
Five of Cups in a Reading
That’s all for the Five of Cups tarot card meaning. Although it’s not all puppies and rainbows, remember that there’re indications of faith.
And even if all seems lost, there is always a shining beacon of hope. All you must do is open your eyes and look around for it.
If the Five of Cups appeared in your tarot reading, did the meaning make sense to you? Write down your comments and questions below. I would love to hear from you!