3 of Cups Tarot Card Meaning
The three of cups is an exciting card that appears during times of celebration and indulgence.
It's an exciting card, as the three of cups appears in reference to times of victory. When this card emerges in a Tarot reading, you should take care to consider what it can imply for your career, relationship, or creative project.
Even though the card is astrologically associated with the zodiac sign cancer, it could also be associated with Libra and Taurus, as these two signs are represented by Venus, the planet of luxury, taste, quality, and creativity.
The three cups tarot card description is nuanced, and both its upright and reversed meanings have special insight to offer. Read on to learn about all the exciting aspects of the Three of Cups Tarot card.
3 of cups Associations:
Element
Water
Zodiac
Cancer
Planet
Mercury
Keywords
Social gatherings, alone time, social circle, good fortune, social life, closest friends, overindulgence, reckless behavior
Imagery
The three cups tarot card meanings stem from the straightforward illustrations of the card.
Depending on the interpretation, this can be a very positive card, but it can also indicate negative influences in one's life.
You wouldn't guess this, though, just by looking at it.
The card showcases three young women with cups in hand, cheering to what seems to be a celebration.
They have formed their own inner circle, standing barefoot on the green earth.
The three women are also surrounded by piles of harvested fruits and vegetables.
Behind them is a Bluegreen sky, likely occurring as the sun is beginning to rest for the evening.
How the meaning of Three of Cups Card Meaning is derived from its imagery
The three ladies in the card's depiction symbolize friends, positive energy, mutual support, and social events.
They seem to be out in celebration, coming together to have a wonderful time.
They are dressed in bright gowns, which represent the vibrant, exciting energy that surrounds them.
The harvest of fruit and vegetables symbolizes abundance, prosperity, feasts, and celebration.
The cups that each woman holds are a symbol for drinking, which can have both positive and negative attributes.
The Suit of Cups
The three of cups carries some of the purest energy of the suit, but what exactly does the cups suit pertain to?
Each of the four suits of the Minor Arcana, namely, wands, swords, pentacles, and cups, all relate to a specific aspect of life. Cups Tarot cards deal with creativity, emotion, and intuition.
When you draw any cups card, you should consider the emotions involved with the aspect of life you are inquiring about. They commonly come up in readings about relationships, such as in a Soul Mate Spread or when asking if someone truly loves you, but also carry a lot of weight in other areas of your life.
For example, if cups cards are emerging during a career reading, that can mean your spirit guides are speaking to how your job is making you feel. If you see a cups card when you ask about whether or not you should proceed with a certain decision, it is providing information of the emotions you will experience in taking either choice.
The element of the suit is water, which makes sense because... y'know... cups! But more seriously, the concept of water helps us understand what cups communicate: flow. Drawing a cups Tarot card can indicate whether you are letting the flow of life bring you to harmonious relationships and situations or not.
The Three of Cups Upright
The upright three cups tarot card symbolizes a time for reconciliation. It represents harmony and celebration with your close friends.
If you've felt disconnected from the people in your social circle, now is a time when you're going out and being free.
Connections are being formed, parties are being thrown, and you're allowing yourself to become immersed in the celebrations.
The three cups appear when you're being asked to spend time with others and find ways to express joy.
If you've been working long hours, isolating yourself, or distancing yourself from your friends and family, the upright position of this card asks you to come out into the light, grab a drink, and dance with the ones you love.
Perhaps this card has emerged in relation to something you have been working on. That's great news, because it is informing you that you will soon be celebrating a victory in your endeavor!
Any instance of the three of cups in the upright carries positive energy. You should be grateful to see it in a reading.
The Three of Cups in Reverse
The three cups reversed positions can tell a few important messages.
The card appears during a time when you have veered away from your spiritual path or purpose.
Instead of focusing on beneficial activities, you've become lost in partying, in an unhealthy love triangle, struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, and not focusing on what's truly important for you right now.
Remember that partying is meant for a celebration. If you aren't producing anything celebration-worthy in your regular life, then what is the purpose of partying all the time? Many people use drinking and fun as an escape from the struggles of their day-to-day life, which is fine in small doses, but not when it is making a substantial impact on your life.
If this resonates, the first step you can take is to take a step back from your social group, spend a night at home, and find a creative outlet. Rest assured, all of that fun stuff will be waiting for you when it's the right time. And trust, it'll be way more fun when your serious matters are all taken care of.
On the other hand, the reversed 3 of cups can also be a sign of broken relationships.
Maybe you've called off your bridal shower, or there has been a canceled engagement party.
There is some form of disconnect that has created a social imbalance in your life.
It could also suggest that you have withdrawn from the social world and have isolated yourself. Isolation can be necessary if, for instance, you are working to meet a certain deadline for a big project. But, long periods of isolation are not healthy and generally reflect some kind of internal conflict.
If you can relate to that, make an effort to spend time with the people who care about you. The three cups suggest reconciling with the people in your life that are involved and finding a way to remedy the situation.
Your Personal Interpretation
Regardless of the negative qualities of the card, it indicates that wonderful things are on the horizon.
No matter what you're going through, there's always a reason to celebrate.
If you're on a good moon or celebrating a happy occasion, the card reminds you to cherish your friends and family and the importance of celebrating success with others.
If your romantic life has been warm and loving, the three cups are a sign that your current relationship is one that will be long-lasting and full of fun, excitement, and self-expression.
The reverse three cups can signify health problems and the need to focus on strengthening your well-being.
Partying, staying up too late, and going out with friends too often are tiring for the body and mind.
If you've felt run down recently, it may be a sign that you're not focusing on what's important, your health and happiness. If you've lost touch with self-care, find ways to cultivate it now.
If you've neglected your relationships, make an effort to spend quality time with the ones you love.
The three of cups tarot card reversed symbolizes feeling left out. This can be due to a number of reasons - maybe you weren't invited to a party, or maybe you feel like you don't fit in with your friends.
Whatever the reason, it's important to remember that you are not alone. There are plenty of people who feel like they don't quite fit in, and that's okay.
If you're feeling left out, take some time for yourself.
Spend some time doing things that make you happy, and don't worry about what other people are doing.
You'll find that you're much happier when you're not comparing yourself to others.
Find Something To Celebrate
It's easy to get caught up in the rush of daily life and forget to stand back and enjoy the little things.
Life is a series of small moments, and it is essential to enjoy the good ones!
Create a list of things for which you are grateful.
Take a few minutes each day to jot down a few things for which you are grateful, no matter how big or small.
At the end of the week, review your list and consider all the positive aspects of your life.
Spend time on yourself. Even if it's only for 30 minutes, schedule some "me time" into your week.
Treat yourself to a nice bath and a chocolate bar.
You should bake a dessert for your best friend simply because you can.
When you learn to celebrate all of life's "little" moments, everything becomes a cause for celebration.