In this chapter of the tarot course we will see, The 5 of Cups and its meanings. What does the 5 of Cups mean in the Tarot? What does the 5 of Cups card mean in love, work, money or health? What is its spiritual meaning and what does it reveal to us? What does the 5 of Cups card mean upside down or inverted?
The 5 of Cups in the tarot
The five of cups brings a positive message despite the obvious drama.
The five of cups presents two readings: the first, with the card upside down, is a negative vision, and the second, with the card upside down, brings us a hopeful message.
Graphic description of the card
- The figure in the card (which is not clearly distinguishable whether it is a man or a woman) wears a black cloak that graphs all the gloomy weight of the scene and with which he covers himself, and even partly hides his face in apparent despair.
- At her feet are five goblets, three of which have fallen and spilled on the ground and two others at her back remain standing.
- The person does not seem to notice these two raised goblets because he is only focused on the fallen goblets.
- In front of him a mighty river flows between him and a castle or a house seen in the distance, which is presumed to be his goal. To his right is a bridge that could easily carry him to the safety of the house, thus avoiding the rushing river, but he does not seem to notice this aid.
- Despite the fact that the Five of Cups has a strong indication of loss and grief, there is a positive aspect to be considered, which is how we look at things and what we pay attention to… Is the glass half full or half empty?
What does the 5 of Cups mean in the Tarot?
The five of cups and its reading to the right, General meaning: In upright position the five of cups presents its most negative side. It is about feeling disappointed because things have not turned out the way you expected, your goals have not been achieved or only a part of them have been achieved.
This card indicates that the situation has caused you to become involved in self-pity, in the continuous regret of what you have lost or have not achieved.
Usually this loss has much more to do with the emotional than with material matters, since the cups represent the world of emotions.
You now find yourself in a state of pessimism, with great disillusionment and a dark outlook on the future.
It is the typical situation where you are clinging to the past, unable to let go of it and therefore unable to learn from your mistakes. Opportunities may appear and be there for you (just like the two glasses standing upright behind you) but you are unable to see them.
The worst thing about this situation is that you may punish yourself and be very hard on yourself about this past, blame yourself, feel responsible and fail to recover and use forgiveness both for yourself and others.
The five of cups can suggest not only a disappointment about yourself but often represents a strong disappointment in someone or other people.
This simply happens sometimes because we expect too much, place unrealistic expectations on others and then feel frustrated. You have to work on forgiveness, understanding and forbearance for yourself, as this is the only way out.
No matter how impossible the situation may seem and how trapped you feel, you must know that there is always a way out and that it may simply happen that we are not seeing it, just as the man in The Five of Cups fails to see the white bridge that would make things easier for him.
It is then, to look at the positive side, that “every misfortune hides some advantage”, “every cloud has a silver lining”, the part of the glass half full.
Reality also happens and exists based on where we put our attention, so if you cry over spilled milk instead of seeing the milk that is still in the container, your attitude will condemn you.
What does the 5 of Cups card mean in love?
Regarding love. The five of cups is undoubtedly a negative card as it can indicate a relationship that has ended or has begun the process of breaking up and ending. However, the card also indicates that all is not lost, that there is still a part or elements to save it.
The important thing is to focus on these things and not to remain anchored in what has been lost, in the mistakes, in the past events that have led to this crisis.
If the relationship is unsalvageable, the five of cups tells you that even if you cannot see and understand it now, this is surely the best thing for you, only with enough time and with the arrival of new relationships you will be able to see it.
What does the 5 of Cups card mean at work?
Regarding work. The five of cups indicates that there may be delays on all levels, even some kind of loss, whether part of the salary, working hours, a promotion that was to come and is canceled.
In a very literal sense it can mean that your job is giving you more loss than gain. It would also be appropriate to consider a change of job, start something else, another activity more profitable but above all more satisfying on your emotional level.
What does the Card of the 5 of Cups mean in money and finances?
Regarding money and finances. The card is not so negative because as we saw, it points more to the emotional than to the financial, however you may be regretting a past where things were going better.
You should focus on the now, without pushing too much, as this sometimes produces the opposite effect. Letting it flow, doing the right thing and having a healthy, optimistic outlook may be the right approach.
You are not as bad off as you think in the economic aspect, although you should take care of your money, try to save, do not make unnecessary expenses, avoid “spilling the milk” because it is a time when you do not lack but you do not have too much either.
What does the Card of the 5 of Cups mean in health?
On the subject of health. The five of cups can suggest nervous or psychological illnesses. Processes of anguish, depression, sadness, inability to forgive and to forgive oneself. These states are natural after any conflictive situation, a breakup or a loss of any kind.
You should seek support and help to get out of these states, slowly and slowly until you find a much more positive balance. Concentrate on the present and the future, avoiding as much as you can the useless clutches of the past.
What does The 5 of Cups mean spiritually?
It is important now to give some thought to forgiveness. It’s not about forgiving others for their own sake or because they deserve it, but you do it for you, you must do it for you because holding on to anger and hurt is toxic and bad.
Think that most of the time while you are angry, full of pain or rage, the other person is probably oblivious to it all and having a good time, so the advice that the five of cups brings us is to let go, and this you get by forgiving.
What does the card of the 5 of Cups upside down or inverted mean?
The five of cups in a reversed position, General meaning: No doubt that the reversal of this card offers your most favorable and positive outlook.
You are now in a much healthier emotional state, you have managed to let go of the past, you have learned from your mistakes and taken all those lessons that were given to you.
You manage to see even now that the experience and the negative processes you have gone through have had a reason and a meaning, they have happened for a reason, and going through all those difficulties has now put you in a much better and more beneficial place for you.
You are capable of both repentance and forgiveness, and after going through that infertile valley of negative emotions you can finally take those two glasses that were waiting, and with them redo you, set you on the path to the future.
Clearly the five of cups tells you that although the past serves as a lesson to learn, you must keep an open and active attitude, having the ability and courage to take new risks.
The future does not have to be like the past, therefore, you now with all that you have learned you have to be willing to take risks again, especially on the emotional level.
If you come from a very painful situation such as a loss or the breakup of a love relationship, the five of cups announces the end of your suffering to give way to a new stage where you are again able and ready to start new relationships, to fall in love again, to love, to commit yourself again.
Again you get in touch with your best part, with your creativity, your hopes and dreams and slowly you begin to see life again from a positive lens.
You have managed to see what was the good that was waiting behind the bad that was happening, taking that positive part and now you must strengthen your values and above all direct yourself towards what you really want and need.
Practically all learning in this life involves pain, we learn to walk not before falling a few times and for most people it takes several attempts to achieve the desired end either in the plane of love, professional life, economic or any situation of existence.
The five of cups expresses now that you have understood that these falls are necessary for learning, you have learned and now you have the necessary tools and knowledge to move forward.
Something important to keep in mind when the five of cups appears inverted is that if you have gone through the period of pain, sadness or suffering without even noticing it, this has been achieved because you have annulled all reflection on it, you have buried any feelings and emotions.
This has allowed you to overcome the trance, however it does not mean that it is good. These feelings will continue to be stored there and at some point, perhaps the most unexpected, they may explode and appear, complicating and confusing your life. Reflect on it then… If you have gone through the darkness without even noticing it, you may not have been going through the right process.
Something favorable that appears in the inverted five of cups is that if you are going through a difficult situation, the appearance of this card tells you that it is transitory and temporary, that it is not as difficult and dark as you feel now, but that they are transitory obstacles.
This is especially favorable for situations of couple or marital crisis. The message is hopeful and positive, it is just a bad moment that will be overcome.
What does the 5 of Cups card inverted mean in love?
In the field of love. The five of cups indicates passing crises that are solved and evolve, and that are often necessary to occur in order to solve or close certain issues.
The possibility of a happy and meaningful relationship is possible both with your current partner and with a future love.
This card shows that if you have been suffering abuse of any kind, especially emotional abuse, you no longer have to force things to work out.
Simply say enough is enough, accept what you want and begin to fight for it. Trust your instincts as they will tell you which is the right path.
What does the 5 of Cups card reversed mean for work?
Regarding work. The card maintains the same meaning: the difficulties you have been going through are ending and you are finding positive, probably creative, ways to move forward.
The five of cups may indicate the end of delays and waiting, the resolution of certain work issues in a frank and pleasant way, and it may also indicate that now more than ever you should focus on what you want and want to do, and go for it.
What does the 5 of Cups card reversed mean in money and finances?
On the money front. You should have a positive and grateful attitude for what you already have and have achieved. As this is a period when you are very much in touch with your inner self, you are most likely engaged in an activity that you really like and makes you happy, so it doesn’t matter so much how much you put on the table but what you put on the table.
It’s quality over quantity. Maintaining this attitude of respect for who you are is going to generate more income and more money for you. It is no secret in the 21st century that those who love what they do have the best chance of success.
What does the 5 of Cups card reversed in health mean?
About health. You are now beginning to feel an evolution and a sense of well-being after the dark events you have gone through. Anguish, sadness and depression begin to lift like a veil, and allow you to see a much more colorful and pleasant world on the horizon than before.
On the physical plane, of physical illnesses, the inverted five of cups can indicate the favorable evolution of any type of ailment, the possibility of clinging with optimism to cures or treatments, to continue to see the glass half full and to make things easier with an optimistic attitude.
What does the 5 of Cups card inverted mean spiritually?
In spirituality. You are ready to begin new paths with a sense of renewed faith, joy and enthusiasm.
You may try or wish to share your experiences with people who are now going through what you have already gone through, to give them your support, your point of view, which will be helpful and certainly positive for others to evolve on that path.
You will probably also be much more open to new ideas and new concepts, with new interest and permeable to everything that can mean a help, a support, an improvement.
If you liked the content, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more tarot content.
