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Ace of Cups

Minor arcana · Ace of Cups

Upright

This is something opening for the first time. The suit deals with feeling and relationship, what passes between people, so read the stage as happening in that area of life.

Reversed

Reversed, the stage is blocked or overdone — check whether something opening for the first time is failing to do its work in feeling and relationship, what passes between people.

ArcanaMinor
SuitCups
RankAce
ElementWater

How to read this

  • The 22 major arcana speak of the large movements; the 56 minor arcana speak of the specific events inside them. Noticing which one you drew tells you the scale.
  • A minor card is read by combining suit and number: the suit says which area of life, the number says which stage within it.
  • Reversed is less an opposite than the same force blocked or overdone. Before flipping the meaning, look at where that force is actually going.
  • A card is a picture of the present situation, not a fixed future. The same card reads differently depending on what you asked.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What does the tarot card Ace of Cups mean?

Upright: This is something opening for the first time. The suit deals with feeling and relationship, what passes between people, so read the stage as happening in that area of life.

Q. What does Ace of Cups mean reversed?

Reversed, the stage is blocked or overdone — check whether something opening for the first time is failing to do its work in feeling and relationship, what passes between people.

Q. Where does Ace of Cups sit in the deck?

Minor arcana · Ace of Cups

Same suit

Same rank