What does Six of Cups mean in love?

Upright: Sweet, familiar affection or reconnecting with someone from the past may feature. Reversed: Idealizing a past love may block the present. Look at what is real now.

Six of Cups Tarot Card Meaning — Upright & Reversed

Card meanings · Minor Arcana · Cups

Six of Cups. In a sunny old courtyard, an older child hands a younger one a cup filled with white flowers. Six cups of flowers sit around them, and a guard walks away in the background.

6 · Six of Cups

Minor Arcana · Cups

Yes or no: Leaning yes

The Six of Cups shows water as memory and innocent kindness. It teaches how the past can nourish the present without holding it back.

Upright

nostalgia
childhood memories
innocence
kindness
reunion
comfort
simple joys

Reversed

living in the past
moving forward
unrealistic nostalgia
leaving home
outgrowing
rose-tinted memories

Upright

The Six of Cups carries the sweetness of memory. It may bring a reunion, a visit to a familiar place, or a return of the simple, playful kindness you knew when you were younger. This card speaks of innocence, generosity, and the comfort of the familiar. It invites you to reconnect with what brought you joy before life got complicated, and to offer small, heartfelt gestures to others. Looking back can be healing when it reminds you who you are and what you value.

Reversed

Reversed, the Six of Cups suggests a complicated relationship with the past. You may be holding on to how things used to be, idealizing old times, or struggling to accept change. On the other hand, it can signal that you are ready to move forward and leave an old chapter behind. This card invites you to take what is precious from your memories while letting go of what keeps you stuck. The past can be a source of wisdom without becoming a place you live.

In each area

Area	Upright	Reversed
Love	Sweet, familiar affection or reconnecting with someone from the past may feature.	Idealizing a past love may block the present. Look at what is real now.
Career	Returning to an old passion or familiar skill may bring satisfaction.	It may be time to move beyond old ways of working and embrace growth.
Finances	Generosity, gifts, or family support may play a role now.	Old money habits may need updating. Plan for the present, not the past.
Wellbeing	Comforting routines and playful activities can nourish your wellbeing.	Letting go of old patterns may make room for habits that fit who you are now.
Feelings	Someone may feel tender, nostalgic, and fond of shared memories.	Feelings may be stuck in the past or ready to move on.
Advice	Reconnect with simple joys and offer kindness freely.	Honor the past, then turn your attention to the present.
Spiritual	Your inner child may have wisdom to share. Listen with openness.	Outgrowing old beliefs is part of spiritual growth.

In a spread

Past: Childhood experiences or old connections shaped your current feelings.
Present: Memories and familiar comforts are influencing you now.
Future: A reunion, a return to something familiar, or a sweet gesture may be ahead.

Correspondences

Numerology: Six — harmony and exchange

The imagery

In a sunny old courtyard, an older child hands a younger one a cup filled with white flowers. Six cups of flowers sit around them, and a guard walks away in the background.