Five of cups tarot card meaning: grief, sorrow, regret
Key points
– Main Message:
The Five of Cups card represents grief, sorrow, regret, and disappointment over past choices or losses. It also symbolizes focusing too much on the negatives instead of acknowledging what remains.
– Key Symbolism:
The card depicts a cloaked figure with their back turned to two upright cups while gazing sadly at three spilled cups on the ground, representing things that can no longer be changed.
– Advice:
Rather than dwelling on past mistakes or things that went wrong, this card advises looking ahead to the future and the opportunities that still exist. It encourages letting go of regret and moving forward.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to the Five of Cups
- Overview of the Five of Cups Card
- Symbolism and Imagery
- Core Meanings of the Five of Cups
- Interpreting the Five of Cups in Readings
- Love and Relationships
- Career and Finances
- Personal Growth and Spirituality
- Five of Cups in Different Tarot Spreads
- Tips for Beginners
- Common Misinterpretations
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Introduction to the Five of Cups
The Five of Cups is about loss, disappointment and regret. It shows somebody who is mourning and has their mind stuck in the past, focused on what went wrong. They feel sad about something that happened and is lingering on it rather than moving forward.
Overview of the Five of Cups Card
Symbolism
The imagery on this card depicts a person standing in front of three spilled cups, grieving over what is lost. But if they looked up, they would see two full cups behind them, representing hope and opportunities that remain. It suggests wallowing in the bad, loitering on the spilled milk.
Potential Meanings
This card can mean sadness, loss, regret, failure or disappointment. Maybe a relationship ended or a job didn’t work out. Or it could be about hard times like an illness. Basically, it’s when the bad swamps out everything good and all you see is the mess behind you rather than new possibilities ahead.
Symbolism and Imagery
The symbolism in this card is pretty straightforward. You got three spilled cups on the ground, representing what’s been knocked over. The dude kneeling in front of them is crying, moping about the spilt juice. But if they looked up from wallowing in self-pity, they’d notice two full cups behind them. So it’s saying focus too much on what you don’t got and you’ll miss what you do got. Don’t lose hope – there’s still good things, you just gotta lift your head up from the dirt to see ’em. That’s basically the message of the Five of Cups card – don’t dwell in the past or you’ll miss the present opportunities.
Core Meanings of the Five of Cups
The Five of Cups generally refers to sadness, regret, loss and disappointment. This card signifies the need to reflect on challenges and difficult times we’ve gone through. It shows somebody dwelling on past mistakes or failures instead of looking ahead to the future.
Upright Meaning
When upright, the Five of Cups warns not to live in the past and brood over what’s gone wrong. It encourages recognizing difficult periods as opportunities for personal growth. We might be feeling down but should try seeing what we can learn from tough situations before moving on.
Reversed Meaning
In reverse, the Five of Cups suggests releasing harsh self-judgment and letting go of past grief. It hopefully means shifting perspective, realizing there’s more to life than what didn’t work out. The message is not getting stuck in sadness but instead opening up to new chances.
Emotional and Psychological Aspects
This card often represents sadness, depression, or being in a low emotional state. We might dwell on losses and feel overwhelmed by grief. But the advice is understanding these phases are normal after difficult times. With patience and self-care, our mood should eventually lift as we accept change and welcome new adventures.
Interpreting the Five of Cups in Readings
The Five of Cups usually indicates sorrow, loss and regret. And it might show up when you’re feeling down about something that didn’t work out. But it’s important to remember that not all is lost – there’s still hope! Actually, this card can also mean it’s time to reflect on what didn’t go your way so you can learn from past mistakes. So don’t dwell on things you can’t change.
Love and Relationships
In relationships, the Five of Cups points to grief over a breakup or issues in your current relationship. Possibly there was betrayal or deception. But try not to focus so much on what went wrong – look at what’s still there that’s good. And hopefully you can work on rebuilding trust again. Communication is key, so have some honest talks with your partner.
Career and Finances
Career-wise, this card warns of potential setbacks or delays. A project might be put on hold or you didn’t get that promotion you wanted. But it’s only a temporary situation – new opportunities will come. In finances, watch out for lost income or an unexpected cost. Hopefully it’s nothing too drastic. Just be careful with spending until things stabilize again.
Personal Growth and Spirituality
Spiritually, the Five of Cups challenges you to accept life’s ups and downs. Nobody’s life is perfect. So don’t get stuck in regret or what-ifs. Learn compassion for yourself through difficult times. And work on being grateful for what you still have, rather than fixating on what’s missing. Meditation can help give you perspective and resilience during down periods. Overall, this card encourages moving past grief into a place of hard-won wisdom.
Five of Cups in Different Tarot Spreads
In a past, present, future spread, the Five of Cups can represent regret over past decisions and events that you can’t fix anymore. It shows that actually dwelling on past mistakes will just make you feel worse. The card hints that you need to start focusing on building a better present and future.
Celtic Cross Spread
When drawing the Five of Cups in the Celtic Cross spread, it could indicate that sadness over past failures are keeping you stuck and procrastinating. You may be seeing only what’s missing in life instead of appreciating what you still have. This card is a friendly reminder that loitering in the past won’t make things better – you have to start taking steps now towards a brighter tomorrow.
Three-Card Spread
In a simple three-card layout, the Five of Cups between two other cards might show that disappointments from the past are affecting your current situation. But it also implies there is still hope – you have the power to overcome sadness through learning life’s lessons and moving forward positively. The message is don’t lose sight of potential opportunities right in front of you because you’re too busy mourning what’s already gone.
Tips for Beginners
Actually, when you’re just starting out with tarot, don’t stress about the Five of Cups meaning. focus on getting comfortable with the cards and but remember it just takes practice. you’ll get better over time and develop your own intuition. and at the beginning, when this card comes up, don’t forget that what appears as sadness could also be a chance to reflect. hopefully it gives you an opportunity to learn something helpful or release what’s holding you back.
Common Misinterpretations
People seem to often think that this card just means crying over spilled milk, but it can show more too. you also gotta remember this doesn’t necessarily equate to actual spilled drinks. the ‘cups’ are symbolic of emotions and relationships. so it could also represent a missed chance or some emotional upset. it’s possible to fix or move past so don’t assume all hope is lost. at the same time, don’t ignore the lesson this card aims to teach.
Advice for Practicing with the Five of Cups
In order to really get familiar with this card’s advice, try focusing less on the sadness itself and more on what’s still whole. like, pay attention to the two full cups that remain standing. think about how you can fill those cups up instead of lingering on what spilled out.
And remember, every ending ultimately makes room for new beginnings, so keep your head high and look forward. or, see if reflecting on past relationships that ended poorly could give you insight on your present ones. big picture this card as a moment to pause and then look ahead hopefully instead of fearing what’s to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the 5 of cups a good sign if you're trying to get pregnant?
Usually not. Since the 5 of cups represents sadness, loss and disappointment, it’s typically not seen as auspicious if you’re hoping for positive news about getting pregnant or having a child. However, some tarot enthusiasts say it could mean you’ve recently experienced a loss but there is potential for new life further down the road.
Can the 5 of cups be a good omen sometimes?
Yes, sometimes the 5 of cups shows that while you’re feeling sadness now over what didn’t work out, better things will come along with time. It’s an opportunity for valuable life lessons that can help you heal and grow as a person. Upright, it suggests you have the inner strength to move past current challenges. It may signal the end of difficulty and new beginnings on the horizon.
What does the 5 of cups mean for work and career?
In work and career readings, the 5 of cups can indicate feeling disappointed in your current job or project. It suggests dwelling too much on past failures or setbacks. However, it can also mean it’s time to move in a new direction after outgrowing your previous position. Overall the card advises not getting stuck in negativity and instead focusing on new opportunities.
What zodiac sign is the 5 of cups associated with?
The 5 of cups is often associated with the zodiac sign of Scorpio. As a water sign, Scorpio rules deeply felt emotions. The 5’s themes of grief, regret and release also align well with Scorpio’s signature intensity in matters of love and relationships.
How can you get a more positive meaning from the 5 of cups?
To get a more positive interpretation, focus less on what was lost in the past and more on learning from mistakes to gain wisdom. See the spilled cups as unnecessary excess that is now cleared away, making room for new Full cups to enter your life. Have faith that challenges build strength of character, and all experiences come together for good.
Should you avoid the 5 of cups if doing a love reading?
Not necessarily. While the 5 of cups can indicate sadness in love affairs, it doesn’t necessarily equate to a ‘no.’ It depends on the other cards and your overall intuition. The 5 of cups often reflects a need to let go of past disappointments before better things can come. In a love reading, it may point to moving on from former heartbreaks to make space for fulfilling new connections.
What advice would you give to someone who keeps pulling the 5 of cups?
I would advise focusing on personal growth and healing. Reflect on what life lessons can be learned from losses. Take time to grieve but don’t stay stuck in sadness – express gratitude for present blessings as well. Have hope that better days are ahead once you gain a new perspective. Consider seeking help from trusted friends, a therapist, your spiritual/ religious community or journaling for guidance and healing.
