When you draw some tarot cards, their meaning is very clear. With others, you need to dig a little deeper to ascertain how this can be interpreted and applied to your life. And this is often the case with the Three of Cups tarot card.
The Three of Cups is the third tarot card in the tarot Suit of Cups. The Three of Cups is a joyful and significant tarot card that signifies community, friendship, and celebration. This is a card of happiness and will bring satisfaction and enjoyment to your life. If you have an emotional goal that you want to reach or a creative project to achieve then this card has the potential to help you.
If you want to learn more about the Three of Cups and how you can interpret its meaning on a deep and personal level then read on as we delve into this fascinating card.
Three of Cups Keywords
Upright card (keywords)
Friendship, community, gatherings, celebrations, group events, social events
Reversed card (keywords)
Gossip, scandal, excess, isolation, loneliness, solitude, imbalanced social life
Description of the Three of Cups
In the Rider-Waite deck, the image on the Three of Cups tarot card showcases three figures standing in a collaborative circle and facing in towards each other. This is a group of women. Each figure is holding a golden cup or chalice and they’re holding their cups together as a symbol of collaboration and friendship. They look to be having a wonderful time.
The number three represents collaboration, growth, and the importance of working together. At the feet of the three figures on the Rider-Waite tarot card is a bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables. This is a good indication of growth, and abundance, and a cause for celebration.
The Three of Cups tarot card has a strong feminine energy, not just because the figures depicted on the card are all female but also because of its messages of connection and community. Women gathering to celebrate, share joy, and nurture each other.
The sky of the card is a vibrant blue color. This indicates wealth and a lack of worries: there isn’t a cloud in the sky. The overall feeling and significance of the card is one of celebration, emotional stability, and true happiness. When this card appears it’s time to show gratitude for what you already have and your good luck at having such abundance in your life.
Three of Cups Upright Meaning
So, what are the Three of Cups key meanings? If you draw this card, it’s likely that you either have a special event coming up or a celebration to plan. This list of celebrations this could be referring to is near-endless but includes weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, the birth of a child, an engagement, or other social gatherings.
The energy of this card is positive, and it means you have a lot to look forward to. If you don’t have a celebration coming up then perhaps someone that you haven’t seen for a long time will come back into your life. What this card means in your own life will vary from person to person but you can expect people to come together with open hearts in an emotionally positive celebration that is uplifting and exudes positive energy.
When you draw the Three of Cups tarot card it is giving you permission to take a break from your everyday life. Spend quality time with your friends, family, loved ones, and those in your community to celebrate, bond with others, and refill your own cup.
Three of Cups—Love meaning
So how can this relate to love and romance? if you’re looking for a love reading then read on! You might not immediately associate the Three of Cups tarot card with a romantic relationship but it‘s important to remember that while this is a card with a strong feminine energy, it doesn’t just relate to female connections. It can also signify positive relationships, connections, and cause for celebration between individuals of all genders.
True friends and real friends of all kinds are the Three of Cups keywords of note.
If you’re single and looking for love then the Three of Cups tarot card appearing in your tarot spread indicates that someone from your past could come back into your life to form a romantic attachment and start a new beginning with you. This could well be your true love. The community and celebratory aspects of the card can also be considered a sign that after a period of being alone (and feeling lonely) you will have a group of potential suitors.
If you’re already in a relationship then this either means that you have a celebration of some sort to look forward to in your relationship or that it’s time to plan a celebration of your relationship: an engagement shower, wedding, or baby shower perhaps? If you have already achieved these milestones then the card could be pointing towards attending many celebrations and parties with your romantic partner this year.
Three of Cups—Career meaning
The Three of Cups meaning from a career perspective is also a positive card, indicating that you will have something to celebrate. Perhaps you will reach a new career goal, or achieve a job promotion that you’ve been working towards. It could also indicate that you will successfully graduate from a course, or even plan a successful office party, leaning into the celebratory aspects of the card. The tarot card meaning is that hard work pays off!
If you’re working collaboratively as part of a wider team, the card suggests that you will work harmoniously. You’ll find group work easy, and the mood in your work environment will be positive too. Interacting with your colleagues in social situations is no bad thing here.
This is a great time to find joy in your workplace and to focus on advancing your career.
Three of Cups—Finances meaning
Wondering what the Three of Cups tarot card will mean for your financial success? This card brings good news! In the spirit of celebration, you will have a lot to celebrate financially, entering a time of plenty and good fortune. If you don’t already have the financial stability that you crave then the card indicates that this is coming.
But this card does come with a financial caveat. While you will have financial fortune, you will also be socializing more and have increased financial outgoings as a result of the celebrations that you are both planning and attending. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to your finances and manage them accordingly. You should use common sense when managing your finances. Don’t get too carried away with your spending to the detriment of your financial stability.
Your present position allows you to be financially generous, and this is a great way to cement bonds and nurture relationships. Celebrate your loved one with joy and let loose, but temper this with responsibility to ensure your good fortune is long lasting.
Reversed Three of Cups meaning
When the Three of Cups tarot card is drawn in the reverse position, this is a sign of canceled celebrations. Perhaps a celebration that you have misgivings about, such as a wedding for a marriage you don’t feel will be successful, is canceled. Or perhaps you simply don’t have a sense of joy about attending the happy occasion.
The most negative Three of Cups meaning in the reverse position is that without celebrations to attend within your community, you may be left feeling isolated and lonely. The Three of Cups card in the past position can mean that you are losing touch with your friends and family or that you are too busy to spend time with people as you once did.
It’s important to make time to socialize, to fill your own cup, and to make the effort to nurture your relationships with your friends and family members. Friendships can often be neglected when we have children or focus on our careers, but this can create emotional imbalance and lead to a lack of community engagement.
If you have an active social circle, then the Three of Cups tarot card in the reverse position could indicate a lack of harmony within your group. Perhaps jealousy and gossip are rearing their ugly heads.
Reversed Three of Cups—Love meaning
If you’re looking for a love tarot reading then the Three of Cups tarot in the reverse position offers a warning that you may have plenty of suitors, but these might not be the right choice for you. Lots of dates in the near future will lead to an active social life and you will have plenty of fun, but when the initial spark passes, you can expect to see these new flames burn out quickly.
This might be a good time in your life if you’re looking to have some fun, but it’s not the right time to find a lasting love match.
If you’re already in a long-term relationship, then you should view the Three of Cups meaning in reverse as a warning that those around you may seek to have a negative impact on your relationship. It could be the subject of gossip, rumors, and lies.
Be wary of anyone with the potential to do your relationship harm, and consider facing inward at this stage, building and strengthening your relationship with your romantic partner without engaging with any outside influences.
Reversed Three of Cups—Career meaning
When the Three of Cups card is drawn in the reverse position you may find that the celebrations, progress, or advancements that you were expecting in your career don’t go quite as planned. There are many different outcomes that this could signal. If you are planning a work party or conference, for example, this could mean that it will be canceled, delayed, or subject to some other inconvenience.
You might also find that your once warm and friendly workplace environment has turned toxic. Creative collaborations may not be as easy as they once were. Gossip, undermining behaviors, and a general lack of mutual support and respect can lead to emotional instability and introversion as you seek to avoid the negative energies in your workplace. Be wary of sharing your personal information with those who might exploit it.
Removing yourself from any workplace negativity is the best course of action here. Don’t engage with third party negative forces or fuel the fire of the office rumor mill. Young women in particular can be victims of workplace gossip. If this leads you to be withdrawn and lonely in the workplace then balance this by ensuring you have an active social life and supportive friendship groups in your personal life.
Reversed Three of Cups—Finances meaning
If the Three of Cups tarot card indicates financial stability then the Three of Cups meaning in the reverse position is of financial stress and uncertainty. This is usually related to a strain placed on your budget: perhaps you have been invited to a hen party or an overseas wedding that you can’t afford to attend?
It can sometimes be difficult to find a balance between attending social events and celebrations to nurture your closest friends and forge relationships with having the financial assets available to pay for these endeavors. This could be a sign that you have been spending too much money on partying and socializing. It’s time to balance your books by finding affordable ways to spend time with your friends, or even finding pleasure in your own company and relaxing nights in.
This reverse Three of Cups description is a warning not to lose track of your financial goals, or to give up the progress you are making for something as frivolous as a party or celebration.
Other Cards with Three of Cups
The sense of community, friendship, and celebration that excuses from the Three of Cups tarot card pairs particularly well when dealt alongside others from the tarot deck. Some of the most interesting pairings are outlined below.
The Three of Cups and the Empress
The Three of Cups is the Minor Arcana card and the Empress is a Major Arcana card. It is always interesting when Minor Arcana and Major Arcana cards are drawn together. When these two cards are drawn together they represent joy and strong social connections. The Empress focuses on a sense of belonging and is also a card with a feminine energy. When you draw these cards together it sends a clear message that female friendships should be nurtured.
The Three of Cups and the Six of Cups
If the Three of Cups is about enjoying celebrations and forming connections now then the Six of Cups is a card that represents a sense of nostalgia for memories of loved ones and community engagement. When these cards are paired they send a message about positive social interactions and the importance of having these in your life.
The Three of Cups and the Two of Cups
The focus of the Two of Cups is on romantic partnerships, finding a balanced and satisfying relationship built on mutual love and respect. The Three of Cups tarot card description is about a wider love for the community, a social love. But when these cards are drawn together they share a message about building connections through relationships, but with a lover and with your wider community.
The Three of Cups and its Astrological Sign
Like the other suit cards in the Suit of Cups in the Minor Arcana, the Three of Cups tarot card is strongly associated with the water zodiac signs. These are Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio. The element of water is a creative one. But the Three of Cups in particular resonates with the the second decan of Cancer and it is ruled by the moon.
This is because the Three of Cups is a feminine card that represents abundance, feminine celebration, and the joy of emotional release. Unlike the Ace of Cups and the Two of Cups which firmly focus their energies in the water zodiac signs, the Three of Cups also has links with Libra and Taurus. This is because these two signs are represented by Venus, and the virtues of Venus are at play here.
These virtues are luxury, taste, quality, and creativity. All wonderful qualities to have in your social life in abundance.
Conclusion
The Three of Cups is a fascinating tarot card that emphasizes the importance of community, and social engagement. The Tarot meaning reminds us that no man is an island, and the loneliness and emotional unbalance that can be caused by avoiding wider celebrations and community engagement should be avoided. The main meaning of this card is that focusing on your emotional state is important.
Cups tarot card meanings can be interpreted in many different ways. Whether you need to build bonds at work, in your relationships, or with your friends and family, this card serves as a timely reminder that good relationships take work, and you need to be prepared to put that work in.
Want to learn more about what the Three of Cups means for you? Or have a fuller tarot card reading to gain a better understanding of your life right now? Get in touch and claim your free tarot reading today.
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