Words that describe the Five of Cups card
Grief
Betrayal
Loss
Acceptance
The Five of Cups represents feelings of loss, grief, and disappointment, often highlighting emotional pain or regret. It signals a time of focusing on what has been lost, which can lead to a sense of sadness or betrayal. However, this card also encourages the process of healing and recovery, urging you to let go of past hurts and refocus on the opportunities that still remain. It emphasizes resilience and the potential for moving forward despite emotional setbacks.
THE FIVE OF CUPS - Suit of Cups Tarot Card
The Five of Cups
THE FIVE OF CUPS - SUIT OF CUPS TAROT CARD MEANINGS
By Madhu Mohan
The General Description of the Five of Cups Card in Tarot
In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the Five of Cups depicts a cloaked figure standing before three spilled cups, mourning their loss. Behind them stand two upright cups, full and untouched, but the figure’s focus remains on what is gone. A river flows in the background, separating them from a bridge and a distant dwelling, suggesting that the way forward exists, but it is yet unseen.
This card speaks to grief, regret, and emotional disappointment. It is a card of sorrow, but not finality. The Five of Cups captures the moment of emotional pain before healing begins, the space where loss is felt deeply, and the heart is not yet ready to move on.
Upright position meaning of the Five of Cups Card in Tarot
When the Five of Cups appears upright, it represents grief, disappointment, or emotional setback. Something meaningful may not have gone as hoped, a relationship, a plan, a dream, and now you find yourself focused on what was lost. This card holds space for sadness, acknowledging that mourning is a necessary part of the emotional cycle.
However, the Five of Cups also reminds you that not all is lost. Behind the figure, two cups remain standing, symbolizing hope, support, or a new opportunity waiting to be noticed. The challenge here is to honor your feelings without becoming consumed by them. Eventually, your gaze will lift, and you will see the path forward.
In relationships, this may indicate heartbreak, regret, or a period of emotional distance. In work or spiritual life, it may suggest discouragement or disappointment in outcomes. Yet this card assures you that healing is possible, and that emotional clarity will come in time.
Let yourself grieve, but do not forget to look behind you. There is still something left to love, rebuild, or reclaim.
Reversed position meaning of the Five of Cups Card in Tarot
When the Five of Cups appears reversed, it often marks a turning point in the healing process. You may be ready to forgive, to let go of regret, or to accept what cannot be changed. The pain may still linger, but the desire to move forward is growing stronger.
This card reversed can also suggest a shift in perspective, you may begin to notice the blessings that were overlooked during your time of sorrow. It can also reflect an apology, reconciliation, or the chance to rebuild something that once felt broken.
In relationships, it may indicate emotional healing, closure, or second chances. In personal growth, it reflects resilience, the inner decision to stop reliving the past and start living again.
However, if reversed in a more shadowed context, the card may also warn of avoidance, refusing to process grief, bypassing emotions, or covering pain with distraction. If that’s the case, the card invites you gently inward again. Healing doesn’t require rushing, it simply requires honesty.
Ultimately, the reversed Five of Cups reminds you: you are not your loss. Grief may shape your story, but it doesn’t end it. The heart is resilient, and ready to remember what still remains.
