
Three of Cups Tarot Card
The Tarot Suit of Cups

The Tarot Suit of Cups is associated with the suit of Hearts in standard playing cards.
The cups depicted on tarot cards are usually, but not necessarily, in the style of ceremonial cups, chalices, or goblets. There are meanings associated with each of the suits in a tarot deck, as well as the more specific interpretations associated with each individual card and the yet more precise meanings of particular cards in particular locations within spreads.
The suit of cups is associated with the element of water (as in water signs of the zodiac). It is also associated with the season of autumn, also known as 'fall' in U.S. English, and with the direction West.
Cups concern emotions, love, romance, the wide range of emotions, mastery of emotions and feelings, and 'gut reactions' that call upon our intuitive as opposed to intellectual abilities and development.
The 'Threes' in the tarot deck are sometimes said to suggest a family unit of mother, father and child. This can represent the resolution of the tension inherent in the number 'two' to due to the opposition of extremes. However, this numerical 'theme' is not always used when describing the meanings of '3's tarot cards because interpretations of the cards bearing the number three vary considerably across the four suits.
The 3 of Cups is one of the most joyous cards in the tarot deck. A delightful example of this is shown in the Robin Wood deck in which three young women are depicted dancing energetically yet gracefully holding cups and wearing brightly coloured dresses. This card is a positive as it looks in that image. Some commentaries about the 3 of Cups Tarot Card explain that those three women are toasting successes achieved by working together.
Keywords and phrases for some of the possible interpretations of the 3 of Cups Tarot Card include:
- Artistic talents
- Fulfillment
- Good fortune (good luck)
- Healing
- Joy
- Sensitivity
What about the Three of Cups Reversed ?
Some interpretations of the meaning of the 3 of Cups reversed include:
- Stifled emotions and/or creativity
- "Three is a crowd", i.e. two of a group of three people might not entirely welcome the third person
- Isolation from a group or community
The Tarot Suit of Cups
The Tarot Suit of Cups is associated with the suit of Hearts in standard playing cards.
The "Cups" depicted on tarot cards are usually in the style of goblets, ceremonial, or communion cups (as above). There are meanings associated with each of the suits in a tarot deck, as well as the more specific interpretations associated with each individual card - and yet more precise meanings pertaining to particular cards in particular locations within spreads.
The suit of cups is associated with the element of water (as in water signs of the zodiac). It is also associated with the season of autumn (or "fall" in U.S. English) and with the direction "West".
Cups concern emotions, love, romance, range of emotions, mastery of emotions and feelings, and "gut reactions" that call upon our intuitive as opposed to intellectual development.