Tarot 101: Suit of Cups
If I had to give the suits personality types, I think the suit of Cups would be the nice, loving, happy suit. While there are a few meh cards, overall the vibe of the suit of Cups is positive, unlike the suit of Swords, which is anxiety-ridden and full of dark shit. So let’s take a deeper dive into the suit of Cups.
The General Meaning
The suit of Cups represent the element of water, which is associated with emotions, intuition, and the subconscious mind. The Cups cards are often associated with matters of the heart, emotions, relationships, and creativity. They can also represent intuition, imagination, and spirituality.
Of all the suits, the suit of Cups is the card most linked to a connection with the higher self or the Divine via intuition, creativity, and dreams. These qualities can be seen as conduits for divine communication, as many believe that divine guidance can be accessed through meditation, dreams, and other forms of inner reflection. Similarly, the court cards in the Cups suit, which represent personality types and archetypes, may be interpreted as messengers or guides from the Divine. The Page of Cups, for example, can be interpreted as a sign of spiritual insight or creative inspiration, while the Queen of Cups may be interpreted as a symbol of empathy and intuition.
The suit of Cups is connected to The High Priestess in the Major Arcana, the archetype of the Divine Feminine. The High Priestess promotes growth through meditation and spiritual connection, and has deep roots in the subconscious and intuition. She is slow and quiet, preferring to communicate via emotion and inspiration.
Seasonally, the suit of Cups represents spring, a time of slow growth and awakening, a connection to the primal root, and aligns with the months March — May.
The suit of Cups is also equivalent to the suit of Hearts in traditional play cards.
Zodiac References
The suit of Cups is associated with the zodiac signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Cancer (June 22 — July 22) is associated with emotional sensitivity and intuition, which align with themes of the suit of Cups.
Scorpio (October 23 — November 21) is associated with depth of feeling and ability to delve into the dark and mysterious aspects of life, which are also key themes of the suit of Cups.
Pisces (February 19 — March 20) is associated with creativity, spirituality, and empathy, again, all falling into the realm of the Cups.
A Brief History of the Cup in Tarot
The suit of Cups is believed to have its roots in the medieval European “courtly love” tradition, which emphasized emotional and spiritual connections between individuals. The chalice or cup was a common symbol in this tradition, representing the vessel of the heart and the sharing of emotions between lovers. The symbolism of the cup was later incorporated into the Tarot deck as a representation of emotions, relationships, and the unconscious mind.
In early Tarot decks, the suit of Cups was referred to as the suit of Chalices or Goblets, reflecting its association with this courtly love tradition. The French Tarot de Marseille, one of the oldest and most influential Tarot decks, depicts the Cups suit as stylized chalices with bejeweled and ornate handles and bases.
In modern decks, the suit of Cups can be represented a variety of different themes depending on the deck. I have see the use of elements (Water), Potions, Poisons, Eggs, Emotions, Feelings, and Vessels (not to be confused with the suit of Vessels in the Terra Volatile, something entirely different), each with their unique illustrative representations.
Originally published at https://www.pixel-tarot.com on April 14, 2023.
