Five of Cups
Five of Cups
Keywords: Lord of Lost Pleasure, Emotional Crisis, Disappointment, Sorrow
Personality State
The Five of Cups represents someone deeply immersed in sadness, regret, or disillusionment. They may feel overwhelmed by loss or disappointment and unable to see what remains positive around them.
On a Deeper Level
This card embodies emotional crisis and grief — the heart’s confrontation with unmet expectations and loss. It also carries a hidden promise: that space cleared by loss will eventually be filled with new hope and possibilities, symbolized by the two cups still standing behind the figure.
Professional Situation
At work, the Five of Cups may signal setbacks, disappointment, or frustration when outcomes do not meet expectations. Yet it also hints that not all is lost — valuable lessons or unrecognized opportunities remain.
Financial and Housing Condition
Financially or regarding housing, this card can point to temporary losses, unfulfilled plans, or regrets about past decisions. It also suggests that despite current challenges, supportive resources or new paths still exist.
Personal Relationships
In relationships, the Five of Cups reflects heartbreak, estrangement, or sorrow over something that has ended or changed. However, it also highlights the presence of people who care and can offer support during emotional difficulty.
Health Condition
Health-wise, this card suggests emotional stress, grief-related fatigue, or depression. Healing will take time, but support from others and self-compassion can restore emotional balance.
Reversed Card Meaning
Reversed, the Five of Cups indicates the beginning of recovery from grief, acceptance of loss, and turning toward new opportunities. It marks the moment when perspective shifts and one can see the blessings that remain.
Manifestation in Combinations
- + The Star: hope and renewal arising from sorrow
- + The Sun: moving out of grief into joy and vitality
- + Two of Cups: reconciliation or new emotional bonds after loss
- + The World: completion of a painful cycle and emergence into wholeness
- + Death: profound transformation following emotional endings
Archetypal Correspondences
Symbolism: Three spilled cups, two still standing — grief and the promise of renewal
Theme: Loss, emotional crisis, hidden opportunities in adversity
Learn more about the Five of Cups and how its lessons of loss and renewal appear in the tarot with the Learning Tarot guide. 🌊