MINOR ARCANA · CUPS
Six of Cups
Explore the imagery, upright and reversed readings, and its place in the Royal / Dragon Tarot universe.
THE 78 CARDS · RESEARCH NOTES
Meaning & symbolism
Traditional Rider–Waite–Smith symbolism and an editorial Royal / Dragon adaptation for this card.
Upright keywords
Memory · kindness · the inner child · returning
Upright meaning
Two children meet in a courtyard with cups of flowers. The scene suggests safe memories, simple acts of kindness, and familiar comforts. The card may involve reconnecting with an old friend, learning from the past, or nurturing an innocent part of oneself without denying the present.
Reversed keywords
Idealizing the past · difficulty growing · old wounds
Reversed meaning
Nostalgia can become an escape from current life, or an old memory can shape present reactions. Reversal may instead mark the moment to put the past in its place and grow. It does not guarantee that an ex-partner will return.
RWS image & symbols
Two children exchange a flower-filled cup, expressing giving and receiving; six cups hold the resources of memory; a courtyard and buildings suggest belonging; an adult walking away signals passing time; the warm coloring evokes recollection.
Reader's lens
What is worth carrying forward from the past without demanding that the world become what it was?
Royal / Dragon adaptation
Show two young royal children exchanging flowers with exactly six cups. Any adult in the background must also be royal.
Research edition based on the supplied 78-card manuscript. Symbolic interpretations are contextual, not guaranteed predictions or professional advice. Sonam Zangmo’s individual card interpretations will be added following editorial review.