Tarot Tuesday- The Six of Cups: Nostalgia, Kindness, and Soulful Connection

Scarly
Aug 12
5 min read

In the Tarot, the Six of Cups is one of the most tender and heartwarming cards in the deck. Found in the suit of Cups, associated with emotions, relationships, intuition, and the heart, the Six of Cups carries a special energy of innocence, joy, and reconnection. It invites reflection on where one has come from, the people who have shaped life’s journey, and the importance of giving and receiving love without condition.

While its surface imagery speaks to childhood memories and nostalgia, the Six of Cups also has a deeper spiritual message: it reminds the seeker that while the past can hold valuable lessons, true magic happens when those lessons are used to create joy in the present.

Symbolism in the Six of Cups

Most traditional depictions, such as in the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot, show two children in a quaint village scene. One child offers a cup filled with flowers to the other, symbolizing a gesture of kindness and innocence. Around them are five other cups, also filled with blooms, and a sense of peace pervades the card.

Key symbols include:

Children – Innocence, purity, and a sense of trust. They represent the unguarded openness of the heart before it’s shaped by hardship.
Flowers in Cups – Beauty, gentleness, and the idea that emotions (cups) can be filled with gifts of love and joy.
Village Setting – Safety, familiarity, and the idea of “home”—whether that’s a physical place or a feeling.
Bright Colors – A reminder of optimism, hope, and the joy found in simple pleasures.

Upright Meaning

When the Six of Cups appears upright, it often signals a time of looking back with fondness. It can point toward childhood memories, reconnecting with people from the past, or rediscovering a part of the self that feels pure and genuine. There’s a sense of healing here, where the past is remembered with love instead of regret.

Themes of the Upright Six of Cups:

Nostalgia – Recalling good times from the past, possibly reconnecting with old friends or family.
Innocence – Seeing situations or people without cynicism, with an open heart.
Kindness – Giving without expectation of return, simple acts of generosity.
Emotional Healing – Making peace with what has come before.
Home & Roots – Feeling connected to where one comes from—ancestry, heritage, and spiritual lineage.

In relationship readings, this card can indicate a reconnection with an old love, or the sweetness of a bond that feels pure and true. In career or creative readings, it might encourage returning to the basics, finding joy in the work itself rather than chasing external validation.

Reversed Meaning

When reversed, the Six of Cups often asks for discernment when engaging with the past. Nostalgia can be beautiful, but it can also be a trap if it keeps someone from fully living in the present. This card reversed can point to unrealistic expectations, being stuck in “the way things used to be,” or refusing to let go of old wounds.

Themes of the Reversed Six of Cups:

Living in the Past – Romanticizing what was and ignoring the now.
Emotional Immaturity – Avoiding adult responsibilities or clinging to a childlike worldview without balance.
Unresolved Childhood Issues – Past experiences influencing present choices in unhealthy ways.
Letting Go – A nudge to release nostalgia when it becomes a weight rather than a gift.

Reversed, it’s an invitation to honor memories while recognizing that growth requires moving forward.

Spiritual Lessons of the Six of Cups

At its core, the Six of Cups teaches the importance of heart-centered giving and receiving. It invites reflection on emotional roots, where habits, beliefs, and ways of loving originate, and how to use that knowledge to create a more fulfilling present.

It’s also deeply connected to the inner child, that vulnerable yet creative part of the self that thrives on wonder, joy, and authentic connection. Healing the inner child can unlock a renewed capacity for trust, love, and creativity.

How to Use the Six of Cups in Spiritual and Magical Practice

The Six of Cups is not only a card for reflection, it can be a magical ally in emotional healing, relationship work, and heart-centered spells. Here are some ways to work with it:

1. Inner Child Healing Ritual

Place the Six of Cups card on your altar.
Surround it with objects from childhood that evoke joy—photos, toys, scents, or music.
Light a pink or white candle for love and innocence.
Hold the card, close your eyes, and visualize meeting your younger self in a safe space. Offer them a symbolic “cup” filled with flowers, promising to protect and honor them.
Journal about any messages or feelings that arise.

2. Ancestral Connection Work

The card’s imagery often ties to family and roots. Use it in ancestor rituals by:

Placing the card alongside family photos or heirlooms.
Offering fresh flowers in a cup or goblet to honor lineage.
Meditating on the ways ancestral love flows into your present life.

3. Kindness Attraction Spell

If seeking to bring more generosity and warmth into life:

On a Friday (day of Venus), place the Six of Cups on your altar with rose petals, honey, and a small dish of water.
Whisper intentions for kindness, loving connections, and open-hearted exchanges.
Each time an opportunity for kindness appears, act on it, magical energy amplifies through action.

4. Releasing Stagnant Nostalgia

If the reversed energy of the card feels present:

Write down memories or attachments that are holding you back.
Place the paper under the Six of Cups card and a black candle.
As the candle burns, visualize transforming those memories into light and gratitude, allowing them to become part of your strength instead of a chain.

Bonus: Six of Cups Tarot Spread — "The Gift of the Past"

Purpose: To explore what the past is offering, how to integrate it into the present, and how to move forward with emotional clarity.

Number of Cards: 6 (to reflect the Six of Cups)

Card Positions:

The Root Memory – A key experience from the past influencing emotions or choices today.
The Gift – The wisdom, lesson, or blessing the past is offering right now.
The Present Connection – How this memory or energy is playing out in the current life.
The Inner Child’s Voice – A message from the inner child, what they most want or need to feel safe and loved.
The Healing Path – Actions, attitudes, or rituals to integrate the lessons of the past and nurture emotional growth.
The Cup You Share – The gift to be shared with others once healing and integration have taken place.

How to Use the Spread:

Place the Six of Cups card in the center of the reading area as a focal point.
Shuffle while reflecting on the question: "What wisdom does the past hold for me, and how can it guide my present?”
Lay the six cards in a circle around the Six of Cups, moving clockwise from Position 1 to 6.
After reading, take a few minutes to journal insights, especially any repeating symbols or themes.

Optional Magical Layer:

Burn a pink candle during the reading for love and compassion.
Place a small cup of water nearby to symbolize emotional flow.
After the reading, pour the water into the earth or a houseplant as a gesture of releasing old energy and planting new intentions.

Final Thoughts

The Six of Cups is a gentle reminder that love, kindness, and joy are most potent when offered without strings. It teaches that while the past is a treasure chest of experiences, the present moment is where those treasures can truly be shared. Whether upright or reversed, it invites the seeker to examine how the heart connects to memory, and how those connections shape relationships, creativity, and spiritual growth.

By working with the Six of Cups intentionally, through rituals, reflection, or the included tarot spread, it’s possible to unlock deeper compassion for oneself and others. After all, the greatest gift the Six of Cups offers is the understanding that love given freely is never wasted; it ripples outward, shaping both the giver and receiver in beautiful ways.