Ace of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

a fresh emotional start

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Tarot Alley uses the Rider Waite type of deck for our meanings, symbols, interpretations, etc.

When determining the Ace of Cups tarot card meaning, you should consider that it’s a Cups card and an Ace. The Suit of Cups represents emotions and relationships. Aces represent new beginnings and opportunities.

In this way, we can determine that the Ace of Cups represents a fresh emotional start.

Take a look at the Rider-Waite Ace of Cups displayed to the left (or above).

What is your first impression?

Is this a demonstration or an offer? Where is the water coming from? What does the cup contain?

There’s no right or wrong answer here, just your interpretation.

Astrology: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Element: Water
Numerology: 1 (new beginnings and opportunities)

Common Symbols

• A Hand (often viewed as the Hand of God) to represent an offering. But remember, offers can be withdrawn so don’t dilly dally about your decision.

Keywords & Concepts

The Ace of Cups for Personal Growth

Affirmation: I listen to the counsel of my heart.

You need to be open with your emotions. A mature and centered person freely shares themselves without aggression.

Ask Yourself:

• What are you feeling right now?
• What motivates you the most – pleasure or pain? Why?
• How might your situation contain seeds of emotional growth?
• What hidden truths should you pursue?

Interpreting the Ace of Cups

Generally, the Ace of Cups represents a fresh emotional start. Open yourself up and trust your feelings. Accept the affection your given from others and – when possible – return it.

Take advantage of every opportunity to express love. Get in touch with the things that really matter to – and motivate – you. Listen to yourself!

The Reversed Ace of Cups

How you read reversals is a personal choice. You can ignore reversals and read them as if the card is upright (this is what I often choose to do) or you can interpret reversals as variations of what they would mean upright. There are 3 common ways to read reversals: as a negative interpretation, as an opposite interpretation, or as a block on the upright interpretation. Check out How to Read Reversals for more information.

Typically, a reversed Ace of Cups represents repression. Examples include:

• Hiding your feelings
• Spurning opportunities for love
• Rejecting your emotions
• Indulging in obsession to hide painful emotions

Examples of the Ace of Cups

Specific Interpretations

Specific situations are the general interpretation (from above) used for a specific situation (love, career, etc). There is no need to memorize these (or even look them up) if you understand the general interpretation. However, here are some basic interpretations for some specific situations:

the Ace of Cups Tarot Card Meaning