Four of Cups Tarot Card Meaning

stable emotions

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

When determining the Four of Cups tarot card meaning, you should consider that it’s a Cups card and a Four. The Suit of Cups represents emotions and relationships. Fours represent equality, persistence, and stability.

In this way, we can determine that the Four of Cups represents stable emotions.

I always say the Four of Cups is “my card.” Whenever I’m buying a new deck, I always want to know what the Four of Cups will look like because I just know I’m going to pull it a lot.

For me, personally, the Four of Cups usually signifies that I need a challenge or a change because I’m bored and restless with the way things are. But not everyone will feel that way. Some people find routine and stability comforting and seeing the Four of Cups is a relief like “yes, things are going to be steady.”

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

What is your first impression?

Where is the forth cup coming from? Is the figure ignoring it deliberately or do they not notice it’s there? What is the figure doing? Why do they already have three cups?

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

Astrology: Moon in Cancer
Element: Water
Numerology: 4 (equality, persistence, stability)

Common Symbols

• An Offered Cup: to represent a new opportunity
• 3 Cups: three represents productivity

Keywords & Concepts

The Four of Cups for Personal Growth

Affirmation: I appreciate what I’ve been given.

Boredom and routine can often blind us to the things around us and cause us to miss opportunities. Try to break free of your routines, even if it’s just in small ways, so that you can continue to grow.

Ask Yourself:

• What ingrained emotional responses, useful in the past, limit your personal evolution now?
• What emotional resource are you taking for granted?

Interpreting the Four of Cups

Generally, the Four of Cups represents stable emotions. Now is a great time to look for the value of long-term commitments. Keep your emotions stable by refusing to give in to overwhelming emotion and drama. Learn to appreciate what you have and stop taking things for granted!

The Reversed Four 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 Four of Cups represents a lack of engagement:

• Boredom
• Daydreaming instead of being productive
• Ignoring opportunities
• Taking people for granted
• Spurning inspiration
• Wanting everything to stay the same

Examples of the Four 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 Four of Cups Tarot Card Meaning