Diploma in

Learning the Tarot

Minor Arcana – The Suit of Cups (Eight to
Ten and the Court Cards)
 Uncover the symbolism of the Eight of Cups
to the Ten of Cups, and the court cards
Understand the upright meaning of the Eight of
Cups to the Ten of Cups, and the court cards
Explore the reversed meaning of the Eight of
Cups to the Ten of Cups, and the court cards
Examine major and minor arcana card
combinations

Objectives
Eight of Cups
Eight of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The Eight of Cups depicts a man walking
away in the dead of night towards a
mountain.
• He is departing a situation which is no
longer serving his emotional needs.
Eight of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The mountain and barren land symbolises
obstacles and challenges ahead.
• A nearby river represents surrounding
emotion.
• The man is leaving at night suggesting
escapism and abandonment.
Upright and
Reversed Eight of
Cups: General
meaning
Upright Eight of Cups:
General meaning
• Abandonment
• Walking away
• Leaving a bad situation
• Escapism
• Disappointment
Reversed Eight
of Cups: General
meaning
• Stagnation
• Fear of change
• Staying in a bad situation
• Low self-worth
Nine of Cups
Nine of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The Nine of Cups depicts a man sitting on a
wooden bench with his arms crossed.
• His smug expression shows contentment and
satisfaction.
• The cups above him symbolise emotional
fulfilment from his many accomplishments.
Upright and
Reversed Nine of
Cups: General
meaning
Upright Nine of Cups:
General meaning
• Satisfaction
• Wishes fulfilled
• Contentment
• Achievement
• Success
• Sense of well-being
Reversed Nine of Cups:
General meaning
• Dissatisfaction
• Lack of fulfilment
• Broken dreams
• Negative headspace
• Overindulgence
• Materialism
Ten of Cups
Ten of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The Ten of Cups depicts a happy stable
family.
• The rainbow is symbolic of peace, good
fortune, and blessings.
• The joyous children represent innocence,
playfulness, and creativity.
Ten of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The green land signifies fertility, and the calm
river is a metaphor for the infinite flow of love.
• The parents’ arms are stretched toward the
sky, expressing gratitude for their idyllic
family, and charmed lives.
Upright and
Reversed Ten of
Cups: General
meaning
Upright Ten of Cups:
General meaning
• Emotional happiness
• Stability
• Family gatherings
• Long-term relationships
• Security
• Happy families
• Domestic harmony
Reversed Ten of Cups:
General meaning
• Domestic conflict
• Unhappy home/family life
• Disconnection
• Misaligned values
• Lack of security/stability
Page of Cups
Page of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The Page of Cups depicts a young man holding
a cup with a fish peering over the top of it.
• His interest in the fish represents the
innocence, and curiosity we possess as
children.
Page of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The fish and the sea behind him represent the
element of water which relates to creativity,
feelings, intuition, and emotions.
• His blue hat symbolises his calm yet curious,
almost childlike nature.
• The red fabric of his clothing is a metaphor for
passion, while the floral print symbolises an
artistic, highly creative personality.
Upright and
Reversed Page of
Cups: General
meaning
Upright Page of Cups:
General meaning
• Inner child
• Innocence
• Creative opportunities
• Happy news
• Kindness
• Emotional insight
Reversed Page
of Cups: General
meaning
• Neglecting your inner child
• Immaturity
• Emotional vulnerability
• Insecurity
• Petulance
• Creative blocks
Knight of Cups
Knight of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The Knight of Cups depicts a youthful knight
gracefully riding a white horse while holding a
golden chalice, appearing to be a messenger of the
heart.
• The horse represents drive and energy. The white
of the horse is a symbol of spirituality and purity.
 Knight of Cups:
Symbolic description
• Over the knight’s armour, he wears a cloak
covered with fishes, symbolic of water,
consciousness, and creativity.

• His armour is artistic, not warlike.

• His helmet and boots are winged,

representing freedom.

• The stream which he is about to pass through

symbolises the power of emotions and
imagination to create a new life force, even
where it may seem that there is none.
Upright and
Reversed Knight
of Cups: General
meaning
Upright Knight
of Cups: General
meaning
• Heartfelt romance
• Charm
• Imagination
• Beauty
• Creativity
Reversed Knight
of Cups: General
meaning
• Disappointment in love
• Emotionally unavailable
• Manipulative
• Jealous
• Unrealistic
• Unreliable
Queen of Cups
Queen of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The Queen of Cups depicts a woman sitting on
her throne beside the ocean.
• Her feet are not touching the water, which
means she is looking at her feelings and
emotions from an outside perspective.
Queen of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The queen holds a golden chalice with angel-
shaped handles, symbolising her spirituality.
• She stares intently into the cup as if to draw
knowledge from it. This queen’s thoughts and
feelings come from her subconscious mind.
• The calmness of the water and the cloudless
blue sky resemble her serene mind.
Upright and
Reversed Queen
of Cups: General
meaning
Upright Queen
of Cups: General
meaning
• Emotionally connected
• Intuitive
• Compassionate
• Loving
• Sensitive
• Tender-hearted
Reversed Queen
of Cups: General
meaning
• Overwhelming emotion
• Emotionally draining/
manipulative
• Immaturity
• Self-centred
King of Cups
King of Cups:
Symbolic description
• The King of Cups depicts a man sitting on a
throne surrounded by water.
• He wears a necklace with a fish-shaped
amulet, representing his creativity which thrives
on the calm waters that surround him.
• The red and yellow colors on his cape represent
his passion and intellect, while the blue on his
attire shows his wisdom.
King of Cups:
Symbolic description
• He holds a gold chalice in one hand and a
gold scepter in the other, which indicates
balance and harmony.
• On the right side of the king, a fish jumps out
of the water and on his left-hand side, a ship.
This represents his balance between the
emotional and material worlds.
Upright and
Reversed King of
Cups: General
meaning
Upright King
of Cups: General
meaning
• Emotionally balanced
• Generous
• Compassionate
• Tolerant
• Diplomatic
Reversed King
of Cups: General
meaning
• Emotionally
manipulative/immature
• Overwhelmed
• Anxious
• Withdrawn
• Selfish
Card
combinations
The King of Cups and
the Queen of Cups
• King of Cups: emotionally balanced,
generous, compassionate, tolerant,
and diplomatic.
• Queen of Cups: emotionally
connected, intuitive,
compassionate, loving, sensitive,
and tender-hearted.
Eight of Cups
and the Ace
of Cups
• Eight of Cups: walking away,
leaving a bad situation, and
disappointment.
• Ace of Cups: new relationships,
compassion, emotional awakening,
love, and intimacy.
The Nine of Cups
and the World
• Nine of Cups: wishes fulfilled,
contentment, achievement, and
success.
• The World: completion, achievement,
accomplishment, wholeness, and
mastery.