(The above image is a copy of The Three of Cups card in a standard Rider-Waite Tarot deck. The 3 symbols pointed out above are explained below.)
Card Description
Much like the Four of Wands, the Three of Cups is about celebration and community. In it, three women dance around in a circle, in sync to a common goal. They raise their cups in a toast, celebrating their friendship and the harvest reaped by their shared will.
If you are looking for a deck of Tarot cards, check out our standard Rider-Waite deck here or check out one of our recent arrivals here.
For more information about The Three of Cups card, check out A. E. Waite’s description here.
Point 1 – THREE WOMEN
In the Three of Cups, three women dance around in a circle. While the Two of Cups focused on one’s relationship to one another, the Three of Cups focuses on one’s relationship to a community. In the dance circle, the women appear to view each other with respect and admiration, mutually participating in a celebration. Such is how all communities should act.
Point 2 – CUPS
While the cups in the previous card were used as vessels for healing water, the cups in this card are used as vessels for a celebratory drink. Held above the heads of the women, the cups are a toast for the celebration enjoyed by the community.
Point 3 – FRUITS ON THE GROUND
Fruits, flowers, and pumpkins grow on the ground where the women dance. The abundance of flora represents the harvest. The group has worked hard for this bounty and now they celebrate for a job well down.
Tarot Reading
Upright
An Upright Three of Cups encourages you to seek out your community of friends. Move beyond one-on-one relationships and engage with a group of people through shared experiences and interests. If you are going through hard times, having a support system can infinitely improve your situation and mental health.
Reverse
A Reverse Three of Cups suggest that maybe you need to take a break from your friend group. Everybody needs their alone time to self-reflect and meditate. Overindulging in your community can limit the emotional depth that communities can bring to your life. Take some time to explore your inner self so that when you return to your community, it feels like a grand reunion.
For more Tarot Card Meanings, check out our blog here.
Video
Jim Daley and his wife Natalie are the owners of Joker’s and Fools in Lake Wales, Florida, where they serve the Central Florida tarot community with a thoughtfully curated selection of Tarot and Oracle cards. Jim holds a B.A. in History from Tufts University and brings both academic insight and a deep appreciation for the symbolic tradition of the cards to his work.
