Three of Cups Tarot Card Meanings

Three of Cups Tarot Card Meanings

What does the Three of Cups card mean in a Tarot Reading?

Three Tarot Cups is the Tarot card that means a holiday and the reason for it. It tells about a great happiness or joy in the future. Three of Cups is often considered a “Reunion” card in its broadest sense, a return or a purposeful encounter with someone. Usually an optimistic card.
The Three of Cups represents happiness, connection, and fruitfulness. It signals a time for emotional growth and celebration.
The Three of Cups expresses joy, carelessness and gratitude. These are the feelings that are so clearly manifested in people, for example, at the traditional Harvest Festival. It shows that something important and beautiful has entered our life, or that we have received a gift (from a person or from fate itself) that has filled us with joy, happiness and gratitude. At a deeper level, the card can mean optimism and a sense of the fullness of being, on the external (event) plane – a holiday, a feast.

Goal: Joy in life
Element: Water
Planet: Mercury
Astrological sign: Cancer

Depiction

The Three of Cups Tarot card depicts three girls in a blooming garden, who carelessly circle in a dance. Their multicolored tunics symbolize the three elements: air, water and fire. The girls’ right hands are solemnly raised, as if for a toast, each holding a cup in her hand, offering it to her friends with an inviting gesture.
(For a detailed depiction, analysis of the Symbols and all Elements of the Three of Cups Tarot Card, click here)

The Main Meanings of the Card In an Upright Position

Key Words and Phrases

Joy. Happy event. Satisfaction. Reunion. Association with someone. Family meetings. Happy hours. Hobbies. What is done for the sake of pleasure. Satisfaction with the first results obtained.

Three of Cups Tarot Card

Holidays. Parties. Prosperous family relationships. Good destiny. Happiness. The abundance of everything. Playfulness. Hospitality. Freedom of desires. A celebration of generosity. Harvesting. Time pleasantly spent with other people. Understanding. Conception. Pregnancy (especially if the Empress is present in the upright position, denoting fertility). Birth. Achievement. Healing. Restored health. The origin of happiness. The beginning of a new way of life. Marriage. Family status. Wedding. Approaching something. Something good. Eat, drink, and be merry.

The main meanings of the card in an upright position

love and friendship;
time of joy;
the success of the planned business;
restoration of good relations;
white streak in life;
luck is more spiritual than material;
the success of many people (family, team, etc.);
little success without risk;
birth of a child;
share your happiness with others;
successful completion of an important stage of work, development;
family joy;
happy outcome, happy ending, victory;
recovery, cure, relief;
performance;
improvement;
peace, calm;
happy love;
success of undertakings, excellence, promotion;
creation;
goal achievement, desire fulfillment, mutual love;
emotional lift, holiday;
improving the standard of living.

Three of Cups. Witchcraft Tarot by Ellen Dugan
Witchcraft Tarot by Ellen Dugan

Situation and Advice

It’s time to celebrate some event and have fun with all the heart. Get ready to go on a visit on the most pleasant occasions: to a wedding, to celebrate graduation from school or college, promotion, the birth of a child, or another joyful event. Share your happiness with others. It’s holiday time, but don’t forget that there is still work ahead of you. If your question was about marriage or pregnancy, expect a favorable outcome. Three of Cups often indicates that you are thinking about getting married (or a divorce that will allow you to remarry). If you have asked about health, the Three of Cups promises you recovery and full healing. In matters of career, the Three of Cups indicates your hobbies rather than your main profession. In addition, the card portends the appearance in your life of a person who can become a reliable friend or lover. Engagement is possible.

Persons designated by Upright Three of Cups Tarot Сard

Those who love to go to parties. People who have some kind of hobby. Those who entertain others. Bartenders.

The Main Meanings of the Card In a Reversed Position

Key Words and Phrases

Excessive self-indulgence. Extravagance. Infidelity. Bad romance. Harmful excesses. Abuse. Alcoholism. There is no way to join others. Hedonism. Obesity. Disorderly. Sex without love. Self-pity. Selfishness. Material problems. Pregnancy problems. Prolonged infertility. Inability to have children. Exploitation. Manipulating others. Absorption in emotions. There is no reason to celebrate. The invitation has been canceled. Cancellation. You don’t go to a party. Holidays are postponed. Divorce. A sad occasion. Unhappy ending. Disease. Poor health. Unsuccessful use of their abilities. Addiction. This is my holiday, and if I want to, I will cry. Where is the reason for smiling here?

The main meanings of the card in a reversed position

the same favorable properties as in the upright position, but in the future (now something is interfering);
past joy now brings suffering;
hidden creative and spiritual potential;
excessive indulgences;
meanness, intolerance;
dispatch, execution, end, conclusion, completion, execution;
the end of something, the failure of the enterprise;
relationship problems;
extinction of love, betrayal, love triangle;
difficulties in relationships with loved ones;
failure in business, dissatisfaction, disappointment, mental discord.

Situation and Advice

The wedding is canceled. The situation that began so happily is now painful. You may not be able to attend the celebration as planned. The Three of Cups warns you of the possible abuse of sensual pleasures that harm not only your well-being, but also your health. Each of us may have unhealthy tendencies that can lead to self-destruction. You can get too much good out of life, but sooner or later you have to pay for the excessive indulgence of your whims.

Three of Cups. Tarot by Nicoletta Ceccoli
Tarot by Nicoletta Ceccoli

Perhaps you are having serious problems with your loved one. The card indicates that you have lost interest in a partner or a partner has lost interest in you, or one of you turned out to be unfaithful to another.

Persons designated by the Reversed Three of Cups Tarot Сard

Selfish, spoiled people who overly indulge their own whims. People who are addicted to alcohol or drugs. Unfaithful loved ones. People who lead a hectic lifestyle.

In the Spreads

The Three of Cups is a Tarot card that means joy. When it appears in reading, the reasons for your holiday will soon be clear. It is closely related to special occasions: wedding, engagement, birthday, graduation, baptism or pregnancy. Therefore, if you are looking forward to any of these events, you can relax and unwind, because they are in your future. You should wait for them, not worry.
Three of Cups is a card of celebration, walking with friends, having a good time and participating in the life of a community. This card often appears when someone gets married and symbolizes happiness and abundance. Sometimes Arcana appears in reading when you begin to truly love and appreciate the beauty of life and the people in it.
The card significantly weakens the negative value of negative cards in the spread. The good Arcana, on the other hand, maintains and enhances their meaning.

In an Upright Position

The upright position of Three of Cups predicts success in all endeavors. There will be many reasons to celebrate. Three of Cups is positive, so fate is on your side.
Three of Cups in the upright position means great happiness and all kinds of good luck in life, a feeling of confidence, prosperity and satisfaction that the querent wants to share with loved ones. More specifically – to arrange a holiday on the seaside after the successful completion of a significant project or in honor of the birth of a child. The card indicates the onset of an important creative period in the life of the querent.
Tarot card Three of Cups means success, accomplishment, abundance, joy. Happy ending, fulfillment of desires. Victory, achievement of a great goal.
The Tarot card Three of Cups in an upright position shows that something important and beautiful has entered our life, or that we have received a gift (from a person or from fate itself) that has filled us with joy, happiness and gratitude. At a deeper level, the card can mean optimism and a feeling of the fullness of being, on the external (event) level – a holiday, a feast, a pleasant pastime. The Arcana can also be interpreted as a positive dynamics in the development of a situation or a planned business, the restoration of good relations, the onset of a favorable streak in life, a successful journey.
You will have something to rejoice and some victories to celebrate. Arcana portends you prosperity, financial recovery and the fulfillment of your most cherished desires, but most importantly – harmony in your soul and in relationships with people close to you.
What does success mean if there is no one to share it with? Three of Cups means that your relationship with family, friends, or a loved one is very strong. Together you will reap the well-deserved fruits of your success, as you once shared the hardships and troubles together.
Three of Cups means that the person has coped with the problem and the crisis, he has found the right way out of a difficult situation and a happy solution. Received the support of fate and close friends, met a team of like-minded people. Everything turned out in the best way for the questioner.

In a Reversed Position:

The reversed card Three of Cups is an optimistic Arcana that often refers to building and strengthening a sense of community. When the card appears, this is not the time to “go alone”.
In the reversed form, the Three of Cups of the Tarot means excessive indulgences, the result of which will be selfishness and exploitation of other people. Meanness and intolerance in relation to others casts a shadow on the possible useful connections of the querent. The card especially emphasizes the problems in married life.
The reversed Three of Cups also means success and achievement, but in a purely physical sense. Achieving small goals.
Having fallen out in fortune-telling in a reversed position, the Three of Cups indicates problems that, although they do not carry destructive changes, at the moment are capable of delivering a lot of trouble to the questioner. Often the card speaks of a desire for an idle lifestyle, a tendency to excesses, a desire to make a continuous holiday out of life. In this case, it will not be superfluous to look at yourself from the outside and analyze your behavior.

Three of Cups. Tarot by Alphonse Mucha
Tarot by Alphonse Mucha

In a reversed position, the Three of Cups warns the questioner about discord in relations with loved ones – relatives, friends, the life partner. There may be many reasons for such a discord, but first of all it is neglect of the feelings of others, selfishness. Jealousy, betrayal, a love triangle, parting, or just conflicts and fading of feelings are possible.
In addition, the reversed Three of Cups predicts a questioner’s decline in business, troubles and problems. Their reasons also lie in the inability to find a common language with other people: with colleagues, partners, bosses.
The reversed Three of Cups speaks of a loss of happiness, indicates disappointed hopes, a break in relations, the fading of feelings. It can mean cheating or a love triangle. Partners have difficult times. There are obstacles in creating a happy relationship. You need to look at the neighboring cards to know how soon they will pass.
Waste of energy in vain, excesses in everything, especially in entertainment events, holidays. An excess of sensual pleasures. Also, the Three of Cups indicates the end of something. Achieving small goals. Failure of the project. A confusing situation.

In the Spreads for Different situation

In an Upright Position:
Overall, everything should go well. You can expect at least one pleasant reunion with someone from whom you have been separated for some time. It can also mean celebrating – your own or someone you care about. For example, a celebration of a newborn, a wedding, or any other happy event.
In a Reversed Position:
A reversed Three of Cups is a very positive card. In any position it gives almost the same result. There is a sense of support from friends and family. Slow down in the flow of life, make a stop to stay in touch with the right people.

In the Spreads for Relationship

In an Upright Position:
In the upright position, the Three of Cups means the joy of a “honeymoon” or simply a harmonious relationship with a partner based on love, kindness and mutual care. At the event level, the card speaks of a marriage proposal, a wedding or the birth of a child.
While this card may mean reuniting with lost love, this is not always the case. You must take a close look at the rest of the reading in context of the question to decide if this interpretation is appropriate. If you are single, the most likely explanation is that you will soon find love. Someone who really fits the bill. The person you have always been looking for, and he will be a new love, not someone you’ll to just have “near you”.
In a Reversed Position:
Getting it in a reversed position, the Three of Cups indicates the onset of isolation between partners, fading feelings, loss of hope, not the best times for the formation and development of relationships. But, most likely, these are only temporary phenomena, which in the future may well lose their negative influence and be replaced by a white streak in life.
When you are in a couple and receive a reversed Three of Cups, you may find that financial difficulties affect your relationship. If you are single, you can meet a new romantic opportunity through friends.

In the Spreads for Dates

In an Upright Position:
Whether you have an affair or not, you are a happy person!
In a Reversed Position:
You may have become the object of unwanted attention.

In the Spreads for Family

In an Upright Position:
A family holiday is coming. A great reason to enjoy life to the fullest!
In a Reversed Position:
Lack of communication with relatives is a source of problems.

In the Spreads for Friendship

In an Upright Position:
Good times are coming. Apparently, a party or a joint hike is planned.

Three of Cups.
New Vision Tarot

In a Reversed Position:
Time to look for new friends. You already have little in common with your old friends.

In the Spreads for Money

In an Upright Position:
This is an important time not to get too attached to money. It is important to know that the universe is rich in your needs, they will be met if you play the right role.
In a Reversed Position:
As with the upright positioning of the Three of Cups, this is an important time not to get too attached to money. The fact that you are “worth” has nothing to do with the size of your salary. The money is likely to flow evenly, but it can also be accelerated. Don’t let yourself get jealous about other people’s finances.

In the Spreads for Education

In an Upright Position:
Teamwork will not only be an opportunity to learn something, but also great fun!
In a Reversed Position:
You are so busy making friendships that you neglect your studies.

In the Spreads for Career

In an Upright Position:
Three of Cups bode well for the job. You can get a new job or a promotion. The general mood in your work world should be relatively pleasant. If you are looking for a job, you must be quite successful (perhaps surprisingly) at how well you do.
In this area, the upright position of the Three of Cups means the end of an important stage of work, satisfactory results, significant progress and achievements. It can be passing an exam, defending a dissertation, promoting or raising a salary, or concluding a good deal. Or it could mean a warm, friendly atmosphere in a team, a joint event, a picnic with colleagues. The card symbolizes a stable state and business development, good profit.
In a Reversed Position:
When the Three of Cups are reversed, it is important to think about how your personal relationships with colleagues or business partners are developing. Jealousy or envy can be a problem. The general mood in your work world should be relatively pleasant.
The reversed Three of Cups should be perceived as an exaggeration of the possibilities, obtaining more modest results than those expected. Arcana can be interpreted as insufficient competence, as a weak authority among colleagues or management.

In the Spreads for Health

In an Upright Position:
Excellent health, positive dynamics of recovery, complete recovery.
This is a great time to think about what you are doing, and perhaps should be doing, to improve your health and vitality.
In a Reversed Position:
The reversed Three of Cups Tarot card indicates that you can learn a lot and take some important steps to improve your health by looking at what your friends and family are doing to maintain and improve their health.
Self-indulgence, accidents and injuries.

Answer to Yes / No Tarot Spreads

In an Upright Position:
Yes
In a Reversed Position:
No

Self-Development Lesson

Three of Cups. Union of Goddesses Tarot
Union of Goddesses Tarot

Find a way to share your happiness, love, and wealth. Joy can come from past achievements, but it can also portend a happy and successful road ahead. In a joyful, humorous manner, analyze your life and look forward to new and pleasant chances.

Type of person in an upright position:

The card means a person whose distinctive character traits are calmness, complaisance, at the same time – composure and self-confidence. Seeks to benefit both family and friends, and the community in which he lives.

Type of person in a reversed position:

Means a weak-willed, cowardly, irresponsible person. Not wanting to work, he strives to put the solution of his problems on those around him. A chronic lazy person and a parasite who has lost his shame and conscience due to a long-term unproductive lifestyle.

Arcana’s warning

Obviously, the Three of Cups is a very positive card. However, there will be times when it can represent negativity, challenge, or failure. If so, then Arcana may mean that you are not ready to make an effort.

Final Advice of Arcana

Three of Cups advises you to tune in to your family and fully devote them to what is happening to you. Think of it as a celebration where their support and expertise will help you succeed. Everyone can contribute, your trust will be well rewarded.

In an Upright Position:
Calmness and endurance are the best helpers of the questioner in solving the problem. Do not refuse help, you will need it soon.
In a Reversed Position:
Try to keep up with the times, otherwise you will find yourself on the sidelines of life. Do not listen to anyone’s advice, start living with your mind.

Conclusion

The Three of Cups is a Tarot card of success and fulfillment of desires. The romance or venture in which you are involved will soon bring abundance and joy to the full satisfaction of all concerned. If the romantic relationship started earlier, at this point, you both can say that you are in love.
Three of Cups open the way to fulfillment of desires through love. The road on which you are now traveling, studying the Three of Cups: the growth of joy, the embodiment of all your dreams and desires.

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