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TL;DR: Waite wrote in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) that the Five of Cups is the card of loss but something remains, tied to inheritance, estate, legacy, possibly marriage but not without bitterness; reversed it means news, alliance, closeness, bloodline, ancestors, return, mistaken projects. In modern Tarot reading, this card is often understood as regret over loss, dwelling on what has passed; reversed it means beginning to let go of regret, learning to forgive and move on. Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: write down what was lost and what remains, then choose one small step to continue.
What is the 5 of Cups card?
The 5 of Cups is a card in the Minor Arcana, in the Cups suit. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck was printed in 1909, with artwork by Pamela Colman Smith; the divinatory meaning that A. E. Waite set out in his book The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) is often different from the meaning commonly held today.
This article separates four layers: Waite's original wording from 1911, the modern reading, the Nhật Nguyệt understanding, and suggestions for application. The sections on iconography and the quick-reference table are kept so you can compare them easily.
How did Waite in 1911 describe the Five of Cups?
Waite wrote in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911): a dark figure, draped in a cloak, looking sideways at three overturned cups; two other cups stand upright behind that person; in the background there is a bridge leading to a small building or a piece of land. He added no other detail in this description.
It is worth distinguishing: the Rider-Waite-Smith deck was printed in 1909, while the divinatory meaning Waite set out in the 1911 book is a separate layer, not identical to the modern meaning.
What divinatory meaning did Waite in 1911 give the Five of Cups?
Waite wrote: this is the card of loss, but something remains; three have been lost, two remain; it is the card of inheritance, patrimony, transmission, but not corresponding to expectation; for some diviners, this is the card of marriage, but not without bitterness or disappointment. In the reversed position, Waite listed: news, alliance, closeness, blood relationship, ancestors, a return, mistaken projects.
These meanings are Waite's, from the 1911 book. Modern meanings such as regret or letting go should not be attributed to Waite, because that is a different layer.
According to how Tarot is read today, what does the 5 of Cups mean?
According to how Tarot is read today, this card is usually understood as regret over loss, dwelling on what has passed. The reversed position is usually understood as beginning to let go of regret, learning to forgive and move on. The common keywords are regret, loss, remorse.
This is also the practical draw meaning the site uses. This reading differs from the divinatory meaning Waite set out in the 1911 book.
What does the iconography on the Rider-Waite card mean?
The cloaked dark figure looking sideways at three overturned cups
Waite described a dark figure, draped in a cloak, looking sideways at three overturned cups. This posture suggests a focus on what has been lost, but no detail should be added that is not in Waite's description or visible in the artwork.
The two upright cups behind
Waite noted two other cups standing upright behind the figure. This is what remains, suggesting what has not been lost, but it should not be asserted that this is hope or opportunity in an absolute sense.
The bridge leading to a small building or a piece of land
Waite wrote that in the background there is a bridge leading to a small building or a piece of land. This is a background detail, and no further symbolism should be assigned beyond that description.
According to the Nhật Nguyệt understanding, what does the 5 of Cups suggest?
According to the Nhật Nguyệt understanding, this card suggests a state of paying attention to what has been lost more than to what remains. The two upright cups behind are a gentle reminder that something has not been lost, but this should not be turned into a certain promise.
This understanding does not replace Waite's 1911 divinatory meaning, nor does it replace the modern reading. It is only one angle for you to compare against your own circumstances.
What is today's suggestion when the 5 of Cups appears?
Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: for work, write down three things that have been lost and two things still kept, then choose one small task to continue. For love, if you are feeling regret, spend time calling someone you trust instead of shutting yourself away. For finances, do not make big decisions while emotions are still heavy, just review the accounts that remain intact.
For health, if sadness is prolonged and affects daily life, seek a professional. Tarot does not replace therapy or medical diagnosis.
How does the 5 of Cups combine with other cards?
The combinations below are reference understandings, not certain predictions.
- With The Star: suggests a direction of healing and new faith, but it should not be asserted that sadness will soon be replaced.
- With The Hermit: suggests a need to be alone to reflect, to find meaning from loss.
- With Ten of Cups: suggests the possibility of healing in family and relationships, provided there are concrete steps.
- With Eight of Cups: both speak of departure, but the Eight of Cups is usually tied to a deliberate leaving, while the 5 of Cups is tied to loss that was not chosen.
Quick-reference table: Five of Cups upright and reversed
| Aspect | Content |
|---|---|
| Deck suit | Minor Arcana - Cups |
| Number | 5 |
| Main keywords | regret, loss, remorse |
| Meaning upright | Regret over loss, dwelling on what has passed. |
| Meaning reversed | Beginning to let go of regret, learning to forgive and move on. |
This table uses the modern meaning, which is also the practical draw meaning the site uses, not the divinatory meaning Waite set out in the 1911 book.
Where do Waite in 1911 and today's reading differ?
Waite in 1911 emphasised loss but with something remaining, inheritance, patrimony, transmission, not corresponding to expectation, possibly marriage but not without bitterness; the reversed position is news, alliance, closeness, blood relationship, ancestors, return, mistaken projects. Today's reading emphasises regret over loss and dwelling on what has passed; the reversed position is beginning to let go, forgive and move on.
These two layers do not replace each other. When reading for yourself, you can refer to both, but you should note clearly which layer you are using.
Overview article on the topic: Tarot Basics: The 78 Cards and the Meanings of the Major/Minor Arcana
