Reflections on the Six of Cups
This is the perfect time of year for the Six of Cups. We are right in the middle of holiday celebrations with family and friends. The Six of Cups card, which takes harmony and balance from the numerology of the number six and expresses emotions as the suit of cups, is generally thought to be a positive card. It can signify a moment when past events bear fruit in the present, or it can encourage us to look at the present through the lens of the past. It’s also known as the card of nostalgia, and that is the context I will be focusing on in this post.
This year I moved 1300 miles to a new city. I have been immersed in the almost overwhelming memory stimuli of all of my belongings this year. Most of my year has been all about purging, packing, storing, and finally unpacking everything I own to put it away in its new place. I have been unwrapping one treasure after another for weeks. The picture for this post is from a book club tea I hosted 10 years ago, and I remember thinking it was very “Six of Cups” because there were six of us for tea, so I snapped a picture. Now it’s a lovely nostalgic memory!
On the day after Thanksgiving, I unpacked my Christmas things, reliving the memories as I opened each box. We bought the glass saguaro cactus in Tucson and I still remember that the shop smelled like chili pepper. I’ve always loved the cathedral window ornament from the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, and likewise the glass candy canes from the same shop on another trip. Great memories!
Basically I have been basking in the gentle, nostalgic energy of the Six of Cups, reconnecting with happy memories and the emotional safety of my past. They remind me of times in my life when everything felt simpler and they inspire me to rebuild my emotional landscape in this new world I’ve manifested, magically weaving in potential for new forms of happiness.
At the same time, the Six of Cups encourages healing through remembrance. We reflect on our past not to stay there, but to reclaim what was good and meaningful. Ultimately, the Six of Cups offers a soothing, restorative vibration, reminding us that comfort, kindness, and familiarity can be powerful guides as we move into the future. What Six of Cups moments have shown up for you lately?
