Three of Cups Tarot Meaning: Upright and Reversed

What does the Three of Cups mean upright and reversed? We explore its symbolism, interpretation in love and career, and what it reveals about feelings, advice, and yes/no answers. 

Three of Cups Keywords Upright and Reversed 

Upright: Celebration, community spirit, new friendships, creativity, and enjoyment. Reversed: Three is a crowd, affairs, difficulty expressing yourself, and writer’s block. 

Three of Cups Description and Symbolism 

The key theme of this particular tarot card is celebration and accomplishment. In the card, there are three young maidens depicted dancing in a circle with their golden goblets raised in a toast. They reach out to each other and connect, feeling a sense of unity through their emotions and revelling in their friendship with one another. On the ground is fruit, which represents abundance, happiness, and fertility. 

The women in the card wear wreaths of laurels on their heads, these are symbols of victory and success. A sweet-smelling laurel is also symbolic of protection, peace, purification, and indicates that the goodwill of the universe is upon you, helping you to be victorious. There are flowers at the women’s feet, which again symbolize beauty, growth, enjoyment, and the fruits of one’s labour. The flowers remind us of the value of appreciating the good things in life and the sweet smell of success. It’s also a cue to never forget the abundance of the universe and to express appreciation. 

Upright Three of Cups Meaning 

This is a card of friendship, collaboration, success, and sharing joy with others. It’s also auspicious for cultivating greater harmony in terms of relationships. This tarot card is all about the spirit of cooperation, helping others, spending quality time with friends and associates, and operating in unity. 

Upright three of Cups indicates that your friends have your back. There is a strong circle of people around you, or you will soon be networking and making powerful connections with people with whom you can collaborate and create successful ventures. This is all about appreciating the important people in your life, having their back, and enjoying working together.

This is a promising card to draw when you are planning to meet new people, making new friends, and expanding your influence through your social networks. 

Love Meaning Upright Three of Cups 

The advice in dating is to cast the net wide. You shouldn’t focus on one particular person. This is an ideal time to join social groups, get involved in organisations, politics, charity work, or hobbies as a way of meeting a wide range of different people and enjoying yourself with new friendships rather than just focusing on finding a lover and making a commitment. 

This tarot card suggests you should enjoy your freedom and have fun as a single person who is able to spend time with whoever you want and embrace many social opportunities. Enjoy yourself, live life to the full, and a relationship will come out of that positive cycle. 

If you are in a new relationship, this is not a card that recommends talking about commitment. Take it one day at a time, enjoy yourselves, be flirtatious, friendly, and revel in the honeymoon stage rather than getting bogged down in responsibilities and difficult conversations. 

If you are in an established relationship, this is a powerful and positive card indicating that you and your partner will experience a temporary break, a holiday, or an escape from the normal routines and commitments, and you’ll find your youthful energy and spirit again. This brings relief from difficulties and indicates you’re almost about to put them behind you. This may also indicate that a big success is on the horizon and you and your partner may celebrate after overcoming a major hurdle. 

As this card is a number three, there may be a third person in your relationship. Perhaps you want to have an open relationship, or maybe one of you has a close friend whom a partner or yourself is jealous of, and this situation has to be navigated. 

Career Meaning Upright Three of Cups 

This card represents an ideal opportunity for networking, going to social events with your colleagues, or travelling for work experience. It indicates fun in the work environment and that there is time to get to know colleagues better, because either the workload is not too high or you’ve recently completed a project and there’s currently more downtime. 

Three of Cups is certainly a sign that you will soon be enjoying your work more. Perhaps there will be new employees in your office who you really get on with and who will help you to experience more satisfaction at work.

If you’re looking for work, the best way to find it is by word of mouth rather than recruitment websites, so keep your ear to the ground. Let friends know what you’re after, and someone in your social circle may have a tip or a lead for you. 

This can suggest a time when you’re slightly spendthrift. You’re likely to spend money on doing social, fun and creative things, but remember: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and that’s what this card is there to teach you. 

Health Meaning Upright Three of Cups 

This tarot card is a cue to seek to enjoy yourself, unwind, and experience abundance with close friends and new friends alike. Your health benefits when you escape the mundane drudge of everyday life and reduce stress. Do not overdo it, however, because during this phase eating, drinking, and being merry is the theme, so you may overindulge in alcohol and food. Some moderation is key, but don’t be Spartan. 

Spirituality Meaning Upright Three of Cups 

This may indicate going on a spiritual retreat or engaging in some form of group therapy. It is often through your association with others that you can actually gain more in terms of your spiritual growth. This card may signal a time when you join a new church, a spiritual group, a meditation circle, or perhaps go on a retreat where you connect with like-minded individuals. It’s a wonderful time to explore your spirituality, but not alone, as it’s much more fun when you are sharing the experience in a social environment with others who are open-minded. 

Feelings or Actions Related to the Upright Three of Cups 

This card suggests that female friends will be particularly supportive. It may also indicate a time when you will receive more nurturing from your friendship circles, or where you may actually play the nurturer by being the “mother” figure in your friendship circle. 

There’s fulfillment in reuniting with old friends or making new friends, and if you’ve been feeling lonely, this is a wonderful card to see because you may soon click with a whole new group of people who can change your life for the better. 

This is certainly a sign that you should be gravitating to group activities like team sports or getting involved in an organisation simply to experience the vibe you get from completing a project with many other people. This is a perfect cue for networking to improve your career and gain new clients, and it’s also a suitable time for making friends as a way of eventually finding a partner, but don’t be impatient to settle for the first person — there are plenty of fish in the sea.

Reversed Three of Cups Meaning 

This reversed tarot card can point to a love triangle. There are often three people involved in a relationship: maybe you, your partner, and one of your respective exes. It could be someone that either yourself or your partner are having an affair with. In some cases, it can be the dreaded mother-in-law who’s interfering in your relationship. 

There’s some impediment to you forming a powerful and trust based relationship with someone because there is someone else in the picture. It may be the case that you are the third person involved or you may be dealing with an unfaithful partner. However, it doesn’t have to be that, as I say, it can also be an interfering force like a mother-in-law or even a friendship where jealousy is casting aspersions on your relationship. 

In general, this card indicates betrayal of trust and possible cheating. However, this won’t come as a surprise to you. If you see this card, you probably already know that the situation is ongoing or likely, and this is a cue to think clearly about how to approach it, don’t be in denial. 

Love Meaning Reversed Three of Cups 

This is an opportunity to pause and think about how you’re going to navigate your relationship further. If you are the “other” person, perhaps it’s time to step away and let your lover and their spouse sort through their problems themselves. If you feel that your partner is being unfaithful, maybe it’s time for a relationship pause or an ultimatum. 

However, it’s important to acknowledge the nature of the love triangle you’re in and whether the situation can be resolved or moved forward in the long term. 

Career Meaning Reversed Three of Cups 

This frequently coincides with a period of creative exasperation, like writer’s block, or frustration in getting the inspiration you need to complete a project. It may also be that you’re working with people who are dragging their feet or not expressing the same passion you have. 

This may be a cue that the people you’re working with aren’t open to innovation or alternative approaches, and you’re feeling rather stifled. You may need to look for different people to work with who can help you unleash your potential. 

Even if you’re in a non-creative kind of job, you may still feel like you’re not truly blossoming in the role. You need to consider whether you’re going to continue to sacrifice your future just to stay in this role, or look for something where you’re working with people you enjoy being with and with whom you can shine.

Health Meaning Reversed Three of Cups 

This card may mean feelings of isolation and loneliness are causing depression and ill health. It may also indicate that if you join a group like Alcoholics Anonymous (just as a random example) or a support group, you could experience a lot of success in improving your condition. 

Whatever you’re going through in terms of your health, don’t go it alone; seek out people in Facebook groups or local community centres who are there to share their journeys, support you, and talk with you. Right now, reaching out and doing your journey with someone can really help you have more success with your health goals as being with other people is immediately uplifting and helps the healing process. 

Spiritual Meaning Reversed Three of Cups 

This reversed position may mean that you have recently neglected your spiritual life. You may have lost control or been irresponsible. It often indicates a time where you’ve been having fun, enjoying yourself, or perhaps overindulging and throwing caution to the wind. However, this may indicate that you now need to restore balance: cut back on drinking and partying, get some rest, and have a little bit of a detox — not only in terms of substances but also in terms of enjoying your own space away from the madden crowd. 

Feelings or Actions Related to the Reversed Three of Cups 

This tarot card reversed often indicates that situations in your life have become out of control. You may feel like a three-legged table, lacking balance. It indicates something in your life is lacking. Perhaps you are too isolated, or in some cases you may be spending too much time partying and with friends. 

This is a reminder that there is something missing right now: a sense of moderation and proportion and you may need to step back and understand what that is all about. In relationships, there’s often a difficult situation where you may be caught in the middle of two different factions that are warring against each other, or you may be in a love triangle. 

This card says proceed with caution because this is a precarious situation and it needs your attention. 

Past, Present and Future Positions for Three of Cups

Past

You may have recently experienced a period where friendships, social life, or community support played a vital role in your happiness. In love, this may show dating around, enjoying freedom, or being surrounded by people who uplifted your spirit. Professionally, it can indicate successful collaboration or completing a project that was celebrated with others. 

Present

This position suggests that pleasure and fulfilment is available to you right now through shared experiences rather than solitude. You may be invited to social events, collaborations, or group activities that bring emotional fulfillment. In love, it points to fun, flirtation, and enjoying the moment without pressure. This is a reminder to appreciate where you are and if things have felt heavy, this card reassures you that relief, laughter, and emotional renewal are within reach. 

Future

There is something coming soon worth toasting: good news, emotional healing, or a milestone achieved with others. In relationships, it can indicate reconciliation, engagement, or deepening bonds. Career-wise, it suggests successful teamwork or public recognition. 

Three of Cups — YES or NO 

The Three of Cups is a strong YES in most yes-or-no readings. 

Upright Position: In love questions, it usually means yes, especially when the question involves dating, reconciliation, social connections, or enjoying time together. 

In career or life questions, the answer is also yes, particularly if collaboration, networking, teamwork, or group success is involved. 

Reversed Position: NO (or not right now) 

The Three of Cups reversed usually points to disharmony, third-party interference, emotional imbalance, or lack of genuine support, making it a no in most yes-or-no readings. 

Advice and Message of the Three of Cups 

This card reminds you that life can be sweeter when we share our successes, passions and struggles with others. It’s also an important indication that combining your efforts with many other people, can yield success. 

It’s a time to reach out and share in the positive and passionate energy of the group environment, and also to do something for the wider community. Right now, other people can help you with your journey, so whether it’s a spiritual or health journey, a community endeavour or support group can be very valuable. 

This is also indicative of a time of success and accomplishment. You may be celebrating an important event with friends, planning a celebration, or about to embark on something very exciting with a group of people, and it bodes well for all creative, romantic, community, and social ventures. 

Summary 

This card often indicates that you, with a group of other people, are celebrating the culmination of a project and a success. It also reminds you of the importance of pooling effort, resources, and experience, and the joy of a team effort. 

This card encourages community spirit and outreach. It says you are not an island; you are part of a greater collective, and it’s time to reach out and enjoy the spirit of community. 

This may indicate difficulties in a relationship because of a third force. The third force could be the ex-wife, the wife, a lover, or even something like an imposing boss or a mother-in-law. You should proceed with caution in relationships where there is a problem with priorities, trust, and loyalties. 

This card warns against losing yourself in group situations and becoming influenced by peer pressure, where you might be partying and drinking too much, but it also warns against isolation. You need to positively engage with others to enhance and improve your health and spiritual growth while not getting swept along in the sometimes chaotic shenanigans that can happen with groups. 

The Three of Cups reminds us that we can play a powerful nurturing role among our friends, and it’s particularly apt for nurturing relationships with female friends and communities of women.