In a Relationship, What Is the Five of Cups Advice If It Comes Up Upright or Reversed?

In Tarot, every card tells a unique story—and the Five of Cups is one of emotional depth, loss, and transformation. Spiritually, this card represents moments when love feels uncertain or when relationships are challenged by regret or disappointment. Whether it appears upright or reversed, the Five of Cups offers valuable insight into your emotional landscape and serves as a reminder that healing, forgiveness, and new beginnings are always possible.

Understanding the Five of Cups in Love Readings

Traditionally, the Five of Cups depicts a cloaked figure mourning over three spilled cups while two full cups remain standing behind them. This image represents sorrow, emotional loss, and the human tendency to focus on what’s gone wrong rather than what still remains. In a relationship reading, this card often symbolizes disappointment, heartbreak, or emotional disconnection—but it also carries a message of hope. The two upright cups remind us that not all is lost—there is still love, potential, and connection waiting to be acknowledged.

The Five of Cups Upright: Relationship Advice

When the Five of Cups appears upright, it asks you to honor your emotions while remembering that healing is possible. This card often appears when you’re processing grief, regret, or disappointment in a relationship. Spiritually, it reminds you that every ending carries the seed of a new beginning.

1. Acknowledge and Process Your Emotions

Don’t rush to “get over it.” The upright Five of Cups encourages you to feel your sadness, grief, or regret rather than burying it. Allowing yourself to sit with these emotions opens the door to true healing. Ignoring them only prolongs the pain.

2. Don’t Get Stuck in the Past

This card warns against replaying past mistakes over and over. While reflection is important, fixation keeps you trapped. The two upright cups symbolize what remains—love, lessons, and opportunities. In relationships, it means shifting your focus toward what still works or finding closure so you can move forward with peace.

3. Open Yourself to New Possibilities

The Five of Cups also suggests that something better is waiting for you. Whether it’s renewal within your current relationship or a new connection entirely, this card’s energy asks you to stay open to change and trust that emotional fulfillment can return in a new form.

4. Rebuild Trust and Emotional Intimacy

If the Five of Cups appears after heartbreak or betrayal, it encourages healing through honest communication and time. Rebuilding trust won’t happen overnight, but this card reassures you that it’s possible if both partners are willing to put in the work.

5. Let Go of What You Cannot Control

Sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is surrender. The upright Five of Cups reminds you that clinging to a situation that’s no longer serving you only deepens emotional pain. Letting go allows the universe to bring you the peace and clarity you deserve.

Learn more: Can a Tarot Card Reader Help Me Find My Soulmate?

The Five of Cups Reversed: Relationship Advice

When the Five of Cups appears reversed, the energy shifts toward emotional renewal and recovery. The reversed position symbolizes release, forgiveness, and acceptance. It’s a positive sign that you’re ready to move on from pain and rediscover joy in love.

1. Healing and Recovery Are Happening

The reversed Five of Cups signals that you’ve begun to heal. Emotional wounds are closing, and you’re stepping into a period of greater peace and clarity. It’s time to believe in your capacity to love again.

2. Release Old Grievances

This card urges you to forgive—both yourself and others. Holding onto resentment prevents emotional growth. The reversed Five of Cups suggests that it’s time to let go of grudges and create space for harmony and love to return.

3. Embrace a New Perspective

Spiritually, the Five of Cups reversed calls you to shift your mindset. Instead of focusing on what’s broken, look for what can be rebuilt. You may discover a deeper level of understanding and compassion in your relationship—or within yourself.

4. Rebuilding Love and Connection

When this card appears reversed, it often points to reconciliation or a renewed sense of love. If both people are open and ready, the relationship can experience a fresh start. What was once lost can be refilled with trust, laughter, and mutual care.

5. Forgive Yourself and Move Forward

The reversed Five of Cups encourages self-forgiveness. You may still carry guilt or regret from past actions, but this card reminds you that everyone makes mistakes. Release the burden and open yourself to emotional freedom.

Related: Tarot Card Readings Can Help With Breakups

The Five of Cups in Context

Whether upright or reversed, the Five of Cups carries a core message of emotional healing and resilience. It’s not about avoiding pain—it’s about transforming it into wisdom. This card reminds us that love, in all its forms, offers growth and opportunity, even in loss.

• Upright: Grieve what’s gone, but recognize what still remains. Healing begins when you choose to look forward instead of backward.
• Reversed: Healing is already underway. Forgiveness, understanding, and renewal are within your reach.

Conclusion

The Five of Cups teaches that emotional pain, while difficult, is never wasted. In relationships, it encourages you to reflect, forgive, and grow. Even in heartbreak, there’s beauty in learning, and there’s always hope for love’s return.

Discover more insights: Are Tarot Card Readings Accurate? | Learn About Tarot Cards

If you’re seeking clarity about your love life, our expert love psychics can help guide your heart’s journey. Call 1-800-966-2294 for a private reading today with The Psychic Line — a family-owned psychic service you can trust.