Three of Cups
Camaraderie
“You’ve got a friend in me.”
You’ve Got a Friend in Me, Randy Newman
Three of Cups at a glance
Finbarre’s interpretation: The Three of Cups celebrates the relationships that make joy larger by sharing it.
| Upright | friendship, reunion, collective celebration, mutual support, creative community |
|---|---|
| Reversed | excess, gossip, exclusion, friendship strain, overindulgence |
| Linked card | Four of Wands |
| Soundtrack | Just Like Heaven - by The Cure Open the full Tarot Interviews playlist on Spotify |
Upright meanings
- Friendship
- Reunion
- Collective celebration
- Mutual support
- Creative community
- Good news
- Healing through company
- Collaboration
- Belonging
- A successful gathering
Reversed meanings
- Excess
- Gossip
- Exclusion
- Friendship strain
- Overindulgence
- A crowded relationship
- Celebration masking difficulty
- Social fatigue
- Unreliable support
- A group losing purpose
Three of Cups in a reading
| Area | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Love | Emotional bond: Good news. Reversed: A crowded relationship. |
| Career | Work: Healing through company; collaboration. Warning: Celebration masking difficulty. |
| Money | Financial theme: Belonging. Warning: Unreliable support. |
| Feelings | Upright: Collective celebration. Reversed: Exclusion. |
| Advice | Prioritise: A successful gathering. Watch for: A group losing purpose. |
| Outcome | Potential: Creative community. Obstacle: Overindulgence. |
| Yes or no | Yes, particularly through friendship or collaboration. |
Symbols in Three of Cups
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The raised cups | Joy is affirmed collectively and in public. |
| The circular formation | No single person occupies the centre of the bond. |
| The harvest fruit | Pleasure follows growth, work and seasonal completion. |
| The flowing clothes | Distinct personalities remain visible within the group. |
A. E. Waite's original description
Maidens in a garden-ground with cups uplifted, as if pledging one another.
Waite's original divinatory meanings
Upright:
The conclusion of any matter in plenty, perfection and merriment; happy issue, victory, fulfilment, solace, healing.
Reversed:
Expedition, dispatch, achievement, end. It signifies also the side of excess in physical enjoyment, and the pleasures of the senses.
Source: A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, first published in 1910, with illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith.
Continue through the deck
- Previous card: Two of Cups
- Next card: Four of Cups
Written and interpreted by Finbarre Snarey, tarot researcher, founder of the British Tarot Archive and coordinator of the UK living heritage submission for Rider-Waite-Smith tarot reading practice.
These interpretations reflect Finbarre Snarey’s understanding of contemporary Rider-Waite-Smith tarot practice. They are provided for education, reflection and entertainment only and should not be treated as medical, legal, financial, psychological or relationship advice.
