Four of Cups: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘Four of Cups’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
Upright Four of Cups Meanings
Keywords
Apathy, Contemplation, Re-evaluation, Missed Opportunities, Discontent, Withdrawal
Generally
The Four of Cups signifies a period of apathy, emotional withdrawal, and re-evaluation. It represents a state of being so focused on what is lacking, or so saturated with what one already has, that new opportunities are being overlooked. This can manifest as feeling bored and dissatisfied with life despite having no real problems, turning down a social invitation out of lethargy, or a period of navel-gazing and contemplation.
In a Love Context
In matters of love, this card often points to taking a relationship for granted or feeling emotionally disconnected. It can represent a partner who is bored and unresponsive, a period of feeling "stuck in a rut" as a couple, or a single person turning down potential new romances because they are too caught up in their own feelings. It is the energy of being emotionally closed off to what is being offered.
In a Money/Career Context
This card can represent a deep sense of boredom and dissatisfaction with your job, even if it is stable. It might be feeling unmotivated at work, missing out on a promotion or new project because of apathy, or a general feeling that your career is not emotionally fulfilling. It can be a sign that it is time to re-evaluate your professional path and what truly brings you satisfaction.
In a Spiritual Context
This can signify a period of spiritual apathy or a "dark night of the soul" where your practice feels stale and unfulfilling. It may represent a feeling of being disconnected from the Divine, ignoring signs or messages from your higher self, or a meditation practice that has become a chore rather than a source of peace. It is the energy of spiritual discontent.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Re-evaluate your priorities. Look at what is being offered to you. Acknowledge your discontent.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A missed opportunity. A period of apathy and boredom. A refusal to engage.
As Obstacles
Apathy is preventing progress. You are taking things for granted. A refusal to see a new opportunity.
As Hidden Energy
An unacknowledged feeling of dissatisfaction. A missed opportunity is right in front of you.
As Resources/Alliances
The clarity that comes from introspection. The strength to turn down a bad offer.
‘The Four of Cups’ Reversed
Keywords
Seizing Opportunities, Renewed Interest, End of Apathy, Clarity, Engagement
Generally
Reversed, the Four of Cups can point to the end of a period of apathy and a renewed engagement with the world. It signifies a moment of clarity where you suddenly see the opportunities you have been missing. This can manifest as coming out of a period of withdrawal with a new sense of purpose, seizing a new opportunity with enthusiasm, or a general feeling of being re-energised and re-engaged with life.
In a Love Context
This card often signifies a renewed sense of interest in your love life. For a couple, it can be the end of a period of boredom and a conscious decision to reconnect. For a single person, it may represent finally being ready to open your heart to a new relationship after a period of introspection, or seeing an existing friend in a new, romantic light.
In a Money/Career Context
This can mean a new job offer that finally excites you or finding a new sense of purpose in your current role. It might represent the end of a period of professional stagnation, a creative breakthrough on a project you were bored with, or a new, proactive approach to your career path that leads to success.
In a Spiritual Context
This can mean reconnecting with your spiritual path after a period of doubt or apathy. It may represent a breakthrough in your meditation practice, a renewed sense of connection with the Divine, or a new spiritual opportunity that brings you joy and a sense of purpose. It is the end of a spiritual dry spell.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Seize the opportunity. End the period of withdrawal. Re-engage with the world. See things with fresh eyes.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A new opportunity will be taken. A period of apathy will end. A renewed sense of purpose.
As Obstacles
A fear of re-engaging with the world. A past period of apathy is still affecting you.
As Hidden Energy
A new opportunity you have not yet noticed. A dawning realisation. The end of a period of sadness.
As Resources/Alliances
A new perspective. A renewed sense of purpose. The courage to say "yes."
Additional Notes on The RWS ‘Four of Cups’
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings of The Four of Cups
"Weariness, disgust, aversion, imaginary vexations, as if the wine of this world had caused satiety only; another reading says, novelty, presage of new instructions, new relations. Reversed: In a very different sense--nouvelles, presages, new instructions, new relations." (The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911)
RWS Four of Cups Symbolism
A.E. Waite’s Four of Cups depicts a young man sitting under a tree with his arms crossed, in a state of contemplation or apathy. Before him on the ground are three cups, representing emotional offerings he already possesses but seems unimpressed with. A fourth cup is being offered to him by a hand emerging from a cloud, but he does not see it, or chooses to ignore it. The scene is a powerful allegory for a state of emotional withdrawal, where a person is so focused on their own inner world that they are blind to the new opportunities being offered to them.
Meditations On The Four of Cups
What opportunities might I be overlooking right now due to apathy or discontent?
Am I taking the people or situations in my life for granted?
Is my period of introspection productive, or has it turned into self-pity and withdrawal?
