Ten of Cups: modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘Ten of Cups’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
Upright Ten of Cups Meanings
Keywords
Lasting Happiness, Harmony, Family, Homecoming, Emotional Fulfillment, Community
Generally
The Ten of Cups is the ultimate card of emotional fulfillment and lasting happiness. It represents a state of domestic bliss, harmony, and peace. This card depicts a joyful family celebrating under a rainbow of cups, symbolizing a divine blessing on their union and happiness. It speaks of a deep sense of belonging, whether with family, friends, or community, and a feeling of having "arrived" at a place of true contentment.
In a Love Context
This is the "happily ever after" card in a love reading. It signifies a deep, committed, and harmonious relationship, often pointing towards marriage, starting a family, or enjoying a blissful long-term partnership. The connection is based on shared values, mutual respect, and profound love. It represents the successful culmination of a romantic journey, where both partners feel secure, loved, and completely at home with one another.
In a Money/Career Context
In a career context, the Ten of Cups points to a harmonious and supportive work environment. You feel like part of a team or a work-family where everyone gets along and supports each other. It can also signify achieving a perfect work-life balance that allows you to enjoy both your professional success and your personal life. This card represents a career that is not just financially rewarding, but deeply aligned with your personal values and sense of fulfillment.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, the Ten of Cups represents finding your spiritual home. This could be a community, a philosophy, or a practice that gives you a profound sense of peace and belonging. It is about living in alignment with your highest values and seeing the divine reflected in the loving connections you have with others. It's a state of grace and gratitude for the universal love that flows through all things.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Focus on your family and loved ones. Cultivate harmony in your relationships. Express gratitude for the happiness in your life. Strive for emotional fulfillment above all else.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A lasting and happy family life. Complete emotional fulfillment. Finding your true home and community.
As Obstacles
Unrealistic expectations of "perfect" happiness. A family obligation is holding you back. Idealism is preventing you from seeing a situation clearly.
As Hidden Energy
A deep, unacknowledged desire for family and belonging. The potential for true harmony is present but not yet realized.
As Resources/Alliances
Your family, your community, and your close friends. Your own ability to create a loving and harmonious environment.
The Ten of Cups Reversed
Keywords
Disharmony, Broken Family, Conflict, Unhappiness, Misaligned Values, Disconnection
Generally
Reversed, the Ten of Cups points to a disruption of the happy home. The image of perfection is shattered, revealing underlying conflict, disconnection, and disharmony. This can manifest as family arguments, a breakdown in communication, or a feeling of being isolated from your loved ones. It suggests that your personal values are not being honored, leading to a profound sense of unhappiness and unfulfillment.
In a Love Context
This card reversed can signify conflict and disharmony within a relationship or family. The "happily ever after" dream has not materialized, leading to disappointment. It can point to broken engagements, separation, or a home environment filled with tension rather than love. There is a fundamental disconnect between what you want in a relationship and what you are experiencing.
In a Money/Career Context
This can represent a toxic or unsupportive work environment. You may be in conflict with your colleagues, or the job may be completely out of alignment with your personal values, causing stress that spills over into your home life. The work-life balance is severely off, leading to unhappiness in all areas. It's a sign that a career choice is negatively impacting your overall well-being.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, this card reversed suggests a feeling of isolation or being an outcast from your spiritual community. It can represent a crisis of faith or a deep disconnect between your beliefs and your daily life. The search for a sense of belonging has led to a dead end, and you may feel spiritually lost and alone.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Address the conflict in your home life. Re-evaluate if your life choices align with your core values. Seek to restore open and honest communication.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A breakdown in family harmony. A period of conflict and unhappiness. The end of a dream.
As Obstacles
Ongoing family conflict is preventing progress. A misalignment of personal values is the primary hindrance. A refusal to communicate honestly.
As Hidden Energy
A secret unhappiness within the family unit. An unspoken disagreement is causing tension.
As Resources/Alliances
The motivation to leave a toxic situation. The clarity that comes from admitting that a relationship or situation is not working.
Additional Notes on The RWS Ten of Cups
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings of The Ten of Cups "Contentment, repose of the entire heart; the perfection of that state; if with several picture-cards, a person who is taking charge of the Querent's interests; also the town, village or country inhabited by the Querent. Reversed: Repose of the false heart, indignation, violence." (The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911)
RWS Ten of Cups Symbolism
A.E. Waite’s Ten of Cups is a picture of idyllic happiness. A loving couple stands with their arms around each other, looking up at a rainbow in the sky which holds ten golden cups. Their two children play happily beside them. In the background is their home, a symbol of stability and security. The entire scene—the green landscape, the calm river, and the divine blessing of the rainbow—is a powerful allegory for ultimate emotional fulfillment, peace, and the joy of a harmonious family life.
Meditations On The Ten of Cups
What does true happiness and emotional fulfillment look like to me?
Where do I find my sense of family, home, and belonging?
Are my daily actions and relationships aligned with my deepest personal values?
