I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Creator’s keywords: memories, childhood
Carrie’s keywords: kindness, nostalgia
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Six of Cups Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
This card is notably made up of two halves. In the top half, an evergreen stands against a horizontally lined backdrop. This half is black and white, and the horizontal lines show a stable energy. It would be easy to think that what is above the surface is the total sum of this tree if we weren’t privy to seeing the bottom half.
Below the surface, an intricate system of roots sprawls out with wild abandon. The roots are colored in all the shades of the rainbow. They are intricately intertwined, there would be no efficient way to separate them even if you tried. The roots are vital to the tree above, even though they are not typically visible. The roots here are an apt metaphor for the complexity that lays beneath the surface of yourself and each human being you encounter.
Just like with the tree, you can’t easily see the myriad of factors that underly all creations. Each of us has a story, a tangled root system of memories, emotions, patterns and dreams. Sometimes you are consciously aware of the role of these roots. Other times they affect you in subtle ways on a subconscious level. Remembering that there is more at work than what meets the eye can help you meet yourself and everyone you encounter with kindness.
Six of Cups Tarot Card Meanings in General
Although this is one of my favorite cards in the Wild Unknown deck, the imagery here is quite different than many decks. The Waite-Smith tarot depiction shows two humans who appear to be children. The older child offers a cup filled with flowers to the smaller child. The presence of children on the card has led it to sometimes be associated with innocence, childhood or nostalgia for the past.
My strongest association with this card in any deck is that of kindness: simple, spontaneous acts of good will that do not ask for anything in return. Sometimes it is necessary to see beyond differences and embody the energy of altruism. It is true that there are many “dark” aspects to human nature, but the Six of Cups reminds you that humans are also capable of embodying tender loving care.
In The Spacious Tarot, pictured above, a large flowering plant offers blossoms to the smaller cups surrounding it. Sometimes the smallest acts of care make the biggest difference.
In a reading
In a reading, this card can ask you to consider how you got to where you are. It can show the importance of reflecting who you are ‘below the surface’ – your personal past, as well as your ancestors and the collective unconscious – and acknowledging the effect these have on who you are ‘above the surface.’
This image in the Wild Unknown tarot adds another layer of complexity to this interpretation. Even when we can only see who people are above the surface, we can remind ourselves to practice kindness, and that all of us have a wild rainbow of roots beneath the surface.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
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I always look forward to these posts. Thank you.
I’m so glad you like them, Alex! You are so welcome 🙂
I love your interpretations of the cards. You really work out the details which is pretty helpful in addition to my own interpretations. I got the deck a couple weeks ago and still find so many layers in them whenever I pick them up.
It really does have layers! It’s so simple yet so complex. Glad you are connecting with your new deck! 🙂
Thank you Carrie for your interpretation! I was looking for a an in depth interpretation of this card because it came up in the “way out” position of the Wild Unknown’s The Way Out spread for how to find your way out of a bad situation. I was not sure exactly how to interpret this card, in that position.
You’re welcome! Seems like an interesting card to see in that position.
Thanks so much for this! It’s really been helping as I learn to read tarot. I got the six of cups in the advice position. Past is the fool, current situation is the four of wands. The challenge is the High Priestess. Pulled the Chariot in the root cause #6 position. I keep thinking the advice is to cultivate a beginners mind more. I’ve been feeling blocked at work. Any guesses? Thanks so much!
every time I need to study or review the meanings of any card I came to this blog and it always helps me a lot. Thank you s2
I’m so glad it’s helpful!
I do appreciate all the time and effort you out into interpreting these cards and sharing that with us all.
So glad I stumbled upon your site!
Thank you 🥰