Published 06/02/2023 • Updated 19/12/2025 by Joanne Jones

Four of Cups Tarot Card

By Joanne Jones | Expert Tarot Reader at Trusted Psychics

What Is the Four of Cups?

There are moments in our lives when we feel strongly that something is not quite right with our lives.

We cannot place these feelings on any specific thing, such as time, place or event, and we tend to brush these feelings aside as being nothing.

On the outside, everything may be fine in our lives, but we have this gut feeling that something is missing from our lives.

We often ignore our deepest emotions as we get on with our busy day-to-day lives, but when we give ourselves the time to reflect, there may be a vital part of our lives that is missing.

This feeling is almost precisely the meaning of the Four of Cups.

The Four of Cups Minor Arcana card suggests that when this card is present in a spread, we are likely to be harbouring feelings of discontent or apathy that we may be unwilling to face.

The Four of Cups' meaning is to take a step back and reflect, so that we can begin to understand our feelings of discontent and be grateful for all the good in our lives that we may be taking for granted.

✔️ The Four of Cups is not a sign of loss. It's a reminder to wake up and see the blessings you already have.

What Does the Four of Cups Mean?

In the Four of Cups, a figure sits underneath a tree with three cups in front of them. A hand holding a fourth cup reaches down from above, reaching out to the figure.

In this serene scene, each element of the Four of Cups can speak to the mysteries of the human spirit and our emotional landscape:

The Figure: A person sitting with three cups in front of them is at an emotional crossroads, but not yet content or unhappy.

The Three Cups on the Ground: Cups are often representative of past emotional wounds, past loves, routine, or pleasures that have long since lost their lustre and become stale or unsatisfying.

The Hand Offering the Fourth Cup: This is the positive message from the Universe that a choice is to be made. We are continually gazing upon the memories of the past instead of looking toward the positive areas of our lives and all the opportunities right in front of our eyes.

Four of Cups Upright Meaning: Apathy and Missed Opportunities

What Does the Four of Cups Mean Upright?

When you pull the Four of Cups upright in a tarot reading, it’s time to do some inner work. The Four of Cups may indicate something within yourself when you’re feeling emotionally flat, uninspired, or simply discontented.

• Apathy and Emotional Stagnation

You may feel stuck, bored, or lacking any sense of motivation. It’s not because your life is bad, but because something inside of you just feels “off”. Emotional stagnation is your spirit’s way of taking a pause to ask for some self-reflection.

Ask yourself: Why am I feeling this way?

• Missed Opportunities

In the Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, a man sits under a tree, focusing on his past instead of the new opportunities being presented to him by the Universe.

It may be a new romance, a new friendship, or a new job. The Four of Cups meaning suggests letting go of the past and moving forward with a fresh source of inspiration to look toward the future.

• Withdrawal and Contemplation

Stepping away for a while is fine; the Four of Cups is saying to you that contemplation and reflection can be good for your emotions. However, make sure it doesn't slip into isolation. You can use this space to find clarity and reignite that spark.

"The Four of Cups teaches that sometimes, stillness is the doorway to self-discovery." – Joanne Jones, Trusted Psychics.

The Reversed Four of Cups: Awakening and Renewed Energy

The reversed Four of Cups is a message that you have at last shaken off a period of stagnation. Apathy and lethargy are being replaced by a new and positive shift in perspective.

This is a very favourable position for this tarot card to appear, as it promises the end of procrastination and renewed motivation.

• Renewed Energy and Openness

This card in reverse suggests a readiness to open yourself up again. You have finally decided to acknowledge and accept the opportunities that were presented to you, but which you ignored in your previous state. The cycle of internal retreat has come to an end, and you are making a conscious choice to re-engage with life, your loved ones, and your aspirations with new energy and enthusiasm.

• Overcoming Fear and Stagnation

This card often represents a conscious decision to no longer be a victim of circumstance. It is an active rejection of past mistakes and regrets. A decision to no longer let fear of further disappointment keep you stuck. As such, the reversed Four of Cups suggests clearing out the old emotional clutter, an active push for new experiences, and the return of optimism to your life.

• Clarity and Self-Awareness

This card, reversed, often suggests that while the period of introspection was uncomfortable, it has also provided you with clarity and understanding. You have learned something valuable about your emotional patterns. In this position, the card suggests that you have pinpointed the source of your discontent and are now prepared to actively make different choices.

✔️ The reversed Four of Cups is a very good omen, showing that you are at last coming out of a difficult period of time with clarity of mind and an eagerness to look forward and take positive action. You are finally looking up and taking notice of the cup being offered to you.

📞 Discover the opportunities that lie ahead with an online tarot reading and explore those nagging feelings of unrest at Trusted Psychics today.

The Four of Cups Meaning in a Love Tarot Reading

• Upright Love Meaning: Emotional Disconnection or Complacency

The Four of Cups shows a lack of emotional connection and boredom in a relationship if you are with someone. You or your partner may feel taken for granted or that the spark is gone, and your relationship is just routine.

For the singles, the upright love meaning of this card in a love tarot spread is that you are closing yourself off to the idea of new love. You might be hung up on a past relationship or be afraid of getting hurt again with someone new.

• Reversed Love Meaning: Renewed Connection or Romantic Interests

The reversed Four of Cups card is a breath of fresh air. It indicates new feelings and emotional availability.

If you are in a relationship, you can expect renewed romance and understanding. As a single, you will be open to love soon.

📞 Curious if a new romance is in the cards for you? Get in touch with a Trusted Psychic Love Specialist now.

The Four of Cups Meaning in Career and Finances

Upright Career Meaning

The Four of Cups in a tarot spread generally suggests that we feel disengaged, or perhaps even bored and apathetic.

We have little motivation to succeed at our chosen job, and we feel that there is little chance for promotion or that the work is failing to fulfil us.

Based on Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2023 Report, approximately 43% of British workers claim that they are emotionally detached from their jobs – a statistic that mirrors the energy of the Four of Cups almost exactly, which represents emotional detachment and lack of motivation.

Reversed Career Meaning

In reverse, the Four of Cups shows new motivation and an urge to strive forward to gain new knowledge, embark on a new project that you are truly passionate about and begin to appreciate all the new challenges ahead.

Don’t know how to find a more fulfilling career? Talk to a Trusted Career Tarot Psychic and regain your purpose in life.

Upright Finances Meaning

Finances-wise, this is generally a good card to receive about our careers. The Four of Cups can often suggest new opportunities for financial growth as we begin to feel more optimistic and proactive about our money.

Creative energy is flowing again, and you are feeling inspired to move forward with new ideas, seeing the opportunity to create your own abundance, and are ready to take calculated risks to find financial stability.

Reversed Finances Meaning

The Four of Cups reversed represents a time of great optimism and a return of your confidence in your ability to manifest your desired form of abundance.

You are open to new ideas and opportunities for managing or growing your money, and your mindset shifts in ways that will draw prosperity to you, rather than pushing it away.

• Cultivate Gratitude for What You Have: Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is the best antidote to the energy of the Four of Cups. Instead of dwelling on what you lack or feel indifferent about, try to consciously focus on the present and be grateful for what you do have. This can help you shift from a mindset of lack to one of abundance.
• Embrace Meditation and Introspection: Instead of stewing in your own thoughts, try to engage in more productive introspection. Meditation is one way to relax your body and mind and reconnect with your inner self. 
• Look at the Bigger Picture: Remember that the lessons of the Four of Cups are part of a larger spiritual journey. In tarot, all experiences, even stagnation and discontentment, are part of your ongoing evolution toward wholeness, represented by the final Major Arcana card, The World. This "fallow" period may be a necessary precursor to a breakthrough or the completion of a cycle. 

Expert Insights From Joanne Jones

"I've been working with tarot cards for over ten years. In that time, I have seen the Four of Cups appear in tarot readings at some of the most crucial crossroads in my clients' lives.

This tarot card usually shows itself in the reading when someone feels lost in life or is disillusioned, yet it should be interpreted as an opportunity to explore their purpose.

The Four of Cups' meaning is ultimately one of hope. When this card appears reversed, or when we make a conscious effort to embody its lesson, the result is a return to life. It is the moment when we stop staring at the ground, when we turn to face the light, and take the cup being offered to us.

In gratitude, meditation, and introspection, you come to realise that this period of hibernation and discontent is part of a much grander spiritual journey, one that is moving you towards The World, the tarot card that symbolises wholeness.

With awareness, the Four of Cups shifts from a card of stagnation to a card of self-realisation and awakening.

Over the years, I’ve had many clients who have returned after going through this energy. They talk of a renewed sense of creativity, passion, and direction. That is the true gift of the Four of Cups: it’s a spiritual awakening disguised as a stagnant plateau.

💙 “Sometimes the best opportunities are waiting just beyond the emotional walls we build.” — Joanne Jones, Trusted Psychics.

📞 Call a professional tarot reader with hundreds of 5★ customer reviews to find out firsthand what the Four of Cups is trying to tell you.

FAQs on the Four of Cups

What Does the Four of Cups Mean in Love?

It often signifies emotional withdrawal or dissatisfaction in love relationships. As a reversed card, it shows the birth of a new emotional connection and readiness to open your heart and let love in again.

Is the Four of Cups a Yes or No Card?

For the most part, this card is a 'no' for now. It can often mean wait, reflect, and reconsider instead of taking big leaps and rash decisions.

What Element Is Associated With the Four of Cups?

The Four of Cups is part of the Water element, which rules over emotion, intuition, and inner sight.

Which Zodiac Sign Is Associated With the Four of Cups?

The Four of Cups is often associated with the Cancer zodiac sign, which is introspective, emotional, and deeply reflective.

What Does It Mean If I Keep Seeing the Four of Cups?

If you keep seeing the Four of Cups, it is a very strong sign that you are emotionally or spiritually shutting yourself out of life and need to open your heart to new opportunities.

Next Steps Forward

Stuck in a rut? Lost and not sure what to do next? You’re not the only one. Our trusted team of talented tarot readers and spiritual guides here at Trusted Psychics are available 24/7 to help you find your way again.

Thousands of people reach out to us every single day for the clarity, confidence, and spiritual guidance they need to get back on track.

Whether it’s love, career, or personal growth, we are always just one call away from helping you to hear what the Universe is trying to tell you, with the help of the tarot cards.

📞 Phone the Trusted Psychics live readers today - Explore how the Four of Cups relates to your life. We provide 24/7 Live Tarot Readings Online. We are here to help you. ♡

Related Articles

Three Card Tarot Reading Guide

The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card

Seven of Cups Tarot Card

The Magician Tarot Card

How To Contact A Trusted Psychic

Phone a live Psychic 24 hours a day

View all our live phone psychic and tarot readers online.

View All Live readers

Message a live Psychic 24 hours a day:

View all our live messenger psychic and tarot readers online.

launch messenger

Text a live Psychic 24 hours a day:

View all our live text psychic and tarot readers online.