The 3 of Cups is often considered a card of friendship and celebration. In the traditional Rider Waite imagery, you will see three young maidens dancing joyfully, cups raised. It can also indicate the birth of a child, an engagement, a wedding or a christening… all depending on surrounding cards.
The 3 of Cups Combinations
The birth of a child: 3 of Cups with any of the Page, The Sun or the Empress
An engagement: 3 of Cups with the Knight of Cups or the Ace of Swords
A wedding: 3 of Cups with The Hierophant and the 4 of Wands
A christening: 3 of Cups with The Hierophant and the Sun
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”
~ Jane Austen
Friendship
But let us consider the friendship aspect of this card some more. Not everyone finds it easy to make friends, so that energy is also found on the spectrum of this card. It could show up in a reversal or next to cards that speak of isolation, like the 3 of Swords, 4 of Pentacles or The Hermit.
“Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it’s not because they enjoy solitude. It’s because they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them.”
~ Jodi Picoult
What the angels want us to know is that they are more than happy to help us with our friendships, because they too are our friends. Their way of helping us find new friends and to form healthy, solid friendships is by showing us how to first be our own best friend and then start extending friendship to others by being the sort of friend we want more of in our lives. The angels can inspire us to be the sort of friend who doesn’t disappoint others…
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
~ Elbert Hubbard
Affirmation: “I am my own best friend and a great friend to others.”
3 of Cups Prayer
Dear Mother-Father God, thank you for the joy of friendship and kindred spirits. Help me BE the friend I seek in others. Amen and so it is!
Correspondences for the 3 of Cups
Planet: Mercury
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Archangel: Gabriel, ruler of the Element of Water
Gemstone: Pearl, aqua aura, mother of pearl
Scent: Melissa, lemon, coffee
The 3 of Cups in Love and Relationships
The 3 of Cups is the card you want to show up if you have planned a romantic getaway. This is precious, fun-loving yet tender energy that tends to get more expressive after a glass of wine or two.
If you’re single and want to date, you really can’t afford to turn down party invitations when this card shows up. Get out there and mingle!
It’s a card of whispering sweet nothings and making the other person blush. It’s a card of dancing the night away and sharing breakfast together the next morning. With The Lovers and/or The Hierophant you could expect wedding bells eventually.
However, if the 3 of Cups shows up reversed or ill-dignified, it could be a sign that your lover is sharing himself this way with more than one person. Monogamy might not be their forte. All 3s can indicate triangulation, depending on surrounding cards.
Under the duvet, this card is a promise of a mutually satisfying time. You are emotionally in tune with each other and respond intuitively to what your lover finds pleasurable.
The Marseille Tarot image in this post is from the CBD Tarot by Yoav Ben-Dov.
Take me back to the Tarot Card Meanings page
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