Three of Cups in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
Three of Cups Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Water
The Three of Cups is a card of celebration, shared joy, sincere bonds and emotional abundance. It evokes happy gatherings, true friendships, moments of lightness and emotional harmony. This is the card of lifted cups, reunions and healing laughter. It reminds you that life is not just about achieving goals, but savouring moments of grace with those you love. It heralds a time when you are surrounded, supported and invited to open up to more pleasure, human warmth and celebration of yourself. The Three of Cups is an invitation to rejoice, to honour your relationships, and to recognise that joy is a force just as powerful as courage or wisdom. It says: dance, laugh, love, share – life is celebrated, here and now.
RWS Tarot : Arcana Three of Cups readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Three of Cups
In love, the Three of Cups evokes shared joy, festive moments for two, or the importance of the social circle around the relationship. If you are in a relationship, this card indicates a light, happy period: going out, parties, happy announcements (pregnancy, engagement, marriage), or simply communicative happiness experienced together. It also speaks of celebrating love, being proud of it and expressing it publicly. For singles, the Three of Cups often heralds a meeting in a social setting: a party, a group of friends, a group event. It is also a reminder that the heart opens more easily in joy, simplicity and lightness. It could be a joyful flirtation, a loving friendship, or a promising beginning. The card invites you not to force things: let love come spontaneously, in a friendly and authentic way.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Three of Cups
At work, the Three of Cups indicates an excellent team atmosphere, a collective success or an important milestone to celebrate. It often heralds the recognition of a job well done, the joyous conclusion of a project, or a landmark event: the signing of a contract, the launch of an activity, a promotion. It’s also a card of harmonious collaboration, where everyone finds their place in a fluid and benevolent dynamic. It can invite you to work with friends or partners, or to inject more pleasure into your activities. If you’ve been in a period of tension or overload, the Three of Cups reminds you to slow down a little and celebrate the small victories, as they nourish the momentum. This card is also linked to artistic professions, events, community work, or anything that encourages meeting people and celebrating.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Three of Cups
Financially, the Three of Cups heralds a period of relaxation and shared abundance, rather than individual wealth. It may be a gift, a shared gain, an expense linked to a happy event: birthday, wedding, a trip with friends… Money here is used to bring joy and connection. This card reminds you that emotional prosperity is also a form of abundance: the ability to celebrate, to give, to share, to live life to the full. If you’ve been experiencing restrictions, the Three of Cups signals a financial lull and an invitation to enjoy them in moderation, but without guilt. It can also mean solidarity with friends or family in terms of finances: support received or given. The energy is fluid, festive and positive – but it advises you not to spend it all on euphoria, because the party is better when it’s well managed.
Family reading
with the card Three of Cups
In the family context, the Three of Cups evokes reunions, festive moments and good news shared with the family. It can herald a happy event: a birth, a wedding, a reunion, an important celebration. The mood is one of joy, conviviality and the warmth of simple but deep bonds. This card also indicates very strong mutual support between family members, especially between sisters, cousins or female figures. If you’ve experienced recent tensions, it heralds a lighter climate, conducive to reconciliation through pleasure and simplicity. We’ll get together over a meal, a laugh or a memory. The message here: nurture ties through shared moments, however modest – they’re what keep the emotional flame alive. Le Trois de Coupes celebrates the family of choice as much as the family of blood, where love flows freely.
Spiritual reading
with the card Three of Cups
On a spiritual level, the Three of Cups embodies an energy of gratitude, joyful connection to the divine, and celebration of life. It invites you to integrate joy into your inner journey, to make spirituality not a burden but a dance. It can mean group rituals, meditation circles, collective practices that nourish your soul, or outpourings of gratitude so powerful they become living prayers. It reminds you that joy is sacred, that it is a direct portal to the divine, and that it deserves to be honoured. This is an excellent card for reconnecting with lightness, with the beauty of everyday life, with simple pleasures. It also encourages you to celebrate your journey, to give thanks for what is already here, and to vibrate with those who walk alongside you in the same heartfelt energy.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
Three of Cups and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Three of Cups according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card Three of Cups in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
