The Nine of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright and Reversed Meanings & Breakdowns

The Nine of Cups Tarot Card Keywords

The Nine of Cups Tarot Meaning

The Nine of Cups is a card that can represent what it feels like to achieve what you set out to achieve and to be gifted with things that have a deeper meaning for you. In a lot of ways, this card can suggest recognition, but not so much recognition from external sources like we see in the Six of Wands; it is more a recognition of your own achievements.

This card can be an invitation to be proud of yourself, not in an egotistical or overly confident way, but in a way that gives yourself credit for everything you’ve been courageous enough to work through so far. It might be that you’ve overcome personal challenges, maybe you’ve gone above and beyond at work while maintaining a healthy work/life balance, or maybe you’ve finally got out of bed after days of not being able to. 

The Nine of Cups is a deeply personal card because it should never be compared to someone else’s Nine of Cups card. Comparison is the thief of joy, and the Nine of Cups allows us to create a space where we can focus on the self and not allow external influences to change how we feel.  

Another side of the Nine of Cups, however, can bring our awareness to what we determine as personal success. It can help us review whether we are working towards something that is authentic and meaningful, compared to something that simply looks good on paper. This can also bring your attention to any unrealistic standards you may be placing on yourself or onto others.

The Nine of Cups Upright Meaning