Suit of Cups

Cups represent the element of Water—emotions, feelings, love, relationships, intuition, creativity, dreams, the subconscious, empathy, psychic abilities, spirituality, reflection, inner world.

We see Cups energy in the writing process, represented by what is at the heart of your narrative emotionally and intuitively. Cups energy governs your character development (motivations, desires, relationships), evocative imagery, lyrical prose, poetry, themes of love, loss, longing, dreams, and family dynamics. Cups energy is the empathy you use to write believable characters, the intuition guiding your writing choices, the personal experiences you draw on, and the emotional resonance connecting your story to its reader. Cups draw on emotional depth to inform the "show, don't tell" principle for writers.

Writers can use Cups energy in their work. If you pull a card of Cups, first look at the meaning of that card, then ask yourself: How is this situation or event affecting my character’s feelings, relationships, intuition, or inner world? Show what your character is feeling and expressing emotionally in response.

Tarot Suit of CUPS

Element: Water - can relate to the zodiac signs of Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Traditional Tarot Symbols: chalice (container of emotions), flowing water (emotional currents)

Core Themes: emotions, relationships, intuition, creativity,

Character Domains: the psyche, emotions, relationships, love, romance, creativity, dreams, healing

Character Types: healer, artist, lover, dreamer, counselor, therapist, empath, caregiver

Character Traits (Light): showing emotional intelligence as empathy, intuition, and compassion

Character Traits (Shadow): holding on to illusions, delusional, escapism, pining, codependency, toxic behaviours

Water Energy in the Narrative: the arts, therapy, relationship dynamics, spiritual practices

Water Energy in Genres: romance, poetry, magic realism (more below)

Numbers on the cards can suggest narrative timing: 1 cup equals 1 month, 6 cups equals 6 months, etc.

Cups can represent narrative characters and situations in positive (light) or negative (shadow) ways, including:

At best, cups’ energy can be empathetic, compassionate, intuitive, imaginative, romantic, sensitive, nurturing, and artistic. It is deep emotional intelligence, strong intuition, creative expression, a nurturing nature, empathy and active listening.
At worst, cups’ energy is moody, withdrawn, overly trusting, indecisive, prone to fantasy, and vulnerable. It is emotionally volatile, over-sensitive, passive, prone to illusion or denial. Negative cups’ energy can show up as manipulation, difficulty setting boundaries, or codependency.

Genres that express Cups energy, include:

Epistolary & Diary Fiction exploring confessions, unspoken desires & emotional vulnerability through letters, journals or emails, like The Color Purple or Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Family Dramas & Domestic Sagas about complex relationships, generational trauma, secrets and quiet sacrifices, like Little Fires Everywhere or Everything I Never Told You
Psychological Fiction & Stream-of-Consciousness delving into subconscious thoughts, emotional turbulence, and fragmented inner worlds, like Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse or Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar.
Gothic Romance & Dark Academia blend obsessive love, with melancholy, haunted psyches & atmospheric yearning, like The Secret History or Ninth House.
Mythic Retellings & Folklore-Inspired Tales like Till We Have Faces by C.S.Lewis, Circe by Madeline MIller, or The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden that reimagine sacred relationships, the idea of fate, and archetypal emotions (grief, loneliness, yearning love, etc.) as universal experiences.
Coming-of-Age Stories with an emotional focus centered on self-discovery, first love, heartbreak, and awakening intuition, like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Call Me By Your Name, or Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
Dream Journals & Surrealist Fiction using symbolism, subconscious landscapes & fluid realities, like Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore or Leonora Carrington’s stories.
Redemption & Healing Narratives that follow emotional recovery arcs, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal, like A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, or The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrille Zevin.
Oceanic or Maritime Fiction that uses water as metaphor for emotion and signifying depth, mystery, danger, or cleansing, like Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, or Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.
Musician or Artist Biopics with an emphasis on passion centered on creative inspiration, emotional sacrifice, and art as catharsis, like The Song of Achilles by Madeine Miller, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, or The Faraway Nearby by Rebecca Solnit.

Learn about the meaning of each card.