Five of Cups as How Someone Sees You (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Five of Cups is the card of grief, loss, sadness, and disappointment. This card shows a man crying over three knocked down cups. He is so absorbed in his loss that he doesn’t see that he has two upright cups behind him. He is missing the opportunities that are still available to him. 

The Five of Cups reminds us that grief is a natural part of life. It is normal to grieve over our disappointments and failures. Challenges and losses are part of the journey. However, it is important to not be so wrapped up in the negative that we do not see the positive in our situation. The Five of Cups reminds us to authentically grieve, but also to see how we can use this moment as a learning opportunity to move forward.

Upright Five of Cups as How Someone Sees You

If you are asking about how someone sees you and you draw the Five of Cups, that means this person sees you as someone carrying a lot of heaviness and sorrow. This is a card of regret and despair, so you may seem focused only on what has been lost, not appreciating what you still have. A Five of Cups person can’t see the forest for the trees, so you fixate on the bad stuff so much that you miss the big picture. You may have dealt with divorce, job loss, or someone’s death. They may see you as clinging to these negative experiences.

The Five of Cups means that they see you as having a lot of guilt and sadness for things that happened in the past. They may see you as stubborn and inflexible, yet with low self-esteem. This card is connected to the zodiac sign of Scorpio, so you may give off negative Plutonic vibes—miserable and depressed. There is almost an unmistakable masochistic pleasure in torturing oneself with emotional attachments. If the Three of Cups is the life of the party, the Five of Cups is the party pooper. They may see you as needlessly isolating yourself from the world. 

For singles and those embarking on new relationships, the Five of Cups is a sign that they see you as someone who needs to lighten up. You look like someone who carries their pain as a badge of honor. If a date doesn’t work out, it’s not necessarily your fault, so move on. There is no need to wallow in self-pity. They may see you as someone who needs validation from others. 

For existing relationships, the Five of Cups means that they see you as someone who is getting disillusioned by this relationship. They may have failed to live up to your numerous high expectations. They may see you as someone imprisoned by disappointments, whether real or imagined. The Five of Cups means a change in perspective is needed. Try to see the good in this relationship and focus on things upon which you two could build. 

If you are asking about an ex’s intentions, the Five of Cups shows that they see you as deeply hurt by the breakdown of the relationship. Even if you both knew the end was needed and inevitable, you are still taking it way too hard. This card means they want you to move past the breakup and focus on the things that would make you happy. This is a very emotional time, so reconciliation may not be a possibility. Healing is required on both sides so rational decisions can be made. 

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, the Five of Cups means that they see you as too emotional and inflexible. They see you as someone who is overcome by the issues in this relationship. This card signifies that you need to stop bottling your pain and discuss with your partner how the relationship can be saved. Isolating yourself will do more harm than good. The Five of Cups means your partner may see you as hard to please because you are too obsessive about mundane details. 

Reversed Five of Cups as How Someone Sees You

If you are asking about how someone sees you and you draw the Five of Cups reversed, that means this person sees you as someone who has weathered a lot of storms in life and is now ready for a fresh start. Your losses may have been blessings in disguise to steer you down a different path. You are done crying over spilled milk; you can now see the past clearly for what it was. This card taps into the transformative and regenerative powers of Pluto, the ruling planet of Scorpio. They see you as someone who has done a lot of self-healing and is now a better person. 

The Five of Cups reversed means that they see you as someone who has managed to turn their life around despite setbacks. After brooding for a long time, you are now able to welcome change in a positive direction. You have given yourself the necessary time off to think things over, and you now realize that you have what you need to rebuild. If you lost someone or faced financial obstacles, you have now gained acceptance. The Five of Cups reversed means they see you as resilient.

For singles and those embarking on new relationships, the Five of Cups reversed is a sign that they see you as moving on. This card is a good omen for singles looking for a new relationship. It means shedding old emotional baggage and getting back into the dating scene with optimism. You are beginning to notice love opportunities around you. The Five of Cups reversed means they see you as someone who has learned to forgive themselves and others. 

For existing relationships, the Five of Cups reversed means that they see you as someone who has let go of negative feelings about this connection. They may see you as someone who has owned up to their mistakes. You may have also forgiven your partner for their faults. Your focus is now on the future. The Five of Cups reversed means you’re now letting go of your manipulative tendencies. 

If you are asking about an ex’s intentions, the Five of Cups reversed shows that they see you as moving on. You had held on to heartbreak and grief for so long, but now you’re ready to let go. Your ex may see you as someone who has undergone a massive transformation for the better. They may have mostly seen you at your worst, so they like this new you better. They may or may not want to rekindle things with you, so look at the surrounding cards for clarity. 

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, the Five of Cups reversed means that they see you as someone who has finally found peace within the relationship. Previously, you were closed off, but now you’re learning how to trust. You may have had counseling to resolve buried emotions. You have now come to terms with your past and recognized the part you played in contributing to the outcome. The Five of Cups reversed means they see you as someone who has done the inner work to heal and be a better person. 

Conclusion

For relationships and feelings, the Five of Cups represents grief and loss. These challenges are a normal part of life and any relationship. It is not the fact that we have grief and loss that matters, but how we respond to it. The Five of Cups reminds us that we can turn our most difficult moments into learning opportunities. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.