Suit: Suit of Cups
Card Type: Minor Arcana
Tarot Element: Water
Astrology Signs: Pisces, Cancer & Scorpio
Planet: Moon
Angel: Archangel Gabriel
Key Meaning: Good Luck
The Nine of Cups is considered one of the luckiest cards in the Tarot deck. It means you are about to experience a run of good luck or your wish comes true.
Number 9 Meaning In Tarot
All nines, including the Nine of Wands, Nine of Pentacles and Nine of Swords indicate completion. At this point in time, no more can be done and the results will be, what they will be. In numerology, number 9 is the end of a life cycle and represents the culmination of past efforts. This is the moment you find out how your efforts have been judged. As Cups refer to emotions and feelings, this ties the Nine of Cups to manifestation.
When this card turns up, it means your positive thoughts have attracted good fortune. It is through feeling, we use the law of attraction to help us achieve our goals and dreams. And now the Universe answers.
The Hermit tarot card is also represented by the number 9. In both the Hermit and Nine of Cups, we see a solitary figure on their own. What this suggests is that the luck you experience now, is personal to you. It delivers emotional happiness for you. Compare this, for example, to the Ten of Cups which predicts emotional happiness for you and those you love.
A to Z: List of Tarot Cards
9 of Cups Keywords
🥰 Upright: Luck, wish comes true, good health, satisfaction, optimism
😒 Reversed: Luck delayed, self-indulgence, smugness, fear attracting failure
Nine of Cups Description
This description is based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck. In the 9 of Cups we see a portly man sitting on a bench. He is relaxed and smiling directly at the reader. Behind him are nine cups displayed like trophies. These cups represent his many accomplishments, and indicate that he’s put the work in, and now is experiencing good luck and fortune as a result.
LOVE: What does The Nine of Cups Mean when You Ask About Love?
💖 When the Nine of Cups turns up in a love reading, it means your wish comes true. Your deep desire for love and security is answered. Note, this card will not answer the who question. Rather it says, I know what and who you need, so leave those details to Higher Powers.
💖 More and more people are choosing to be single or childfree. If this is you, perhaps you still worry that you are ‘missing out’ – despite being quite content. This card directly answers those deep concerns. Look at the man in the card, he is happy and feeling abundant. Do not doubt yourself, he guides. Things are just how they should be, for now.
💖 If you are trying to heal a relationship, this card reflects that you have come a long way. But don’t become complacent.
CAREER: What does This Card Signify When You Ask About Work?
⭕ If you went for a job interview or pitched for a project – then yes, you are successful.
⭕ If you are launching a business, or waiting for redundancy – again, you will be lucky.
⭕ If you are wondering how others in the workplace see you, such as boss, clients or colleagues – then the 9 of Cups says they respect you. People think you are doing a good job, they like what you have to say and think you deserve recognition.
⭕ Don’t worry if you feel out of your depth in a new job or business. It is not a bad place to be because you are learning. The trick is to keep yourself calm and on your true path.
⭕ Professions associated with the 9 of Cups include: Teacher, arts, medicine, acting, social work, human resources, graphic design, fashion, tarot reader, and charity causes.
The Pursuit of Happiness
The Nine of Cups often represents our habitual quest for happiness. The pursuit of happiness is a common goal, but it is hard to know sometimes when we have reached that goal. Happiness is like a reading on dial, it goes up and down. For example, if you won the lottery, no doubt the dial would spin into overdrive. Yet, studies show that most winners find that within a year, the dial has reverted to where it was before their win. In other words, the happiness boost does not last. This has to mean that unearned luck is not usually the true answer.
In practice, your best chance for sustaining happiness is simply to do what you love doing, or do what you do well. Find your rewarding groove, and earn yourself some self-esteem.
MONEY: What is the Meaning of The Nine of Cups in a Money Reading?
💲 If you asked the Tarot about money and finances and you receive the 9 of Cups, it means that you experience good luck with your finances. You could receive a bonus, an investment earns more than you expect or you are approved for a loan.
💲 Occasionally this card heralds winning a prize, competition or lottery.
Tarot Card Combination Meanings
“Nine of Cups combined with Death” – A sudden ending turns out to be very lucky.
“Nine of Cups combined with Two of Swords” – Just make a decision, either path will be lucky.
“Nine of Cups combined with 6 of Wands” – Going ‘viral’, what you have to say strikes a chord with people.
HEALTH: What does The Nine of Cups Mean When You Ask About Health?
If you are worried about your health or health tests and the Nine of Cups turns up – it means, don’t worry. It’s good news all around.
Traditionally, the 9 of Cups is associated with over-indulgence and so acts as a gentle reminder to watch your diet and alcohol intake. Doing so will help alleviate health conditions associated with this card.
Health conditions associated with the 9 of Cups include IBD, Colitis, Crohn’s disease, edema, obesity, foot issues, swollen veins and hemorrhoids.
YES/NO: Does The 9 of Cups Mean Yes or No in a Reading?
❓ When you ask a Yes or No question and the Nine of Cups turns up, then the answer is a big YES.
TIMING: Does The 9 of Cups Predict any Particular Timeframe?
🕔 The 9 of Cups is only a timing indication when you specifically asked a timeframe question. For example, if you want to know if something will happen, and when, then you need to draw two separate cards. These are in fact, two separate questions. This is a fundamental principle to understand if you want an accurate tarot reading – and it is core to my teaching in my book Tarot in 5 Minutes.
🕔 Using my timing method, the 9 of Cups is about 9 months If the card is reversed, timing will be slightly longer – so up to 13 months.
Karina’s Timing Method:
Swords are days. Wands are weeks. Cups are months and Pentacles are years. Please note this is my personal timing method. Feel free to adopt it (or not).
What is the Meaning of The Nine of Cups Reversed?
When the Nine of Cups is reversed then our man crashes on his head and the scene is more disorientated.
✔️ Luck is delayed or events do not transpire as you expect. Some patience is required.
✔️In some instances a reversal means that your wish comes true, but you are still not happy because it did not turn out as you expect.
✔️ You are coasting along, relying on luck too much rather than making the consistent effort to improve your life.
✔️ You need to move past ups and downs and find a more sustainable form of happiness. (Read the section Pursuit of Happiness, above).
Other keywords associated with this card reversed include: feeling entitled, fear, blind faith, complacency, superficiality and vanity.
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9 of Cups Symbolism
Read Next! – Nine of Cups Symbols
Previous Card: Eight of Cups | Next Tarot Card: Ten of Cups
Complete List: Tarot Card Meanings
Karina, author of Tarot in 5 Minutes.
