Three of Cups is the third Minor Arcana

Minor Arcana

|thumb|[[King of Swords]] card from a Minor Arcana deckThe Minor Arcana of occult or divinatory tarot refers to the portion of a Tarot deck that consists of 56 cards. The Minor Arcana are roughly similar to the cards found in a common deck of playing cards...

 tarot

Tarot

The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...

 card on the suit of Cups. In some decks the suit is named Chalices instead. This card is used in game playing as well as in divination.

Divination usage

This card often carries the meaning of joyful social contact, although it may be considered to be rather superficial, unlike the two of the same suit which is considered more personal. There's agreement, general harmony, frivolity, and sometimes it is associated with birth

Birth

Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...

, especially if it comes up with other birth-related cards such as The Empress

The Empress (Tarot card)

The Empress is the third trump or Major Arcana card in traditional Tarot decks. It is used in Tarot card games as well as divination.- Description and symbolism :...

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Rider-Waite symbolism

• This card is very flat. It is unusual in the fact that it has no depth, not even a minimal background mountain or hill as in similar cards, although it is clearly portrayed in the outdoors. This may be symbolical of superficiality and the skin-deep nature of the card.
• There's no getting around the party
  Party
  A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....
  
  -feel it exudes. In serious matters this may testify to a lack of seriousness, professionalism or even maturity
  Maturity (psychological)
  Maturity is a psychological term used to indicate how a person responds to the circumstances or environment in an appropriate manner. This response is generally learned rather than instinctive, and is not determined by one's age...
  
  .
• Description: The Three of Cups represents groups coming together to focus on a common emotional goal. People reach out emotionally to one another. It speaks of a sense of community, and can indicate the time to get more involved by helping. An inner passion for caring may be discovered, and energy put forth toward a goal will be positive and nurturing. It can also signal that this is the time to reach out if things have been particularly rough in the past. This cards stands for all forms of support including formal organizations such as counseling or other social services. It's important that when the need for support is recognized that action is taken. This is the best time to do that. Reversed, the Three of Cups suggests that isolation from others is occurring. It is the time to take charge of the situation and to get out into the community. Consider joining a group or organization, and if the need for support is present, seek out the necessary resources.

In other decks

In the Thoth Tarot deck

Thoth tarot deck

The Thoth Tarot is a divinatory tarot deck painted by Lady Frieda Harris according to instructions from Aleister Crowley. Crowley referred to this deck as The Book of Thoth, and also wrote a book of that title intended for use with the deck....

 this card is labeled Abundance, and is associated with the second decan

Decans

The Decans are 36 groups of stars which rise consecutively on the horizon throughout each earth rotation...

 of Cancer

Cancer (astrology)

Cancer is the fourth astrological sign in the Zodiac. It is considered a water sign and one of four cardinal signs. Cancer is ruled by the Moon. Individuals born when the Sun is in this sign are considered Cancerian individuals...

, said to be ruled by Mercury.

In fiction

In the first Circle of Three

Circle Of Three

Circle Of Three is a series of young adult paperback novels by Michael Thomas Ford under the pseudonym Isobel Bird. It follows the lives of three teenage girls from different social cliques, who come together over a mutual interest in Witchcraft....

novel, the Three of Cups comes up in a Tarot reading and convinces the main character to pursue her Wiccan studies and befriend the two girls who she met through her original encounter with witchcraft.