Where Wands symbolize the element of Fire, Cups represent Water: receptivity, love, and the inner being are the province of this suit. In the Ace we see the culmination of these things: a hand appears from a cloud holding a Cup -a grail - from which multiple streams of water run into a beautiful pool. This flowing water will never run out: it is infinite, as love is.

<h2>Upright Meaning</h2><p>The Ace of Cups, appearing in a reading, is a wonderful gift: the card assures us of joyful, hopeful times, of happiness brought about by the giving and receiving of love in all its forms. The Ace reminds us of the importance of accepting love, and of letting it flow through us and into others, rather than being concerned with trying to control it or grab at it in the hope of binding it to ourselves.</p><p>The Ace of Cups often points to new love appearing in our lives - whether this is a new friendship connection or a romantic one, and the joy that this is likely to bring us: this is someone to whom we feel a deep, soul affiliation. The card often appears, too, at the start of a new creative project, or at a time when we are contemplating an idea, and invites us to open our hearts to the potential inherent in these opportunities.</p><h2>Reversed Meaning</h2><p>When the reversed Ace of Cups presents itself in a reading, it often indicates that the opportunities for love, joy, and new creative endeavors are there for us, but we are not seeing, or possibly appreciating them. We see the streams running from the Cup as finite if we see them at all.</p><p>The reversed Cup can also suggest that we need to ensure we are nurturing ourselves with self-love and are treating ourselves with as much compassion as we offer to others around us. Finally, the Ace of Cups reversed may appear if we are finding it difficult to express what is in our hearts, whether this is in terms of our feelings or through a creative endeavor. </p><hr><p>The five streams of water that flow from the Cup symbolizes the five senses: they represent both our spiritual and our physical connection with the world around us, and how these merge in the pool below to create a deeply enriching experience. The card counsels that love, like the Water the suit represents, is lifegiving, beautiful, and infinitely abundant.</p>