Up: [[Cups]] Related: [[Inner Child Work that Works!]] Created: 2026-03-20 Updated: 2026-03-26 > [!leaf] In Brief > [[Contentment]]; knowing what brings you ease and happiness; connections to memories of the past > [!leaf] What Matters & Symbolism This is generally interpreted as a positive card, linking moments of happiness today to memories of childhood innocence and joy. ![[6 of Cups RWS.webp|300]] In the RWS card, rather than one child giving a gift to another, Rachel Pollack suggests that the gift-giver is actually a dwarf. In the symbolism of myths and fairy-tales, dwarfs represent aspects of ourselves that weren’t developed, hence the frequent urgings of tarot authors to acknowledge and consult with your inner child when you pull this card. ![[6 of Cups - Star Tarot.webp|300]] This theme of childhood innocence appears on many cards, including this one from *Star Tarot*. However, there’s another prominent symbol on the RWS card that bears consideration. The X carved on the pillar is the Cross of St. Andrew. It was the symbol of the Egyptian dwarf god Bes who protected people from the dangers of the unknown and was the guardian of roads and transitions. This, in turn, links the cross to Hecate, who descended into the underworld to rescue Persephone so there’s connection to the theme of death and rebirth, or at a more everyday level, to change having occurred or about to occur. This added complexity allows for the reality that not every childhood is sunshine and butterflies. *Journey into the Hidden Realm* suggests that the task for this card is to come to terms with the past, shaping even the painful memories with forgiveness and compassion because how we think about our past influences both present and future. ![[6 of Cups Hidden Realm.webp|300]] > [!leaf] Actions to Take 1. If there’s unfinished business from your past, this is the time to do the introspective work of revisiting those memories, determining how they shaped you, then finding a way to recast them so you can move on. It might help to know that neuroscientists have found that our memories change every single time we think of them so making the decision to look at a negative experience with some compassion isn’t a denial of reality. 2. Think about your favourite memories from childhood. If you get any clues as to creative activities you enjoyed that you might want to revisit, go for it! 3. Journal or freewrite responses to any of these questions or the quote: - What gifts did I receive as a child that were significant to me? - What are some simple pleasures that make me feel contented? - What self-protective strategies did I use as a child or adolescent that aren’t effective for me now? What could I do instead? > [!orbit] Marion Woodman > Children not loved for who they are do not learn how to love themselves. Their growth is an exercise in pleasing others, not in expanding through experience. As adults, they must learn to nurture their own lost child. There’s personal anger, but underneath that there’s often universal rage…. Deep rage is about this: “Nobody ever saw me. Nobody ever heard me. As long as I can remember, I’ve had to perform. When I tried to be myself, I was told, ‘That’s not what you think, that’s not what you ought to do.’ So, just like my mother and her mother, I put on a false face. My life became a lie.” That’s deep rage.