Short meaning: Sadly, the Five of Cups shows you’re upset as a result of difficulty, or separation within a relationship. Your attitude and mind-set aren’t helping you to feel any better. The situation seems unsolvable but if you stop focussing on the negatives and instead attend to healing the rift there is hope for resolution.
In-depth meaning: The Subject is feeling sad and down because they’re having problems in a key relationship. They may feel that the argument or disagreement is going to force the relationship to an end, or have some long term impact or affect. The Subject is sad because they feel as if the innocence and purity of what they felt has now been tarnished or spoiled.
All is not lost, and there is still room for remorse and forgiveness on both parts. It is not realistic to think that any kind of relationship will always be happy and easy. It doesn’t make the relationship any less real or important. If the Subject truly wants this relationship they’ll need to make the necessary effort to mend things.
Notes on the image: In this image the tree has no foliage and the tree branches are wilting. One of the Cups has fallen into the water, which is choppy. This is clearly not a happy card and the cup in the water indicates that all could be lost in a relationship, or the upsetting thought that it can never be the same. But the Five is still an early number in the suit, so, providing some nurturing is given, there could still be a recovery.