Sixes symbolize the union of opposites, finding equilibrium, harmony in the face of constant change and being open to the energy flow of give and take in our lives.  Sixes can also represent a feeling of success after overcoming obstacles or difficulties  Cups are associated with the element of water, with emotions, love, pleasure in life, matters pertaining to the unconscious, intuition and inner planes.   This card is often seen as representing viewing things through rose-colored glasses or with a sense of nostalgia.  It can represent being in harmony with friends or family and enjoying everyday pleasures.  Or it may refer to pleasant memories or learning from past experiences.  It can also suggest being connected with your inner self and being able to balance past disillusionment.  

"Your relationship is reaching a level of understanding that is more reliable and predictable.  You are feeling more secure about your feelings, knowing that they won't be drastically changing.  You know what to expect from yourself and others on an emotional level." - Gail Fairfield

Memories, reflections, dreams of days gone by - all of these can be seen reflected in the images on these cards.  The Elemental 6 of Water has a feminine face in the sky looking down into her blue-tinged reflection in the water.  The keyword is Oases which makes some sense. I would think an oasis in a desert would be quite a relief bringing a sense of harmony and equilibrium into the worries that must go hand in hand with that lifestyle.  

This card can also be associated with the balance needed to overcome obstacles and keep energy flowing in interpersonal transactions.  Maybe that is really the gift the little boy offers the little girl on the RWS 6 of Cups - a way to keep things balanced, emotional reciprocity.  Of course this requires an ability to be open to such gifts and to trust in the one offering it.  I have to admit that sometimes when I look at this card I wonder what the catch is.  What strings are attached to this gift of a chalice?  Of course that says more about me than the image or interpretation of this card.  I have often found that there are secret or hidden meanings to every gift and the intentions of the giver are not clear.  How often have we received a wonderful gift from someone only to feel dismayed because now we feel we must give an equally wonderful gift in return.  Sometimes it has to do with monetary value and other times it is the gifts emotional value that is a challenge.  

I know I often want to find just the right gift for a loved one - something that they will cherish and appreciate.  I will put a lot of thought and effort into finding the perfect item.  Then when I give it to the person, they are appreciative but do not seem to feel the joy and happiness with the gift which I intended.  I know I have often experienced this situation when someone gives me a gift.  Gifts from my mother seem to evoke the complete opposite response.  I sometimes wonder if she knows me at all when she gives me gifts.  They are often in the right ballpark but somehow miss the mark.  For example I collect Barbie dolls but I do not keep them in boxes nor do I like gowns.  One year my mother gave me a lovely Barbie in a special anniversary gown.  It was lovely but not the type of item I tend to keep.  On other occasions she hits the nail right on the head such as the year she got me a Yankees t-shirt with Thurman Munson's name and number on it.  I know she means well and I always appreciate the thought but I also know she hopes for that "oh my goodness" moment and that doesn't happen often with the gifts she gives me.  This is not her fault at all but my reaction is not always something I can help.  And then I feel guilty because I was not appropriately appreciative of her efforts.

That is part of the reason I have this association to this card.  Yes, it is wonderful to receive a gift from someone.  However sometimes the emotional ties that go along with the gift can be more challenging to deal with than originally expected.

I sometimes see this scenario played out with children and parents in a more deliberate fashion.  I've seen parents who desperately search for a specific toy or item for a child because he or she will be devastated if they don't receive it.  On the flip side, the child has often spent months giving the parent subtle and not-so-subtle messages along the lines of "if you love me you'll get me . . ."  It is not usually clearly stated or ever addressed but it is certainly implied.  We all do this on some level but as adults I think it becomes more of a game we play.  In childhood we seem to feel things more keenly and express them more dramatically - "I'll hate you if you don't get me this".

So maybe what I need to consider with this card is what are my underlying issues when I receive a gift.  What is my response to the gift reflecting about myself and my emotional connections to others?  I have become more aware of this proclivity (my mother refers to my typical response to gifts as "being a Goofus" after a character in the magazine Highlights for Children").  Being aware of it makes me more sensitive to it and much less likely to repeat this attitude.  I guess the real lesson for me reflected in this card is that I need to look at myself and really consider the emotions and love of the person giving it to me rather than whether it's the "perfect gift".