Queens are associated with inner and personal control, competency, maturity, introspection, self-awareness, nurturance, healing and fulfillment.  Cups are associated with the element of water, with emotions, love, pleasure in life, matters pertaining to the unconscious, intuition and inner planes.  The Queen of Cups may be devoted to the needs of family and friends, and at her best shows a radiant, compassionate heart.  She is intuitive and able to tune in to the emotional needs of others.  She's a dreamer who can turn her imaginings into creative activity.  Reversed she can symbolize someone who indulges in emotional outbursts and a martyr complex in a quest for sympathy.  She can also become manipulative on an emotional level if she is unable to channel her energies into a productive outlet.

"Reversed:  Your psychic or intuitive abilities are well-developed and may feel like second nature to you.  You have reached some level of maturity and competency in dealing with your unconscious awareness.  You can rely on your intuitive inspiration." - Gail Fairfield

Sometimes I love when the Tarot does this to me.  I've written numerous times about my somewhat antagonist response to suit of Cups.  I've often stated that I'd prefer drawing a Swords card to a Cups card any day.  So naturally in response to this question I drew the reversed Queen of Cups.  The Tarot just loves to throw that particular statement right into my face.  

Thankfully over time I have come to appreciate the gifts and blessings the Cups cards can offer.  And the Queen of Cups and I have made our peace.  She has allowed me to look deep within myself and forgive; to wash clean some of the hurts and fears I've carried for far too long.  I've been able to see the strength and beauty the Queen of Cups brings to the world.  She holds us in her lap when we are sobbing with pain and hurt and renews us with her love and understanding.  She nurtures us through out most difficult and anguish-ridden moments and allows us to heal ourselves while we sob in her embrace.  And once we've healed and rejuvenated ourselves in her waters, she sends us back downstream to return to our lives, still feeling the pain but no longer awash in it.  She allows us to experience a cathartic release of the pain that often holds us back.  She offers us the opportunity to face the pain we hold inside us and to wash it away and allow the healing to begin.

As to what needs to be gratefully acknowledged in my life, that's would appear to be my inner Queen of Cups.  She whose rejuvenating and cleansing waters allow us to heal from past hurts and move on with life.  She whose chalice is both a draught of love and healing.  She helps us swim through the turbulent waves of our own emotions and find solace and safety on the shores near her throne.  I have learned to appreciate her strength and more gentle approach to life and that tears can come from that strength and are not a sign of weakness or a failing.  They are a sign of her love.  And that is what I gratefully acknowledge - the blessings and love her presence brings to my life and how those gifts allow me to provide love and healing for those around me.