Knight of Cups
Affirmation
I translate my passions into actions.
Symbolic Attributes
- Element:Air of Water.
- Arcana:Minor Arcana
- Suit:Cups
- Archetype:
- Numerology:
- Hebrew Alphabet:
Keywords
Description
Graceful, but not warlike; riding quietly, wearing a winged helmet, referring to those higher graces of the imagination which sometimes characterize this card. He too is a dreamer, but the images of the side of sense haunt him in his vision.
Light Meaning
- Being deeply committed to a cause
- Giving in to strong emotions, from excitement to depression
- Acting on intuition alone
- Solving problems intuitively
- Believing in and basing decisions on ideals instead of realities
- Bringing intuition or passion to the table
Shadow Meaning
- Becoming a fanatic
- Rejecting information that suggests your intuitions are misguided
- Allowing your emotions to control you
- Giving in to jealousy, confrontation, and peer pressure
- Hiding or ignoring intuitive insights
Questions to Ask Yourself
- •How prone to emotional extremes are you?
- •What's the difference in driving passion and blind zeal?
- •How can you inspire others without inciting a riot?
Personal Meaning
Artistic passion, depth of emotion, romance, and sensitivity, everything fanciful, beautiful and pleasurable. Being moody, melodramatic and easily disappointed. Seek balance. Also, a person who brings these attributes into his or her relationship with you.
Artistic passion, depth of emotion, romance, and sensitivity, everything fanciful, beautiful and pleasurable. Being moody, melodramatic and easily disappointed. Also, a person who brings these attributes into his or her relationship with you.
Artistic passion, depth of emotion, romance, and sensitivity, everything fanciful, beautiful and pleasurable. Being moody, melodramatic and easily disappointed. Examine these energies in your life and determine whether they are manifesting in a positive or a negative way at this time. Seek balance. Also, a person who brings these qualities into his or her relationship with you.
Personal Reversed Meaning
Either your own or someone else's moodiness, over-sensitivity, melodrama, disappointment and over-indulgence becomes a disruptive influence. Recognize these attributes when they crop up and seek balance.
Moodiness, over-sensitivity, melodrama, disappointment and over-indulgence, or someone displaying these attributes, have been a destructive influence.
Either your own or someone else's moodiness, over-sensitivity, melodrama, disappointment and over-indulgence is a disruptive influence at this time. It's time to recognize these attributes and seek balance.
Fortune Telling
- •This card represents a man with an emotional, sensitive personality, likely born between October 13th and November 11th, who wants you to rally around his latest passionate cause
How to Interpret This Card in a Reading
A guide to deepening your understanding of Tarot symbolism.
Context is Key
No Tarot card exists in a vacuum. While the meanings above provide a foundation, the true significance of this card depends on where it lands in your spread. Is it in the past position, indicating a phase you are moving away from? Or is it in the outcome position, suggesting a potential future? Always consider the neighboring cards — they often tell a story that modifies or amplifies the message.
Trust Your Intuition
Traditional meanings are the starting point, but your intuition is the compass. When you look at the card imagery, what draws your eye first? A specific color, a symbol, or a facial expression might trigger a personal memory or feeling. That immediate reaction is often the most relevant message for your current situation, even if it differs from the standard definition.
Understanding Reversals
If this card appears reversed (upside down), don't fear it. Reversals often suggest an internalizing of the card's energy, a delay, or a need to revisit the lesson before moving forward. It can also indicate that the "shadow" aspects described above are currently more active, inviting you to bring them into the light for healing.
Connecting with the Element
Remember the suit this card belongs to. Wands speak to passion and action (Fire). Cups dive into emotions and relationships (Water). Swords navigate the mind and conflicts (Air). Pentacles ground us in the material world and resources (Earth). The Major Arcana represents larger life themes and soul lessons. Filtering the card's meaning through its elemental lens will give you a grounded, practical way to apply its wisdom to your life.