King of Cups

King of Cups is one of the 56 minor arcana of the tarot, in the suit of Cups; in the Golden Dawn tradition it corresponds to air of water.

The King of Cups sits calm on a stone throne while the sea moves around him. He feels fully and stays steady: emotional wisdom.

Symbols on the card

The stone throne on the sea

Stability amid emotion.

The chalice and sceptre

Feeling and responsibility together.

The gently moving sea

Feelings acknowledged, not denied.

Number and suit

Kings are outer mastery: the suit's energy directed with experience and responsibility. Cups are water: feelings, relationships, intuition and imagination.

Upright meaning

Stay calm and kind. You can feel deeply and still lead with balance.

Love　Mature, supportive and emotionally steady love.

Work　Diplomacy, mentoring, steady leadership.

Inner life　Emotional maturity is feeling without being ruled.

Reversed meaning

Feelings may be suppressed or used to control. Let them be honest.

Love　Coldness on the surface, storms underneath.

Work　Moody leadership or avoiding difficult conversations.

Inner life　Calm is real when it does not hide anything.

In a three-card spread

Situation

Emotional balance and wisdom.

Challenge

Suppressed or controlling feelings.

Advice

Lead with calm compassion.

Tarot and astrology

In the Golden Dawn system the court cards are elements within elements; this one is air of water.

Questions to sit with

• What am I feeling beneath my calm?
• How can I stay kind and steady at once?

Through the suit

Tarot here is a mirror for reflection, not a prediction. The meanings follow the Waite-Smith tradition and the Golden Dawn attributions, in our own words.