Knight of Cups

Knight 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 fire of water.

The Knight of Cups rides gently beside a quiet river, carrying a silver cup. He follows his heart and brings an offer: of love, art or reconciliation.

Symbols on the card

The silver cup held out

An offer made from the heart.

The white horse

Gentle, sincere intent.

The quiet river

Feelings that move steadily.

Number and suit

Knights are pursuit and action: the suit's energy on the move, sometimes to excess. Cups are water: feelings, relationships, intuition and imagination.

Upright meaning

Follow your heart and make the gesture. An invitation or offer is on its way.

Love　Romance, a declaration, being courted.

Work　Creative pursuits, diplomatic proposals.

Inner life　Act on what moves you.

Reversed meaning

Ideals may be outrunning reality. Check if the feeling is grounded.

Love　Mood swings, promises not kept.

Work　Unrealistic plans or avoiding hard work.

Inner life　Romance is real when it includes the ordinary days.

In a three-card spread

Situation

An offer from the heart.

Challenge

Idealism or moodiness.

Advice

Follow your heart with your feet on the ground.

Tarot and astrology

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

Questions to sit with

• What is my heart asking me to do?
• Is this offer grounded in reality?

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.