Tarot · Minor Arcana · Cups

King of Cups

  • maturity of the heart
  • serenity
  • kindness
  • emotional balance

Key facts

Arcana
Minor Arcana
Suit
Cups
Number
14
Element
Fire of Water.
Keywords
maturity of the heart, serenity, kindness, emotional balance

King of Cups upright

The King of Cups is that steady presence holding his cup amid the waves without being swept away. He feels deeply yet stays calm, he loves without losing himself. It’s the maturity of a heart that has learned to welcome its own swells. Let this serenity inspire you; gentleness can be strong and quiet.

King of Cups reversed

Reversed, the King of Cups tells of emotions held under too tight a control, or, on the contrary, spilling over in bursts. Sometimes we close up to look solid, sometimes we use our feelings to lean on others. You can let your heart breathe without fearing you’ll lose your footing. True emotional strength is to feel and still remain yourself.

A question to sit with

Can you welcome your emotions without smothering them or letting them overwhelm you?

Frequently asked questions about King of Cups

What does King of Cups mean upright?
The King of Cups is that steady presence holding his cup amid the waves without being swept away. He feels deeply yet stays calm, he loves without losing himself. It’s the maturity of a heart that has learned to welcome its own swells. Let this serenity inspire you; gentleness can be strong and quiet.
What does King of Cups mean reversed?
Reversed, the King of Cups tells of emotions held under too tight a control, or, on the contrary, spilling over in bursts. Sometimes we close up to look solid, sometimes we use our feelings to lean on others. You can let your heart breathe without fearing you’ll lose your footing. True emotional strength is to feel and still remain yourself.

Sources

  • Arthur Edward Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, William Rider & Son, 1911.
  • Rachel Pollack, Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Weiser Books, 1980.