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The King of Cups Meaning

The King of Cups court card is emotionally mature and stable, a supportive, sensitive rock to rely on. They are our wise counsels, that part of ourselves that knows to do what’s best for us (which may not necessarily be what we want to do).

Read on for a full King of Cups Tarot card description including Astrological and Numerological correspondences as well as what it can mean if it shows up for you as a reversal and in a general, career, or love Tarot reading:

The King of Cups Tarot Card

The King of Cups Minor Arcana card is firm but fair, nurturing and sensitive but capable of dishing out tough love when needed. They are intuitive and emotionally in-tune, but not swayed by emotions; able to lead with a balanced head and heart.

This is the typical figure we would want at the head of the family, the matriarch. They are capable of leading and doing hard things, but able to do so with softness (the hardest thing of all).

When the King of Cups comes to us can be an invitation for some gentle but strong re-parenting: the doing of the things we know are good for us, even if we don’t feel like doing them (such as going to bed earlier or being resolute in our boundaries).

As the suit of Cups, it can also be related to the relationships or creative projects in your life, the things that are emotionally investing— where needs some heart-centric leadership or for you to have more emotional balance?

In the Smith Rider Waite Tarot deck, I think we can see how sometimes this King can actually come across as too emotionally stoic, impartial, and cool, as the overarching colour of the card is neutral grey.

They are dressed in true blue and surrounded by turbulent emotional waters, but are isolated on a plain, concrete thrown. Whereas the Queen of Cups is still on fertile land, their foot touching the (calm) water, here we have distanced ourselves into an island.

However, like the other Cups Court cards, they are still associated with the spiritual fish and instinctive connection present in the themes.

In the Thoth deck the “Knight”, as it is called, is raising their chalice up with a protective crab contained therein, and a proud peacock below.

King of Cups Upright Key Meanings

Emotional maturity, emotional stability, emotional resilience, leading from the heart, emotional strength, reparenting, strong emotions, impartial nurturance

Generally, the upright meaning of the King of Cups indicate e a call to step up and do the emotionally mature thing, to lead stoically from the heart, and to do what you know is in your best interest. This is someone who has emotional intelligence and also has their emotions under control.

Astrology of the King of Cups

Astrologically, in some traditions, the Kings are said to correspond with the Mutable Signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces). This makes them able to bring about change and usher in new ways of doing things.

As the Cups suit corresponds with the Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), this adds in elements of creativity, nourishment, intuition, and additional fluidity and flexibility.

This would make the King of Cups Mutable Water, Pisces. This is an interesting association because we wouldn’t typically associate archetypal Pisces with the leader. Seen from this light, it can soften the King of Cups even more and make them more able to empathise with others.

The Kings are also said to correspond to the element of Fire, thus this King is Fire of Water, steam— an expander, lightener, and powerful force of nature. This elemental pair are diametrically opposite, causing a mismatch. On the one hand the bold spirit of Fire can be dampened by the wetness of Water; on the other the coolness of Water can be brought to a boil and evaporated by the heat of Fire.

Numerology of the King of Cups

Numerologically, the King can correspond to the number 14, which would connect it with the Major Arcana Temperance Card (and Hierophant in turn), however the courts are not usually associated with numbers.

As a thought experiment, however, I do like to think of the King of Cups as associated with Temperance and The Hierophant as one requires patience and moderation while the other requires strong values alignment— both necessary for good leadership!

How to Read Court Cards

Generally, the courts are said to either represent a person, situation, or facet of self. This can be someone who is influencing the question at hand, the general energy of the current circumstances, or an inner archetype you are invited to call upon.

As a person, the King of Cups is someone that is both emotionally reliable and sensitive, but also potentially emotionally cold.

As a situation, the King of Cups represents those moments that need to be lead with both softness and strength. I think of a therapy session (or good Tarot reading!), we want our therapist to empathise with us but not necessarily cry with us. In moments of hardship, it is someone who is able to be a gentle support, emotionally in-touch, but also sturdy. The shoulder to cry on.

As a facet of self, I see the King of Cups as being the parent for ourselves we would have needed as children or need in this moment. A calling upon our wise selves for emotional assistance and protection (such as having the hard conversations we know we need to)!

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two-wander-king-of-cups-tarot-card-reversed

Reversed King of Cups

If you choose to read its reversed meaning, a King of Cups reversed can be either a need to be more emotionally involved, and less distant, to soften the tough love. Or, to not resist doing the hard things we know are good for us!

King of Cups in a Relationship Reading

In a love Tarot card reading, the King of Cups, depending on where in the spread it has fallen, is generally a welcome card of emotional strength in the partnership. It could also be a call to either but more emotional effort and maturity into your relationship, or a symbol that your partner is emotionally wise.

King of Cups in a Career Reading

In a career Tarot reading, the King of Cups can be a message to be emotionally attached but impartial, to lead from the heart but not be blinded by it. Strike the balance between intuition, creativity, and empathy, and co-dependency or enabling. Act like the head of your business family.

So those are some King of Cups Tarot card meanings, I hope they’re insightful for you! Let me know in the comments section below if you have anything else to add or any questions.

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