Tarot card Knight of Cups: meaning and combination with other cards

Sergey Savchenko January 12, 2021 85 796 4 Minute(s) read

Surprisingly, the image of the Knight of Cups has much in common with the image of the Death card. Mountains, river, horse and rider pose. It is not known whether this happened by chance or was intended, but such a coincidence makes us look for parallels between these two cards.

A detail that is not often paid attention to is the fish on the Knight’s surcoat. I'm not much of a weapons expert, but it seems to me that the armor is consistent with the period of the English Civil War, called the Wars of the Roses.

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The meaning of the Knight of Cups in a broad sense

On the card from the Waite deck we see a Knight in rich armor, in his hand he victoriously holds a cup. He is in no hurry, enjoys life and offers to share success and pleasure with everyone.

Knight of Cups from the Waite deck

He is confident in his own abilities, one might even say that he admires the impression he makes on people.

We will see the same image on a card from a deck released at the beginning of the last century, Tarot-93, which was compiled by Nikolai Kolesov. In the book “The ABC of Tarot” the author gives a detailed description of the representative of this Minor Arcana. It is slightly different from that adopted in the Rider-Waite classification, but we will study the interpretation of the traditional school. It is easy to remember and suitable for a beginner.

I advise beginning masters working with cards to study in detail the classical symbolism of the Tarot. First you need to gain academic knowledge on the subject, and only after that move on to mastering new decks.

The video is dedicated to the meaning of the Knight of Cups card from the Wild Unknown Tarot deck:

The main idea of the map is formulated in several points:

Communication, sincerity, friendly attitude towards people.
Self-confidence, ability to plan actions and anticipate results.
Developed intuition that helps find answers to complex questions.
Ability to manipulate others to achieve goals.
Love of luxury.
The ability to find and maintain the right contacts thanks to natural charm.
An innate sense of beauty.
The pursuit of excellence.
Escaping reality into a fantasy world.
Narcissism.

Horseman of Cups Tarot deck-93

Please note that many card meanings cannot be called positive. But the Knight of Cups cannot be accused of self-interest or deception; everything he does is sincere and from the heart.

Good and bad qualities appear in the Horseman of Cups depending on the position in which the symbol appears in the layout.

Meaning of the card in the upright position

In an upright position, the Knight of Cups is impeccable. He personifies such virtues as:

sincerity;
honesty;
openness;
penchant for romanticism;
generosity;
gullibility.

In combination with favorable Arcana, the Horseman of Cups indicates a kind person, always ready to help. He is tactful, loyal to other people's weaknesses, and does not allow himself to speak badly about people. The Knight of Cups is an idealist and wants everyone around him to be the same. Faced with harsh reality, he withdraws into himself, becomes selfish and callous.

Reversed card meaning

In the reverse position we see that the plus changes to a minus. The Horseman of Cups indicates an insincere, deceitful and dangerous person who hides his true face under the mask of goodness.

The neighboring maps will tell you why this happened.

In situational scenarios, an inverted symbol indicates a lack of prospects. A person is mired in worries, does not know how to enjoy life, and denies the bright sides of existence.

Cards often fall out with an inverted meaning, but it is not always worse than the upright one. I advise beginning tarot readers to practice small layouts, for five to seven cards. This will make it easier to see the whole picture of fortune telling, compare symbolic pairs, and assess the situation.

Detailed analysis of the Knight of Cups card for beginners:

Meaning in work schedules

The Knight card in work layouts represents relationships with colleagues and management, relationships with partners and clients. Predictions in this case could be as follows:

There is a friendly and calm atmosphere in the work team. The usual routine will continue as usual, no sudden changes will occur. Everything is going according to plan and there is no reason to worry.
You have chosen a good job that gives you pleasure and brings sufficient income. You may be fulfilling your destiny. Therefore, now is not the most favorable time to change your duty station.
If the purpose of the alignment is to determine what kind of work you need to choose, pay attention to creative professions. You are a talented person and can successfully realize yourself in creativity. It is important not to sit still, but to do something to achieve your dreams.

In an inverted position in a work layout, the Knight card appears in the following cases:

There is a high chance that you will be deceived. Carefully monitor everything that happens at work: carefully read contracts and discuss all the nuances of cooperation with partners.
Take your time to make decisions on your own. If you lack knowledge, use the help of a qualified employee, do not skimp on this.

Watch the video about the meaning of the Knight of Cups Tarot:

To summarize: the Knight or Horseman of Cups card demonstrates a person’s ability to inspire others with his ideas and share his views on life. If you know how to persuade, it will seriously help you in any business.

In a negative sense, the card indicates lies, betrayal, and deception. They can be avoided if you become attentive and carefully evaluate everything that happens.

The meaning of the Knight of Cups in fortune telling about affairs, work, finances

Cups characterize the situation at work differently than Pentacles. The money suit speaks of benefits and the material side of things. The cups paint an emotional picture of what is happening. They help to understand relationships with people, because it is quarrels and conflicts that cause failures. A difficult moral climate does not allow you to work productively.

In an upright position, the Knight of Cups says that everything is fine with you. The work brings satisfaction, which means that the material side of the matter does not suffer.

The Horseman of Cups intuitively sees what is inaccessible to others, knows how to notice details and use them in his work.

If we talk about professional guidance, which takes place under the map, then a person should think about a creative career. Horsemen of Cups make good journalists, advertising agents, designers, and interior designers. Art is your path, the cards say.

Over time, the interpretation of Tarot symbolism changes. What was relevant under Papus and Rider-Waite is outdated. Decks created these days help us look at the situation differently, in a new way.

Use different cards for thematic layouts. Create your own system for deciphering symbols based on experience and observations.

In a reverse position, the Arcanum indicates tension. A person is unable to realize his potential in his profession, a conflict is brewing in the team, and management does not value the employee.

Emotions and excessive impulsiveness make it difficult to look at the situation critically. Perhaps a person is driven by banal envy of the success of others, so he cannot concentrate on fulfilling his duties.

Direct general meaning

The Knight of Cups is the most feminine of all the Knight cards in the Tarot. It is important to note, however, that this does not even mean that he is a less worthy knight. This implies that he is in touch with his emotions and his intuition, that he uses them for his own well-being and during his many affairs. He is usually quite attractive and charming to others, regardless of gender.

It can also manifest as an event or person in your life or as part of your own personality. He appears as a messenger and carries an invitation or symbolizes the arrival of something or someone who will carry some emotional benefit. It can also represent initiative, the emergence of a project of great emotional or creative significance.

The meaning of the Knight of Cups in relationships

Emotions and feelings are the element of the Knight of Cups. In the upright position, it means comfort, a pleasant pastime, and intimate connection. Depending on the question asked of the cards, the Horseman of Cups indicates either a young man, a meeting with whom will take place in the near future, or an easy romance, light flirting. Most often, such relationships are not intended to last long and do not end with a wedding. The Knight of Cups is not a family man, he is in eternal search and only after forty, or even later, finally finds his soul mate.

For women looking for happiness, the appearance of a card in the layout warns of the unreliability of their partner. Do not flatter yourself about your new lover, he will not become a permanent life partner.

For single people, the appearance of the Knight promises acquaintance, moments of joy, and a pleasant pastime. Happiness and joy are already on the doorstep, but they will not last long. Be content with what fate gives here and now, do not plan to live together until old age.

Knight of Cups from the Witch Tarot deck

In a reverse position, the Horseman of Cups symbolizes the negative aspects of falling in love: jealousy, groundless suspicions, whims.

A reversed card speaks of a relationship in which one partner is completely subordinate to the other. Manipulation by a lover or spouse, stupid grievances, an infantile attitude towards life.

Do not count on support and understanding if the Knight of Cups appears inverted when asked about his attitude towards you.

Each fortune teller has her favorite layouts that she uses in her work. Interact with the cards daily, so you will gain experience and remember the meanings of the symbols easier.

Knight of Cups

"On the seventh sky". Even if this is not head over heels in love (to which the card responds very sensitively), then it is elation, carelessness, daydreaming, good mood, lightness of heart, peace and harmony, a very healthy and happy state. A completely unbusinesslike manner. A creative binge, when the imagination is completely at the mercy of the senses. This is a card of poetry, inspiration, romance, and healing from heart wounds received in the past.

The power of emotions and creative imagination, renewal. And, oddly enough, in this rather euphoric state you can put things in order and successfully do and solve a lot. Perhaps this happens because harmony of mind and heart reigns; they do not interfere with each other and do not create internal barriers in business.

The traditional human roles of the Knight of Cups are a good brother, a true friend or a lover. As a character, the Knight of Cups is very charming. He may do practically nothing for this, remain silent, be dressed haphazardly - all this will go unnoticed. It is very easy to project what you want onto him, to hear words that he did not say and to attribute feelings to him in accordance with your expectations and desires - it is not for nothing that this card personifies the ideal of a lover. There is always an element of mystery and mystery in it, but not tense or disturbing, unlike the Moon, for example. Rather, this is due to the fact that the sensitive and creative Knight of Cups always remains a bit of a mystery to himself. He is not at all characterized by typical male self-confidence in the spirit that I am my own master, I know everything about myself, an open book. The Knight of Cups knows that there is still a lot in him with which he can surprise both himself and those around him.

This person has difficulty deciding on a profession or relationship (and sometimes even sexual preferences as such). He is not malicious, but is not resistant to stress, since he takes everything to heart and is easily frightened by difficulties. This is exactly the type of “wonderful person” for whom it costs nothing to get drunk (while the bitchy Knight of Swords himself is more likely to drive those around him to the bottle).

The Knight of Cups personifies such traits as romance, sensitivity, and dreaminess. Even if he lies, he does it, believing in what he says. Calculating cynicism is absolutely alien to him (but there is more than enough imagination, divorced from life).

In general, he is a very bright person, kind and affectionate. He is happy when surrounded by friendly attention, and to his credit, he knows how to not only consume this attention, but also give it to others. He is always ready to provide a service, to do something good, and suffers if his motives are misunderstood. He is the first to press the button in the elevator not because he is currying favor with his superiors, and he gives a woman flowers not because he is sexually interested. He is elegant and amiable not because he is gay. Gallantry is in his blood.

This is a seducer, a comforter, historically a courtly ladies' man. It is clear that sending such guys into battle was more expensive for yourself, but at court it was impossible to do without them. The ladies were bored, the courtyard lost its shine and turned into a barracks.

The Knight of Cups is a wonderful lover, although more in the ancient sense than in the modern sense. This is a lover not for the complexion, but for the blossoming of the soul. He is a master not so much of naturalizing the body as of delighting the heart, and he captivates with his tenderness, kindness and sensitivity rather than with pure masculinity and primitive rage (this is for the Knight of Wands, please). He is instinctively perceived by a woman as a gift, as psychological salvation, as a ray of light in a dark kingdom, and in general, this very accurately corresponds to his archetype. The only trouble is that in the ray of its light, almost all other kingdoms begin to seem dark. That is why a couple of absolutely innocent dates with him can cause terrible jealousy in a representative of the suit of Wands, Swords or Pentacles. They, one might say, were working hard, creating their own serious male kingdoms, including for their lady, and then this buffoon appeared, and that’s all! The lady looks like she’s drunk...she doesn’t need anything, just him. Here you can get angry (classic of the genre - “Assa”). Like the King of Cups, he plays on a field of feelings that is not directly accessible to other suits.

People and Places of the Knight of Cups

As is already clear from the description of the card and its key meanings, it symbolizes a creative, impulsive, loving person.

The Knight of Cups is taken as a significator for a man over 30 years old, single.

Places that are usually marked with this map:

art workshops;
design bureaus;
leisure organizations.

The list can easily be expanded by identifying the Horseman of Cups as the card of the day. Observe what kind of people life brings you together, analyze the experience gained, use it to work with a magical tool.

Love and relationships

In the sphere of relationships, the direct Knight of Cups symbolizes:

eroticism;
satisfaction;
passion;
emotionality.

The Knight is a card of positive changes, movements, changes that will strengthen relationships in a couple. The lasso can also indicate a future relationship, where one partner will treat his chosen one very carefully or propose to him.

The inverted card is a symbol of pride, which destroys everything. Arkan predicts:

misunderstanding;
manipulation;
pretense;
jealousy.

Knight of Cups Gothic Tarot by Joseph Vargo

How to work with the dark Vargo Tarot deck.

Psychological state and the Knight of Cups

The cards advise you to monitor your emotions. Don’t be tempted to force things if you see the Horseman of Cups in your reading.

The cup of wine he holds in his hand is full, try not to spill the precious drink!

The person who received the card is self-possessed, listens to outside advice, tries to control emotions, although this does not always work.

Innate sensuality pushes you to adventure, makes you chase mirages, which leads to sad consequences, disappointment, and apathy.

In the upright position, the Horseman of Cups does not get discouraged over trifles, does not know how to be offended for a long time, forgives people for minor and major mistakes, and does not hold a grudge against others.

He avoids harsh judgments, but does not wear rose-colored glasses and tries to find a middle ground. Before us is a healthy person, his psyche is stable.

The video is dedicated to the meaning of the Knight of Cups card from the point of view of socionics:

In the reverse position, we see that the Knight becomes overly emotional and is easily drawn into dubious adventures.

The cards advise you to look at life soberly, stop entertaining yourself with illusions; start working instead of building projects.

In an inverted state, the Knight of Cups means problems with communication, cognitive dissonance, inability to distinguish truth from fiction, pathological deceit.

Features of appearance in different decks

In the Waite Tarot, the Knight of Cups is depicted on the card as a man riding a horse. The rider is dressed in elegant clothes, his look is peaceful, he is confident in his abilities. In the hands of a warrior, the cup is a symbol of victory.

The appearance and meaning of the Knight of Cups Tarot card differs in different decks:

Age of Aquarius - the surface of the water is depicted in the background, the warrior is calm and confident;
Romantic - in the foreground there is a horseman with a cup in his hand, in the background there are horses rushing forward;
Vampire Tarot - on the card there is a Grail Knight with a cup in his hands, storm clouds are gathering in the sky;
Mythological - a fair-skinned warrior in purple armor. A man sits on a horse, holding a bowl in his hand. There is a minor obstacle ahead - a stream.

The detailed interpretation depends on the type of deck and the position of the card (straight or inverted).

Classic combination with the Major Arcana

Let's look at how the Major Arcana affects the Knight of Cups.

Knight of Cups with Major Arcana

A jester is an unprofitable offer that sounds tempting. It should be abandoned.
Magician - new position, change of place of work.
High Priestess – listen to people’s opinions. They will help with good advice.
The Empress is interesting news, an offer of cooperation.
Emperor and Horseman of Cups for women - to get married. When fortune telling on work issues - transition to a new position.
Lovers - responsible choice, marriage, living together.
Chariot - rapid changes, moving to a new home.
Strength - the conflict will be resolved peacefully.
The hermit advises to refuse unprofitable cooperation, step away from business, take a time out, and think.
Wheel of Fortune - everything will not happen as the person planned. The changes will affect the side of life that worries the questioner most. The card says that you should rely on the will of providence and wait.
Justice is a truce, the end of a quarrel.
Hanged Man - sort things out, you have a lot of plans that need to be implemented.
Death - friends need support, don’t forget about them.
Moderation. Mutually beneficial cooperation, joint projects.
The devil is dubious offers, temptation, beware of envious people and ill-wishers.
The tower predicts a break in relations with a loved one or friend, a major quarrel. When fortune telling about the state of affairs - bankruptcy of an organization, loss of a job, a series of unpleasant events.
Star - you win. Enemies and competitors capitulate.
The appearance of the Moon in a reading next to the Knight of Cups is a symbol of illusory hopes, ambiguous and dubious proposals from friends and partners. You are in difficulty, there is a high risk of wishful thinking.
Sun - Fate gives you a chance, don’t miss it.
Court - you need help, do not push away the hand of friendship.
The world says that relationships with your loved one are reaching a new level.

Description of the map

In the classic Tarot deck, developed by Edward Waite at the beginning of the 20th century, the Horsemen of all four suits represent the principle of movement. Creating a key to the interpretation of his own cards, Waite pointed out the importance of individual details for understanding the overall meaning of the Arcana. For example, the Knight of Cups' horse is preparing to cross a river, moving from left to right. From an esoteric point of view, the right side of the picture represents the future, and crossing a water barrier represents liberation from painful memories. This means that the Horseman is heading towards a new day, leaving behind grievances and old connections. In front of him are sandy hills that speak of lofty aspirations. The white horse and the cup in the hand evoke the image of the Knight of the Holy Grail - a man pure in body and soul. The Horseman of Cups is the embodiment of idealism, friendship and loyalty, without a hint of sensual love. This is a romantic who worships the image of a Beautiful Lady, or a poet who shuns earthly passions. The knight's winged helmet and connection with the constellation Pisces indicate rich creative potential.

In situational readings, Knights are interpreted not only as specific people, but also as driving forces of progress. By the card suit you can find out when the goal will be achieved. The Knight of Cups, in particular, indicates spring (the Horseman of Wands symbolizes summer, the Knight of Swords symbolizes Autumn, and the Knight of Denarius symbolizes Winter).

Interesting fact: tarologists note that the figures of the Horseman and the horse, as well as the surrounding landscape, resemble an illustration for another card made by Pamela Smith. Coincidentally or not, the Knight of Cubes practically repeats the pose of Death from the XIII Major Arcana. The white horse also bears a resemblance to the Reaper's pale horse. There are no coincidences in esotericism: with the symbolic death of sensual pleasures, the Horseman of Cups pays for spiritual enlightenment. An idealist and romantic, he builds his utopia on a sinful earth.

Meaning of a straight card

The Horseman of Cups is a card of idealists and dreamers, artists and poets. If you are a person of a creative profession, its appearance in the chart foreshadows the creation of a true masterpiece. In the sphere of relationships, this is a strong friendship or a new acquaintance based on a common hobby. The Knight of Cups is a passionate person, devoted to an abstract goal or idea, and sometimes completely divorced from reality. If this card describes you, be careful not to let inspiration lift your feet off the ground. In addition to a beautiful dream, you need to have at least some material wealth.

Describing the situation, the Horseman of Cups predicts a romantic trip, a honeymoon in an exotic country, or a business trip related to a new project. If you direct your talents in the right direction and find a job you like, profits are guaranteed. The card is considered favorable, but difficult to interpret, since it concerns spiritual growth rather than the familiar physical world.

Common meanings of the Arcana: pleasant acquaintance, walk with friends, outdoor recreation, travel on water, vivid impressions.

The meaning of a reversed card

The key meaning of the reversed Horseman of Cups is deception. The situations in which it may appear may vary. They will probably make you a tempting but dubious offer, promise you profit, but in reality they will try to drag you into a dark story. Don't accept an unusual job if it makes you uncomfortable. Trust your intuition to avoid falling victim to lies. Perhaps a business partner or close friend is deceiving you. If the card characterizes a person, his negative qualities are immaturity, isolation from reality, escape from problems, and weak character. This is not a Knight of the Holy Grail (Knight of Cups), but a swindler and cunning man, pretending to be an enthusiastic philosopher or artist. He has a bright appearance and charisma, so he is able to charm at first sight. Be careful when making new acquaintances - fate may bring you together with a hypocrite and a liar.

Alternative interpretations of the card: betrayal, dishonest ways of fighting, injustice, lack of practicality and common sense. Bad advice, betrayed trust.

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