King of Cups
With a calm heart you embrace others. Emotional maturity brings steady leadership.
- Card
- Minor Arcana · Cups (Water)
- Upright keywords
- Generosity, Tolerance, Calm, Mature love
- Reversed keywords
- Emotional, Indecision, Manipulation, Swayed by feelings
- Yes or no
- Leans yes
Traditional correspondences Element: Air of Water / Golden Dawn: Prince of the Chariot of the Waters / Thoth: Prince of Cups / Libra 21° to Scorpio 20° / Sephirah: Tiphareth (Beauty)
Upright meaning
Calm and generous. You can lead with emotional maturity.
A king sits on a throne floating on a choppy sea, calm and composed, holding a cup and a sceptre. The King of Cups is emotional mastery: calm, wise, generous and diplomatic. Upright, he helps you lead with kindness and stay balanced in turbulent times.
Reversed meaning
Moods or manipulation. Don’t let feelings take over.
Reversed, emotions run hidden or out of control. Manipulation, moodiness or avoiding feelings may be the issue. Face your emotions honestly.
For ways of reading reversed cards, see how to read reversals.
Love
A mature, devoted partner.
Emotional manipulation or unavailability.
Work
Diplomatic leadership and counselling.
Moodiness at work.
Money
Generous and balanced with money.
Emotional decisions with money.
Relationships
A wise friend who listens.
Passive-aggressive behaviour.
Health
Emotional balance supports health.
Repressed feelings causing stress.
Tarot does not diagnose physical conditions. If you have symptoms that worry you, please see a doctor.
Mind and spirit
Calm wisdom.
Hidden turmoil.
As a person
A calm, compassionate, mature person.
Someone moody or manipulative.
Timing
Within weeks, a moment that calls for calm leadership. In the calendar, mid October to mid November is also a guide (roughly October 13 to November 12).
Advice
Lead with calm compassion.
Face your feelings honestly.
Questions to ask yourself
- How can I stay calm in turbulent times?
- What feelings am I hiding?
- How can I be kind and firm?
A common misreading
The King of Cups isn’t cold. He feels deeply but stays balanced.
The story of this card
The King brings water to maturity: feelings guided with wisdom.
The Waite deck’s picture and symbols
In the Waite deck the King sits on a stone throne in the middle of a rough sea, holding a cup and sceptre. A fish leaps and a ship sails behind him.
History and differences between traditions
In the Golden Dawn system this figure is the Prince of the Chariot of the Waters.
Words for today
I stay calm amid the waves.
I face my feelings with honesty.