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The Knight (King) of Cups embodies the man's side of the Water Element, the transcendental experiences, the salvation, the mystical unification with the ancestors, the indescribable. He is aware that this knowledge will always remain inaccessible to the intellect, only one who can open up to an intuitive approach and ready to find and touch. The Knight of Cups also embodies the will to provide space for our feelings and media abilities; The use of force in a dilettly or reckless way distorts the image, displays the ridiculous contour, the unrealistic fool or the totally unreliable man, not once unkind. Due to the lack of ability to separate, the forces become a toy, so they get involved in complications and intrigue.

KNIGHT OF CUPS

The Knights represent the powers of the letter Yod in the Name. They are the most sublime, original, active part of the Energy of the Element; for this reason they are represented on horseback and clad in complete armour. Their action is swift and violent, but transient. In the Element of Fire, for instance, the Knight corresponds to the Lightning flash; in the Element of Water, to Rain and Springs; in that of Air, to Wind; in that of Earth, to Mountains. It is very important as a mental exercise to work out for oneself these correspondences between the Symbol and the Natural Forces which they represent; and it is essential to practical Magical work to have assimilated this knowledge. 

The Knight of Cups represents the fiery part of Water, the swift passionate attack of rain and springs; more intimately, Water’s power of solution. He rules the Heavens from the 21st degree of Aquarius to the 20th degree of Pisces. He is clothed in black armour furnished with bright wings which, together with the leaping attitude of his white charger, indicates that he represents the most active aspect of Water. In his right hand he bears a cup from which issues a crab, the cardinal sign of Water, for aggressiveness. His totem is the peacock, for one of the stigmata of water in its most active form is brilliance. There is here also some reference to the phenomena of fluorescence.

The characteristics of the person signified by this card are nevertheless mostly passive, in accordance with the Zodiacal attribution. He is graceful, dilettante, with the qualities of Venus, or a weak Jupiter. He is amiable in a passive way. He is quick to respond to attraction, and easily becomes enthusiastic under such stimulus; but he is not very enduring. He is exceedingly sensitive to external influence, but with no material depth in his character.

When the card is ill dignified, he is sensual, idle and untruthful. Yet with all this he possesses an innocence and purity which are the essence of his nature. But he is, on the whole, so superficial that it is hard to reach this depth. “His name is writ in water.”

In the Yi King, the fiery part of Water is represented by the 54th Hexagram, Kwei Mei. The commentary is singularly obscure, and somewhat sinister. It deals with the difficulties of rightly mating such opposites as fire and water (compare the Queen of Wands; but in that case Water is the calming and modulating influence, while here it is Fire which creates trouble.) Swiftness and violence ill suit a character naturally placid; it is rare indeed to meet with a person who has succeeded in harmonizing these conflicting elements. He tends to mismanage all his affairs; and unless sheer good fortune attend him, his whole career will be an unbroken record of failure and disaster. Often his mental “civil war” ends in schizophrenia or melancholy madness. The abuse of stimulants and narcotics may precipitate the catastrophe. 

KNIGHT OF CUPS

Astrology: 21° Aquarius to 20° Pisces Element and world: The Fire in the Waters of Briah Tree of Life: Chokmah

The Knight of Cups represents the Fire in the element of water, trying to bring the contrasts in balance, using the flaming fires to advocate the passive waters. Therefore, there is a certain unstability within this Knights' character, that can shift from one side to the other. 

Briah is the world of emotions and sensitivity, and the Knight of Cups might have good senses for art, poetry and lyric, his compassion can make him a good healer. If he manages to reach real depth and inner conviction, he will be able to provide rich tenderness and emotional warmth. 

On the shadow side, his quickly rising emotions could be overwhelming, but without depth and reliability, when the fires of spontanity won't be able to harmonize with the depth of the waters. He is friendly but passive, easy to enflame but his interest can fade as quick as it flamed up, at its worst even appear as fakery and falsiness. So the Knight of Cups may also appear as an unsteady character, full of unripe ideas and failed attempts.

Drive: Selfsacrifice, self-redemption, grace, poetry 

Light: Compassion, solicitousness, sensibility 

Shadow: Seducability, vanity, unsteadiness, sentimental obtrusiveness, artificial, untruthfulness

THE KING OF CUPS - (Knight of Chalices) - Sun - Pisces - Secret Knowledge

Keywords: fiery aspect of water, surrender to loved one, ability to give, reaching higher emotional levels, spiritual relationships, family of choice

Advice: You want an intense relationship with those who think similarly, have a similar attitude.

Question: How can your relationship be enriched?

Suggestion: Find your true family, the community where you feel at home. There you will find the quality of communication you desire.

Revelation: Now I find companions whose closeness and support brings me closer to my inner reality.

Analogies:

Ji-Ching: None (?)

Mythology: The Secret Wise Men (Nerseus, Proteus, Phorkys)

Keywords: mediality, intuitive knowledge, secret, mysticism, union, helpfulness

Anyone who has a lot of experience already understands and can share their experience with others.

KING OF CUPS

General Meaning

Traditionally, representing the energy of a King, this card usually portrays a watery background, with a man seated on a throne, holding the Cup of Mystery in his hand. Occasionally, his cup is fulminating like the mouth of a volcano, emanating light, but never boiling over.

The man in this card doesn't need to speak to communicate strength, passion and commitment. Sometimes he is robed like a priest or shaman. Intense and intuitive, he is a force to be reckoned with.

In the Reversed Position

The King of Cups reversed is bitterly holding a grudge or some hatred — withholding his natural propensity for forgiveness and blessing. This reversal creates an emotional vacuum around him and deprives him of serenity.

His prodigious powers of empathy and compassion are wasted in favor of rehashing the past and feeling sorry for himself. Dispel the storm clouds, admit the hurt, forgive and embrace. Let the sunshine of peace and benevolence back into the picture.

In the Advice Positon

The King of Cups in this position advises that you closely examine your conscience and bring your personal mission into alignment with what is best for everyone. You can then step into your community or situation with integrity and an ability to communicate the highest wisdom.

As this sweetens the environment, others will be inspired to raise their own motives and intentions to match yours. You will be providing an important kind of leadership that uses strong reassurance to help everyone work together. The most persuasive thing about you is the example of generous behavior that you exhibit — much more powerful than preaching alone.

Read more:

• » The Book of Thoth - A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians by Aleister Crowley.
• » Liber LXXVIII - On the Tarot - A complete treatise on the Tarot giving the correct designs of the cards with their attributions and symbolic meanings on all planes. - A description of the Cards of the Tarot, with their attributions, including a method of divination by their use.
• » Manuscript N - The Tarot - A Golden Dawn Manuscript - A Theoricus Adeptus Minor Paper.