Suit: Suit of Cups
Card Type: Minor Arcana
Tarot Element: Water
Star Sign: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio
Planet: Mars
Angel: Archangel Gabriel
Key Meaning: Your Emotional Life Improves
All Knights signify movement. As Cups refer to emotions, the Knight of Cups indicates movement in an area of your life which has personal importance. For example, to do with love, family, creative pursuits or spiritual matters. Where there have been blocks and stagnation, there is now progress.
A to Z: List of Tarot Cards
Knight of Cups Keywords
🥰 Upright: Attraction, charm, romance, spiritual quest
😒 Reversed: Fear of commitment, immaturity, fraud
Knight of Cups Description
This description is based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck. A handsome young prince rides slowly across the countryside on his gallant horse. He holds out a cup which is a symbol of emotional devotion. This is the cup from the Ace of Cups and he is now delivering what promised in that card. He may bring an opportunity, a suitor in love, an invitation or even a baby. Our prince is the classic Knight in Shining Armour and you can trust him whenever he arrives in your reading.
All Knights herald movement, but there is a difference in the pace of movement.
Knight of Swords – rushes into action, events come suddenly and swiftly.
Knight of Wands – fast, but not as fast as the Knight of Swords.
Knight of Cups – slower than the Knight of Wands.
Knight of Pentacles – the slowest of all Knights, movement is very gradual.
Knight of Cups Personality Traits
Usually a man under 30 who is often well travelled, sensitive and a good communicator. He is a faithful lover or good friend and he is passionate and fun to be with. This knight is Prince Charming and has a way with words. He could work in sales, marketing, art & design, film, media, therapy or medicine. He is blessed with lots of good ideas, although sometimes he struggles to put them into action. He is interested in profound questions, like what is the purpose of life and where am I going? However, in the process of seeking deep personal truths, he can become self absorbed and neglect to understand others. His astrological sun or rising sign is Pisces, Scorpio or Cancer.
LOVE: What does The Knight of Cups Mean when You Ask About Love?
When the Knight of Cups turns up in a love reading, the meaning will depend on whether or not you are in a relationship.
💖 If you asked will I find love? – then this card says YES. Once in a lifetime, you meet someone who changes everything.
💖 If you have just met someone, then this card is a good sign that he or she could be The One.
💖 If you particularly fancy someone, now is the time to let them know. Be bold and make the move. It is no good keeping that information to yourself. Most people can’t read your mind. Even after they are told something, they can only too easily forget. Just remember: life is no fun if you don’t take the odd risk.
💖 On another level, this card asks us to question what is it that attracts us to certain types and not others? Is physical attraction your primary motive? The Knight is a slightly adventurous symbol, and he pushes us to consider relationships outside our normal range or ‘type’. So, when this card comes up, think in terms of consciously establishing a relationship with someone who you wouldn’t normally bother with. When you walk into a room, don’t just head for the ‘face’ that fits your type. The Knight is there to say, ‘Hey! Become aware of what you’re doing and try to override this tendency!’
💖If you are in a relationship, this card asks you to realize that there is a greater amount of love in your life than you may think. You do not have to ‘search for love’ but rather relax back into your life, confident that you already have it.
CAREER: What does This Card Signify When You Ask About Work?
If your question relates to work, business, career or study and you receive the Knight of Cups, then the guidance is as follows:
⭕ You are now clear about what you want. Perhaps you have been undecided about a job or area of study. When this Knight appears, the clouds of doubt disappear and now you can move forward.
⭕ If you asked, is my idea worth sharing with others? The answer is yes.
⭕ If you asked, should I apply for this job, project or course, then the answer is yes. Follow your heart and use charm and willpower to get what you want. Traditionally, the Page of Cups is associated with an offer, and the Knight is associated with the effort to get that offer. Do you see the difference?
MONEY: What is the Meaning of The Knight of Cups in a Money Reading?
💲 If you asked the Tarot about money and finances, and you receive the Knight of Cups, it does not predict a sudden windfall. Rather, it says – there is positive movement in your finances. This improvement is not necessarily associated with a specific job offer – but rather, with you being clearer about how you would like to make money. You have identified what stimulates and motivates you. Now you can look for ways to earn a living which fulfil those criteria. When we enjoy what we do, we are much more likely to be financially successful.
💲 If you asked about a significant purchase, like a house – then it means drive or walk around the area you want to live in. You may very well spot the house you end up buying. When it comes to buying a car, a test-drive will clarify everything.
Tarot Card Combination Meanings
“Knight of Cups combined with The Hermit” – Movement in your spiritual development.
“Knight of Cups combined with The Chariot” – Triumphing over obstacles, expect great things now.
“Knight of Cups combined with The Tower” – Bad news forces needed change in your emotional life.
HEALTH: What does This Card Mean When You Ask About Health?
If you are worried about your health and the Knight of Cups turns up – it can signify an improvement in your health and well-being. As Knights are associated with movement, it may relate to a chronic condition or long-standing problem.
Health conditions associated with the Knight of Cups include: constipation, hips and ankle problems, addictions, eating disorders, asthma and baldness.
BABIES: What does This Card Mean When You Ask About Childbirth?
The gentle Knight of Cups is associated with childbirth. If you are planning a natural childbirth, then expect the baby to arrive a few days later than expected – anywhere between 1 and 7 days late. Your charming bundle of joy plans on entering the world at a ‘chilled out’ pace! 💖
YES/NO: Does The Knight of Cups Mean Yes or No in a Reading?
❓ When you ask a Yes or No question and the Knight of Cups turns up, then the answer is YES.
TIMING: Does The Knight of Cups Predict any Particular Timeframe?
🕔 The Knight of Cups is only a timing indication when you specifically asked a timeframe question. For example, if you want to know if something will happen, and when, then you need to draw two separate cards. These are in fact, two separate questions. This is a fundamental principle to understand if you want an accurate tarot reading – and it is core to my teaching in my book Tarot in 5 Minutes.
🕔 Using my timing method, the Knight of Cups is about 12 months. If the card is reversed, timing will be slightly longer – so up to 18 months.
Karina’s Timing Method:
Swords are days. Wands are weeks. Cups are months and Pentacles are years. Please note this is my personal timing method. Feel free to adopt it (or not).
What is the Meaning of The Knight of Cups Reversed?
When the Knight of Cups is reversed then the Knight falls off his horse and loses his cool.
✔️ If you asked about a particular person, then a reversal suggests they are not reliable. In romance this is more of a one-night stand, or he/she is not telling the whole truth about themselves. They may also be a commitment-phobe. In a business situation this person could be a fraud.
✔️ If you asked about yourself, it may be that you need to check your emotions before acting. Are you ignoring red flags? Or being immature or gullible? Occasionally this Tarot card means being lost in a fantasy world, or falling down the rabbit hole and losing yourself in conspiracy theories.
✔️ If you are a writer or artist, a reversal can indicate writers block, or blocked imagination. In this case, draw one card (only) and ask the Tarot how can you overcome the block. Please note, the importance of the one card method is explained in my book Tarot in 5 Minutes.
✔️Other keywords associated a reversal include: craving attention, fantasy, narcissism, toxic emotions, walk of shame and deception.
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Knight of Cups Symbolism
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Complete List: Tarot Card Meanings
Karina, author of Tarot in 5 Minutes.
