King of Cups

wisdom • diplomacy • restraint • composure
Statistics
arcaneMinor
suitCups
number14
elementalFire of Water.
Meanings
Light
- Keeping a stiff upper lip
- Being brave and clear in the face of adverse circumstances
- Sharing experience as a way of comforting others
- Making fair and empathetic decisions
- Honoring the spirit
- not just the letter
- of the law
Shadow
- Allowing yourself to become rigid and unemotional
- Making unfair decisions based on a hidden agenda
- Making decisions without regard for their emotional impact on others
- Abusing spiritual authority
- Using emotional or spiritual leverage to exercise unhealthy control over others
Description
He holds a short sceptre in his left hand and a great cup in his right; his throne is set upon the sea; on one side a ship is riding and on the other a dolphin is leaping. The implicit is that the Sign of the Cup naturally refers to water, which appears in all the court cards.