Knight of Cups is a card of the Minor Arcana, suit of Cups in the Thoth Tarot. In a reading it speaks of idealism, romance, grace and sensitivity. In the Golden Dawn system it corresponds to the sephirah Chokmah, the element Water and 21° Aquarius – 20° Pisces in astrology.
idealism · romance · grace · sensitivity · inspiration
What does Knight of Cups mean?
Accept the invitation or the inspiration: the feeling asks to be expressed.
Everyday meaning
A romantic, gentle and dreamy person, or the arrival of an emotional or artistic proposal. It points to invitations, declarations, idealistic enthusiasms.
Psychological meaning
The side of the personality moved by ideals and feelings: enthusiastic and generous but not very constant, more in love with the image of love than with its daily effort.
Initiatic meaning
Fire of Water, the Yod of He, referred to Chokmah: the impetus that sets the waters in motion, like rain and springs. He rules from 21° Aquarius to 20° Pisces, joining vision and compassion.
The shadow side
Ill-dignified, he is lazy, sensual, not very sincere, inconstant.
Knight of Cups reversed
The Thoth Tarot is traditionally read without reversed cards: the reader judges from the cards around it whether a card is well or ill dignified. This is its ill-dignified or blocked reading:
Disappointed idealism, promises not kept, unstable emotionality.
Knight of Cups in love, work and spirit
In love
A romantic suitor, emotional proposals, declarations.
At work and career
Creative or artistic proposals, projects inspired by ideals.
In spiritual practice
The Grail knight following an ideal of beauty.
Kabbalah, astrology and the Hebrew letter of Knight of Cups
Chokmah · Water · 21° Aquarius – 20° Pisces
Crowley on Knight of Cups
Crowley portrays a winged knight on a white horse surging forward, holding a cup from which a crab emerges, with a peacock beside him: the sensitive grace of water in motion.
Frequently asked questions
What does Knight of Cups mean in the Thoth Tarot?
Accept the invitation or the inspiration: the feeling asks to be expressed.
What does Knight of Cups mean in love?
A romantic suitor, emotional proposals, declarations.
What does Knight of Cups mean for work and career?
Creative or artistic proposals, projects inspired by ideals.
What does Knight of Cups mean reversed?
The Thoth Tarot is traditionally read without reversed cards: the reader judges from the cards around it whether a card is well or ill dignified. This is its ill-dignified or blocked reading: Disappointed idealism, promises not kept, unstable emotionality.
What are the Kabbalah and astrology correspondences of Knight of Cups?
In the Golden Dawn system Knight of Cups corresponds to the sephirah Chokmah, the element Water and 21° Aquarius – 20° Pisces in astrology.
