King of Cups Suit of Cups · tarot card meaning
- Suit
- Cups
- Yes or no
- Yes
King of Cups upright
The King of Cups is responsible judgment joined with imagination. He can advise, create, or care because feeling works beside fairness and practical intelligence. His throne stands on the sea without pretending the water is absent.
Yes or no: Yes, and the king holds steady through it. He sits calm on a throne surrounded by water, unmoved by what churns beneath.
King of Cups reversed
Reversed, the King of Cups points to dishonesty, double dealing, injustice, or serious loss. A composed manner may hide conduct that is not fair. The problem is not feeling itself, but authority using it badly.
Yes or no: No. Dishonesty, unfairness, or double-dealing makes the calm appearance unreliable.
The card at a glance
- Elemental reading
- RWS rank
- King
- First printed
- Themes
- feeling, connection, will, power
What is shown
A crowned king sits on a stone throne surrounded by open water. He holds a large cup and a short sceptre. A ship rides the waves on his right. A fish-like creature leaps on his left. A fish pendant hangs over his pale blue robe.
- Suit
- Cups
- Yes or no
- Yes
King of Cups upright
The King sits securely with his cup, facing beyond the past. He represents emotional maturity, cautious optimism, and openness shaped by experience.
Yes or no: Yes. King of Cups brings emotional maturity, openness, and prudent judgment.
King of Cups reversed
Reversed, an old emotional blow still governs the outlook. Pessimism makes new feeling answer for what happened before.
Yes or no: No. Reversed, the past still limits the present outlook.
King of Cups is read through Marseille cups and rank 14. Its RWS slot supports navigation only; no RWS scenic narrative is imported.
The card at a glance
- Printed title
- ROY DE COUPE
- Court rank
- Roy
- Suit sign
- Open cup
- Edition
- Themes
- feeling, connection, will, power
- Deck
- Tarot de Marseille: King of Cups (Roy de Coupe)
What is shown
A bearded king sits beneath a huge hat that partly surrounds his crown. He holds an open yellow cup beside one knee. His other hand rests firmly at his waist. A blue cloak covers the throne.
- Attribution
- King of Cups
- Yes or no
- Yes
King of Cups upright
Lucio Cecilio holds a dark shield or tablet while a lidded cup stands at his feet. Authority is distinct from emotional possession.
Yes or no: Yes. King of Cups supports the answer when authority stays connected to its emotional foundation.
King of Cups reversed
Reversed, rank and defended identity eclipse the vessel below. Feeling remains part of the foundation but receives little direct attention.
Yes or no: No. Reversed, defended status is eclipsing the feeling that should support the decision.
King of Cups uses its Sola Busca scene as primary evidence. The shared cups-14 slot is for navigation, not an RWS meaning equivalence.
The card at a glance
- Attribution
- King of Cups
- Workshop
- First documented
- c. 1491
- Themes
- feeling, connection, will, power
- Deck
- Sola Busca: King of Cups
What is shown
A crowned man labelled LUCIO CECILIO sits on a purple throne, holding a tall dark shield or tablet. A lidded cup stands near his feet, while crescent and star-like forms decorate the canopy.
Questions
What does King of Cups mean?
Emotional steadiness under pressure. The King of Cups is responsible judgment joined with imagination.
What does King of Cups mean reversed?
Reversed, the King of Cups points to dishonesty, double dealing, injustice, or serious loss.
Is King of Cups a yes or no card?
Yes upright, no reversed. And the king holds steady through it.
What is shown on King of Cups?
A crowned king sits on a stone throne surrounded by open water.
