Knight of Cups
Courtship
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
Audrey Hepburn
Knight of Cups at a glance
Finbarre’s interpretation: The Knight of Cups follows an ideal, invitation or romantic vision and asks whether feeling is matched by honesty.
| Upright | romantic approach, creative proposal, charm, emotional movement, an invitation |
|---|---|
| Reversed | empty charm, deception, emotional inconsistency, fantasy sold as a promise, manipulation |
| Linked card | The Lovers |
| Soundtrack | Shape Of My Heart by Sting Open the full Tarot Interviews playlist on Spotify |
Upright meanings
- Romantic approach
- Creative proposal
- Charm
- Emotional movement
- An invitation
- Diplomacy
- Pursuing beauty
- A sincere declaration
- Imaginative confidence
- Leading with feeling
Reversed meanings
- Empty charm
- Deception
- Emotional inconsistency
- Fantasy sold as a promise
- Manipulation
- Avoidance of practical detail
- Moodiness
- An insincere offer
- Passive pursuit
- Disappointment after idealisation
Knight of Cups in a reading
| Area | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Love | Emotional bond: Diplomacy. Reversed: Avoidance of practical detail. |
| Career | Work: Pursuing beauty; a sincere declaration. Warning: Moodiness. |
| Money | Financial theme: Imaginative confidence. Warning: Passive pursuit. |
| Feelings | Upright: Charm. Reversed: Emotional inconsistency. |
| Advice | Prioritise: Leading with feeling. Watch for: Disappointment after idealisation. |
| Outcome | Potential: An invitation. Obstacle: Manipulation. |
| Yes or no | Yes for an offer or approach; verify its substance. |
Symbols in Knight of Cups
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The offered cup | Feeling is carried forward as a proposal. |
| The walking horse | The approach is measured rather than aggressive. |
| The winged helmet | Imagination guides movement and presentation. |
| The river | Emotion shapes the route without stopping progress. |
A. E. Waite's original description
Graceful, but not warlike; riding quietly, wearing a winged helmet, referring to those higher graces of the imagination which sometimes characterize this card. He too is a dreamer, but the images of the side of sense haunt him in his vision.
Waite's original divinatory meanings
Upright:
Arrival, approach, sometimes that of a messenger; advances, proposition, demeanour, invitation, incitement.
Reversed:
Trickery, artifice, subtlety, swindling, duplicity, fraud.
Source: A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, first published in 1910, with illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith.
Continue through the deck
- Previous card: Page of Cups
- Next card: Queen of Cups
Written and interpreted by Finbarre Snarey, tarot researcher, founder of the British Tarot Archive and coordinator of the UK living heritage submission for Rider-Waite-Smith tarot reading practice.
These interpretations reflect Finbarre Snarey’s understanding of contemporary Rider-Waite-Smith tarot practice. They are provided for education, reflection and entertainment only and should not be treated as medical, legal, financial, psychological or relationship advice.
