The INDIAN TAROTS – Knight of Cups

The Knight of Cups engages the world with love and compassion. Calm and collected, it encourages you to create and to lead with wisdom.

The knight depicted in the card sits up straight on his horse and holds out a cup. The knight’s overall demeanor is calm and posed, like still water. He isn’t charging to battle. He isn’t acting brash. He is instead allowing his wisdom to guide him. The knight wears a coat of armor over a brown tunic. The armor appears more casual than most sets of armor. With the sheathed sword, the knight is ready to talk things out rather than fight.

The Garuda-wings on the knight’s helmet symbolize his connection with divine creativity. Garuda is a symbol of devotion, courage, hope, and perseverance. He is a devotee of Vishnu and helps promote Vaishnavism.

The cups horse is relaxed and trotting along the road. The knight holds out the obligatory cup. It is unclear if the cup is full of water or empty. It is also unclear if the knight is offering the cup to someone or requesting it to be filled. The knight can thus represent us in different times in our lives, like the two children in the Six of Cups. The river in the Knight of Cups appears to be a reiteration of the river in the Five of Cups. Whereas in that card the river was daunting to cross, in this card the river seems easy to cross. It is the Luni River (originated from Aravalli) in West India during summer. It pales in comparison to the size of the horse, who appears undisturbed by the coming water. The mountains (Aravalli) in the background are the obstacles and hardships that come up in life. Instead of running away from them, the knight faces the mountains head on.

Upright meaning

This card often represents romance, charm, and emotional intelligence. It suggests that you’re pursuing your goals with passion and enthusiasm, and that you’re able to connect with others on an emotional level. The card encourages you to be confident and assertive in pursuing your desires.

Reverse meaning

This card can indicate emotional immaturity, moodiness, or a lack of direction. You may be struggling to connect with others or to find direction in your life. The card suggests that you may need to work on developing your emotional intelligence and finding a sense of purpose.