Knight of Cups

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Sun in Pisces as a symbol of subtlety of feeling, intuitive knowledge, and readiness to help others.

KNIGHT OF CUPS The Knight of Cups personifies the masculine aspect of the element of water, our striving to attain transcendent experience, to liberate ourselves from the bonds of consciousness and to enter into mystical union with the primal source, with the Cosmos (or take any other designation for that for which there are no words in our languages). He knows that these realms are closed to rational knowledge, and that only one who has learned to rely upon his intuition and is ready to entrust himself to the Cosmos and its currents can penetrate into them. In addition, the Knight of Cups signifies the need to express one's feelings, to give free rein to intuition, to embody the images of our subconscious in music, verse, or another tangible form, including the form of healing and psychotherapy. However, if this process of embodiment slides into dilettantism — that is, into ignorance of the foundations of the matter or into neglect of them — the Knight of Cups turns into a "backyard guru," a pitiful preacher of others' values, or even simply a charlatan; this "second-rate" failure to comprehend the fundamental laws of being makes him a plaything of cosmic forces, and sooner or later he becomes a victim of others' intrigues.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from the German by E. Kolesov. Publishing house: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

KNIGHT OF CUPS THE KNIGHT OF CUPS embodies a creative person, one who is conscious of responsibility for what he does. Often the card indicates a scholar (or a person whose mind is open), a thoughtful personality. Sometimes this person may simply be a businessman, or someone whose activity is in some way connected with the law (for example — a lawyer). It is not out of the question that this is a clergyman, a philosopher; perhaps a person who has attained high academic degrees.

UPRIGHT POSITION Astrological equivalents: Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Venus in the Seventh House, the Sun in the Fifth House. The card may indicate a person who has been placed in a situation where he must demonstrate his intuitive abilities. He may sense this. Be that as it may, this is an engaging, reliable personality, kind, attentive to those around him, indulgent toward their petty failings and shortcomings. It is not impossible that this person is in some way connected with the arts. Perhaps his interests in art and science intersect. This is a noble person, hardly capable of base deeds. He is inclined toward philanthropy and is moderately generous.

REVERSED POSITION Astrological equivalents: Leo, Libra, Aquarius, the Sun afflicted by Uranus, Uranus in the Fifth House. A pronounced artistic flair, and one inclined toward shock and eccentricity (Uranus). It is possible that this person is followed by scandal wherever he goes, and his restlessness and striving to live on a grand scale will lead to losses, dishonor, and to a position disadvantageous to him. It may be that this person has light fingers; his left hand does not know what his right is doing. His life is a path of self-destruction. Finding yourself on his path, you too will be drawn into a destructive process. Sometimes the KNIGHT OF CUPS embodies a professional, a virtuoso in his craft, utterly devoid of any moral principles. Dealing with him can at times be difficult; it may turn out that this person is as slippery as a burbot (Chiron). At the same time, he is most likely not greedy.

If the card signifies an action. A. Upright position The subsequent cards may symbolize some creative design, a creative act. Perhaps you have ripened for some emotion and at the present moment you are awaiting the moment when this emotion will be initiated from without. It can be said with certainty that the action of the subsequent cards will be tied to your emotional sphere, to your emotional state.

B. Reversed position A state of stagnation, nothing new. It may be that this card indicates such a state of a person when he is incapable of drawing life lessons; however, the latter must be confirmed by the subsequent cards.

From the book: The Rider-Waite Tarot. Theory and Practice. "Mysteries of Divination" Series. Publishing houses: AST, Astrel, 2002.