King of Cups: Tarot Card Meaning

Meaning of the King of Cups card upright

The King sits on a throne that floats on rough water, a fish pendant on his chest, calm and in control. He feels deeply but is not carried away by his feelings. The card calls for wisdom, kindness and diplomacy: you can understand emotions without being ruled by them.

King of Cups reversed

• suppressed feelings
• manipulation
• coldness

Reversed, the King points to suppressed feelings, emotional manipulation or coldness that protects from hurt. Check whether you hold back out of balance or out of fear of vulnerability.

King of Cups in love and relationships

In love he is a mature, caring and steady partner who can talk about feelings. Reversed, emotional distance or a hidden, manipulative style.

King of Cups in work and finances

At work he is a diplomatic leader, a counsellor or a mediator who keeps calm in a crisis. Reversed, moodiness at work or poor handling of conflicts.

Symbolism of the King of Cups card

The throne on the water is a ruler of the emotional world who remains steady. The fish is creativity and spirit. The ship and the leaping fish behind him show that he navigates the sea of feeling.

King of Cups in a yes or no reading

In yes or no spreads, King of Cups upright reads as “yes” and reversed as “maybe”. The answer comes from the general meaning of the card (emotional maturity, diplomacy), so always take the wording of the question and the neighbouring cards into account. Try a yes or no reading.