Uprightemotional balance, calm, diplomacy, generosity
Reversedemotional manipulation, moodiness, coldness
Upright meaning
The King of Cups represents emotional balance and mature control of feelings. He remains calm amid turbulence, leads with compassion and acts diplomatically.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, he can show emotional manipulation, moodiness or suppressed feelings that come out as coldness.
What the card shows
A king sits on a throne floating on a rough sea, holding a cup and a sceptre. A fish leaps from the water on one side and a ship sails on the other.
As your card of the day
Stay calm and centered, whatever the waves around you. Emotional balance helps you lead with compassion. Diplomacy wins today.
“I stay calm and balanced in every situation.”
Respond calmly to a tense moment.
Questions
What does King of Cups mean in tarot?
The King of Cups represents emotional balance and mature control of feelings. He remains calm amid turbulence, leads with compassion and acts diplomatically.
What does King of Cups reversed mean?
Reversed, he can show emotional manipulation, moodiness or suppressed feelings that come out as coldness.
Is King of Cups a yes or no card?
Yes. Yes, if you stay calm.
Card pictures: the 1909 deck by Pamela Colman Smith (public domain). Meanings based on A. E. Waite's The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910), rewritten in modern language. For inspiration and reflection only.