As Signs governed by the element of water, CANCER, SCORPIO and PISCES are also associated with the Tarot Deck's Suit of Cups which belongs to the Minor Aracana. This Suit is sometimes referred to as Goblets or Hearts and its elemental ruler is water. The season linked to the Suit of Cups is Summer and its direction is West. This Suit governs emotions and embodies romance, love and changeability. The Ace of Cups is the Root of the Powers of the Water, representative of the beginnings of love, usually as a forerunner of a committed relationship. However, this card can be indicative of a highly individualized, personal realization of the true meaning of altruistic love. Regardless of its manifestation (whether inward or outward), the Ace of Cups is all-encompassing of every aspect of love...emotion, romance, receptivity, giving and nurturing. This is illustrated in the glyph of the card...the single cup which overflows with the water of emotional abundance. This is an inspiring card which radiates with confidence and happiness, a card which is connected to personal heartfelt desires, indicating the things that an individual holds most dear. It is also representative of the deepest and most intimate feelings and needs...the need to love and be loved, both in a romantic sense and at the level of the soul and spirit. This card is connected to the psychic part of any human, offering wisdom and teaching in many varying ways. On a more spiritual level, the chalice depicted on most versions of the Ace of Cups is taken to represent the Holy Grail (or, in Pagan terms, the Cauldron of Kerridwyn), the source of inspiration and granter of wishes and dreams. The Aces of the Tarot represent new beginnings, strength, speed and energy. In short, the life force in its true essence. They are the beginning of the growth process, whether that growth be physical, mental or spiritual. Aces also symbolize the growth of an idea, concept or belief, in addition to being indicative of new careers, new relationships and changes of residence. Each Ace represents the beginning of some type of journey.
The illustration of the lotus depicted on this card represents love and awareness. The blue cup is symbolic of water...the ruler of the Suit of Cups...while the three spheres indicate the integration of mind, body and spirit. The design at the top of the card represents the spiritual world and the design at the bottom represents the material world. The brown corners are indicative of negativity which is being pushed away and the light symbolizes universal, altruistic love.
In a Tarot reading, this card indicates the start of a new relationship or new awareness within an existing relationship. It is suggestive of fertility, love, abundance and faithfulness. It is also indicative of a new personal understanding and acceptance, and may indicate that projects of a creative or artistic nature are taking shape. Reversed, it may indicate the beginning of a secret relationship or hidden emotions and feelings. It suggests a deep desire for love and romance but tells of a delay in the acquisition. It may signify barrennes...either of a physical or emotional faculty. There is also the strong suggestion of emotional upsets, loss of faith, unhappiness and dissatisfactiion.
"All-encompassing love fills me and my environment."
Within the Suit of Cups, the card associated with CANCER is the Knight (sometimes also referred to as the Lord of the Waves and the Waters and/or King of the Hosts of the Sea). This card belongs to the Court Cards of the Tarot and is known to be The High Flyer. It is the fiery part of water...water's strength, energy, power of solution and ecstacy of emotion. The individual represented by this card will generally assume a relatively passive role...one who lives best in a world of emotion, dreams and sensuality. The figure will be graceful and very stylish. This card is indicative of an individual who is quite friendly and quick to respond to the slightest encouragement. However, affections are not always enduring. The conflict between fire and water is abundantly evident within the Knight of Cups and these two elements are likely to cause great difficulty unless there is adequate knowledge for ingegration and balance. If such harmony is not achieved and maintained, then mismanagement of personal affairs usually follows with failure and disaster seeming to lurk behind very corner. The Knight of Cups is a complex and highly emotional individual...creative and visionary, sensitive (sometimes overly so), romantic and intense. Although the impression is one of being open and caring, this card can be misleading since there is a definite tendency toward intense insecurity coupled with the need for constant reassurance and attention. Of all the cards within the Suit of Cups, it is the Knight which is most concerned with love and domesticity, particularly symbolizing romance and passion. The Knights of the Tarot represent some type of release from the past. This release may be from a relationship, employment or residence, for example. Thus, Knights are symbolic of "clean breaks." Each one appears upon a steed and bears a symbol of the Suit he represents. The Knight is a defender of his Queen.
The "soaring through the skies" depicted on this card symbolizes the enthusiam for freedom and the ecstacy of knowing no boundaries where love is concerned. The green armor worn by the Knight of Cups represents the creative principle while the white horse is indicative of purity...in both thought and deed. The crab symbolizes family...particularly the universal family...while the blue wings are symbolic of spirit and enlightenment. The peacock uplifted to the heavens indicates mastery over emotions and a willingness to give without binding.
In a Tarot reading, this card usually indicates happiness in love and romance. However, if the individual is in a troubled relationship, it may suggest a need to separate for the good of all concerned. The Knight of Cups also represents a skilled negotiator...perhaps in business or in law...and the possessor of many ideas. It is indicative of a good communicator. Reversed, it is an indication of dishonesty and debauchery. It also suggests sorrow through love and the lack of joy or happiness. It may also indicate confusion, violence and treachery. In classical mythology and lore, the Knight of Cups is associated with Perseus, slayer of Medusa the Gorgon and husband of Andromeda, whom he rescued from certain death at the jaws of a sea monster.
"I align myself with natural energies and benefit from their strengths."
Within the Suit of Cups, the card associated with SCORPIO is the King (sometimes also referred to as the Prince of the Chariot of Water). This card belongs to the Court Cards of the Tarot and is known to be The Rebirther or The Transformation. It is the airy quality of water, representative of its elasticity and volatility...the energy of steam. This card is representative of those who are complex, self-contained and powerful...individuals who tend to hide their deepest passions and protect them fiercely. Such people are often extremely creative, but are likely to be turbulent and moody, refusing to share emotions with others. The coloring of this card is designed to strike intense emotional chords, its purpose being to show the necessity of mastering emotional needs and fears. The King of Cups dictates that desires must be recognized as simply the compelling energies of an individual's life and that after such recognition is achieved, those desires must be mastered in order that they be used wisely. However, this will not be accomplished by suppression, only through awareness. This card demands recognition and acceptance of innate human sexual desires...it does not counsel moderation nor does it counsel repression. The King of Cups simply counsels that an individual be the master rather than the slave. Concepts of self-tranformation are abundant in this card. The coach is part scorpion and part eagle...both creatures traditionally linked to the Zodiac Sign associated with this card. The scorpion represents the dark aspects of the soul while the eagle is light of spirit. The individual represented by this card can be subtle and crafty...there is little doubt that such an individual will be intensely secretive. On the surface, the appearance is likely to reflect a person who is calm and unreachable but inwardly, there lurks a deep passion. It is generally assumed that the King of Cups can be easily influenced, but this is more often than not simply an illusion and he secretly makes use of any and all information that he gathers. Of all the cards within the Suit of Cups, it is the King which is most concerned with the darker side of emotions, governing wishes and desires while also ruling over self-transformation. The Kings of the Tarot (sometimes also referred to as Princes) are symbolic of passion, intensity and focus of concentration. Kings are essentially single-minded in purpose. The purpose of such focus will be related to the element which rules the specific Suit. Each of the Kings is shown in a chariot and bears a tool representative of his Suit.
The dropped flower and snake shedding its skin depicted on this card are symbolic of death, release and transformation. The phoenix represents rebirth...particularly that of the emotional variety. The eagle on the helmet worn by the figure symbolizes wisdom and a willingness to seek out change, while the general hue of the card (coupled with the sad face of the figure) is indicative of the pain involved with an emotional rebirth.
In a Tarot reading, this card indicates happiness in love and romance and also suggests emotional satisfaction. It is indicative of many invitations, offers and opportunities. It also sometimes suggests complete immersion in an emotion which, if associated with the past, could represent an emotional block which tends to discourage any involvement with present relationships. Reversed, it indicates disappointment in love, unhappiness and depression. It may suggest unhappy events or misfortunes, dishonesty, deception and fraud. In some instances, it may be indicative of a secret and all-consuming relationship. In classical mythology and lore, the King of Cups is associated with Orpheus, a gifted musician who travelled into the UnderWorld on a mission to rescue his departed wife, Eurydice...an attempt which failed due to his lack of faith. Upon the death of Orpheus, his head is said to have been retained by the Muses, who saved it so that it might sing forever.
"I create my life daily and build my future."
Within the Suit of Cups, the card associated with PISCES is the Queen (sometimes also referred to as the Queen of the Thrones of the Waters). This card belongs to the Court Cards of the Tarot and is known to be The Feeler or The Sensate One. It is the watery quality of water, typifiying this element's passive, reflective and receptive quality, illustrated by the fact that the figure of the Queen is almost invisible as she is enveloped by shadowy reflections. This card is indicative of a dreamy and romantic personality...one who gives free rein to emotions. In short, the Queen of Cups embodies the Mother Spirit. The individual represented by this card will be a reflection of others, lending an illusion of dreaminess and tranquility. The Queen of Cups gives and receives all without being emotionally affected. As such, she represents the pinnacle of emotional maturity and balance...she nourishes the needy. This card emphasizes the need of individuals to open up and allow true feelings to show through. Although there may be those who do not understand, there should be committment and sharing with those who do. The Queen of Cups speaks of emotional balance where both lust and love are necessary. However, they should be balanced...the instinct of harmony with the transcendent. Of all the cards within the Suit of Cups, it is the Queen which is most concerned with human emotions and the fickleness which often accompanies such characteristics. The Queens of the Tarot represent not only women but anyone...male or female...who has reached a level of growth and maturity on both the spiritual and material paths. Queens are representative of power, authority, fulfillment and competency. They are the highest of the Court Cards having attained the loftiest of qualities symbolized within the Major Aracana. Each Queen is depicted seated upon a throne which bears the emblem of her respective Suit.
The hidden nature of the figure depicted on this card is symbolic of the inability to understand on an intellectual level what can only be felt. The lotus blossom represents a loving and compassionate disposition...altruistic love...and the two lotuses themselves represent emotional balance. The blue light is the light of enlightenment...a light of emotional transformation...while the depth of the water is indicative of emotional maturity, as well as the depths of human emotions. The reflective nature of the Queen represents awareness, honesty and an openness of emotions. The stork is indicative of fertility while the shell cup contains Cancer...the crab which is a symbol of domesticity.
In a Tarot reading, this card indicates an individual who is easily influenced by others...one who is dreamy, imaginative and affectionate. This will be a person who experiences emotions on a deep level while allowing others to feel their own. It suggests tenderness and artistic ability. It may also be representative of a woman in love. Reversed, it indicates frustration in love or romance...a suggestion that emotions are exaggerated and superficial. It may also be representative of an individual caught up in romance and seduction. In classical mythology and lore, the Queen of Cups is associated with Helen of Troy, wife of the Spartan King, Melelaus, and sister to Castor and Pollux (the twins of Gemini). Credited with being the most beautiful woman in the Ancient World, Helen was the cause of the Trojan War.
"I am a radiant lovable being."
Much of the tarot information found on this page is taken from
"The Royal Road," a manual authored by Lady Shyra and used with
permission provided such credit is givenAll featured tarot card designs are from "The Book of Thoth" deck
designed by Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris
