Card 49 • cups

King of Cups

Brief Description

The King of Cups embodies compassionate emotional authority, shown by a king holding a glass cup and a lotus, with a cobra coiled around his arm and eagles nearby. He represents unconditional love, emotional responsibility, and the ability to provide wise, compassionate counsel. Elementally associated with Water of Air and linked to Libra and Scorpio, he balances intellect and feeling to guide others. Reversed, his qualities can invert into heartlessness, stifling behavior, self-harm, cruelty, or betrayal when emotional regulation breaks down.

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Card Name

Description

A king sits in his chariot. He grasps his glass cup to his chest. A cobra winds itself around the arm holding the cup. He holds a lotus flower in the other hand. One eagle floats near his feet, while another dives high in the sky.

Keyword

Counselor

Elemental Dignity

Water of Air

Correspondences

Libra, Scorpio

Upright

unconditional love; emotional responsibility; compassionate and kind; provide wise counsel.

Reversed

heartless; stifling; self-harm; mean and cruel; abusive to self and others; betrayal.

Visual Description

A crowned man sits on a throne draped in white cloth, his bare torso exposed and a halo glowing behind his head. He holds an ornate chalice in one hand and a curved staff or scepter in the other, while a dove descends above him. The throne appears set against a misty, grey seascape and an eagle with outstretched wings is positioned at the base of the seat. At the bottom a scroll bears Cyrillic text reading "Король Кубков" and a small website credit is visible.

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✍️ Deck author(s): Jack Sephiroth, Jaymi Elford

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