UNDERSTANDING THE KING OF CUPS

The King of Cups can be considered as an aspect of card IV, The Emperor, or a
father archetype who brings structure, order, and authority. His realm is the
emotions.
He sits on a throne in the sea or ocean, comfortable but rock-steady despite
the stormy outlook—the sailing ship on the horizon is listing in high winds, and
waves are rising against a sky of white-gray. His throne is shell-shaped and,
given this King’s apparent cool despite his isolation, echoes Greek god Triton,
the merman who blew through a conch shell to control the rise and fall of the
waves.
His emblem is the fish, for prosperity and faith, or passion, worn as an amulet
around his neck; a small dolphin or fish also leaps into the picture from the left.
The water is green, turquoise, and gray—the many colors of the emotions. On
his crown are waves and red jellyfish. The jellyfish may be an apt reference to
one of the King’s zodiac associations, Scorpio, a sign renowned for its deadly
sting. The jellyfish may also link with the King as Perseus, the Greek god who
beheaded the Gorgon Medusa—the “medusa stage” is a term describing a stage
of the jellyfish’s development. Jellyfish pulsate to move but have little power to
propel themselves on their own, so they also symbolize acceptance and trust.
The card’s element is Air of Water, for steam and clouds. As water evaporates
with heat, so the King can convert Water to Air, transmuting feelings to ideas—
the shift from heart to head. Like Triton, he is master of the waves and master of
his emotions. This Air-Water combination can be challenging, however, as the
King strives to find a balance between sharing his feelings and holding back.
Kings and Queens in tarot are traditionally regarded as people in your life or
people about to come into your orbit. However, you can also read the King as a
general influence, so this interpretation is included last.

UPRIGHT MEANING
As a person: The King of Cups shows a warmhearted, charismatic male. He
might be an academic, lawyer, advisor, businessman, scientist, or artist. In his
work, he follows his intuition. In friendships, he is sociable, but, like his
counterpart the Queen of Cups, is sensitive and needs to choose his closest
friends wisely. For this reason, he may have one or two confidants and a wide
circle of acquaintances. While being empathic, at times he tries to control his
feelings and can come across as distant. He often needs time to process his
intense emotions before sharing them.
This card often comes up in readings to show the ideal romantic partner, who
is unafraid of intimacy while having stability and appropriate boundaries. It can
predict fatherhood and children, too.
As the “you” card in a reading: Follow your heart.
As an influence: A need exists to settle a conflict, either within yourself or
between you and others, usually in a work or family situation. You are unsure
whether to be logical or left-field, to go with the consensus or go with a hunch. If
in doubt, follow your intuition and let your heart rule. In negotiations, use all
your charm and empathy. When others feel that you are really engaged with
them, they will drop their defenses and communication will improve.
If two or more Kings fall close together in a reading, the meanings are as
follows:

Two Kings: A good partnership

Three Kings: Influential men
Four Kings: A power battle

REVERSED MEANING
The reversed King reveals emotional vulnerability. If this applies to an
individual in your life, you may be dealing with someone who is volatile right
now. This person may be secretive, ashamed, and uncommunicative when not
blaming others for their predicament. Thankfully, this situation is temporary and
will change.
An additional meaning of the reversed card is a person with destructive
behavior patterns and possibly addiction issues (see also card XV, The Devil,
page 90).
 The Suit of Pentacles
ACE OF PENTACLES

Element: Earth
Astrological Associations: The Earth signs—Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn
Number: 1
Tree of Life Position: Kether, the sphere of divine light
Key Meanings: Prosperity, property, and beginnings
UNDERSTANDING THE ACE OF PENTACLES
A hand appears from a cloud, offering a single golden coin. It is the only card of
the suit to show a coin with a double border, as if to emphasis its value. The
scene below the coin and hand depicts cultivated lilies and a rose garden with an
arch forming an oval window looking onto a mountain view. This is wealthy
land, where the owners can afford to grow their own lilies, symbols of purity.
The clear view beyond the roses to white peaks signifies challenge and the
ambition to succeed without hindrance. The message, though, is that this wealth
is being offered to us, the holder of the card. The perfect garden, abundant with
beautiful blooms, is an example of the prosperous lifestyle that the gift of the
Ace may bring. The coin is offered with the right hand, the hand of giving (as
opposed to the left hand, which traditionally is the receiving hand).
The golden coin is engraved with the symbol of the pentagram, which appears
on all the cards of this suit. The pentagram is an ancient symbol for the four
elements, plus the fifth element, or quintessence—the magical element of ether
(see card I, The Magician, page 34). The arrangement of the pentagram points
can also represent heaven over the earth. Heaven is represented as the uppermost
point of the pentagram, which also links with the card’s Tree of Life sphere,
Kether, for the divine light of God, or great spirit. The five points can also
symbolize the body’s five senses, which relate to the cards’ element of Earth,
which is concerned with our physical experience in the world, as well as wealth
and productivity.
The Aces offer the pure energy of their suits. As number ones, they represent
oneness with the divine spirit or God. Indivisible, their energy is singular, strong,
and purposeful. They all represent beginnings, impulses, and new possibilities,
in the most pure and obvious form.

UPRIGHT MEANING
The upright meaning of the Ace of Pentacles is auspicious for every aspect of
your life. In a spread, it overrules other minor arcana cards close by (just like
XIX, The Sun). The Ace predicts happiness and contentment; you can have what
you desire. Traditionally, it predicts prosperity, and you find money comes to
you quickly, either as a windfall or win, or you are shown the way to achieve it.
In this sense, the card presents an opportunity for further attainment, so now is
the time to receive the precious gift or opportunity on offer and use it to
maximize your potential. You may find a way to use it to build for the future, as
property is favored in the suit of Pentacles.
In readings, it commonly arises to show money is coming or a new property;
it also predicts foundation and stability, so if you have questions concerning your
home or relationship, you will receive what you need in abundance. One
message of the card, too, is not to doubt your good fortune. You deserve it.
In a reading, one Ace brings a focus on the life area according to the suit,
which can set the theme of the reading. If two or more Aces appear near each
other in a reading, it means as follows:

Two Aces: An important partnership

Three Aces: Good news
Four Aces: Excitement, beginnings, and potential

REVERSED MEANING
When the Ace reverses, it reveals greed and holding fast to one outcome. This
desperation can cause materialistic thinking, and when you are fixed to one goal,
other aspects of your life may suffer. The card can show unwise investment of
time or money, so be aware of the motives of those you invest with or work for;
this can be a difficult time when you are treated unfairly by an unscrupulous
person or organization. Money for work you have done may not materialize. The
reversed Ace of Pentacles also shows financial mismanagement and mistakes; as
a prediction card in a reading, it advises not to make major financial decisions at
present.
In personal relationships, the card can show that someone close becomes
grasping and materialistic and selfishly wants to keep everything for themselves.
The card can also show gambling and reckless spending.
 TWO OF PENTACLES

Element: Earth
Astrological Association: Jupiter in Capricorn
Number: 2
Tree of Life Position: Chockmah, the sphere of wisdom
Key Meaning: Negotiation
UNDERSTANDING THE TWO OF PENTACLES
A young man appears to be dancing, holding two coins joined on a green thread
in the shape of a figure-eight, for infinity and the continuity of life. The same
symbol appears in card I, The Magician, and VIII, Strength, and stands for
balance, activity, and renewal. The flow of this never-ending symbol also
suggests consistency and patience. In the case of the Two of Pentacles, the
youth’s concern is cash flow; he appears to be dancing but is actually juggling
his coins to respond to changing circumstances, shown by the two boats in the
background that rise and fall on the waves.
At this point, he is considering two options. He needs to be practical and use
his head to make a decision and find balance, which is symbolized by his tall red
hat—at the moment, his dilemma is all in his mind and he has yet to take action.
Hats of this style, known as acorn hats, were worn by artisans and courtiers in
the fifteenth century but were usually shorter than that of our coin-dancer. It
seems his hat was purposefully elongated by the card’s artist, Pamela Colman
Smith, to emphasize thinking, although another interpretation may be self-
delusion, or big-headedness, which is evidenced by the reversed meaning of the
card.
Two is the number of partnership, and in the Two of Pentacles, the focus is on
two people or two opposing forces. The continual tension between these two
forces keeps the coins spinning on the figure-eight, so the situation perpetuates.
When a decision is made, the tension evaporates.
On the kabbalistic Tree of Life, the sphere associated with this card is
Chockmah, the sphere of wisdom and the father, echoed in the phallic hat of the
young man on the card. He needs to decide between two options or courses of
action, and to do this, he needs to draw upon his wisdom.
The astrological association of Jupiter in Capricorn reveals strength and
resourcefulness. The challenge of this combination for the Two of Pentacles is
the pull between paying close attention to immediate detail and stepping back to
see the long-term impact of the actions he takes.

UPRIGHT MEANING
In the upright position, the card shows making a decision and in particular,
managing money. There may be temporary cash-flow issues, and you’ll need
consistent effort to balance the books. If your income is up and down, an