The Knight of Cups rides gracefully and calmly; he is not galloping across the plains as the Knight of Wands and the Knight of Swords do. He is a knight, but he is also a messenger, as we can see from the wings on his helmet, a reminder of the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the gods. When this card shows up, we can expect invitations, romantic proposals and, generally speaking, good news. This is also a card that signifies intuition. Maybe we will meet someone who is intuitive, or maybe we will encounter a situation that demands more intuitive behaviour from us.
On the card
A knight in armour rides a white horse at a slow, measured walk, holding a golden cup out before him as if bringing it to someone. His helmet and his heels bear small wings, and over his armour he wears a tunic decorated with fish. The horse steps forward with one hoof raised, calm and unhurried. The landscape around them is quiet: a stream winds through the scene, with trees and gentle hills beyond.
Unlike the other knights of the tarot, this one is not charging into battle. He comes in peace, and his weapon is the cup he carries, an offering of feeling, beauty or love. The wings recall Hermes, the messenger of the gods, so the knight is a bearer of news and invitations, most often of the heart. The fish on his tunic link him with the water element and the world of emotions and dreams. The white horse shows purity of intention and a spirit that is gentle rather than forceful. The stream he approaches suggests that he is about to cross into new emotional territory. He is the romantic and the idealist, moving towards what he loves with grace and patience.
Upright
Inducement, invitations, news, intuition, advancement, arrival, instant attraction.
Reversed
Lies, trickery, emotions abused, cunning.