Knight of Cups as a Person (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Knight of Cups is the card of idealism, charm, charisma, romance, and diplomacy. The card shows a knight riding on a white horse. He holds out a cup as an emotional offering, perhaps as a truce. His message comes from his heart. He moves gracefully forward, neither charging nor holding back.   

The Knight of Cups reminds us that romantic love can be a true whirlwind of charm and idealism. There is a perfect someone out there for you in the Universe. The Universe hears you, and your intentions will be manifested back at you. The Knight of Cups is a reminder of the beauty of romance, lovely and tempestuous in all of its forms. 

Upright Knight of Cups as a Person

If the Knight of Cups appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person is sensitive and romantic. They are often artistically inclined. This is an excellent card to draw if you’re inquiring about a potential love interest. This card is astrologically associated with Pisces, Aquarius; Fire/Air energy in the element of Water. Because the element of Water carries a feminine energy, this card carries a passive, receptive energy. We all have a little bit of both energies expressed in a balanced way, regardless of which gender we identify as.

For physical characteristics, the Knight of Cups as a person represents someone who takes great care of themselves. This person makes their health a priority. They care about what they put in their bodies. They dress casually, but you can tell that they made an effort to look sharp. Because this person is compassionate and empathetic, they are unlikely to be judgemental toward people who are unable to live their idea of an ideal lifestyle. They love nature, especially rivers, lakes, and oceans.  

For emotional characteristics, the Knight of Cups as a person represents someone who is emotionally balanced. They are unafraid of their masculine side, because they are daring and take risks. Yet they also support their feminine side by embracing their emotions. They typically exhibit a slightly more mature manifestation of the Water signs. Their Cancerian traits will have you believing that chivalry isn’t dead. They embody the Scorpionic traits of heartstopping intensity and sizzling bedroom chemistry. And like a Pisces, they are extremely romantic.

For careers, the Knight of Cups can represent someone who works well with others, often in an artistic field. They may work in any of the Water sign fields such as photography, film, music, literature, fashion, real estate, finance, or healthcare. They’re charming, yet also sincere. They are beloved by clients and colleagues alike. Their idealism may lead them to a career in aid and development at nonprofits or government agencies. If they’re in the arts, people will usually find that their art feels unpretentious, sincere, and original. If you’re inquiring about somebody who identifies as a man, this is somebody who is comfortable in their feminine energy, and they would have no problem being a stay-at-home dad.

The Knight of Cups as a person represents someone who makes you feel charmed, but not manipulated. It’s hard not to fall in love with this person. Their charisma is off the charts, and they know it! However, they still take great care of others’ feelings. While they’re not people pleasers, they’re diplomatic, and they strive to make sure that everybody is happy and treated with fairness. This person is an idealist. They have a very clear vision about how the world should be, and what it means to be ethical. If you’re romantically involved with this person, expect to be swept off your feet!

Reversed Knight of Cups as a Person

If the Knight of Cups reversed appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person is emotionally complicated. This person’s complexity might exhaust and drain you—they’re an emotional vampire. Because this is a Minor Arcana card, some of these traits will not be inherent aspects of their identity. If they are behaving unfavorably, they might just be going through a temporary phase. It may be a behavioral pattern that they can still unlearn, if they choose to. Good or bad, nobody is perfect, and people can use their free will to change for the better.

For physical characteristics, the Knight of Cups reversed as a person represents someone who is in love with themselves, but in a narcissistic way. They’re the type of person who loves to listen to themselves talk. Yet, they lack emotional depth. If this person ever criticizes you, don’t take it personally. You’re not the problem, their worldview is. They love to feel morally superior to others.

For emotional characteristics, the Knight of Cups reversed as a person represents someone who has emotional problems. This is the type of person who would have an affair with their best friend’s spouse. They typically exhibit a slightly more mature manifestation of the shadow sides of the Water signs. Like a Cancer, they may be possessive. Like a Scorpio, they can be incredibly twisted. For example, they may gain emotional satisfaction from sleeping with their best friend’s partner, not because the partner is attractive to them, but because they’re their best friend’s partner. Like a Pisces, they may fully believe in their own lies. 

For careers, the Knight of Cups reversed can represent someone who works as an artist or a creative worker. If this is somebody in the entertainment or the music industry, this person may be a bit of an elitist. They make a point of creating art that doesn’t speak to the masses, forcefully making their creations appear “avant garde.” There’s something very disingenuous about their work. People can sense it subconsciously. However, when people do not respond to them in a way that they like, this person lashes out in a narcissistic manner. Alternatively, this person may work in any field, but they get ahead through emotional manipulation. This may manifest as brown nosing at the office, swindling for sales, dishonest dealings, or even being a career con artist. 

The Knight of Cups reversed as a person represents someone who makes you feel unloved. Unlike the reversed Knight of Wands who gets their narcissistic supply from the masses, such as through social media and being a player, the reversed Knight of Cups prefers one-on-one attention. They’re emotionally unavailable, yet they want others to be available for them. Relationships, whether it be romantic, platonic, or business, are imbalanced and nonreciprocal with them. If you’re romantically involved with this person, they may be prone to use manipulation tactics such as negging or love bombing. Know when to walk away and find happiness elsewhere, you deserve better. 

Conclusion

For love readings, the Knight of Cups represents charismatic romantic love. Romantic love can be a true whirlwind with its charm, idealism, and high emotional temperature. The Knight of Cups represents the start of a whirlwind romance. Only time will tell if the Knight’s romantic advances will cool to a steady flow of love or simply fade with the wind. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.