Rider Waite Smith Tarot Deck

He holds a short sceptre in his left hand and a great cup in his right; his throne is set upon the sea; on one side a ship is riding and on the other a dolphin is leaping. The implicit is that the Sign of the Cup naturally refers to water, which appears in all the court cards.

About the Deck

Pivotal and canonical, this deck defined a new pattern that would be followed up to the present.

Provenance

Designed by A.E. Waite and Illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith. England, 1911.

Meaning of King of Cups from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot Deck

Upright

Fair man, man of business, law, or divinity; responsible, disposed to oblige the Querent; also equity, art and science, including those who profess science, law and art; creative intelligence.

Reversed

Dishonest, double-dealing man; roguery, exaction, injustice, vice, scandal, pillage, considerable loss.

According to Many Schools of Thought

Papus's Divinatory Meanings

A fair man. A friend. A barrister, judge, or ecclesiastic. A bachelor.

A. E. Waite's Secondary Meanings

Upright

Beware of ill-will on the part of a man of position, and of hypocrisy pretending to help.

Reversed

Loss.

Mme. Le Normand's Divinatory Meanings

Reunion. Prosperity. Fidelity. Endurance.

S. L. MacGregor Mathers's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

A fair Man, Goodness, Kindness, Liberality, Generosity

Reversed

A Man of good position, but shifty in his Dealings, Distrust, Doubt, Suspicion.

P.R.S. Foli's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

Fair man of generous disposition

Reversed

a disappointing person.

Mme. Le Marchand's Divinatory Meanings

a man high in station for a husband; a wealthy man will give the bride away, and will likewise furnish the marriage portion. The bridegroom will attain to high honors. On Christmas-day the person will obtain the consent of his or her beloved.