--By Hyperion Night of Beanblossom's Tea and Tarot
The King of Cups
Diplomatic. Tolerant. Responsible. Emotional Control.
There's an old Chinese proverb about a poor farmer. You've probably heard it before. The farmer and his son had a horse that helped them plow the fields. One day, it ran away.
"What terrible luck!" his neighbor said.
"Maybe so," the farmer replied. "We will see."
Days later, the horse returned with three wild mares behind it.
"What wonderful luck!" his neighbor said.
"Maybe so," the farmer replied. "We will see."
A few days later, the farmer's son broke his leg trying to tame one of the mares.
"What terrible luck!" his neighbor said.
"Maybe so," the farmer replied. "We will see."
The next week, the Chinese army came through the village looking for recruits. When they saw how badly the farmer's son was injured, they didn't draft him.
"What wonderful luck!" the neighbor said.
"Maybe so," the farmer replied. "We will see."
The Symbols of This King
The farmer reminds me a lot of the King of Cups.
As master of his emotions, the King feels things—sometimes quite deeply. Beneath his throne we see turbulent waters. But his feet doesn't touch them—he doesn't let his emotions run his life. The lotuses on his crown, scepter and throne are symbols of beauty, purity and serenity growing from contaminated or sullied beginnings.
He's in charge.
The King doesn't repress his emotions, he manages them. And though he has desires, he's not attached to the outcomes. His throne is on a stone platform, a stable foundation of wisdom, experience, and knowledge.
He's mature, because he's a king, and he's also responsible.
All these things make him a terrific diplomat. But there's always a dark side. Ill-aspected, this diplomacy can turn to manipulation.
What Does This King Mean for You?
How is the King of Cups operating in your life, or how should he be?