Art Nouveau King of Chalices

• Posted on April 3, 2010 at 4:29 pm

I looked at the posts I’ve done so far and realized I’ve neglected the Suit of Cups, here called Chalices. In this depiction, the King is a white-haired, bearded man holding a large chalice. A young woman I can only assume is his daughter leans on his knee.

The LWB says that Chalices represent “the emotional and sentimental sphere”. The King indicates “generosity, helpfulness, a favorably disposed important man”.

In Tarot For Writers, Kenner says that Kings in all suits stand for the element of Air and Cups for Water, so the King of Cups combines both elements. Astrologically, the Kings are related to the fixed signs, so King of Cups would be Scorpio.

Historically, Kenner says this was “a cautionary card, warning of ill-will on the part of a man of position; he could be a hypocrite, only pretending to help”. The association with Scorpio perhaps explains this as many astrologers used to take a negative view of that sign. Scorpio can be spiritual or vindictive, the Eagle or the Scorpion.

Modern tarot readers view the card more kindly as representing a gentle, sensitive, family man.

Lyndi

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