By Sarah Taylor
Equipped with what he has taken a stand to protect, the Knight (King) of Cups now turns and walks down the open road, towards the mountains in the distance and the next phase of his journey.
Knight of Cups, Three of Wands, Four of Wands from The Röhrig Tarot deck, created by Carl-W. Röhrig. Click on the image for a larger version.
When I write of the Knight, I’m not writing so much about a man as of the inner masculine that we all have. Sure, he may show up in your life as a man — whether you, or someone else — but even if he does, it’s still likely that he’s reflecting what exists in you already.
The Knight in his highest expression is the mature, individuated masculine. He is outwardly focused, active, directing his attention with laser-like precision. As the Knight of Cups, his focus takes him into the realm of the heart — what bubbles up out of the unconscious as emotions, those indicators of the presence of something that may not otherwise be identifiable.
The Knight of Cups knows both sides of love. The rose on his cheek, and the stem of thorns that extends down his neck, represent both the beauty and the pain that are experienced when one opens their heart. I like to think that the plumes extending up and away from the figure in the Three of Wands are the fragile yet exquisite and indisputable evidence of the Knight’s capacity to feel. Yes, he is alone, and yet still they emanate from him, a body of light that illuminates his path in darker moments, and calls others to him with their vulnerable beauty.
This is “Virtue”: the steadfast holding to what he knows, even in the most unlikely and isolated of circumstances. This isn’t virtue that asks for recognition. It exists simply for its own sake. The Knight knows what he is for: his “ability to give,” a “family of one’s choice,” “SPIRITUAL RELATIONS.”
In a hardened world where so many of us are taught to ‘man up’, and to hide our hearts under armour, the Knight is distinctly unfashionable — walking his path, witnessed only by the three wands that act as a gateway to what lies on the horizon. Oh, and witnessed by you, too. Your presence in the face of these cards is as important as the cards themselves. There would be no reading without either, no meaning without both them and you.
You and the cards, in this moment, are one.
The message that the Knight’s presence this week brings: your path may sometimes feel like a lonely one, but only if you close your vision off from the magic of another realm — one that is far more subtle, but which reveals the feathers of your angel wings. In some way, you have demonstrated courage beyond words by holding to your heart-felt convictions. You may have chosen to turn your back on what no longer makes sense to you any more. It didn’t make sense because it ran counter to your values. Now you carry your values with you, openly, unafraid of embodying and living them out.
Those mountains move steadily towards you as you make your way. Soon, a gateway will reveal itself to you, where you step out and away from what you have known for a long time, and into an invitation with the unknown. You are being called — by what, and whom, you’re not yet sure. One thing’s for sure, though. They can see you coming. You are announcing your approach with that wide-open heart.
No apologies for what you feel. Not anymore. When that threshold presents itself between the old and the new, you’ll know what to do.
Astrology/Elemental correspondences: Knight of Cups (the fiery aspect of water), Three of Wands (Sun in Aries), Four of Wands (Venus in Aries)
If you want to experiment with tarot cards and don’t have any, we provide a free tarot spread generator using the Celtic Wings spread, which is based on the traditional Celtic Cross spread. This article explains how to use the spread.
This reading chokes me up Sarah.
thank You
Me too.
You’re so welcome, Vincent.
Prose, Sarah, in a welcome message and affirmation — thank you!
((((Jude))))
This reading resonates deeply within my heart . Thank you,Sarah
I’m happy it does, Linda!
That’s Cups for you, right there.
Wow… this touches my heart and mirrors my current experience…. I’m so looking forward to the threshold to the new. I needed hope… thank you. xo
I’m glad it spoke to you, Stephanie. Wishes to you as you walk towards your threshold
One thing we all support is that Sarah’s readings frequently give us hope. This week’s hope brings hope with a momentary tear because we know we wanted and loved what wasn’t working and if became familiar. Here, Sarah’s reading we feel hope for our future. This makes this life’s journey less certain, but much more thrilling.
I think the certainty in the journey is feeling the ground beneath our feet, right now, isn’t it?
A moving and reflective read! Thank you Sarah for finding those words:-)
You’re welcome, jason!
So glad they see me coming…hope there’ll be cake.
Cracked me up, kiddo : )
Thank you, Deborah! I had a good chuckle reading that one
Thank you.
You’re welcome, Amela.
Yes, I join the lovely chorus of heartfelt thanks and gratitude, dear Sarah. Terribly challenging, and at times painful, hovering on the threshold between the old and the new – and embracing what is as yet unknown, that one aches to make solid reality. But as you say, the key is to address this phase with a wide-open heart – in fact, that is not only the key, it is the essence of it all, the ability to address all of life with an open, loving heart. Thank you. ((())))
Thank you for my own reminder, right there, ((((Lizzy))))!
I echo the sentiments expressed here Sarah and underscore the heart-felt thanks! I read your prose with heart-felt emotion and a bit of vulnerability as I feel that I am standing in the threshold of choices and wonderment bewildered by all that is moving about me and approaching towards me and wondering if only I should pause to view it for a while. Mercury and Venus have definitely turned direct and Saturn has definitely moved into Sag! The tarots bring more symbolism to the experience as you say: “You and the cards in this moment are one.”
I’m wondering what the idea of pausing feels like in your body, Pisces Sun? Fours are pauses, after all.
Thank you Sarah. I was unaware that fours were pauses. As to what it feels in my body, there is a sense of excitement and enticement, caution but not fear, more of a feeling of caution against previous patterns of behaviors, that is to resist jumping into the fire as I tend to do (my Moon and Venus in Aries) but instead, be a bit more sure foot and steady on the path that I take as I choose to walk it. My body is willing to support the spirit, they are one and the same. This I do know for as you have said, I have an invitation with the unknown which is akin to my values. This gives me solace. I have had a hiatus for a few weeks catching up on life’s obligations and responsibilities, in general, with some down time, not a vacation but just tending to things I needed to do, and some things that I didn’t need to do, per se, but to experience just being human, however mundane, and being spiritual by just being. It was a bit of respite during the Mercury in Retrograde period. But now it is time to move forward and I sense the beckoning and am pausing at the threshold spanning the horizon, sensing and observing and feeling. I am full of gratitude and recommend to anyone to take the time to pause and to do it often and highly recommend doing it during Mercury in retrograde periods. I hope to make it a regular routine. It is a recharge of the body and the soul and the little pause that I am experiencing right now is deliberate in as much as I am aware that I do not want to repeat negative patterns when I embark on the next journey.
I agree that taking the foot off the gas during a Mercury Rx can be revealing, if a little frustrating at times! It has proven helpful for me, anyway
Walk well, Pisces Sun!
Constantly falling to my knees, wondering if this journey has a purpose, wondering why it seems so confusing, or even, misguided. Then your weekly readings give me a shot of clarity and energy so I jump to my feet and happily continue on, secure in my direction. Thank you for these readings. Thank you Sarah.
Any time, Cowboyiam! I’m heartened that you find the cards helpful.
“The Knight in his highest expression is the mature, individuated masculine.”
So, Sarah — remind me please: is the Knight in this deck the equivalent of the Rider-Waite-Smith King?
Thank you!
That he is, Amanda!
Also, I have to admit, that when I looked at these cards in the large version, before reading, I was struck by how it looked to me like the journey of my friend’s transition from this plane of existence to the next this weekend: the look backward, the open path forward into the “unknown” home of spirit, and then “completion.”
And then reading these words from the Knight’s card: “his “ability to give,” a “family of one’s choice,” “SPIRITUAL RELATIONS.” …those phrases describe my friend perfectly. She has been held so beautifully and completely by her wider community, her family of choice, in these last weeks as she neared death, that I have been struck by how much she gave of herself to all of us, how much she touched so many hearts — as well as her deep spirituality guiding her through it all. We have been celebrating her presence in our lives with deep gratitude, which has made it rather amazing to witness her passing.
Thank you for sharing your experience with your friend, Amanda. Yes, I can see how the cards reflect her transition. I can feel the celebration in your words and the presence that all of you have brought to her threshold-crossing. In a way, it feels like you have all crossed a threshold.
<3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSlSaGcc0QM <3