King of Cups
"His throne floats serene on a stormy sea: he who keeps the heart's calm in the middle of the tempest."
Upright meaning
The King of Cups is the serene command of emotion: he feels intensely yet is not swept away. He is the even-handed counselor, the one who mediates conflicts, who blends heart and head without letting one crush the other. His throne does not sink though the sea heaves: there lies his authority.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, the calm is a mask. Repressed emotions that erupt at the wrong moment, affective manipulation disguised as maturity, or a volatility that taints all it touches. The balance was only appearance.
In love
A stable, holding presence, a love that does not despair. Reversed, watch for coldness passing itself off as temperance.
In work and money
Mature leadership in tense settings: you manage people and conflict without losing your center. They seek you for your composure.
The card's advice
Feel the tide, but do not sink in it: your serenity is what calms everyone else.