Queen of Cups
圣杯王后
Empathy and care
Upright · a modern reflection
Understand emotions while preserving boundaries for your own care.
Reversed · another perspective
Historical record: The accounts vary; good woman; otherwise, distinguished woman but one not to be trusted; perverse woman; vice, dishonour, depravity. Read this in context, without treating the card as evidence about another person.
These are our original interpretations of RWS imagery, not word-for-word translations of Waite. Reversals offer another angle, not a verdict of bad luck.A. E. Waite · Queen of Cups
“Beautiful, fair, dreamy--as one who sees visions in a cup. This is, however, only one of her aspects; she sees, but she also acts, and…”This English excerpt comes from the original card chapter. We use Pamela Colman Smith’s original RWS images from the Commons Pam-A scans. The design originated in 1909; this scan set is dated 1910.
Read this card’s original chapter ↗Historical imagery and symbolism
Beautiful, fair, dreamy--as one who sees visions in a cup. This is, however, only one of her aspects; she sees, but she also acts, and her activity feeds her dream. Divinatory Meanings: Good, fair woman; honest, devoted woman, who will do service to the Querent; loving intelligence, and hence the gift of vision; success, happiness, pleasure; also wisdom, virtue; a perfect spouse and a good mother. Reversed: The accounts vary; good woman; otherwise, distinguished woman but one not to be trusted; perverse woman; vice, dishonour, depravity.
Card image: Pamela Colman Smith’s original RWS design, using the Commons Pam-A scans.
Historical reversal and interpretation
The accounts vary; good woman; otherwise, distinguished woman but one not to be trusted; perverse woman; vice, dishonour, depravity.
Contemporary reading
Consider the historical conditions above; a reversal is not a uniform opposite. Compare them with our modern theme: Relate the card to confirmed facts, unfulfilled commitments and conditions for your next step.
Relate it to your question
Separate known facts, unconfirmed information and available actions. Which part of this symbol fits, and which does not?
Read the original English and source
Pamela Colman Smith · Image source / Public domain ↗
Beautiful, fair, dreamy--as one who sees visions in a cup. This is, however, only one of her aspects; she sees, but she also acts, and her activity feeds her dream. Divinatory Meanings: Good, fair woman; honest, devoted woman, who will do service to the Querent; loving intelligence, and hence the gift of vision; success, happiness, pleasure; also wisdom, virtue; a perfect spouse and a good mother. Reversed: The accounts vary; good woman; otherwise, distinguished woman but one not to be trusted; perverse woman; vice, dishonour, depravity.
A. E. Waite · Queen of Cups ↗Bring the symbol into your day
How might “Empathy and care” relate to your circumstances? List the facts you already know, then consider one action within your control.
Primary texts you can consult
《周易》· Chinese Text Project ↗
Read the judgments and line texts separately from the later commentarial Wings. Traditional authorship accounts are not treated as established historical fact.
Zhouyi, received text · Digital Chinese Classics ↗
Each hexagram’s classical text is extracted from its chapter. Traditional characters and editorial punctuation are retained; modern annotations are not reproduced.
A. E. Waite · The Pictorial Key to the Tarot ↗
First published in 1910; our reference is the 1911 text transcribed by Sacred Texts. Written by A. E. Waite, with original card designs by Pamela Colman Smith.
Historical imagery and symbolism
Beautiful, fair, dreamy--as one who sees visions in a cup. This is, however, only one of her aspects; she sees, but she also acts, and her activity feeds her dream. Divinatory Meanings: Good, fair woman; honest, devoted woman, who will do service to the Querent; loving intelligence, and hence the gift of vision; success, happiness, pleasure; also wisdom, virtue; a perfect spouse and a good mother. Reversed: The accounts vary; good woman; otherwise, distinguished woman but one not to be trusted; perverse woman; vice, dishonour, depravity.
Card image: Pamela Colman Smith’s original RWS design, using the Commons Pam-A scans.
Contemporary reading
Understand emotions while preserving boundaries for your own care.
Relate it to your question
Separate known facts, unconfirmed information and available actions. Which part of this symbol fits, and which does not?
Read the original English and source
Pamela Colman Smith · Image source / Public domain ↗
Beautiful, fair, dreamy--as one who sees visions in a cup. This is, however, only one of her aspects; she sees, but she also acts, and her activity feeds her dream. Divinatory Meanings: Good, fair woman; honest, devoted woman, who will do service to the Querent; loving intelligence, and hence the gift of vision; success, happiness, pleasure; also wisdom, virtue; a perfect spouse and a good mother. Reversed: The accounts vary; good woman; otherwise, distinguished woman but one not to be trusted; perverse woman; vice, dishonour, depravity.
A. E. Waite · Queen of Cups ↗