Keywords & phrases

• Nurturing
• Empathetic
• Emotional depth, maturity & intelligence
• Open-hearted
• Spiritual
• Intuitive, psychic
• Expressive
• Receptive
• Reflective
• Enigmatic

First impressions

There is something very calming about the the Queen of Cups. She has a dreamy quality about her that seems to draw the seeker in.

What is happening in the card?

The Queen of Cups sits in calm contemplation on her seashell throne by the sea shore. Behind her steep cliffs rise up from the beach.

She wears a white dress and around her shoulders hangs a beautiful red-lined cloak patterned with waves.

On her fair head she wears an intricate crown of gold. She is gazing at the highly ornate lidded chalice that she holds in both hands. She seems to be off in another world right now.

Close enough to the water’s edge, the waves lap at her bare toes. Her cloak reaches and joins with the pebbles on the beach. She seems to merge with land and sea.

How can we relate to this card?

Water of Water, the Queen of Cups in entirely in her element. Queen of the Element of Water, she can represent a person in your life or an aspect of your personality that offers emotional support.

She has depth and an open heart making her a nurturing influence in our lives. In touch with her emotions she is highly adept in expressing her feelings and her love with a maturity that comes from lived experience. 

The Queen of Cups is your loving, caring mother, your sister, your friend and she is that part of you that nurtures and cares for the others in your life.

Emotionally intelligent and articulate she could be a therapist or an artist.

Other associations

Tree of life:
*Queens may be associated with the 3rd Sephira of Binah – Understanding, Supernal Mother, Womb, Primal Feminine energy and the Olam of B’riah – world of creation.

Thoth:
Queen of Cups, Moon in Cancer

Golden Dawn title:
Queen of the Thrones of the Waters

Elemental association:
Water of Water

Astrological association:
Water signs: **Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Major Arcana:
Associated with The Empress

*Tree of Life associations for the court cards differ depending on what system you go with.

** Queens may be associated with the cardinal signs of their element.

Message & affirmations

Today, I approach life and love with an open heart. I nurture and care for others as I do myself and let my heart lead me in my decisions.

My personal experiences of this card

The Tarot Queens are brought together under the rule of the most powerful female archetype of them all, The Empress. The ultimate, the original feminist.

I feel touched and inspired by the Queen of Cups. Her wisdom comes from her heart rather than her head. And she encourages me to follow my heart in certain matters, if only I can hear what it is telling me above all the chatter of my head.

Questions, prompts & insights

Who are the women in your life that you should honour and respect? How do you express your love and gratitude to them? How do you nurture and care for your sisters, mothers, grandmothers, daughters? For those who care for you.

How are you expressing your feelings to others? Truthfully? Without blame and judgement?

How can you open your heart and live and love whole-heartedly?

Who needs your emotional support?

Featured decks:
Main image from The Rider Waite Tarot.