Death & Knight of Cups
Death & Knight of Cups
Analysis:
White horses are depicted in both cards, perhaps a symbol of purity and the employment of right will.
Both of the horses have a similar posture, facing to the right, with one leg up and the other down. They are the only two horses in the deck which hold themselves in this way.
There are mountains or cliffs in the background of each scene. Mountains may symbolize challenge, overcoming obstacles or initiation.
There is a similar looking, yellow ground in each scene.
There are clear similarities between each of the riders i.e. their armor, posture, both hands engaged, the helmet, the feather on their helmet etc.
Water is an important feature in each card. Some of this is visual and some symbolic.
Both cards feature visible bodies of water.
The knight holds a cup, a vessel which contains water.
Each card is governed by the element of water i.e. cups are associated with the Water element and Death is ruled by Scorpio, which is a water sign.
Death is associated with the Hebrew letter Nun, which means “fish”. This connects back to the water theme, but also visually, as the Knight of Cups has fish on their dress.
What do YOU see???
Possible Interpretation:
The Knight of Cups is on a mission - in pursuit of their own holy grail, whatever form that may take. This quest is carried in their heart, tied to their deepest desires and highest calling. The drive is pure, and the pull is undeniable.
On this path, however, the Knight is bound to face ups and downs. Some things will have to be left behind - outdated beliefs, old ways of being or relationships that no longer align. When placed beside Death, the two cards form an alchemical pairing: a “before and after.” Death is the difficult, transitional stage - resisted, weathered, endured. But we we can make it through that trial, the Knight emerges as the promise on the other side - a figure renewed, carrying forward their quest with fresh vitality.
Transitions of this magnitude are rarely comfortable. They are not designed for comfort, but for transformation. Resistance will come both from within ourselves, and sometimes from others. These barriers may feel like obstacles, but they also function as checkpoints, asking: Do you truly want what you claim to want? If the answer is yes, then we must accept that while the outcome may be beautiful, the process will not always be pretty.