The King of Cups is the diplomat of the Tarot. His throne on the water represents his ability to sift through the ocean of information and intuit the appropriate action. He's tuned into his feelings, yet able to articulate them with intelligence and understanding. His focus is on the art of life, the beauty possible when understanding and compassion hold sway in a discussion, and both sides are intent on the solution rather than the problem.
Solutions are what the King of Cups is all about. (I love it that "solution" is a word that also means a watery distillation.) He can chart an effective course through troubled waters (like the ship in the background), and understand how the baggage the ship carries might effect the outcome. If too much baggage gets in the way of the answer, he becomes like a fish, unafraid to go to oceanic depths to get to the bottom of any problem.
He also understands that art can free the soul, and that diving deeply into any artistic venture can save us emotionally, intellectually, and even, through sport, physically.
Watching the athletes at the Olympic Games, seeing their dedication, focus, and artistic devotion, we can see his point. Life has focus, purpose, and devotion when you're an Olympian, and you can see the rewards of that life on the faces of these young people as they do what they need to do as best they can. Even in defeat, there is a radiance there that's undeniable. Through their sport, as any artist does through their art, they transcend the idea that they are alone in the world. Their pursuit of excellence closely unites them with others involved in similar pursuits.
Stephen Cobert talked about the Olympics as part personality contest, part athletic event, and part war. The way I see it, the Olympics is the closest we come to Universal peace. Sure, we have the United Nations, but pure politics rarely gets us to that feeling place, to that heart center where peace lives, as easily as the Olympics.
In the Olympics we see each nation's marvelous young people doing their best at the sport they excel at. We pull for them, even it they're aren't on "our side". We watch their victories and defeats with love and admiration in our hearts. They give their best to us, and we, in turn, wish nothing but the best for them.
Art unites. Sport unites. The reason these disciplines unite us with each other is that in order to be our best, we must find what our best is. Finding what is good in oneself allows us to see the good in others. If we never feel our own value, we have a hard time seeing other people's worth. We'll be defensive and insecure, seeking differences to justify our angry hearts, sowing seeds of inevitable misunderstanding and, ultimately, confrontation.
In truth, there are no differences between us. We are all drops of water in the sea of life, each one unique, but also a part of an organic and growing thing: the vast and diverse ocean that is our world. The Olympics show us how we can be with each other when we measure our differences as insignificant compared to the shared light and delight of the pursuit of excellence.
That is the visionary gift of the King of Cups. He sees clearly, with his heart and mind, into your heart and mind. He knows that he and you are one, and he sees your potential. He asks us all to polish up our act, seek knowledge, enlightenment, and our hearts desire. When we focus on that, all good things are possible.
That's a true Olympic spirit.
Love, Kristine
Finding Method in the Madness:
