As we have delved into the wide range of characters found within each Court Card, we have pushed these traditional titles to grow. With the Pages we took the time to consider the instinctual reasoning of children.
We then stretched the idea of our Knights to include girls too. The following week, we empowered the Queens. But this week, it’s all about the Kings.
Just like the other Court Cards, the role of the man has changed, and it’s time to push the King’s meanings to reflect this growth. In looking back at the cultural roles of men, women, and teens, they each were restricted in their own ways. As the years have progressed and generations put their own spin on life, we have pushed these ideas on gender.
While women were limited to home and children, men were limited in heart and creativity. As I took a look at men I know, to better understand my Kings, I found that they each break from the stoic picture of the past.
Whether it’s singing, silliness, or other forms of relaxation, men have pushed past social ideas to embrace their entire selves. Sometimes we as human beings are messy or uncertain. We are both mind and heart.
The Kings:
Just like the Queens, the Kings represent a plethora of personalities, characteristics, and meanings. These four Court Cards represent personality types, personality traits, masculine energy, and the external aspects of a person.
These external aspects teach us about how people live their lives as adults. How a person understands life and how they go about finding success in playing the game of society.
King of Wands: Fire & Fire / ESFJ
Adults:
The King of Wands embodies the element of fire. Here we see not only the fire element from the Wands but the Kings as well. As a result, this King can either be strengthened by this double dose of fire, or debilitated.
The “Baby” King:
As the first suit of the deck, the Wands both hold the potential for growth and creation, as well as ignorance and youth. Here we see the potential weakness in having a dual fire sign.
The Baby King is all about energy. As a result, he is a great initiator of new beginnings. He loves the outdoors and in the old literature of tarot is known as the “Country Gentleman.”
While this high level of energy can be utilized to great effect, here we see it untamed and unsupported. Due to the Baby King’s desire for energy and action he lives his life following the rush.
This could mean he’s an adrenaline junky or that he is merely bored easily. As a result, he takes on an “all about me” attitude.
While a wonderful playmate and lots of fun, he’s just as apt to leave once the fun is done. This wishy-washy approach to life leaves him obsessed with freedom and an avid avoider of commitment. Even when this King is in a position of leadership, it is always with a powerful driving force pulling the string behind him.
Now, this might seem like a representation of a man who is immature and not thought well of. But you need to consider the context of this King. When describing a young man, this personality type is merely honest and accurate.
A young college student or even a young man is not in a place of authority in his life. As he bounces from one fascination to the next he is gathering skills, experiences, and learning what he likes and doesn’t like.
It is only when this King is connected to a mature adult that there is cause for concern. As adults we come to learn that there is a point where we need to take responsibility. Bills must be paid, and plans made. That is, unless you are the Baby King.
The Creative Adventurer:
The other manifestation of the King of Wands is when high energy and strong power come together and create something potent and powerful. Here we see a man who is determined, resilient, and approaches all things in his life with surety.
As a result, he is known as a visionary to those around him. Depending on the specifics of this King’s personality, he can be the leader and boss or the loner, both incarnation of an influential person. Either way, he approaches life from a place of certainty, allowing him quick and decisive action.
The danger with this man is when he’s only surrounded by subordinates in his daily life. Without others to act as a comparison in life, to remind him of his “human-ness” (i.e. ability to be mistaken), he can become overbearing. As well as, competitive, bossy, and allows his deep conviction to cloud his perception.
Personality Traits:
When the King of Wands represents a person, this card can symbolize the Baby King or the Creative Adventurer. But when a person isn’t being represented, it can be an indication of a personality trait in the Seeker/Querant that needs to be utilized or avoided.
If this King is in a “past” position, he can represent a personality trait used in the past, either successfully or it’s what debilitated the Seeker. Or, if the King is present in a “future” position, it could be a personality trait needed or avoided in order to be successful.
In either case, the King of Wands, represents the qualities found in the element of fire, as well as youth and inexperience. This can come in the form of youthful energy.
This might mean fun, excitement, and instant gratification. While another form of youthful energy is the potency and creating ability of the Wands. As a great beginner of things, this card can represent a person’s ability to instigate new plans or ideas.
As a result, this card can represent a mentor, sharing his zest for creation or a visionary. Either way, these characteristics lead this person to be respected and admired.
As a strong communicator, the King of Wands is often known as a strong friend to women. The reason being, that they have spent many past lives as women and thus instinctively find solace and connectivity to women today.
While the King of Wands is a wonderful beginner, he’s not known to be strong finisher. Whether it’s a distraction or the need for an adrenaline rush, sticking things through to the end can be a challenge.
If the King of Wands is representing a man, he will rarely be a father. Due to his commitment phobia, youthful energy, or failure to complete things, he will rarely make a father. Either through decisions or through fleeing, this King does not make a father.
Lower Vibration:
When the King of Wands is in a lower vibration, his fire energy does him a disservice. He can become accident prone due to his inability to be still. He can also lose the ability to self-regulate and control.
This translates into a competitive attitude, to the point where it’s important to ask the question, “How is he winning?” This extremely selfish behavior leaves him short tempered and apt to be a bully.
He then rounds out this dangerous perception on life by being arrogant and vain. This self-perception leads him to justify his actions and behavior. Such as tantrums and childish behavior when his ego gets bruised.
Lastly, the King of Wands when he’s out of balance can become mean spirited, even sociopathic. This controlling behavior stems from self-proclaimed ideas of what life owes him. All in all, this is double fire energy going unchecked.
Masculine Energy & External Expression:
When representing the way, a person expresses themselves in life, the King of Wands is self-assured. This impassioned person thrives when they put their energy behind whatever goal they create for themselves.
Here we see the common driven, strong, and goal orientated masculine energy. Which will often times, manifest in different forms of action. Whether it’s a man or woman, this masculine energy leads them to be people of power. The subtle approach is not within their style.
These are people of action, and they reap the benefits in life when they honor this truth. They have learned to take their innate wildness and temper it, so that they can become in control. Thus, developing a self-focused attitude that often times leads them either to great experiences. Depending on what path in life they take, these experiences can lead to great wealth.
Think of those great inventors or famous daredevils, yet there are also men who travel through the jungle for sport or charge into burning buildings. What’s important to these people is the resume they can share. The things they’ve done and the opportunities they didn’t let slip by. If they do come into some money, they aren’t the type to be ostentatious, it is merely a new avenue that will lead them to new experiences.
Occupations:
- Firefighter
- Stunt man or dare-devil
- Oil rigger
- Biker
- Unemployed- often due to representing a young man, who is most likely in college or trying out various jobs
King of Cups: Fire & Water / ENFJ
Adults:
While the King of Wands was hot headed and ablaze with fiery energy, the King of Cups combines the elements of water (Cups) and fire (Kings). In doing so, he has both the potential for a stability the King of Wands lacks or a clashing of his own personality traits as both fire and water battle for dominance or balance.
The Loving Partner:
Since the King of Cups combines both fire with water, we encounter a man who is the ideal mate and partner. This King brings all the passion and energy of the King of Wands, but tempers this with intuition and dedication.
This King is not built for one-night stands. His heart places too big a role in his life to safely play around. So instead, he takes all his passion and dedicates it to one person.
He then becomes a soft, gentle, and tender man. Oftentimes the people we call “teddy-bear” will read as a King of Cups. Their intuitive and empathetic hearts lead these men to make their relationships, romantic and familial, a priority in their lives.
If he considers your part of his group, you are part of his family. This means he will lend you a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. You will also be the recipient of presents and gifts, just because he was thinking of you.
When this man lacks someone to share his life with or becomes unbalanced and falls into a lower vibration, he can become overly emotional. This translates into various actions. He either becomes emotionally reckless, sharing his heart in unsafe places. Or he becomes suffocating to others on an emotional level. In either case the King of Cups is in danger of becoming co-dependent.
The Man of Causes:
Here we see the King of Cups as he balances his fire and water energy. But in this instance, his energy is not focused on the special people within his life, but rather ideas and beliefs.
While we often consider love to be of a romantic or familial nature, it also comes in the form of values and ideals. In this case, the King of Cups represents a man who dedicates his life to an idea, rather than a person.
Here we find the philosophers, religious leaders, or even the environmentalist. Whether it’s advocating a way of life or saving endangered animals, this man seeks his truth and stands by it.
This King of Cups is drawn to a higher purpose, and when he’s balanced makes great strides in whatever field he dedicates himself. If however, he falls out of balance and lands in a lower vibration, he can become disenchanted by the whole thing.
Here we see his beliefs/truths/faith come raveling a part due to various reasons, and as a result he loses his way. Or maybe this King of Cups never found that ideal worth fighting for.
In this case, he is forever searching for emotional fulfillment. In not knowing his purpose or cause, he can become depressed and disconnected within himself. Oftentimes he then feeds his emotions.
If the King of Cups has found his purpose but has fallen deeply, he then can fall into the trap of self-proclaimed knowledge. As the expert in his field or perhaps the teacher of his faith, he can become polluted by ego and vanity. His purpose then becomes twisted to his own needs, ideas, and self.
The “King” of Airs:
This King of Cups represents the personality of a person who has a war raging within him. Here we see the fire and water elements clashing, rather than working together.
This man is too good to be true. He always has a personal agenda and he always has a plan. This major plot is design to lead him to his goal. Like the two previous incarnations of this King, this plan can be designed to get the girl or fulfill the selected purpose.
This plot has been set into motion and you’ve been caught in the web. It would then be easy to become indignant or angered at this King’s unkind approach to life.
But it won’t change things. It will merely bring anger into your life. So, it then becomes important to step back and consider how this King came to be. How did he start out as a sensitive child and grow into a “King” of airs?
The trigger for this King came when two strong and opposite types of energy came into play. Here we see a quiet and misunderstood man. Because he himself has yet to discover the core of his personality.
He can’t see his own potential and the great likelihood, they he’s a good guy. As a result, he’s attached himself to a goal based upon popular opinion (the desirable woman or the resent project/idea). Yet these things don’t resonate with his heart. As such, he is a man who has yet to find his way.
Personality Traits:
When representing personality traits, we see both the positive aspects of a combined water and fire energy, as well as the potential challenges and dangers. The King of Cups represents the love of home and family. He thus can represent a male relative or paternal instincts.
This man lives his life focused on home, and as such either works from home or works only a few hours in order to have more time at home. He is the dreamer, connected to his emotions, and thus emotionally supportive.
In tandem with this, the King of Cups is loyal and fair. He protects what’s important to his heart. Which could mean family or even a creative project he’s been working on.
When he takes this energy out into the world, he’s the wise and compassionate teacher. Either filling a role as a teacher or merely helping out a person he knows. This familial attitude leads him to many guiding roles.
While all of these traits are representative of water energy, he executes these traits with fiery passion. His protection of loved ones is fierce, his teaching filled with silliness, and he is both lighthearted and solemn.
When representing a father figure, the King of Cups is that stay at home type dad. He’s supportive and makes the active choice to be present for all of his children’s big events. He’s also the father who will stay up all night, making sure his kid is safe. Whether that means keeping an eye out the window or holding his sick child’s hand.
Lower Vibrations:
If the King of Cups holds a negative position in a spread or is representing the manifestation of a lower vibration, he then becomes dangerous to himself and others. Here we see a man who is incredibly emotional.
This translates into many different realities. It could mean deceitful characteristics. Or an incredible emotional person. One who is volatile, punitive, and irrational. Maybe even alcoholic.
In any case, this lower vibration brings the King of Cups into dangerous situations for himself and others. The reason being, he brings his heart with him too. So, whatever actions or words he chooses they will most definitely be heart wrenching for someone.
Masculine Energy & External Expression:
While the King of Wands was all about action, the King of Cups expresses a different side to masculine energy. Here we see a person solid in the world. Not through the physical sense, but in having a heart that has known the breadth of human emotion.
These people can navigate the world, because they know and understand the inner and driving forces of a person’s heart. These people might be perceived as mood or grumpy, but they are merely embracing each human emotion.
They don’t shy away from what others might, and as a result have their own style of empowerment. This is not a person who will leap into action and experiences. Instead they will either find high ground to witness the moment or will wade into deep waters and fully commit to whatever the experience might be.
While this masculine energy lacks the flash and fireworks that we saw with the King of Wands, it offers a depth and solidness. Just like water, don’t trust only what you see. The optical illusion water offers might deceive you, unless you use your other sense too.
Occupations:
- Doctor
- Culinary arts
- Holy man
- Teacher
- Counselor
- Activists
- Author
- Artist- writer/painter/musician/etc.
King of Swords: Fire & Air / ESTJ
Adults:
Just like with our Queen of Swords, the King of Swords represents both the analytical person, as well as those who were and maybe still are greatly wounded. As a result, to understand these personality types, it is important to consider the underlying influence and bases for these people’s personalities.
King of the Mind:
With this incarnation of the King of Swords, we see the strong element of air combined with the element of fire. As a result, this King is analytical and intelligent.
Often times he can be perceived as cold, calculating, and lost within his own mind. While these traits support him with maintaining his “kingdom” or business, it can leave him disconnected with his own body and the “heart” aspect of human life.
You will find this King a strong business partner, rational, strategic, and a clear thinker. These natural traits means he has a strong love for puzzles and will select professions that create new puzzles for him to solve.
Yet within his personal life, he can lose touch with those he cares about. Many people’s immediate reaction is that he doesn’t care. But the truth is, that this King falls prey to tunnel vision and can lose sight of the bigger picture or merely the life that is still going on around him.
The King of Denial:
Here we see the King of Swords, when this card represents an extremely wounded man. This King lies, cheats, and views others from the lens of a narcissist.
As a result, he will intentionally push your buttons all in attempt to bait you. However, he isn’t done yet. He will then manipulate the argument, so you come our looking like the one who is nuts, emotional, and unreasonable.
This King then pairs this behavior with psychological, emotional, and even physical abuse. All in all, this addictive personality creates not only a toxic environment for himself but becomes a great danger to others.
King of Illusions (Dr. Jeckl & Mr. Hyde):
Very similar to the King of Denial, this Incarnation of the King of Swords takes his destructive behavior and lives his life with wounds and trauma gaping open. While most people encounter lies and false truths, then question them, and only keep the healthy pieces of wisdom, this man has taken all he’s known at face value. Unfortunately, what he knows is unhealthy and harmful.
The difference between this King and the King of Denial, is that he hides his lies and wounds from people. Instead, this man mirrors what a person likes. He might come across as a King of Wands/Cups/Pentacles, but the cards will present him as a King of Swords.
This King chooses to hide his flaws. He’s charming and believable, but always has a shadow side. He uses truth as a weapon. Oftentimes overthinking things, in order to manipulate. It takes more mental control, time, and energy to weave a web of lies, rather than speaking the truth. With this man, what you see is no guarantee.
Personality Traits:
Luckily, when this card is representative of personality traits, they are most often representative of the strong and healthy aspects of the air and fire energy combo. Here this card can represent the unveiling of the truth behind appearances. Here we see the analytical mind in action.
Exhibiting a take charge, calm, cool, collected, and intelligent person. Using logic, this person is a master of manifestation. Using the mind, they set intentions that create all sorts of realities.
He is both direct and disciplined. These attributes have led him to become meticulous, conservative, and wise. As a data collector, he has years of experience backing up his decisions.
As a result, he’s not one to justify his actions or choices. This might mean, he lacks tact at times, but that’s just because he’s too busy in search of answers and solutions. Forever a student of information, education is very important.
As are legal and business dealings. Anything pertaining to skills and topics that require careful thought and consideration are of interest to this King.
If this King becomes a father he will do it for a number of different reasons. It might come about, due to the desires of his spouse, or maybe he will desire a child to fulfill the standards or obligations he has in society. When in his lower vibration, this King will have a child to stand as a trophy or sign of his greatness. Yet no matter the cause, he’s the type of man who feeds and clothes his child. With a roof over his kid’s head, what more is there to do?
Lower Vibration:
When this King falls into a lower vibration, he is in danger of the mind completely outweighing his heart. While the mind is always in control, the heart is a vital component to all human life.
If he loses sight of this, he can become deceptive. His gift for strategy makes him a perfect spy. While his rational thought loses sight of the reality of life and can become faulty logic.
He then loses his patience with the world and can become mean spirited. Using his quick mind and wit to inflict the most about of damage as quickly as he can. This cruelty and unscrupulous nature are twisted in his mind, and at times he can see his actions as forms of justice. In this case justice being synonymous with punishment.
When the King of Swords doesn’t filter what he says and speaks from the top of his head, he is in danger of losing friends and family, as well as his job. Sometimes the truth as he sees it, isn’t really going to help his life.
Masculine Energy & External Expression:
In this instance we see both the potential positive and negative aspects of masculine energy. When in a healed and empowered place, this person is bold, smart, direct, and secure in whatever field they choose to pursue.
These people hold the answers and know which questions to ask. As a result, they have come to hold key roles in society and out of all the Kings play the game of society best. Not necessarily because they understand it most, but because they have both the self-discipline and desire to succeed and climb the ladder to greater success.
When this King has not addressed the wounds, they’ve sustained in life and the resulting trauma, they are false images in the world. Upon first glance it might appear that all is in place, but upon inspection, you can see that the trauma has been woven into their way of life.
Except by holding unaddressed pain, it merely gives birth to and attracts more pain. In these instances, these people need to address their core selves before all their external “success” truly fall into place. You can be rich or famous and still feel terrible.
Occupations:
- Military man
- Politician
- Spies
- Scientist
- Librarians
- Boss
- Lawyer
- Specialist in medical field
- Tech analyst
- Whistle blower
King of Pentacles: Fire & Earth / ESFJ
Adults:
With our final King, we see the combination of fire and earth energy. What this does is supports a person with their passions, while grounding their dreams and desire in reality. The ways of life on Earth, play an integral role in life. This influence of earthy energy can either by greatly supportive or lead this King down unhealthy paths.
The Protector:
This incarnation of the King of Pentacles combines the elements of fire and earth beautifully. Here we see a man who is tenacious, practical, goal orientated, and stable. He is the ideal provider.
While he is responsibility and hard-working, he also brings with him that fire energy. In this instance, that fire energy has a more mature manifestation. It shines through, in subtle ways.
The conviction and strength of character are one of the ways this fire energy shines through. It also becomes evident in his gumption and level of endurance. Only the strong fiery energy would support this King to go the extra mile consistently.
The Money King:
When the King of Pentacles fails to see the magic of Earth, he can fall into the material trap. In this instance he becomes the. “Money King.”
This man yearns for all the social markers of life here on Earth. He becomes self-centered and his life becomes all about money and property. If you were to ask him, why?
He probably wouldn’t have an answer for you. Because he’s never truly considered why. This King merely took a look around and saw what the world was about, and it never occurred to him to dig deeper. To consider that what society shows isn’t all there is to life.
The Mountain Man:
Here we see the element of earth manifest itself in a completely different way. This incarnation of the King of Pentacles represents a man who is all about the environment. To him earth’s energy isn’t about what society teaches about life here on Earth, but rather the Earth itself.
This manifests itself in the form of environmentalism. He knows the cycles of the seasons and has a stronger connection to the Earth that with people. He’s the sort of man who gets lost amongst the forest.
Personality Traits:
The King of Pentacles when representing personality traits embodies the characteristics of the three personality types seen above. Here is a man/woman who is focused on financial security.
Within his mind, a job provides structure and speaking in a practical level is essential in today’s society. As a result, work, his career, and his status are all things he is aware of and works hard on.
While this commonsense attitude provides for financial contentment it also creates a person who is traditional. These principles of generations before worked, and so he follows them today.
This practical attitude is paired with a gentleness in spirit. While money is important, he doesn’t desire it for cars or jewels. But rather lives contentedly with the Earth. Thus, the King of Pentacles can represent the Grand Patriarch of a family.
Through time, he gathers his possessions and skills to navigate the world. Becoming a diplomatic person, a strong negotiator, and might even gather prestige for his actions in the past.
When representing a father, this man puts his work before his family. Again, we see his common sense at play. Within his mind, if he has no job, he has no money, and if he has not financial means to support his family, he won’t have a family. But as long as he works, he will always be able to afford to have a family.
Lower Vibration:
It is only when the King of Pentacles falls into a lower vibration that his relationship with money becomes unhealthy. Then he becomes corrupt. The need for more leads to his taking shortcuts, miss-management of funds, or even a stinginess.
In addition to this, he becomes self-centered and oftentimes bites off more than he can chew. In becoming avarice, he can get himself into trouble going after more than he needs. This desire for more can be quite dangerous.
Interestingly enough, this card also can symbolize charismatic cult leaders. In these cases, we see the worst of greed, ego, pride, and avarice at play.
Masculine Energy & External Expression:
People who are Kings of Pentacles express themselves through commonsense and solid qualities. These people are knowledgeable and deal with the world on and, rather than an ideal or misconceived perception.
They can sometimes be aware of other realities or perceptions, but they don’t see the practicality of choosing those paths in life. They live on Earth, so that’s where they live and what they focus on. They do this in part to be successful and in part to navigate the world of society.
When expressing masculine energy, the King of Pentacles offers more of those primal aspects. Due to his connection the earth’s element and the gift of fire, we see food, clothing, shelter, family, and financial security at play.
Since these things are important, his actions reflect his desired results. What kind of clothes, foods, home, family, job is he going for?
Occupations:
- Dynasty/legacy
- Physical work with the Earth-
- Farmers
- Miners
- Business with property
- Bankers
- Stockbrokers
- Jobs pertaining to money & property
Final Thoughts:
Kings in ancient times were taught from birth of their importance and power, and yet were restricted more than their peers. Due to image, responsibilities, cultures, and the rules of society a King was always too busy to live freely.
As times have changed, men’s role in the world has changed. His strength and prowess are no-longer required in order to put food on the table. This shift in power and responsibility affords them an opportunity to stretch their wings and fly to new horizons, just as we women do.
With some free time on their hands, just what kind of places will they travel to?