I'm designing a Tarot Deck - King of Cups

King of Cups of FIRE!

This is the guy who got me started. The King of Cups. And, though in my deck, he is a man of fire, he is still the type of guy you'd normally meet in the King of Cups card. My fire is your water. Or, more specifically, the fire in my deck is based on the Five Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Families: Ratna (earth), Vajra (water), Padma (fire), Karma (wind/air), and also Buddha (space/aether). You can see that they are the same elements one is used to in the west (unlike the 5 elements of the Chinese: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth). There are slightly different agreements, however, as to which element means what.

In Robert M. Place's "The Buddha Tarot" (Llewellyn Publications, 2004), the same Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Energy Families are dealt with. His alignment of the elements differs from mine, though I can follow his logic, for the most part. The difference between us being that he seems to focus on the traditional Tibetan tool associated with each element and re-associated the elements as necessary, whereas I focused more on my understanding of the general meaning of the element and re-associated the tools as necessary- sometimes using a more traditional western version of a tool, whereas Place stuck strictly to the traditional Tibetan tool associations. Different ways of resolving an inherent need for translation. Both ways have their benefit. Of course, I believe my way to be more useful, but I am also glad that he did not do it this way, because now I get to! I purchased The Buddha Tarot deck to inform my own design process and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the life of the Buddha or anyone who is interested in these Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Energies. It is a fine deck (though, be warned! The traditional western meanings of the cards also goes by the wayside for certain cards, though most seem to align.). I love the artwork and the way he rendered the pip cards. Also, his use of Dakinis for Queens and traditionally associated Tibetan Animal-figures for Knights is inspired. I will be doing something slightly different. Plus, the life of the Buddha as the progression of the Major Arcana is a great way to learn/remember the life of the Buddha AND the meanings of the Major Arcana! A great study tool for Buddhists and Tarotists, alike. Moving on, then...

This passage from Rachel Pollack's 78 Degrees of Wisdom: A book of Tarot (Weiser Books, 1980) is what got me hooked on the idea that the elements of the west and the elements of the east (Tibet, anyway) would be in good alignment, as far as their meanings go, though they would switch up which element went with which meaning a wee bit:
  

As a brief summary, Wands/Fire stand for action, movement, optimism, adventure, struggle, business in the sense of the activity of commerce rather than the things sold, beginnings. Cups/Water stand for reflection, quiet experiences, love, friendship, joy, fantasy, passivity. Swords/Air stand for conflict, angry or disturbed emotions, sadness, but also for mental activity, wisdom, the use of intellect to understand the truth. Pentacles/Earth stand for nature, money, work, routine activities, stable relationships, business in the sense of things made and sold. Also, because Pentacles are magic signs, they stand for the magic of nature and the wonder of ordinary life, not always perceived, but often hidden under the surface. 

Highlighted in the passage above are my own associations with the elements as I understand them through my work with the Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Energies. This work began while earning my Master of Arts in Contemplative Education at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. In this system, Air is associated with Green (rather than with Earth, as is common in Western traditions), Fire is Red (or, Pink, in this case- the Red was too hard to read through!), Water is Blue (usually royal blue, but again, there was the issue of legibility), and Earth is Yellow (whereas it is usually Green in Western traditions).

As you can see, the element does not always translate straight across with the suit/tool. The way I see it, through the lense of my understanding of the Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Energies, is that Wands must be Air (Karma- Action, Precision, 'Can-do' attitude), Cups must be Fire (Padma- Passion, Warmth, Connection), Swords must be Water (Clarity, Anger, Perception), and Pentacles (or Jewels) remain Earth (Ratna- Richness, Splendor, Abundance).

So, My King of Cups of Fire is:

Compassionate, Understanding, Accepting, Warm, Kind, Friendly, Gentle, Charming.

"Garuda [a Tibetan Buddhist figure], seated on a lotus ("cup").
Holding a bead located at the throat, the center of voice and expression. He has both access to and control over it's power.
 Beneath the water-line, emotions may be dark or distressful, but above the water-line, all appears calm and well.
 There is a great flame rising out of the Garuda, representing his element and perhaps also more of the aforementioned emotion or passion that may be present, but his calm poise and the peaceful, balanced scene show his mastery over such diversions. It is nearly impossible to guess what he is thinking or feeling, given such disciplined composure.
 He appears to be seated calmly on his lotus-throne, but also gives the impression of being ready and able to spring into the air and fly out of sight at any moment, with complete intention, if without warning.

Controlled passions, depth of feeling, adept at connecting authentically."

~Aunt Magic