I was delighted when this pair came up in a reading! I had never noticed the similarity before.
The Knight of Cups—Now isn’t he dreamy?! Watch out! He’ll sweep you off your feet and talk you into quitting your day job in order to pursue your fantasy of becoming a novelist—or a professional tarot reader. 
Death—A real Prince Charming, huh?! He was. In fact, he was the Knight Cups years ago. But the romantic idealist has transformed. He has been knocked around a bit and has made some costly mistakes. It took time for him to find ways to put to rest the pain and guilt and bitterness, but he realized that he couldn’t fully mature and enjoy new opportunities and relationships until he worked through the lessons of the past.
Alternatively, we might see the Death card symbolizing an existentialist. The knight is aware of his march towards death and sees through the illusions that once promised him a sense of purpose.
Exercises for Reflection
- Think about a fantasy that you have had for some time. Perhaps you have always wanted to take flying lessons or learn how to salsa dance. Or maybe you have been dreaming about a graduate program or an alternative career. Go through your tarot deck face up and choose a card that illustrates what has stopped you from turning this fantasy into reality.
- Choose a card that illustrates a painful experience for which you need closure. Choose a second card that illustrates what it would be like without the guilt, the saddness, or bitterness in your life. Choose a third that symbolizes what you need in order to move on.
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llustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited. The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
