Queens are associated with inner and personal control, competency, maturity, introspection, self-awareness, nurturance, healing and fulfillment.  Cups are associated with the element of water, with emotions, love, pleasure in life, matters pertaining to the unconscious, intuition and inner planes.  The Queen of Cups may be devoted to the needs of family and friends, and at her best shows a radiant, compassionate heart.  She is intuitive and able to tune in to the emotional needs of others.  She's a dreamer who can turn her imaginings into creative activity.  Reversed she can symbolize someone who indulges in emotional outbursts and a martyr complex in a quest for sympathy.  She can also become manipulative on an emotional level if she is unable to channel her energies into a productive outlet.

I'm usually pretty clear that my connection to the Queen of Cups is the weakest of any of my connections to the Queens.  I've gotten much more comfortable with that side of my nature, but I'll never be completely at home with my inner Queen of Cups. It's just not in my nature.  I'm guessing one of my biggest issues is that so many women I know seem to manifest the more manipulative negative side of the Queen of Cups.  I can't understand that type, I don't identify with that persona and I don't want to spend time with people like that.  But at least I've gotten better at realizing that not all Queens of Cups are like that.  Those that aren't can be quite a learning experiencing for a confirmed Queen of Wands/Swords type such as myself.

The New Century Queen of Cups seems a bit more active than many traditional depictions.  She stares at the cup in front of her and spreading out from behind her are white streamers.  A white stream flows beneath her.  She shares her emotional nature and is careful to replenish herself too. 

The Phantasmagoric Theater Queen of Cups is much quirkier.  She wears a mask with one eyehole cut out and a question mark over the other eye.  A black choker with a pink heart adorns her throat.  She seems to be pondering something as she stares at the mug and die that sit before her.

Both queens share a mix of traditional and non-traditional symbolism.  And that is what makes these two queens fun.    They show that there isn't necessarily only one way to express one's Queen of Cups nature.  She can be quirky and intuitive or she can be nurturing and mystical.  One way is just as valid as another.

For me personally I think my Queen of Cups side is very quirky and non-traditional.  But right now she is a problem for me.  Okay, that's being  a bit melodramatic.  What I really mean is that I can't afford to be that open on a psychic, emotional level.  Right now there are things going on in my family that are ripping me apart and leaving me angry, raw and confused.  But I can't actually do anything about them because I have to respect the wishes of the person most directly affected by the situation.  That person may ultimately decide not to address the issue at all and I have to respect that.  But it's killing me.  So the best way for me to deal with it right now is to accept and understand what I'm feeling but also realize that I can't express them right now, at least not as I'd like.  Maybe one of the ways for me to deal with this is to come to terms with the situation and accept that there are influences here of which I'm not aware.  Or maybe I need to be a bit more sympathetic to everyone.  I don't know.  It's not my usual way of dealing with things but then again this isn't a usual situation.