Knights represent pure energy, focused, intense and active, protection, strength, ambition and questing.  Cups represent emotions, love, pleasures in life, matters pertaining to the unconscious, intuition and the inner planes; the element of water.  The Knight of Cups is often referred to as the Grail Knight, the knight in search of inner truth and emotional fulfillment.  It can also suggest that one is so focused on one emotional experience or relationship to such a degree that all others are blocked out.

"You are completely involved in an emotional sensation.  You're so involved in this feeling or relationship that everything else seems insignificant by comparison.  In fact, all other relationships and emotions may be blocked by this one." - Gail Fairfield.

The Knight of Cups looks as if he is a conduit through which the water flows towards us.  His hand looks as if it is the source of the water flowing into the cup.  He also appears to be one with his horse.  It is difficult to see where he ends and the horse begins.  Perhaps this symbolizes an emotional connection with the animal; an emotional connection with his environment.  Even the crescent moon in the sky above seems to be connected to his headdress.  The green and blue swirls on this card reinforce the connection to a watery, mysterious world which can be experienced by not explained.  We can feel its influences in our lives but it doesn't always make sense.  He is our guide through these unconscious depths and helps ensure that we will find our way through.

The Explorer of Water shares a sense of control over a powerful and sometimes overwhelming element; one that seems welcoming and friendly but which can quickly become deadly.  His sense of direction, daring and connection to this element allow him to skim over it on his surfboard.  He takes chances but has to accept that if he is not careful he could easily be overwhelmed or hurt.  A dolphin swims in the water next to him - an animal guide, his connection to his intuitive and natural soul.  Perhaps the dolphin guides him over the waters and watches over him to ensure that he is not harmed by his adventures.  

In both these images I get a sense of someone at one with the element of water but does not get lost within its depths.  He is not just a knight or guardian, he is our guide through these watery depths.  He protects us and watches over us as we wander through and plumb our intuition, emotions and inner planes.  Perhaps this is someone who has already found his own way through these planes and now he offers to guard and guide us through them.

So the question for me becomes do I need to find someone who can function as a guide and guardian for me or do I need to consider become that to others?  I think it's a two-fold answer.  I think I need to find my way through these emotional depths and considering my avowed mistrust and dislike of watery matters this is not so easily achieved.  However once I have found my way through and guided myself through the maze of emotional and unconscious issues, then perhaps I can help others deal with these issues too.  My message might be that one of my challenges in life is to find my way through this dark, cold and sometimes frightening inner landscape.  Some of the most frightening visions we will ever see exist in our own mind and in our own hearts.  Some of the darkest places in the world live in side the human psyche.  Having someone to watch over us as we stumble blindly through those dark places or having someone actually help guide us through can be a priceless gift.  In some way his is the role of a therapist - to help us explore those inner landscapes and make it through to the other side feeling healed and whole rather than frightened and lost.  Perhaps that is one role I can serve as a Tarot reader - to guide others through this sometimes frightening inner landscape and help them find their own path through.