Today I pulled the Knight of Cups.
Traditionally this is known as the Grail Knight. We see from his left facing orientation that he’s returning from his adventures (in spite of a bright opportunity to his immediate right). Like Kings, Knights in general represent the realized archetype of their respective element except that where the King tends to live out his days at the castle, Knights are compelled to action in the world outside the castle. Cups represent the emotions, mainly love. For this reason, this knight is also known as the Knight of Hearts.
What I really, really like about this card is Captain’s use of a Lotiform Chalice Lotiform vessels (Metropolitan Museum of Art) - Wikipedia - the glowing blue cup in the Knight’s left hand.
This charming detail is interesting for many reasons, not the least of which is because it tells us a little bit about this Knight’s travels. First off, it’s totally appropriate as a water symbol given the Blue Lotus is a type of water lily. More specifically, it tells us that this Knight likely spent time in Egypt where the Blue Lotus is a common motif in all forms of Egyptian art. His westward travel path indicates a return from the East where he may have taken refuge, like many of his Cathar brethren, from the perils of the Inquisition. Furthermore, the Lotiform Chalice and determined westward (past) traveling direction (in spite of a bright opportunity to his immediate right - future) into dense vegetation (Nature) could indicate his intention to return from a tumultuous life on the road to a quiet life very likely as the village Shaman - again, evidenced by the fact that he’s leading his horse into dense vegetation (symbolic of Nature, the Shaman’s domain) and the blue lotus being known to aid a shamanic, visionary lifestyle with it’s third eye, lucid dreaming enhancing capabilities. To Egyptians, blue lotus is also a symbol of creation and rebirth which further informs on this Knight’s intention to reinvent himself along shamanic lines.
Beyond the traditional interpretations of this card, it seems to me that, if nothing else, working with this card may assist with all kinds of Shamanic endeavors including lucid dreaming.