The Gothic Tarot by Vargo - King Of Cups

WolfyJames

The King is sitting on a throne made of stone, the top of the throne is made of three arches. Two double arches stand in the back. The king wears a black cloak that ressembles the cloak of a monk, he also has a round pendant around his neck. His face is barely visible. He holds a cup in his left hand, and his left hand is on the left side of the throne. The King Of Cups looks a lot like The Magician.

He seems distant, hiding, all into his emotions, emotions he doesn't demonstrate. He keeps his composure in appearance, but inside it's more a turmoil: the way his right hand grabs the side of the throne shows his tension. He probably tries to be as objective as possible, but his kingly responsablities are slowly killing him from the inside.
 

Umbrae

Perhaps he's hidden, cloaked, so as to remain approachable,,,? The cup at his left rather than his right tells me that his sword hand is free and empty...
 

mercenary30

The cup in his left hand is the exact same cup as used in all the depictions in this deck. I appreciate that aspect of these cards. Continuity.

The first arch is over top of the throne, where the King is sitting. It is the bigger of the two, focusing on the person represented in the scene. The second arch is over the top of the cup, a lesser focus on the theme represented in the scene.

In the gothic mindset, emotion is a huge driving force. Mood swings to the ultimate edge of extremes, love, hate, despair. Here it seems the king in the throes of one of his moods. I am not sure which dark feelings are welling up inside of him, but he is trying his best to keep them under control. It could possibly be that he won’t succeed. He holds his cup like it is in use. Whether it contains some sort of spirits or possibly blood, if he is nosferatu, it looks like he is periodically sipping the contents.
 

caridwen

Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep- the innocent sleep

This King is Macbeth. He's reached the top but he broods over how. He can't sleep, can't drink of the cup he unconsciously holds because he's so torn. He wears a cowl as though he's voluntarily given up all earthly pleasures in a last bid at redemption but there is too much blood on his hands. He sits, unseeing, brooding with bitterness over all he has destroyed and for what worth.

'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing."
Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5, line 19)

What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?
Matthew 16:26