Mary El Tarot - Knight of Cups

[Bat Chicken]

http://www.mary-el.com/cups3.html

Air of Water. I start to think of clouds and yet this Knight holds a chalice that looks like it is made from the leaf of a lily pad that from it, rises the pink lotus flower (the rising of the soul - Buddha), but it is fed by the green eye over his heart that seems to bleed for it. His armour is covered in symbols that seem to cover the elements, fish, wings, suns, tree roots, the zodiac and as I look more closely, I realize the eye is above a pyramid. The all seeing Eye. When thinking about the traditional meaning of this card, I am inclined to think that in this position it is the Knight’s ability to see into the hearts or emotions of others. I would go so far as to read it in combination with the lotus as compassion.

[Flaxen]

I agree, the eye on the breast plate is right over the heart. This is a knight who 'sees' with his heart.

There is also something quite alchemical in the colours - the red, white and gold.

White relates to mercury and the moon, red to sulphur and mars and gold to the sun. Gold is the ultimate aim in alchemy - transforming the base soul into its highest expression. Is this knight beginning to meld those energies? Is he on the quest for the Holy Grail/Philosopher's Stone? The red in the cup makes me think of the 'blood of Christ'.

There is a strong current of compassion here. Like you said, the lotus is a common symbol in Buddhism and Christ also taught a message of compassion - 'love your neighbour as yourself'.