Seven of Cups
Seven of Cups
Seven of Cups conveys the idea that not all choices or desires are as they appear. Do we really want to invest our time and energy in a new endeaver, or do we simply “like the idea” of doing the endeaver?
It reminds individuals to exercise discernment, to be aware of the potential illusions or distractions that can cloud judgment, not to decieve ourselves, and to focus on making grounded and realistic decisions.
The card encourages discernment and the need to make conscious, grounded decisions.
The Seven of Cups urges us to discern our true desires and priorities amidst the abundance of options. It suggests the need to ground oneself in reality, make conscious choices, and avoid being seduced by wishful thinking.
Imagination and Fantasy: The Seven of Cups symbolizes the realm of imagination and fantasy. It reflects the rich and vivid inner world of the individual, where dreams, desires, and illusions take shape. It suggests a tendency to get lost in fantasies or to be overwhelmed by the power of the imagination.
Multiple Options and Choices: This card represents a plethora of options and choices available to the individual. It signifies a time of decision-making and the need to evaluate various possibilities. However, it also warns of the potential for confusion or being overwhelmed by the abundance of options.
Illusions and Deception: The Seven of Cups warns of the presence of illusions and deceptive influences. It suggests that the individual may be prone to self-deception, wishful thinking, or being misled by external influences. It reminds them to discern between reality and illusion, to avoid getting lost in grandiose dreams without a solid foundation.
The allure of different choices and the potential for being enticed by unrealistic or fleeting desires. It warns against being carried away by illusions, false promises, or impractical fantasies.
Symbolism
We are using the Rider–Waite Tarot for this analysis. This deck is the most used world-wide and is highly recommended for those starting out with Tarot.
I think interpreting this card will be a very personal and different experience for each of us. Most of us already have emotional reactions to the symbols on the card. It is a good excercise to question why you react to each symbol the way you do. Not in a judgemental or critical way, but more to dig a little deeper into the why and what of that symbol’s meaning to you. What are other meanings each symbol might have? Be curious!
We see seven cups, each filled with a different offering. The cups are all sitting on a big cloud showing us how transitory these offerings are. How they can vanish at any time by unforseen or unexpected circumstances. The only true lasting gift is the path we walk in the time we are given.
- Head – Love, Companionship, Dependency, Vanity
- Spirit Guide – “Ghost in Middle”
- Snake – Revenge, Self-Serving, Scheming to Win
- Castle – Property, Finances, Stability
- Jewels – Wealth, Status, Identity
- Dragon – Power, Anger, Dominance
- Wreath/Skull on cup – Victory but at what cost
Which cups will we choose when faced with complex opportunities? Will we choose popularity and wealth over spirtual guidance? Will we choose a Wreath, which could imply wanting to be “right” regardless of the damage to relationships from arguing?
So often one of the lessons we learn in life, along our Fools Journey, is that we were not able to anticipate all the implications of fulfilling our desires. We trick ourselves into believing we are altruistic, when our motives are to satisfy or protect our egos.