Seven of Cups

Attributions

Venus in Scorpio

Cups is the suit of emotion, inner states, feelings, relationships, memories, spiritual experiences. This suit talks about friendship, family, love and happiness. The cup is the container of something sacred. It is the suit of artists, musicians, creativity, healing, imagination. In it's negative form it can represent anger, resentment, misunderstandings, hurt, pain, rejection, disputes, divorce, conflict, inconsiderate behaviour.

Seven is the number of the Universe. It is the three of the heavens (soul) combined with the four (body) of the earth; being the first number containing both the spiritual and the temporal. In all cultures, myths and legends seven represents completeness and totality, macrocosm, perfection, plenty, reintegration, mysticism, magic, change, turning point, rebellion, eccentricity, fate.

Sevens denote a period of introspection or solitude. They deal with wisdom, completeness, perfection, and relate to the development of the soul.

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)

Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially those of the fantastic spirit.

Divinatory Meanings: Fairy favours, images of reflection, sentiment, imagination, things seen in the glass of contemplation; some attainment in these degrees, but nothing permanent or substantial is suggested.

Reversed: Desire, will, determination, project.

Some Additional Meanings of the Lesser Arcana

Seven: Fair child; idea, design, resolve, movement.
Reversed: Success, if accompanied by the Three of Cups.

Upright

This is a card about dreaming. There is nothing wrong with dreams, however, indulging in endless dreaming will get you nowhere. Decide what is practical, what is possible and what is a waste of time.

This Seven reminds us that there are invisible currents we can harness to our wills, even when the visible methods don't seem to be working.

Considering all possibilities, reflecting on options.

Castles in the air.

Emotional choices.

Role playing.

Spell casting, seeding the universe with wishes and prayers.

Imagination is working overtime.

Wishful thinking.

Too many roads to choose from can slow the journey.

Uncertainty.

Dreams, see the truth and not the dream.

An overactive imagination.

Epic fantasy realms.

Cartoons, comic books, anime.

Lack of focus.

Temptation will cost more than it gives if we fall for it.

Do not look for too many things at once.

You can't see the forest for the trees.

Make a choice! Stop daydreaming and get on with it.

The world is your oyster.

Don't spread yourself too thin.

You can be too busy chasing the lover in your head to pay attention to the lover in your bed.

Looking for the "perfect" one.

Reversed

Over optimism can confuse the issue.

Prepare for the worst and it is less likely to happen.

Deception in relationships.

False expectations.

Poor you, it's time for a pity party.

Procrastination.

Foolishness and daydreaming lead to failure.

A choice has been made, a plan drawn up.

Making up your mind.

Create something "real", take action based on your fantasies and dreams.

Take better care of yourself.

Draw a new picture on the canvas of your life.

Refusing to fantasize.

Believing illusions to be reality.

Spilling deep persona secrets but not telling the whole truth.

Links

Tarot Teachings: Are we faced with a myriad of choices in the now, or are we reviewing the choices we've made in the past? Contemplating the seven of cups Tarot card meaning.
Angel Paths: Seven of Cups meanings. Tarot resources, readings, cards, decks, forums, big New Age shop, spiritual holistic healing.
Associated Content: Seven of Cups Tarot Card: Meaning and Symbolism
ATA: The Seven of Cups often appears when a difficult choice must be made, and the image on most versions of the card reflects that. The seven cups are filled with strange and wonderful gifts...
Learning the Tarot: The Seven of Cups from Joan Buunning's free Online Course for Learning the Tarot