Tarot Post – Seven of Cups

 

Seven of Cups (Debauch / Illusory Success)

 

 

G`Seven of Cups (revised) by G A Rosenberg

 

Distractions appear
Most of them so appealing
Some may not be real

 

Escaping through choices
that promise success
shadows, visions
lead to excess
Dreams are good and dreams reveal
tho used to avoid, our dreams conceal
we build our choices
so carefully
the god like mask, the hidden enemy
Would you like a ghost
or castle in the sky?
or a dragon or snake to try
Each one seems to offer what’s sought
I’ve found my purpose once again thought
then they fall away yet another false trail
yet one more of my layers stripped, unreal
Purified, simplified, I still seek the Grail..
— G A Rosenberg

 

Cups deal with our emotional nature including love, both that as in a relationship between two (and rarely more) people and that of friends and companions. Sevens represent our desires and wants and the paths and challenges we take to achieve them. So often we feel a deep need to feel successful that we become willing to settle for the trappings of success. As long as we have a large income, a beautiful spouse and a large home, does it matter that we still feel unfulfilled and unhappy? As long as we have the respect and love of our community does it matter that our marriage is falling apart and that our kids hate us? As long as we pursue spiritual and ontological understanding does it matter that we are homeless and cannot feed ourselves? In all three of the above cases, we pursue the illusion or appearance of success, depending on our description for it rather than working towards complete self-actualization and fulfilment. In reality all of these cups are ours to drink from and to bring together into the reality of success rather than the illusion

 

Astrological Correspondence – Venus in Scorpio – Venus in Scorpio is a magnetic and intense energy. It shows imagination and sensuality but reveals very little. It is a promise undelivered, an attractive tease that will show you every dark desire you have and indulge you in it fully and completely but ultimately will not in itself fulfill. It is delight and delirium.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 14) Ta Yu – Abundance

 

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The Trigram of Fire is over that of Heaven. It is a time of victory, success and abundance that is meant to be enjoyed but it is not the end of the story. It is very easy during such times to get caught up in overindulgence and forget that while one chapter of the story may be over, the novel itself is still very much in progress and there is much to be done before the end. The Fire that is in the sky is that which burns the brightest to the senses yet it is not the most intense of flames nor is it ultimate fulfilment.

 

When the Seven of Cups shows up in a reading, it can mean that several choices have appeared but that most are illusory promising a lot but offering little. There is one choice that may look less promising but it is a lot more real and will ultimately be more fulfilling. The card may also point out that what the querent is currently doing in their lives may be fun but may not be as worthwhile as they are pretending it is and that they may be concentrating on pleasure and instant gratification rather than joy. The Seven of Cups may also be referring to a false sense of confidence, a belief that we have won where our success may truly be an illusion because of something that we have overlooked.

 

When the Seven of Cups turns up reversed in a reading, it may mean that the querent has come to a time in their life where they realize that they have been settling for the quick fix rather than concentrating on what is really important and fulfilling to them. It may also refer to hidden problems or dangers revealing themselves after a time of complacency. It may also refer to a time when all the choices and opportunities that we fooled ourselves into thinking that we had are quickly vanishing and what remains is that which is essential to our being

Quote of the Day – March 25 2012

“Liberty, according to my metaphysics is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power.”
–John Adams

A friend of mine asked me what significance the card below, the seven of cups had to my life at this time. At first I told her that as a choice of card to do it was fairly random. I should have known better. Random is a pretty arbitrary term and I gave up believing in coincidence long ago.
The seven of cups is all about choices that are mostly illusory and reasons for those choices. Most of the time many of us choose according to our needs, whether love, fear, desire for safety or money..but ultimately we choose according to our nature and our needs.
This past week, I have been contemplating a difficult decision. I have looked at it from many different angles and argued several different points of view, driving my partner half crazy in the process. Ultimately tho no matter how much I agonize, no matter how dramatically I show that I hate deciding, there is no choice, I will act according to my nature. Knowing this, i can give it a rest and at least be sure of having some clarity.
How often do we put ourselves into this loop of anxiety over indecision? We tell ourselves we have the freedom to choose anything. Our own being ultimately decides. Trusting that, we can calm ourselves down quite a bit.
Blessings, G

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Seven of Cups by G A Rosenberg