What does the Seven of Cups card mean in a Tarot Reading?

Seven of Cups is the Arcana of castles and dreams. This is a card the meaning of which will be associated with the illusory world, in all areas, in one way or another. Ambiguous in its interpretation, it can carry both positive and slightly disturbing energy.
Cups symbolize the dreams and doubts of a person pondering what to choose. However, this is actually a false choice. These gifts of Fate are just a temptation, an illusion: whatever a person chooses from the gifts offered to him, it will not bring him happiness. This card falls out when a person thinks that he knows all the possible options, and he only has to choose one of them. This is not really this way. In this case, he must either find another, completely different option, or postpone the decision, because now it simply cannot be correct.
Seven of Cups is a card of lies, illusion, mirage, ghosts. It shows that we succumb to deceptive hopes and false notions, that we are deceiving and allowing ourselves to be deceived. As a rule, it acts as a harbinger of sobering up, of disappointment, and it should be taken as the last warning: open your eyes! Although this card also has a positive aspect: if we realize our delusions, free ourselves from illusions and really want to devote ourselves to something real, it promises us help and support from those from whom we did not expect this.

Lots of alternatives. Illusions. Disorganization. Romance. Emotions take precedence over reason. Desire to run away. Failure to cope with anything. Altered state. Visions. Prophetic dreams. Impressions. Impracticality. A game of imagination. Passionate desires. Confusion when necessary to make a choice. Languor. Uncontrolled imagination. Difficult decisions. Abuse of alcohol or drugs (especially if there is another card in the spread that indicates the desire to escape from reality, for example, the Moon). What am I doing now? Building castles in the sand. What do I really want? You can’t get everything! Everything is ghostly. You can’t see the forest behind the trees.

Situation and Advice

Perhaps you feel confused about the need to make up your mind and make a decision, and this slows down your actions. Perhaps you have too many or unequal choices, or maybe you just need to compromise in order to make the right decision. You cannot get everything at once and you are not sure which way to go next. Your heart urges you to go one way, and your mind insists on a completely different route. You don’t like the forks on the way at all. In order to be successful, you need to focus on achieving one goal. Your worst enemies at this time are your cravings. Full success is guaranteed if there is Three of Cups nearby.
Success depends on being able to carefully weigh the pros and cons and focus on making a decision. Seven of Cups warns that you will not be able to make the right choice while your thoughts are in confusion. Perhaps your expectations are far from reality, or your imagination is too wild. It would be very wise of you to take some time to find out more information. On the other hand, this time is favorable for any creative process. Sometimes this card encourages you to listen to the voice of your intuition or pay attention to your dreams. Listen to your inner voice. This card has a unique combination of indecision and temptation. In reality, the person himself does not know what he wants.

Persons designated by Upright Seven of Cups Tarot Сard

Those who have visions. The dreamers. People in the clouds. Artists. Creative people. Those who are given too much choice. Those whose thinking cannot be called clear enough. Blonde children.

The Main Meanings of the Card In a Reversed Position

Key Words and Phrases

Positive values
Determination. Realistic expectations. The need to make a certain decision. A good choice. The ability to see the forest for the trees. Time for action. Reason over feelings. Clarity of thoughts. Capturing the essence. Ease of decision making. A realistic view of things. In the end, persistence wins. Success is achieved from the second run. The need to try again. Back to basics. On a clear day, you can see everything well. I have made a decision! From rags to riches. If you don’t succeed the first time, try again and again.

Negative values
Usually, the Seven of Cups in a reversed position denotes determination and realism, but if the whole spread has a negative meaning, this card symbolizes disappointment. Complete disappointment. Self-defense. Confusion. Illusions. Unwillingness to face reality. Fantasy. Missed opportunities. Failed first attempt and theeed to make further attempts. False promises. Fear of success.

Perhaps your first attempt at achieving a goal was unsuccessful due to the fact that you did not focus and did not use your skills to the maximum. Now you can clearly see past mistakes and failures, and this gives you the opportunity to act more purposefully. You have managed to overcome your confusion and develop a more realistic outlook on life. The querent is determined to achieve success in any field.
You need to look at the situation from the outside and understand what is really going on. Now you have the opportunity to carefully consider all the options and make an intelligent and wise decision. You need to focus on what is needed and persistently implement sensible ideas. Seven of Cups means that if you have set clear and well-defined goals, then your hard work and effort will be rewarded in full.

Persons designated by the Reversed Seven of Cups Tarot Сard

Those who try to be clear about everything. Diligent students. Realists.

In the Spreads

The main meaning of this card is an invented world, when a person looks at life through “rose-colored glasses”, imagines the ideal development of the situation, builds castles in the air. The card itself is not bad, but you should not get carried away with illusions. It can also be read as the inability to choose one thing.
Both in the upright and in the reversed position the Tarot Arcana Seven of Cups has quite a good meaning. The nuances are below.

In an Upright Position

The upright position indicates the classic meaning – you live in an imaginary world. Sometimes daydreaming is helpful, but try not to get lost in your illusions.
The emotions associated with the Seven of Cups Tarot card come from within, from the imagination and subconsciousness. They represent hopes, desires and aspirations. Unfortunately, the person is in a state of confusion because he does not know which ones are real and which are illusory. It is important to make a deliberate choice, but it is not yet time to decide which path to take.
The Seven of Cups means an abundance of fresh, but vague ideas or images in the mind of the querent, but nothing permanent or substantial. Daydreams, castles in the air. Unfocused meditation. Contemplation. Imagination.
Seven of Cups in an upright position is a card of lies, illusion, mirage, ghosts. It shows that we succumb to deceptive hopes and false notions, that we are deceiving ourselves and that we let others to deceive us. Sometimes the card indicates negative stereotypes and complexes. It can be self-doubt formed in the past, dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance, excessive modesty or fear of making independent decisions, a feeling of one’s own inferiority. Seven of Cups often informs that a person cannot decide what to do or what to opt for. Arcana also says that somewhere near there is a lie – either we ourselves are deceiving or want to deceive someone, or someone is lying to us.
In an upright position, the Seven of Cups personifies the world of dreams and desires of the querent. Its presence in your spread suggests that you want to achieve a lot, but at the same time you do not have one specific goal. The whole world lies before your feet with its tempting offers, perspectives and temptations. One dream is more interesting than the other. However, ehich one to choose? Which way to go?
The Seven of Cups Tarot card indicates that you are at a crossroads. Your desires are too strong and there are too many of them for you to make the final choice now. Nevertheless, over time, it will still have to be done. And since it will largely determine your further path, it is very important that this is a balanced, deliberate decision, and not a momentary whim.
In addition, this card is able to communicate that when making decisions, a person subconsciously, fearing mental pain, heard or saw only what he wanted, while ignoring the true reality. Outwardly, the card corresponds to its essence: mysterious and difficult to describe and explain goblets, inside of which you can see mystical images as if created by fantasy, but the black silhouette in front is a symbol of confusion.
A warning that in this period of life it is important not to succumb to temptation and wait a little. The temptation is all the abundance of options and suggestions that pour down on a person from all sides. He already wants to get rid of uncertainty, choosing the best from the proposed options, and move forward. However, the card is trying to give a sign that one should wait and be open to the only correct option, which is not here and now, but which will surely appear later.

In addition, in the spread, the Seven of Cups can mean new horizons and tempting prospects that will open before you in the near future. Get ready for pleasant surprises of fate. Success awaits you. With your bright and daring dreams, you can achieve a lot.
The reversed Seven of Cups means a pleasant feeling of accomplishment of all assigned tasks, firm character, balanced decisions. A high degree of embodiment of the desired in reality, readiness to act.
Sometimes you can interpret a reversed card as if a person had previously made a wrong decision, but today it is important for him to do everything to reduce or completely eliminate the bad consequences of his choice.
The reversed Seven of Cups testifies to the inner strength of a person, helping him to bypass temptations, resist charming, but insidious thoughts, look clearly, think soberly and make an informed and balanced choice.

In the Spreads for Different situation

In an Upright Position:
When asked about a specific situation, it may indicate the need for a choice. You have an important decision to make, but your mind and your senses can tell you different paths. It is necessary to remove as much as possible all unnecessary emotions and take a sober look at the circumstances.
In a Reversed Position:
The Arcana of Seven of Cups in a reversed form for the situation will have a similar meaning as the upright card. This is, first of all, the need to make a choice, which is quite difficult for you. Perhaps you have already had setbacks and are afraid. Probably emotions do not allow you to think objectively. In any case, you need to pull yourself together, think with your head and not delay the decision.

In the Spreads for Relationship

In an Upright Position:
As you might guess, the main meaning of Arcana in love affairs is that you look at a partner through rose-colored glasses, looking to come up with a joint future, dream about some situations, etc. The Seven of Cups warns that awakening from euphoria can be painful, and disappointment and irritation are possible in relation to the partner. Idealization and romance. Usually drops out during the period of amorousness. Sometimes the Seven of Cups can also indicate the difficulty of choosing a partner from several contenders, in cases where you do not yet have the chosen one.
Also, the card indicates either self-deception and a desire to see only what one wants, or dishonesty, lies, betrayal on the part of a partner.
In a Reversed Position:
The Arcana in a reversed form for love questions means the loss of illusions, the moment when “eyes open” to the real state of affairs. It can also fall out as a sign of the consequences of a wrong choice or an attempt to get everyone at once.
If the Seven of Cups in divination for love and relationships falls upside down, then this indicates that the person has finally have the veil fallen (or is about to fall) from the eyes, relative to the partner. Those situations that accompany this may not be the most pleasant. But although this process is most likely very difficult and painful, later it will only benefit.

In the Spreads for Money

In an Upright Position:
The Seven of Cups of the Tarot for finance symbolizes the vain expectations of big money. You can dream of any wealth, but in order for it to appear in life, you have to work.
In a Reversed Position:
Destruction of illusions – the real amount of income will differ from the intended one.

In the Spreads for Education

In an Upright Position:
Literary creativity succeeds especially well, and in general everything that depends on the imagination. You may also like philosophical and religious research.
In a Reversed Position:
You talk too much about what you want to do. It’s time to get down to business.

In the Spreads for Career

In an Upright Position:
In career matters, Arcana often points to deception. It can be like self-deception, when a person believes that everything is fine and does not see problems, idealizes his work. Or some kind of fraudulent actions in the field of activity. If a person is just looking for a job, Seven of Cups may mean doubts about choosing one of several vacancies.
In terms of work, the upright Seven of Cups shows that lately we have been building castles in the air, building illusions for ourselves and generally entering the unsteady and dangerous soil of empty projection and gullibility. If we do not look at things soberly, do not moderate our claims and do not limit ourselves to what is actually feasible, we will face a catastrophe. The card warns against fake deals, false goals, and in some cases from participating in dirty deeds and dastardly intrigues. In addition, it can testify that subscripts, deception and hack-work flourish at work, and urge to keep sobriety and cleanliness of hands. The card can also inform about the unsuccessful course of the business, medium-sized losses.

In a Reversed Position:
The reversed Seven of Cups in career spreads can indicate various kinds of work-related problems. Either you will understand the lack of prospects for some projects, or you will find out that you are being deceived. Difficult situations are possible due to the fact that you turned the wrong way somewhere.
The reversed Seven of Cups symbolizes the ability to make the right decision after careful consideration. The card informs that even if something goes wrong in the planned business, it will definitely not happen because a person is in the clouds or sets unrealistic goals for himself.

In the Spreads for Health

In an Upright Position:
In the field of health, the Seven of Cups usually symbolizes a state of euphoria or an unstable mental state. This can be from alcohol, drugs, antidepressants, etc.
Health is undermined by alcohol, smoking, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Negative dynamics of the course of the disease.
In a Reversed Position:
False, unfounded belief that a person is sick.
Reversed Seven of Cups for health means mental health problems. When a person thinks that he has some kind of illness, he panics, thinks up symptoms for himself and believes in them. Usually is drawn on hypochondriacs.

Answer to Yes / No Tarot Spreads

In an Upright Position:
No
In a Reversed Position:
With due care, yes.

Self-Development Lesson

We all have to make some life choices. Learn to make decisions, come down from the skies and busily achieve your goals. Otherwise you may get lost in the world of illusions and fantasies.

Type of person in an upright position:

The card means a person with a rich imagination, but scattered and uncollected. At its best, it is a creatively gifted person who needs outside help. At worst, a dreamer who endlessly makes various plans, but continues to sit on the couch.

Type of person in a reversed position:

Means a person who, for nothing, knows how to show off, prefers to give out the truth. He speaks out even where he should not, and because of which he makes small troubles for himself. Usually does not reach large troubles because of good common sense. Open, bold, freedom-loving.

Arcana’s warning

Do not try to idealize someone or something, disappointment can hit hard.

Final Advice of Arcana

Do not get confused in your illusions, be more objective.

In an Upright Position:
Do not make yourself an idol. Do not take promises on faith, be afraid of outright deception.
In a Reversed Position:
Stay realistic, don’t give in to illusions. Try again, this time being careful.

Conclusion

The Seven of Cups is a Tarot card of imagination and dreams. Some dreams can be pure fantasy, fairy tales, castles in the air. Others may relate to reality. Others may be close to reality, but will never reach the status of real plans. Basically, you are daydreaming, not dreaming about something specific, but simply allowing your imagination to carry you into the unknown.
Most interpretations say that this is a necessary process, especially at this time: you free your mind from old ideas and misconceptions and explore other possibilities, even remote ones. This can lead you to strive for new, better goals.

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