Suit: Suit of Cups
Card Type: Minor Arcana
Tarot Element: Water
Star Sign: Scorpio
Planet: Venus
Angel: Archangel Gabriel
Key Meaning: Feeling Confused or Overwhelmed
When the Seven of Cups appears, you can be confused about where to focus your attention.
Number 7 Meaning In Tarot
All sevens, including the Seven of Wands, Seven of Pentacles and Seven of Swords indicate that there is an opportunity here for spiritual growth. As Cups relate to the emotions and mind – then this card encourages you to get your head straight. It is time to work out what you want from the next phase of your life, and only then, will it become clear where to focus your attention.
A to Z: List of Tarot Cards
Seven of Cups Keywords
😏 Upright: Lots of ideas, confusion, choice, greedy, looking for a shortcut
🥰 Reversed: Confidence, clear thinking, restraint
Seven of Cups Description
This description is based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck. In this Tarot card there is a sense of confusion. We see a man from behind, his body language suggests he is full of wonder looking at a gallery of delights before him. It is the adult version of a kid in a sweet shop. All around stand different cups – each one containing a symbol of some differing objective.
Each cup demands that you make a choice: Do you want the dragon for wisdom, the snake for sexuality, the house for home and security, the jewels for money, the wreath for fame, the mask for identity or the face for relationships? Be aware, you must choose wisely.
Remember, time waits for no one and indecision results in opportunities slipping by.
LOVE: What does The Seven of Cups Mean when You Ask About Love?
❤️ When the 7 of Cups turns up in a love reading, it can mean – make a choice! Maybe you are trying to decide between two lovers. If this is the case, you are advised to take off the rose tinted glasses and look at the situation in daylight. What do you want for your future, and who is the better option to fulfill that vision? Hey, maybe the answer is neither.
❤️ If you asked when will I find love? – then this card can mean you are feeling emotionally vulnerable, and this is not the best time to meet someone. If you have a habit of jumping into relationships too quickly or choosing the wrong partner – then the best thing you can do to find love now, is to stop looking. Rather you should focus on the other cups in the card for a while – like your career, family or health. When there is more balance, you will find the right relationship.
❤️ If you are worried that your partner is having an affair, this card can mean that your imagination is working over time. What you ‘see’ and the reality are quite different. The only exception here is when you draw the Seven of Cups and Seven of Swords combination, which can mean cheating.
CAREER: What does This Card Signify When You Ask About Work?
⭕ If you asked the cards about your career, study or life purpose and the Seven of Cups turns up, it means – make a decision! Perhaps you’ve been toying with a decision for a while – like whether or not to look for a new job or study something. While there may be no clear direction or obvious choice at this time, just decide on a path. Any option will do! Remember, no decision IS a decision, it is a decision to remain as you are. So look at the situation without fear. Whatever path you choose has the potential to excite you, once you commit. All paths lead to Rome, the scenery is just slightly different.
⭕ If you allow yourself to float along without taking control of your life, then you will emerge from this important time with little to show from it.
⭕ If you asked about career options, and the 7 of Cups turns up, it can guide you to build skills or a business on the side. Eventually what you create has the potential to become your main income earner.
⭕ In numerology, the number 7 is associated with spirituality and truth. Typical careers in this area include mediumship, writer, therapist, nutritionist, musician, spiritual teacher, healer and IT. You can always draw another card for further guidance. For example, the Seven of Cups and High Priestess combination is associated with spiritual careers. The Seven of Cups and The Tower combination can mean helping people put their lives back together after trauma (healer or therapist).
MONEY: What is the Meaning of The Seven of Cups in a Money Reading?
💲 If you asked the Tarot about money and you receive the 7 of Cups, it can mean you are struggling with debt. There may be a temptation to gamble or fall for get-rich-quick schemes at this time. The guidance is to talk to a financial expert, someone who can help you put a practical repayment plan together. At first it may be difficult to admit there is a problem, but once you drill down and create a plan then the anxiety will fade away.
Tarot Card Combination Meanings
“Seven of Cups combined with The Fool” – Start over again.
“Combined with Nine of Pentacles” – This is your path to financial freedom.
“Seven of Cups combined with Two of Swords” – Face the problem which is holding you back from making a decision.
HEALTH: What does The Seven of Cups Mean When You Ask About Health?
The 7 of Cups classically refers to mental stress and anxiety in a health reading. Are you taking on too much and this is affecting your health? Of course, there is nothing more annoying than someone telling you to do less when you are stressed. You just want to scream – I know! I’m just too stressed to figure out how!
Unfortunately, the only one who can sort the stress out, is you. This may mean saying no to certain people and opportunities. For now. There is an illusion that being busy means we are achieving more. While this can work for a while, it does lead to burnout and increasingly poor outcomes.
Finally, the cups suit is linked to hormones. Consider that any sudden mood changes could be linked to hormone fluctuations. Along with a balanced diet, the best home remedy is usually more rest. Listen to your body.
YES/NO: Does The 7 of Cups Mean Yes or No in a Reading?
❓ When you ask a Yes or No question and the 7 of Cups turns up, then there is no definitive answer. Yet again, you are being forced to make your own choices! Are you starting to see the lesson here? ????
TIMING: Does The Seven of Cups Predict any Particular Timeframe?
🕔 The 7 of Cups is only a timing indication when you specifically asked a timeframe question. For example, if you want to know if something will happen, and when, then you need to draw two separate cards. These are in fact, two separate questions. This is a fundamental principle to understand if you want an accurate tarot reading – and it is core to my teaching in my book Tarot in 5 Minutes.
🕔 Using my timing method, the 7 of Cups is about 7 months. If the card is reversed, timing will be slightly longer – so 9 to 10 months.
Karina’s Timing Method:
Swords are days. Wands are weeks. Cups are months and Pentacles are years. Please note this is my personal timing method. Feel free to adopt it (or not).
What is the Meaning of The Seven of Cups Reversed?
✔️When the 7 of Cups is reversed then balance is restored. You are in a better emotional state, and find it easier to take decisions. Most likely this is because you have worked hard to make the necessary changes, overcoming doubt and stepping into the lead role in your life. You should be proud of yourself.
✔️Going forward, you will find it easier to prioritise all the important elements of your life. You’re on the right path.
✔️Other keywords associated with 7 of Cups reversed include: measured steps, moderation, pacing yourself, self-regulation.
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Seven of Cups Symbolism
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Karina, author of Tarot in 5 Minutes.
