“It is not the things themselves that trouble us, but our opinions about them.”
— Epictetus
Illusion, confusion, abundance of choices, fantasy, desire clouding judgment
Overview
In the presence of infinite opportunities, it’s hard not to imagine the wildest possibilities. You can do anything with all this free-will; and you are excited for it. Will you be rich? Famous? In Love? Who cares, all roads lead to Rome.
The options you are faced with seem infinite and your time to decide was never extensive to begin with. There is not time to give every option a chance, and the amount of information you need to assess to make an informed decision is far greater than all the time in the world. Something has caused you to question everything you’ve been working on. You are opening your options back up to gauge if it is up to your standards. Perhaps it was never in your league to begin with.
This card is defined as having many choices to make and advises that your dreams can be reality if you approach things rationally. You may be searching for a purpose, dating, or assessing if something lives up to your internal values. Perhaps you could be day dreaming in all the possibilities instead of acting to chase any of them.
Symbolism
A man stands before seven cups, each brimming with something different. These are all the things he dreams to obtain in this world; that which occupy his idle thoughts. There’s a disembodied head, his ego, the glowing figure covered in a shroud (god) the snake (temptation) the castle (potent ion / security) the gems (wealth) the Laurel (victory) and the dragon (power).
The Chalices are situated on a cloud, symbolizing the fantasy of it all. And with the figure in front being completely blacked out, it seems the man is losing his identity to his ideals. Or perhaps, his shadow is the driving force behind these wild illusions.
Meaning
Illusion
The difference between concrete dreams and absolute lunacy is how wild you’re willing to inflate it all. This card says you’ve convinced yourself that someday God is going to pluck you off the ground and make you something. Tomorrow you’ll wake up titled CEO of everything without having to put in even an ounce of work.
This is unrealistic.There are steps to take and you’re ignoring them all for a giant leap out of your wheel house and straight for the throne. Is it impossible? Not necessarily. But is it probable? No. If you want a throne, make tangible steps to get there.
Abundance of choices
You could go left, right, up, down or in between them all. You are at a point in your life where you can be absolutely anything. You‘re overwhelmed, and it’s hard not to consider everything you’ve ever wanted to achieve in your new found freedom.
Confusion
This is ultimately causing a rabid confusion in the long run. One too many choices to date, too many careers to choose, too much money to invest. Regardless, there are a lot of options and you need to start entertaining the thought of one instead of the thought of all of them
Fantasy hindering commitment
Instead of doing anything with your choices, you’re living in the ideal that all of them can come true. You are combing through each path wondering where it will lead you. While you’re living in a dream of all these opportunities, each one will be picked off until you are left with one — and it may not be the one that you hold dearest.
Imagine losing all of them right now. Which one are you most disappointed in the loss of? Which of your choices held your mind the most frequently? Pick that one, problem solved.
Desire clouding judgment
In everything you’ve ever done, there has always been the apple of your eye. As that target moves, you feel the need to move with it. The desire for this apple has you moving sideways through life instead of making the right choices towards a concrete future.
Hell, you could plant your own tree and have a million apples, what makes that one so great?
Indecision
Indecision wracks you: your morals combat with your heart, and your logic. Stick with everything you know and have worked on, or do you find something that is more your speed? Determine the things that speak to your soul and the things that rub you the wrong way. Take stock of where you are, your value, where you have to go, and what you have to offer. Shoot for your version of extraordinary, but don’t forget the people in your standard. Don’t go chasing waterfalls.
Assess
This card is symbolic of assessing all of your options. It tells you that you are not as trapped as you make yourself out to be. Commit or get cold feet, this opportunity maybe fleeting.
It’s ok to dream or imagine frivolous things. Just remember the standards you’ve set for yourself. As long as you don’t settle for the low hanging fruit, the universe will up the ante for you.
The Seven of Cups Reversed
“Clarity comes when we stop chasing illusions.”
— Unknown
Grounding, emotional clarity, seeing what is real
Overview
In the reversed position the Seven of Cups represents opportunities you’ve missed due to fantasy, or the chaos of confusion taking a critical hit on your end -goal.
Meaning
Grounding
You have finally grounded your reality into what is achievable and what requires multiple micro-transactions to complete. Instead of reaching too high, you’ve settled your situation and chose the proper route that will nurture your basic human needs. You made the responsible choice, kudos.
Emotional clarity
Previously you refused to look at a situation in a an executive manner. Instead you were idealizing something, but everything is being forced into the light. With this new clarity, consider what is. Truly the best choice you could be making.
Seeing what is real
Try to look at the options presented to you from an unbiased opinion. As if you are presenting them to public forums or ask the advice of a friend who is unbiased. The answer is obvious if you look at all the facts.
Options running thin
You’ve wasted so much time dreaming, that some of your choices are falling to the way side. This is causing you to lose something’s you put a lot of stock into. Take a deep breath and ground yourself. Don’t lose another chance to achieve what you’ve always wanted to.
