The clouds hold seven cups each full of different items. The number seven can represent many things on an esoteric level: seven ancient planets, seven interior stars (chakras), the seven seals and seven trumpets in Revelations, and so on. What can you find?

A shadow figure that resembles a man stands with his back towards us facing the cups. The fact that the cups are all in the sky, surrounded by puffy clouds suggest that all you know is up in the air, it’s in the sky, and it may very well be unobtainable.

One of the cups contains a castle, which gives way to the idiom, “Building castles in the sky”, which is exactly what the people in the Tower card did. They built their tower so high that it ended up crashing to the ground. The Tower and this cup are represented by Mars, the planet of war and aggression. The number 16 also reduces back to 7, so this is a perfect representation of the how the negative energies of the 7 of Cups can manifest.

The next cup is overflowing with jewels, which can represent hunting for that perfect treasure. This cup is represented by Jupiter because he is the king of all kings and the planet of luck, royalty and abundance. Jupiter is affiliated with the Wheel of Fortune, and there is a fortune in that cup.

The next cup has a laurel wreath and a skeleton face. Laurel wreaths represent victory because the ancient Greeks would crown the victory with a wreath of laurel leaves. This cup mimics the World card and the circular wreath that encompasses completion. Saturn is the planet the corresponds to the World card, but Capricorn is ruled by Saturn and The Devil is ruled by Capricorn. Saturn, the planet of limitation, can be used for good or for bad.

The fourth cup contains a dragon, which breathes fire like the sun. This brings us back to the Sun card and represents the solar energy. Solar energy can bring forth life and fresh vegetation, but it can also burn and destroy.

On the top shelf of the cloud, only three cups remain. In the center is a figure with a white cloth draped over him/her. She is represented by the High Priestess because she is holding the veil between this world and the astral world. This cup holds the Moon.

The snake to the right of the veiled woman symbolizes mercury and the Magician. This cup represents an ouroboros, which is a snake biting its own tail. And of course, the Magicians magical figure 8 reminding us that the universe is really a gigantic infinity sign swinging back and forth.

The last cup holds a beautiful woman’s face, which represents the Empress, Venus and beauty.

Overall esoteric meaning: the cups have multiple choices and some of them are not based in reality.

The Seven of Cups warns us not to give in to temptation, seduction, or addiction. These are temporary and not built on a solid foundation. The Rider-Waite version of these cards shows seven cups filled with different choices. The cups are floating in the clouds. The clouds represent illusion and the choices are our choices in everyday life. Are they built on reality or are we just “building castles in the sky?”

The Seven of Cups indicates being intoxicated with illusion, glamour, daydreams while building unrealistic goals. You may not even be able to see reality. This can also indicate drug addiction because when we are high, nothing is clear and nothing is real. Illusions are easily built.

The word “spirit” for alcohol is an old term because it was once thought that “spirits” entered people who drank. Dionysus and Bacchus were powerful Greek and Roman demi-gods/gods who were so powerful temples were built around them. Wine and beer were so beguiling that people truly thought, “Am I possessed whenever I drink?” or “Why does my wife turn into someone different? Is she possessed by an Incubus?”

The Seven of Cups can indicate having no direction because of too many choices. Perhaps you are sitting around daydreaming and not taking action toward a sustainable goal.

The Seven of Cups can indicate that your financial position might be built on false beliefs about money.

The Seven of Cups is similar to the Devil and the Moon.

Physical Representation of the Seven of Cups

from the Tarot Heaven Archetype Deck Coming Soon

On the Lighter Side

Highly adaptable traits emerge from the persona of the Seven of Cups. If this card comes up as your signifier or the signifier for the person in question, then they have a tremendous amount of internal power over their world. The ability to manifest anything they desire will turn their world into a lush, comfortable garden of items.

These items are the things western society gives value to like a mansion, fast cars, decadent food, luxury shoes and clothing. But nothing has any value unless value is placed upon it. Those designer threads that cost $1000 last the same as a similar dress that costs $100. The house that you always coveted takes up too much space, which starts to feel hollow and empty. It’s a lot to clean and maintain. Fast cars end up drawing in unwanted attention.

The Archetype that is embodied in the Seven of Cups is one of tests and trials. The cups aren’t purely illusionary, but tests, if the person is ready to accept such a task. One-by-one the items will be obtained, and one-by-one they prove to be useless. The value that was originally placed on such high-ticket items doesn’t bring the happiness or relief that was originally intended.

Now that the archetype has realized value is what we place upon it, they are ready for the next realization: They just manifested all of their dreams. What else can be manifested besides purely symbolic items of success?

This is for you, dear reader, to ponder and ask yourself.

The shadow side of the Seven of Cups (could be read as a reversed card)

As a person, the Seven of Cups indicates a ditzy person who lacks a solid foundation. The tests and trials that were given to the archetype were not fulfilled. Disappointment’s wide net is cast over the participant. They probably don’t even realize any tests were given. Cluelessly clueless. One gets the sense of detachment from the situations presented. A rather ambiguous place to be grounded in. “So unstable,” says another Spirit Guide.

But how does one become detached and ditzy? Constant drug use is a popular choice for losing control. A person might find themselves in their 20s doing some “light” binge drinking, but all that binge drinking is slowly killing the body from the inside out. The brain won’t function at optimal speed when the age of 40 rolls around. Any kind of drug use will alter the state of consciousness, downgrade it and control the person. It is not recommended on a spiritual level, but alas, the participant finds themselves at that crossroad.  

Detached behavior could be learned through the parents that raised the adult. Someone who just floats through life never attaching themselves to anyone or anything.

Luckily, the archetype of the Seven of Cups might go through a “dark night of the soul,” which is a test in itself. Aleister Crowley named the Seven of Cups debauch, which means to over indulge in something that strips you of your purity, but as water that flows down the tree of life, it only gets stronger as it grows.

You might get a sense that this person, even at their darkest hour, has the strength to be thrown to the wolves, only to come back leading the pack. This is the silver lining that the Seven of Cups represents on an esoteric level.

One technique that Naomi Ozaniec writes about in her book The Elemental Tarot Handbook, “Take the names of the Minor Arcana [debauch, power, worry, gain, dominion,]. Write down all the free associations that spring to mind.” (pg 19). This way you are using Tarot to build a story yourself and not just memorize keywords and phrases. It’s a holistic, esoteric approach to Tarot.

In the traditional Celtic Cross Tarot Spread, often the card you place over the Situation Card will reveal whether the crux of the situation is an obstacle (hindering) or helping (strengtheing).  This placement is the second card drawn in a traditional Celtic Cross Tarot Spread. 

Seven of Cups as a Strength

If you are the absolute best at manifestation, then the Seven of Cups could help you build that idea or romance you’ve always wanted. Use your imagination to get what you want. The signifier or the archetype of the Seven of Cups is someone with great internal strength and control over their emotions and imagination. Use this image of a person to transfer into your own archetype and use it.

When the Seven of Cups comes up as a strength or crossing card in a reading, it can be read as a positive if the surrounding cards indicate a powerful dynamic. According to Faith Javane and Dusty Bunker in their book, “Numerology and the Divine Triangle,” they put the Seven of Cups numerologically as a 47/11. Eleven is a master number. When not in vibration with the number 11, it will reduce further to a number 2. No one can hold the vibration of any master number, so don’t be discouraged. Keep your faith even in the darkest of moments. You will preserver.

Coming soon

If you get the Seven of Cups as the outcome card in a love reading, you can be sure the querent is asking about an on-going, high-intensity romantic union that is occupying a lot of their time. Unfortunately, in the outcome position, this means that the querent (or yourself) will ultimately realize that the relationship is not as it seems.