Seven of Cups: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘Seven of Cups’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
Upright Seven of Cups Meanings
Keywords
Choices, Fantasy, Illusion, Wishful Thinking, Imagination, Opportunities
Generally
The Seven of Cups signifies a situation of multiple choices and opportunities, but it carries a strong warning that many of them may be illusions or wishful fantasies. It represents a period of daydreaming, where imagination is high but a connection to reality may be weak. This card often appears when you are faced with too many options to choose from, are being tempted by unrealistic promises, or are getting lost in a creative project without a clear plan. It is the energy of a mind clouded by endless possibilities, unable to commit to a single, grounded path.
In a Love Context
In matters of love, this card often points to a situation with multiple potential partners or a fantasy about what a relationship could be, rather than what it is. For a single person, it can represent the overwhelming choices of online dating, where many profiles are deceptive. For a couple, it can signify a relationship based more on a shared dream for the future than on a practical, present-day reality. It warns against making a commitment based on wishful thinking or falling in love with the idea of someone.
In a Money/Career Context
This card can represent having multiple job offers or business ideas, but needing to discern which are viable and which are just pipe dreams. It is a strong warning against "get rich quick" schemes or investment opportunities that seem too good to be true. A project may be based on a brilliant but impractical idea, or you may be considering a career path that looks glamorous on the surface but lacks real substance. It is the energy of creative brainstorming before a realistic plan is made.
In a Spiritual Context
This can signify a period of spiritual "window shopping," where you are exploring many different paths and beliefs without committing to any. It represents the danger of being tempted by spiritual fantasies or mistaking psychic illusions for true guidance from the higher self. A meditation practice may be used for escapism rather than for genuine insight. It is a warning to ground your spiritual search in reality.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Be realistic. Discern fantasy from reality. Examine all your options carefully. Do not be tempted by illusion.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
Indecision. A choice made based on fantasy. A situation that is not what it seems.
As Obstacles
Too many choices are causing confusion. A lack of focus. A refusal to be realistic is blocking progress.
As Hidden Energy
An unacknowledged fantasy. A secret temptation. A choice that is being avoided.
As Resources/Alliances
Your own imagination. The ability to see multiple possibilities. A creative brainstorming session.
The Seven of Cups Reversed
Keywords
Clarity, Making a Choice, Reality Check, Decisiveness, Focus
Generally
Reversed, the Seven of Cups can point to the end of a period of fantasy and a return to reality. It signifies a moment of clarity where illusions are stripped away, and you are finally able to make a clear, decisive choice. This can manifest as waking up from a daydream, a necessary reality check after a period of confusion, or focusing your energy on a single, viable path after being overwhelmed by options. It is the energy of a clear and focused mind.
In a Love Context
This card often signifies the end of a fantasy-based relationship or a moment of clarity about what you truly want in a partner. It can represent seeing a person for who they really are, not who you wished they were. This may also be making a decisive choice between multiple suitors, or a relationship moving from a romantic dream to a practical, grounded commitment.
In a Money/Career Context
This can mean finally choosing one career path or business idea and committing to it. It might represent a project moving from the brainstorming phase to a focused, actionable plan. It can also signify a necessary reality check about your financial situation, or seeing through a deceptive business offer. It is the energy of focused, practical decision-making.
In a Spiritual Context
This can mean committing to a single spiritual path after a period of exploration. It may represent a moment of spiritual clarity that cuts through illusion, a conscious decision to ground your spiritual practice in reality, or a discernment between true guidance from the higher self and spiritual fantasy. It is the choice to walk a single, focused path.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Choose one path and commit to it. Face reality. Get your head out of the clouds. Be decisive.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A clear and focused decision. The end of a period of confusion. A necessary reality check.
As Obstacles
A refusal to dream. A cynical and overly pragmatic attitude. A fear of imagination is holding you back.
As Hidden Energy
A dawning realisation of the truth. A secret desire for clarity. A choice that has already been made on an unconscious level.
As Resources/Alliances
Help comes from a clear-headed and decisive person. A dose of reality. The clarity that comes from eliminating options.
Additional Notes on The RWS ‘Seven of Cups’
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings of The Seven of Cups
"Fairy favours, images of reflection, sentiment, imagination, things seen in the glass of contemplation; some attainment in these degrees, but nothing permanent or substantial is suggested. Reversed: Desire, will, determination, project." (The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911)
RWS Seven of Cups Symbolism
A.E. Waite’s Seven of Cups depicts a figure seen in silhouette, confronted by seven cups floating on a cloud. Each cup contains a different vision or prize: a castle (adventure), jewels (wealth), a laurel wreath (victory), a dragon (fear/power), a woman's head (a potential partner), a veiled, glowing figure (a spiritual mystery), and a serpent (wisdom/temptation). The figure is in a state of wonder and indecision, representing the mind captivated by the endless possibilities and illusions presented by the imagination.
Meditations On The Seven of Cups
What fantasies or illusions am I currently entertaining in my life?
Of all the choices before me, which one is grounded in reality and which are just wishful thinking?
Am I using my imagination to create, or to escape?
