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The Seven of Cups is a deception and illusion, a miracle and a twilight card. It shows that we feed false hopes and ideas, deceive ourselves and let ourselves be deceived. Usually a forerunner of disappointment, he is vigilantly warned of dream images. There is also a joyful aspect of the card, promising unexpected help if we are able to break away from the imaginations of our desires and hopes and focus on one realistic plan.

SEVEN OF CUPS : DEBAUCH

These cards are attributed to Netzach. The position is doubly unbalanced; off the middle pillar, and very low down on the Tree. It is taking a very great risk to descend so far into illusion, and, above all, to do it by frantic struggle. Netzach pertains to Venus; Netzach pertains to Earth; and the greatest catastrophe that can befall Venus is to lose her Heavenly origin. The four Sevens are not capable of bringing any comfort; each one represents the degeneration of the element. Its utmost weakness is exposed in every case.

The Seven of Cups is called Debauch. This is one of the worst ideas that one can have; its mode is poison, its goal madness. It represents the delusion of Delirium Tremens and drug addiction; it represents the sinking into the mire of false pleasure. There is something almost suicidal in this card. It is particularly bad because there is nothing whatever to balance it-no strong planet to hold it up. Venus goes after Venus, and Earth is churned into the scorpion morass.

This card refers to the Seven, Netzach, in the suit of Water. Here recurs the invariable weakness arising from lack of balance; also, the card is governed by Venus in Scorpio. Her dignity is not good in this Sign; one is reminded that Venus is the planet of Copper, “external splendour and internal corruption”. The Lotuses have become poisonous, looking like tiger-lilies; and, instead of water, green slime issues from them and overflows, making the Sea a malarious morass. Venus redoubles the influence of the number Seven.

The cups are iridescent, carrying out the same idea.

They are arranged as two descending triangles interlaced above the lowest cup, which is very much larger than the rest.

This card is almost the “evil and averse” image of the Six; it is a wholesome reminder of the fatal ease with which a Sacrament may be profaned and prostituted.

Lose direct touch with Kether, the Highest; diverge never so little from the delicate balance of the Middle Pillar; at once the holiest mysteries of Nature become the obscene and shameful secrets of a guilty conscience.

THE SEVEN OF CUPS - DEBAUCH

Astrology: Venus in the 3. decan of Scorpio Tree of Life: Netzach through Water

The Seven of Cups are standing for the waters of delusion, the clouds of intoxication, the emotional waters are rotting in the depths of destiny, they have fallen from the grace of Tiphareth. 

The Seven of Cups also talks of the human desire to experience the unknown, the subconscious, the wish to escape the plain old reality and find a better world somewhere in fantasy. But it shows clearly the dangers of such mindgames, when the dreaming turns into a hapless runaway from life. The success is illusionary, just a deception or wishful thinking 

In its best aspects, the Seven of cups is a warning to recognize the delusion, the disguises, to get rid of the intoxicating feelings and face up the facts. Netzach is not only anarchy, but creativity - so the realization of the bad can lead to something good when used with care.

Drive: Delusion, desire, ecstasy, neutralized victory, illusionary success, lying error, promises unfilled, drunkeness, violence, selfish dissipation, deception in love and friendship, success often gained but not followed up. 

Light: Realisation of false promises and hapless hopes, sobering 

Shadow: Drunkeness of mind, getting lost in illusions, wrath, vanity

THE SEVEN OF CUPS - Discovery - Neptune - Deception

Keywords: Venus in Scorpio, high activity, annoyance, disgust

Advice: It's time to open your eyes and face the (possibly painful) reality. You can become free only by realizing your own inner reality. Any further attempts to avoid this will only add to the stagnation of your emotional energies.

Questions: Do you have a disappointment that you haven't worked on yet? Have you experienced something that was a little too good? Did you not chase yourself too much, or did you over-exploit certain things?

Suggestion: Drag another tab to the question: How can I change my current situation?

Revelation: As I recognize and accept my shadows, they gradually lose their strength.

Analogies:

Ji-Ching: None (?)

Mythology: The Illusionists - (Ate, The Lotophangs -Lotus Eaters-)

Keywords: illusion, deception, twilight, Fata Morgana; escape from the world

What is impossible becomes real or at least looks like it.

SEVEN OF CUPS

General Meaning

The Seven of this suit typically refers to works of the imagination, the use of dream and vision to invent a future different than the life one is currently living. This card reminds us that our outcomes are not set in stone.

We can raise our hopes and expectations and upgrade our results. Do not be fooled by the title Fantasy which this card is sometimes given — this card indicates the truly magical quality of awakened imagination.

In the Reversed Position

The Seven of Cups reversed reminds you to reawaken to playfulness, joy and curiosity. Perhaps a lack of purpose is having a deadening effect. It's almost as if it is saying that you have forgotten how to dream. As a result, mind and imagination can become dry as a desert where only the harsh light of material reality can penetrate. In such a case, there is no golden glow, there is no higher purpose or magic spark.

This is a state of mind that no one should tolerate for long. Find something that restimulates your endorphins — whether taking a long walk and breathing deep, buying a bouquet of roses and lilies for your kitchen table, or making contact (perhaps through art or meditation) with something good, true and beautiful. Take that step immediately and relieve yourself of the deadening flatness.

In the Advice Positon

The Seven of Cups in this position advises that you relax your mind and open to the dreams and imaginings your inner child loves to entertain. Allow yourself to imagine a truly positive outcome for this situation. Perform an exercise in creative visualization by relaxing your guard and letting go of your fears.

As the dreamscape unfolds, your electro-magnetic chemistry is stimulated to a point of achieving greater confidence in yourself and in what you are doing. Even if it's only a temporary break from your fears, this is a helpful exercise because it gives your psyche and body a dose of unlimited thinking and optimism. Think positively — the results could truly be amazing.

Read more:

• » The Book of Thoth - A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians by Aleister Crowley.
• » Liber LXXVIII - On the Tarot - A complete treatise on the Tarot giving the correct designs of the cards with their attributions and symbolic meanings on all planes. - A description of the Cards of the Tarot, with their attributions, including a method of divination by their use.
• » Manuscript N - The Tarot - A Golden Dawn Manuscript - A Theoricus Adeptus Minor Paper.