Hello July and welcome new readers!
Have you ever made a split second decision and then second guessed yourself?
This past month my parents drove in for a visit. Parking in NYC can be stressful. My father, whose whole day could be made by finding a good deal on parking, has begun using a parking app. He purchases a parking deal/coupon in advance. This eliminates the search for the perfect spot and the concern of being taken advantage of price-wise. A win-win!
On this day, I joined my dad in the car for the garage drop off. We arrived to some chaos. Many cars were backed up on the street, waiting to get in. It appears that only one man was working and many customers were looking for attention. My father, being a gentleman, made brief contact with the parking attendant and then pulled his car over to the curb to patiently wait his turn. He turned the car off. It looked like it might be a while.
Eventually, cars began to move. A path was slowly clearing. It was at this point that a driver in a larger car maneuvered himself around my father’s car and placed himself directly in between our car and the car that was previously in front of us. Driving with civility is not necessarily a thing here, but, really? My dad and I looked at each other incredulously. Then, he told me to hop out of the car and address this matter. I believe his exact words were “give him hell”.
Dutifully, I knocked on this drivers window, asking him to roll it down. Clueless, he was a bit irritated at the intrusion. Irritated back, I began to explain how he so nicely positioned himself in front of our patiently waiting car. Did he not see us? The driver (now apologetic) explained that since our car was not “on” or with a blinker of any sort, he had no idea we were waiting as well. He explained that he had bought a coupon from an app . . . yes, same. My father, now the good cop to my bad cop, arrives at the scene and says “no need to get upset, we will all get into the garage”. (What happened to the guy I was just in the car with?!) The driver tells me,” I am not a bad guy”, “I did not do this intentionally”. My father agrees. Both nodding and smiling in alliance. Scene fades out . . .
Choices. In an emotional moment, I made a snap decision of how to handle this interaction. I showed up in a blaze of emotion, instead of taking a deep breath and being more thoughtful in my approach. This was not the ending I had imagined.
Our card this month is all about the choices we make. Let’s dig in.
The traditional meaning of the Seven of Cups is having many options to choose from, believing in limitless possibilities and getting to pick and choose. Bearing the title “Lord of Illusory Success”. this card is also associated with wishful thinking, day dreaming, letting your imagination run wild and, yes, sometimes getting caught up in the illusion of it all. This card suggests that when considering your future goals and ideals, decisions should be made with care. This shadowed silhouette is not the first (nor will he be the last) to fantasize about future achievements. We all must have something to aspire to. But, our dreams cannot replace the need to create a solid plan. In the Seven of Cups you are asked to look at your unrealistic ideals, flesh out your priorities and then to sideline that which is not worth pursuing.
In tarot, Seven’s are about preparation, foresight, caution, limitations and maturation. The Cups are the suit of love, emotions, the subconscious and that which is fleeting, transitory or short lived. Tie these together and we find imagination, contemplation and vision.
The Seven of Cups can indicate a time of solitude and/or a time to ask yourself the hard questions. Your actions at this time may revolve around emotional issues and/or you may find that your thinking is clouded by emotional ties or sentimental feelings.
Does an offer seem too good to be true? Do not make any hasty decisions. Wait until all of the facts are shared, the truth may be hard to see with clarity at this time.
Do you sometimes feel that life is at a standstill or that you are standing at a crossroads? Choosing the right path feels so weighted. This can contribute to feeling challenged and unsure. What if you took a pause? You are encouraged to use your intuition and instincts to formulate that next action.
The Seven of Cups can be a message to expect the unexpected.
When not working to its fullest potential, this card can indicate overindulgence, disorganization, loss of connection to reality, neglecting your health, procrastination, an addictive pattern or addiction. There is a warning of excess and letting the things that matter most slide into distraction. This card can also indicate bad choices already made, fear of making the wrong decision, confusion or feeling unhappy with the options that are in front of us.
As mentioned in the video, the contents in each of the seven cups are not real, they are all aspects of the figure’s mind, imagination and personality. Here are some questions to consider at this time: Is the face you show to the outside world a true representation of you or a front to please others? Who are you trying to please? What are your currently doing in order to realize your ambitions? Would adapting or changing a current goal make it more attainable? How far are you willing to go to achieve success? How would having success or being successful change you? How can you access your truest self? Where do you seek change in your life? Why visit a parking garage if you don’t have to?
The Seven of Cups is one of the deepest, most mysterious and interesting cards in the tarot deck.
It is sometimes difficult to clearly see the best way forward. It is easy to be influenced by what other people think or say we should be doing. The Seven of Cups and real life show that not all options are going to be positive ones. In my own shared experience, acting in haste and with emotion does not always bring the best result.
It is easy to wish for something. It is not so easy to make that wish/desire/goal come true.
Find a way to make your dreams and ideas into a reality.
Do the work. Make the effort.
Live your dream.
Until soon . . . .
