Seven of Cups

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)

Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially those of the fantastic spirit.

Upright: 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.


Leisa ReFalo says that "The cups contain strange objects. The represent among other things, the 7 planetary trumps and the 7 deadly sins"

• Head: Venus - Empress
• Ghost: Moon - High Priestess
• Snake: Mercury - The Magician
• Castle: Mars - The Tower
• Jewels: Jupiter - Wheel of Fortune
• Wreath: Saturn - The World
• Dragon: Sun - The Sun

My question. Why is there a skull on the cup that contains the laurel wreath? There is no victory over death? Saturn, as Father Time, is the true ruler of the world?

Waite was, among other things, a Christian mystic. Is this addition to the cup his?

But whether it was Waite or PCS - what does it mean?

Wikipedia offers this idea:

"The cups seem to offer:

    * A snake - may represent animal passion and desire. Alternatively, some consider the snake to represent powerful transformative knowledge. The snake around The Magician's waist may offer insight into Waite's intention with this inclusion herein.

    * A treasure horde - probably represents wealth and abundance.

    * A human head - may represent a potential companion to the seeker (love).

    * A castle or tower - may represent power and stability, or one's native land. (contrast with The Tower)

    * A laurel wreath - most likely represents victory, honor and status. Note the skull-like shadow on the cup itself, which may point to the great dangers of vanity and pride (a deadly sin).

    * A dragon - in keeping with the Christian imagery of the deck, it is more likely a symbol of evil, anger and envy, calamity. Today, dragons are mostly associated with fantasy, the supernatural, magic.

    * A shrouded, glowing figurine - may represent the burning need for the conjurer's self-illumination."


I like the idea of the skull as a warning against vanity and pride. The Victor can become the Vanquished in a blink of the eye.

King of Swords

This morning I would like to mention a few things I have noticed about the imagery in the RWS King of Swords.

He is the only King who is facing forward and looking directly at the reader. The King of Wands is facing to the left and seems to be looking at the Wand in his right hand. The King of Cups is facing to the right and looking into the distance. The King of Pentacles is sitting facing forward but his head is turned slightly to the right of the card and he is staring at his emblem. The King of Swords sits upright and is not looking at his Sword and he is not turned and he is not just staring out into space. He is looking at YOU.

The other noticeable thing is the birds in the background.  There are two birds flying on the right side of the card. In the Court cards from the Suit of Swords there are varying numbers of birds:

Page - Ten small birds
Knight - Five slightly bigger birds
Queen - One bird that is almost the size of the birds in the Knight but perhaps just a bit bigger
King - Two birds that are the biggest in the Courts

I can almost understand the number of birds. The Page is just learning how to use his mind and his intellect and his ideas are small and there are many of them. The Knight is becoming more experienced and more focused so he entertains fewer ideas and they are more "important".

But what to make of the Queen and the King? She seems to have only one idea in her mind at this moment. She has focused her thoughts and intellect on the matter in hand and will take care of it before moving on. The King, with his two bigger birds, must have to juggle more than one idea at a time. He has to find a just and equitable solution that takes into consideration the needs of multiple parties.

Perhaps the King has to be more of a diplomat than the Queen. She can proclaim "Off with their heads!" The King, on the other hand, must make the situation work. He must negotiate.

Me Against Me

This morning I decided to draw two cards and asked this question:

"What should I focus on today?"

Knight of Pentacles and the King of Wands

I actually laughed out loud! The Knight of Pentacles is Air of Earth. Thought manifested in the material realm. The King of Wands is Fire of Fire. Action and enthusiasm as expressed through the will and initiative.

The plodder vs the fiery man of action.

Notice that these two men are facing each other. These two cards are about a showdown!

I have the Sun in Virgo in my natal chart and the planet Saturn is my chart ruler and the strongest planetary influence by far. I am a plodder and the one to call on to perform all those tedious tasks that make life easier but that no one else wants to do. I am naturally all about discipline, attention to detail and nit-picking and I demand only the best out of myself and others. If you are going to do something, do it right! Which usually means MY WAY.

But wait! There is more! I am probably the most impatient person in my entire family. "Chop Chop! Let's move!" is my rallying cry. I not only want the work to be done, I want it done RIGHT NOW and completed as quickly as possible. I have things to do! I have no time to waste on slow pokes, procrastinators or sluggards. I want my Kingdom to run smoothly, efficiently and on time.

The answer to my question is to try my best to blend these two energies. To keep the best of both and to let go of the annoying bits.

Or perhaps it is that only ONE of these energies should be dominant at any one time.

Get my work done, pay attention to detail and keep it slow and easy.

Or bust my arse to get as much done as possible and to heck with how "perfect" the result is. The bed does not have to be made perfectly, it just has to be made. It is okay to vacuum around the middle of the room and dust the viewable surfaces. I can write an email quickly to keep in contact and I don't have to wait until I can word it just the way I want.

So. Slow and easy for today? Or quick and dirty? I have a feeling that these two parts of my personality will always be at odds. Accepting who you are is half the battle.

Weather Reading

Tomorrow I have to drive to London with my son for an appointment with his doctor. There is a huge storm coming and I wanted to know:

"What will the weather be like for my trip to London and back home again?"

10 of Pentacles
2 of Wands
8 of Swords

That seems pretty straightforward.

I start from the family home, pick up one of my "heirs" and begin our weekly drive.
Visibility will be clear on the way there with no problems.
The trip back home will be challenging. I can't see and I will be restricted in my movements.

I will make sure to bring extra clothing, have my phone charged and maybe I will put a shovel in the back of the car. It will be a long, tiring drive home I think.

Listen Carefully

The tarot has a way of bringing an issue to your attention. You are best to listen and learn the lesson.

Cosmic Dirt

The February Tarotscope for my astrological Sun sign is - THE EMPEROR!

Reading Styles - Linear Vs Spread

I am a linear type of gal. Unless I am studying or doing a very special reading I prefer to lay the cards out in a linear fashion. It could be three cards or seven or I have even been known to keep pulling cards until the inner voice says "stop".

 Today I asked the question:

"What is it about reading in a linear fashion that appeals to me?"

The Emperor

The Emperor is represented by the number 4, which is solid, logical, realistic, and concrete. That appeals to my Virgo nature!

"Who's The Boss?" also comes to mind. Perhaps I like to see the story unfolding without the restrictions of spread placements. Micro managing is second nature to me *lol*

There is a very, very small stream behind the throne of the Emperor. I don't think he relies heavily on emotion or intuition but it is there, right behind him. You would think that the structure of a spread would be more useful to a leader than relying on the world of water and emotions that is inherent in linear reading. But he has to make decisions on the fly too and should not discount that small voice that tells what is good information and what is not.

I will study this question and the answer more thoroughly to see what else the Emperor has to say about my style of reading.

Reversing Course

Mr John Ballantrae is a tarot reader and a student of astrology. He teaches both of these disciplines and as one of his students I am going to participate in a recommended exercise. Posting about tarot on a regular basis.

You can find Mr. Ballantrae at the following places (among others):

The Tarot
21st Century Tarot Blogspot Radio
Analytical Astrology

I must first admit that, although I am experienced, I have never used reversed cards. My first exercise will be in shuffling and dealing using John's technique.

"How will using reversals affect my tarot reading?"

Two of Wands - Reversed of course!!

The suit of Wands represents the element of fire, the primitive life force.

Attribution for this card is Mars in Aries.

What I see:

The figure is losing one of his wands which is slipping out of his hand and in the other hand his whole world is falling down! One wand remains because it has been safely bolted to the wall.

The Rose and Cross and Lilly are now on the top right instead of the lower left.

The short wall is at the top of the card a "pushing down" on the figure in instead of supporting him.

I  have always been intrigued by AE Waite's description/meaning of this card when upright:

"here is a lord overlooking his dominion and alternately contemplating a globe; it looks like the malady, the mortification, the sadness of Alexander amidst the grandeur of this world’s wealth."

 As a result of Mr. Waite's influence I quite often find that this card will represent dissatisfaction and yearning – looking at what you have but wanting more.

What can this card mean when it is reversed? And how does it answer my question?

"How will using reversals affect my tarot reading?"

I like the fact that I have remembered to fasten one of my wands to the wall so that I don't lose everything! It seems as if I will have some difficulty in changing how I do things after so many years. That rampart is heavy and being on the top of the card now, it feels almost claustrophobic. The one system that I have always used is going to fall away unless I have it grasped very tightly. But that figure is staring at his world and his wand and seems to be too focused on one thing.

I need to turn around and see the other wand on the wall behind me. The other "system".

There is a feeling of ambivalence in this card. "What is in front of me or what is behind me?" "What I have in my hand or what I have turned my back on?" "The ship that might arrive at any moment or what I already possess?"

I am not sure about the Rose and the Lilly. Is that an indication that I will be rewarded in my efforts?

Final Thoughts

Do I feel that reading reversals is not necessary? That I have not been dissatisfied and looking for more? That I have misgivings?

I believe this card wants me to question my habits and preferences and take a closer look at what is behind me. Perhaps the world that I have in the palm of my hand is no longer enough.