Seven of Cups as Past (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Seven of Cups is the card of choices, fantasies, illusions, indecisiveness, and wishful thinking. In this card, a man stands in front of seven cups filled with various prizes, trying to decide what he wants. He has analysis paralysis. Some cups have good gifts, such as riches and castles. Other cups hold bad outcomes, with dragons and ghosts and snakes. Some gifts may not exist at all.

The Seven of Cups reminds us that choices need to be made in life. Obsessing over multiple options can be a detriment, because we will never be able to choose all of them. We can’t have our cake and eat it too. Sometimes, it’s just best to pick one and make the best out of it. This is true in love as well. When we are paralyzed by choice, we are unable to connect. 

Upright Seven of Cups as Past

If you are asking about the past, and you draw the Seven of Cups, it means that there was a time of daydreaming, imagination, and possibly confusion, where many options were available, yet it might have been challenging to discern the realistic options from the illusions. This phase was like a double-edged sword, nurturing creativity and open-mindedness while also possibly leading to indecisiveness due to an overflow of choices. It was a time where the lines between reality and fantasy may have been blurred, urging a need for groundedness to navigate through the sea of options and dreams effectively.

The Seven of Cups as the past can represent a period of idealization, where dreams and fantasies were at the forefront, and it might have been a creative yet potentially disorienting time due to the number of choices at hand. It was a period rich with potential, yet it required careful navigation to differentiate between feasible paths and mere illusions. During this time, you might have felt both inspired and overwhelmed, with the challenge lying in finding a balanced approach to harness the creative energy effectively.

If you are asking about a romantic relationship, the Seven of Cups in the past position means that the relationship may have had a lot of fantasies and daydreams involved; it was a time where you both might have been exploring many possibilities together, albeit without a clear direction. This card points to a period of whimsical explorations and dreamy scenarios, which, while bringing a sense of wonder and excitement, might have also induced a state of uncertainty and lack of concrete plans. The relationship likely navigated through a sea of fantasies, needing a firm grounding to turn these dreams into reality.

If you are asking about an ex, the Seven of Cups in the past position means that the relationship perhaps had a lot of illusions and not everything was as it seemed; there might have been unrealistic expectations or dreams involved. It hints at a time where you both might have been carried away by romantic fantasies, possibly overlooking the realities and the work needed to build a sustainable relationship. While this period might have had its magical moments, it also required a grounded perspective to differentiate the dreams from reality, fostering a deeper understanding and connection.

If you are asking about a friend or family member, the Seven of Cups in the past position means there was a period of dreaming and imagination shared, though it might have led to a lack of clarity and potential misunderstanding due to diverging realities. This card signals a time where creative energies flowed abundantly, yet might have fostered an environment of confusion and disparate expectations. It was a time where dreams took the front seat, possibly sidelining realistic discussions and understandings, thus creating a fertile ground for misunderstandings.

If you are asking about career and financial matters, the Seven of Cups in the past position means there were many options and opportunities presented to you, creating a time of dreams and visions, but it might have been hard to make grounded decisions amidst all the possibilities. It portrays a phase where the horizon was broad with opportunities, demanding a discerning mind to choose the paths with real potential. During this period, you might have felt an amalgamation of excitement and confusion, needing a solid strategy to navigate through the myriad of options effectively and to seize the opportunities that were truly beneficial.

Reversed Seven of Cups as Past

If you are asking about the past, and you draw the Seven of Cups reversed, it means that there was a realization of what is truly important, making a decision to abandon unrealistic fantasies and focusing on more tangible goals. This period marked a significant turn in your personal development as you began discerning what genuinely mattered and let go of fleeting illusions. It was a time of growth, where you chose to steer your life in a direction that was rooted in reality, nurturing aspirations that were attainable and fulfilling.

The Seven of Cups reversed as the past can represent a time of waking up from illusions, a period where you managed to see past the smoke and mirrors and began focusing on practicalities. This phase denoted a personal awakening, where you gradually built a clearer path by distinguishing between reality and illusion. It encouraged a grounded approach to life, emphasizing the importance of realistic goals over daydreams, and led to a more structured and feasible plan for the future.

If you are asking about a romantic relationship, the Seven of Cups reversed in the past position means there was a time where the relationship became more grounded, with both parties discarding unrealistic fantasies to focus on what truly mattered in the relationship. It could have been a transformative time where both you and your partner chose to foster a deeper connection by embracing the truth and working on realistic goals together. This period likely brought a substantial change in the relationship dynamics, encouraging a healthier and more grounded partnership rooted in mutual understanding and reality.

If you are asking about an ex, the Seven of Cups reversed in the past position means there might have been a realization that the relationship wasn’t what it seemed, leading to a phase of awakening and seeing things more clearly. This realization might have marked a pivotal moment in your relationship history, shedding light on the intricacies and the true nature of your connection. It was a period of learning and personal growth, where acknowledging the reality was the first step towards healing and moving forward with clarity and self-awareness.

If you are asking about a friend or family member, the Seven of Cups reversed in the past position means there might have been a time when both of you decided to be more realistic and let go of daydreams to focus on cultivating a more grounded relationship. This phase was likely characterized by meaningful and honest conversations, where both of you chose to lay down the illusions and work on building a relationship based on trust and reality. It brought about a deeper connection, steering away from fantasies and fostering a bond grounded in the practical and the real, enhancing the quality of your relationship.

If you are asking about career and financial matters, the Seven of Cups reversed in the past position means that there was a shift from pondering numerous unfeasible options to focusing on more realistic and achievable goals, marking a period of grounded planning. This was a phase where you opted to abandon the clutter of numerous options to carve out a pathway that was rational and achievable. It allowed for focused and detailed planning, which led to establishing goals that were not only tangible but also more aligned with your career aspirations and financial stability.

Conclusion

For relationships and feelings, the Seven of Cups represents choices that need to be made. It’s important to spend time making the right decision for ourselves. It’s good not to rush. But at the same time, always hoping that there is a better option out there is unhealthy and will make us unhappy. Finding a good in between is critical to having a healthy relationship. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.