Twinn Swan

Life has a curious way of revisiting us. The Seven of Cups, a card in the tarot deck brimming with swirling possibilities, often appears when an old opportunity – a dream we shelved, a path not taken – suddenly resurfaces in a new outfit. It’s like stumbling upon a familiar melody played on a new instrument, the tune both recognisable and at the same time, uniquely transformed.

No no, this is not ‘the same thing’ that happened the last time. But it will, most certainly, feel that way, especially at the beginning. But as time goes on, you will slowly but surely come to realise that you have been chosen to walk a path that not many dare to tread, especially if they are weighed down by old memories, old wounds and old desires.

The Seven of Cups suggests that a familiar yearning you once had might begin to stir within you once again. Perhaps it’s the career you once considered but couldn’t pursue, the creative pursuit you gave up due to failure or the travel adventure that remained a distant and faraway fantasy because no one volunteered to join you. Now, however, this desire reappears from seemingly out of nowhere, cloaked in a new and enticing package.

A repackaged opportunity can, indeed, be the much-needed catalyst for growth. By approaching it with a dose of caution and perhaps even a little bit of cunning, you can learn from past experiences and allow it to be a more fulfilling choice this time around.

Here’s the second chance you’ve been waiting for. Seize it.

The Power of Abundance

The Seven of Cups card appears when we are forced to face up the fact that we have an abundance of choices at our disposal. The danger is not so much making ‘the wrong choice’, but clinging to a single perspective at the expense of all others. Sometimes, we realise, in hindsight, that we have made the wrong choice, even though what presented itself to us was truly promising. We let a perfectly good opportunity ‘get away’ because we were too caught up in our past mishaps.

The Seven of Cups tarot card appears when past disappointments resurface. Perhaps someone we knew made grand promises but never delivered, leaving us wary of new possibilities. However, the card also represents that a wealth of options are still available and discarding the familiar path too readily can be just as detrimental. The Seven of Cups encourages us to explore these options with open eyes. While past experiences may make us cautious, they shouldn’t prevent us from considering what’s new. The card suggests discernment, not dismissal.

The abundance symbolised by the Seven of Cups can be both a blessing and a curse. We might find ourselves wondering which decision is ‘the right one’. We may not know. Because of our own baggage, our own conditioning and our own stunted way of looking at the world, we could end up throwing away perfectly viable opportunities when they present themselves.

The new and unexpected paths which present themselves hold tremendous appeal. Try them out. At the same time, do not, under any circumstances, choose to chase a single opportunity at the expense of all the others. This is not a time to specialise, but to generalise and cast your net wide. Diversity, diversify and diversify! Do not allow yourself to be limited by what you have known thus far. This is a big world with all kinds of fish in the sea!

Perhaps the two opportunities seem similar… But are they actually similar? Perhaps they, do, indeed, share similarities, but they are not the same. The Seven of Cups represents this very moment: a period or phase brimming with potential but also obscured by our hopes and our fears. The Seven of Cups highlights the difficulty of making choices when faced with multiple options.

The Mask

The Seven of Cups symbolise the masks which we choose to wear, for ourselves, for others and for the sake of societal acceptance. We all do it to varying degrees. It is, in essence, a defence mechanism. Some masks are thicker and more insidious than others.

When the Seven of Cups appears, the encouragement is to ‘see through’ these masks and seek genuine connection. As humans, we often willingly choose to paint or portray reality in an illusionary fashion. Imagine, for instance, if a person were to choose to paint a portrait of themselves as a wronged spouse and a victim of infidelity. Beneath this ‘mask’, if you will, is someone who is trying to avoid his own insecurities. By choosing to portray oneself as the wronged victim, one is able to deflect any blame for the underlying issues in the marriage.

By seeking sympathy from others, one is able to avoid confronting his or her own insecurities. Perhaps they are intimidated by their spouse’s independence and feel that they are not able to control their spouse. An independent spouse who is constantly expanding their horizons may unintentionally make their partner feel like they’re not keeping up. This feeling of being “left behind” can lead to resentment towards the more independent partner.

In this situation, one party feels powerless, helpless and even unfortunate. This ‘mask’ allows us to avoid taking responsibility for our actions and our choices. Seeking sympathy from others can be a way to control the narrative and avoid confronting uncomfortable realities. Navigating an intimate relationship requires a high degree of emotional intelligence. Partners need to be self-aware, empathetic and skilled at communicating their needs and respecting those of their partners.

Jealousy is a natural human emotion. Relationships which are non-traditional can face social stigma and a lack of general understanding from the community. Managing jealousy and insecurity requires ongoing effort and emotional maturity. Jealousy won’t disappear overnight, but by understanding the role it has played in your life, you can transform it from a monster into a manageable beast.

The Seven of Cups reminds us that clinging to a single, manufactured story blinds us to the abundance of possibilities which are actually available to us. By embracing vulnerability and open communication, we can explore the various “cups” life presents. This journey of ‘second chances’ may not always be easy, but it holds the potential for a far richer and more fulfilling connection than the temporary comfort of a fabricated narrative that few can ever even hope to live up to.