More on the 4 of Cups

So many decisions, so little time…. Actually this card gives the impression that there is time to waste, but there’s not! When this card appears in a spread, the seeker is being given an opportunity that she may not recognize as opportunity. This is a bummer, because the longer she holds off, the less available it is to her.

Up:
When this card presents itself I feel a fog in the seeker’s dynamics. The seeker is involved so deeply in a certain way of living that it’s almost impossible for them to see what’s past the fog. It is possible, but they need something to jar them out of the forest. Something that snaps them out of their fog. It is also a card of not understanding what is important about their life and not feeling inspired. There is a need for a true sense of Spirit here and finding that is imperative.

Reversed:
The seeker has found her way through the fog and is ready to jump in the pool, so to speak! She takes the opportunity by storm and accepts new relationships and engagements. What once did not seem important, now shows itself as valuable to the seeker. Reversed, the seeker very well may have found a muse or what inspires her, and the fog clears.

The Hierophant

Up:
Ah, the Hierophant. Unless he’s up-side-down, he can make me feel a little trapped. And that’s because he represents those who (or situations that) revolve around organized religion and the need to be accepted in religious circles with similar belief-minded people. It can sometimes indicate that someone is not thinking for themselves. He can show a very traditional mindset that is closed to interpretation. If paired with the Devil, the Hierophant can indicate mind control through doctrine.

In the same breath, he can represent a very traditional marriage, especially if paired with the 4 of Wands. The Hierophant can also show a corporate view of a situation or workplace because he follows the rules and law of business. Likewise, if the Hierophant is reversed, a laid back atmosphere can be inferred.

The Hierophant is a card of trust. It’s a card of genuine want to do right for the greater good. It’s just that in this day and age, some may require more freedom than he offers. If this card represents someone in the seeker’s life, he is a trustworthy person, who may have traditional views. If this card represents the seeker, it may be time to listen to different perspectives and think outside of the box/consider something that traditionally wasn’t the “way we do.” It may be time to change things up and get a different look at something that hasn’t worked for ages or needs to work better.

Straight up, the Hierophant can symbolize higher education, a graduation, or right of passage.

Reversed:
Flipped 180, the Hierophant relaxes into business casual. He’s open-minded and neutral about things he once was very concerned with. He lets things naturally play out instead of trying to control or judge them. The Hierophant reversed can also indicate non-traditional or alternative religions.

9 of Swords

When I see this card in a spread, I know something has happened to cause the seeker worry to the point of despair. Classically, this card represents pressing angst that keeps you up at night. It can indicate dreams caused by stress.

Up:
Swords are all about thinking, pondering, and analyzing. This card can indicate an immense amount of time being taken analyzing problems and worrying about impending doom bringing the seeker to a very depressed state. It is also likely that these problems and worry about them has been going on for a good amount of time. The seeker may feel powerless to improve this situation.

The surrounding cards always tell the story. When the seeker is surrounded by Cups, this card indicates worry over love, relationships, and emotional ties—Wands can indicate problems at work or creative block, and Pentacles, money. Paired with a reversed Star card, this could be serious long-lasting depression that requires the help of a professional.

Reversed:
Always a relief, the 9 of Swords reversed means that troubled waters have passed. There has been a recovery and the seeker can move forward confidently. It’s a sigh of relief a long time coming.

Timing

Timing in Tarot comes through by suits or Major Arcana for me.
Cups are days, Wands are weeks, Pentacles are months, and Swords can be days, weeks, or months. So if in the timing position of a spread or if asked directly the 3 of Cups, for instance, would be three days. the 6 of Wands would be six weeks, the 2 of Pentacles would be two months, and the 4 of Swords would indicate four days, weeks, or months.

If a Major Arcana card presents itself for time, it shows specific dates relating to astrological dates of the zodiac. So if I were projecting a time frame and the Chariot dropped out of the deck, I would see that the timing would fall between June 22 and July 23.

Emperor—Aries—March 21-April 20
The Hierophant—Taurus—April 21-May 21
The Lovers—Gemini—May 22-June 21
The Chariot—June 22-July 23
Strength—Leo—July 24-August 23
The Hermit—Virgo—August 24-September 23
Justice—Libra—September 24-October 23
Death—Scorpio—October 24-November 22
Temperance— Sagittarius—November 23-December 21
The Devil—Capricorn—December 22-January 20
The Star—Aquarius—January 21-February 19
The Moon—Pisces—February 20-March 20

7 of Cups

The Seven of cups represents acquiring what you need, but not necessarily what you wish for. It can be wishful thinking without means/oomph to manifest goals.

Up:
Being pulled in many different directions/being all over the place emotionally attached to so many things that it’s hard to stick with one solid goal at a time. When the spread is about love, this card can represent overlooking reality—building up a relationship as you want to see it, not how it really is. If you have the Knight of Cups paired with the 7 of cups, watch out for a suitor who loves the ladies and is not ready to commit!

If the spread indicates work related issues, this card shows that there is a tendency to have too many chiefs working on one project or that there are too many projects going on for one person to handle.

This card can indicate “too much” of a “good” thing. That good thing might be swell in moderation, but if overindulged, could bring a mountain of havoc. When the Moon card appears with the seven of cups, look for this.

the 7 of Cups can also show that many different relationships are at play in a situation involving the seeker.

Paired with the 7 of Swords, it can mean lies around the seeker.

Honing skills for visualization when this card appears can bring the seeker to set realistic goals instead of maintaining the feeling of running aimlessly on the wheel.

Reversed:
Seven of Cups reversed is all about focus. Goals are available for success because the seeker has overcome issues revolving around non-commitment. She is able to achieve success by means of manifesting, working in a focused manner, and seeing the situation for what it is. This will help her attract what she needs and plan for what it takes to achieve her goal.