Meanings of the Cards
The Tarot is more than a simple pack of cards. The pack itself comprises 78 cards which combine to form the 'arcana' - symbolic representations of ancient wisdom. These are divided into The Major and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana comprises 22 “trump” cards covering pretty much all aspects of human experience (and quite a bit of divine stuff too). The 56 'Minor' cards are split into the four elemental suits of Earth, Water, Fire and Air. Though these Suits have a variety of names, depending upon which deck you happen to be looking at, we stick here with those names accorded them in the Thoth Tarot deck, whose images you see across the site.
The Seven of Cups
The Lord of Debauch is a deceptive card and can bring in some difficult influences when it's about. We will always be tempted to do things that we will later regret, and we will find ourselves weak-willed when it comes to choosing what we know is the right course of action.
For instance, we might be faced with some sort of sexual temptation. This kind of situation can arise whether or not we are committed to another person - a one-night stand can have as many complications for the single as it can for the person in a partnership. Such an offer, when marked by the Seven of Cups, is going to have consequences that far outweigh the pleasure that might be fleetingly gained.
And again, the Lord of Debauch might come up to indicate that we are placed in a situation where we can make easy money, or obtain things in an inappropriate and unethical fashion - though it would not cover actual theft. But, for example, buying stolen property, or engaging in trickery to obtain money and possessions would come up here.
We might find ourselves showered with apparently great opportunities and have no idea which of them is valid and which is not - then we become children gazing in wonder at the treasure chest of jewels and wondering which one to take first! Perhaps the answer is that if we don't know what to choose, we should consider leaving them all alone!!
And finally, the most serious influence that can be indicated by this card is the challenge to our ethical code. We may be faced with something that goes against our principles, and yet still be tempted to take advantage of it, or to do something that we will later think was sneaky, unkind, immoral and nasty.
The Seven of Cups is always indicative of a temptation which will cost much more than it gives, if we fall for it.
