According to Biddy Tarot, the number seven means reflection, assessment, and knowledge. Take a look at these cards and notice if you can see those ideas playing out. The Seven of Pentacles has a man looking like he is reflecting on some work he’s done. The Seven of Cups depicts someone assessing various options before them. And if you remember that swords represent thoughts, the person in the Seven of Swords is perhaps stealing knowledge.
Think back to The Chariot, which is card seven of the Major Arcana. We talked about the idea of monkey mind, which is when your thoughts jump back and forth like a monkey leaping from tree to tree. We can use mindfulness to give the monkey mind a job. Focus on breathing, or what you can sense around you in the current moment. In each scenario above, I think mindfulness can be used to improve the outcomes.
Seven of Wands: In this card, someone is trying to hold the high ground and fight off others who want to knock them down. It depicts a more serious conflict than the one in the Five of Wands. Have you been in a situation where someone is trying to discredit you, and you’ve felt defensive and had to stick up for yourself? In any situation, remember first to take a moment to ask yourself or your tarot deck questions such as:
- Why am I feeling defensive?
- How can I best stand up for myself?
- Where is this other person coming from?
- What can I learn from this situation?
Sometimes there is absolutely a need to stand up for yourself or others, in times when you see oppression or injustice. But rather than instantly react to a situation, make sure you are approaching it effectively, and from a place of compassion. For sure, get mad, feel those emotions. And then like The Chariot, channel them well.
Seven of Cups: So many options. This person is in awe at the treasures contained in the seven cups before them. But some of them might be a bit fantastical and unrealistic. Cups represent emotions, and sometimes when making decisions, we allow strong emotions to cloud our judgement. No decision can be made entirely devoid of emotion, but mindfulness will help you to make better choices. Rather than just grabbing a cup, and perhaps accidentally being bitten by the snake, take the time to evaluate your options. If you have a strong emotional reaction to one particular option, ask why.
If you pull this card, also consider whether you have too much going on right now. Having too many options can be paralysing. If the person in this card can’t decide, they might walk away with nothing at all.
Seven of Swords: I saw a meme about this card on Reddit that is really fun:
In this card, someone is sneaking off with more swords than they can possibly use. They’re also carrying them by the blade which seems like maybe they didn’t think this through. This card is all about impulsivity and dishonesty. If you are prone to making decisions on impulse, this card asks you to take a moment to consider the consequences. This character is probably going to hurt their hands on those swords. The suit of swords is logical and rational. If you pull this card, consider where you could use more honest and direct methods of communication in your life. That means being honest with yourself as well as with others. Are you making a decision because it’s the best one, or are you avoiding something?
Seven of Pentacles: The person in this card is looking at the product of their hard work and taking time to reflect. It takes a long time for seeds to grow, and any project or idea that you take on is the same. Take some time to feel accomplished about what you’ve done, figure out if you’re on the right track, and make plans for future growth.
The suit of pentacles is very grounded, so if you pull this card, it’s a great time to try a grounding exercise. I’ll leave you with a technique called Box Breathing:
- Close your eyes, and breathe in while counting to four. Try to focus on your breath.
- Hold your breath for the count of four.
- Exhale for the count of four.
- Repeat the above steps four times, or until you feel calm and grounded.
Iona Grant 