Illustration by Pamela Colman Smith, 1910. Public domain in the US since 1966 and in the UK since 2021. Vector digitisation of the Rider–Waite–Smith deck by OpenClipart contributor "klaatu-tarot", released public domain.
Seven of Cups
Visions and Imagination
Waite's 1911 Seven of Cups reverses into will, determination and a project: its published reversal is more purposeful than its visionary upright imagery.
A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911 edition), Part III, section 2, Seven of Cups.
A shadowed figure faces seven cups on clouds, filled with figures, creatures, a castle, jewels and a wreath.
More context
Waite calls these cups strange chalices of vision, associated with the fantastic spirit. His meanings include fairy favours, reflection, sentiment, imagination and images contemplated as in a glass. He allows attainment within these experiences, but says they suggest nothing permanent or substantial. Reversed, he lists desire, will, determination and a project. The passage does not identify the card with the Indian concept of Maya. It also does not assign a separate spiritual path to every object or make authentic vocation its central test.
Light
Waite allows imagination, contemplation and some attainment within visionary experience.
Shadow
Waite says nothing permanent or substantial is suggested by these visionary images.