the seven of cups
What the card of indecision can teach us about apathy
A friend of mine recently wrote about the expression “I’m just an ant on a log floating down the river.” And I’d have to agree — the sensation of living in modern times is at its most brutal. Our resources are limited, so our freedoms are restricted. We no longer live in simple times. The complexity of a full life increases every year. One of the greatest luxuries our grandparents and ancestors had was limited options.
Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry.
Khaki, navy, black.
Pink, red, clear.
Now, the choices are endless. Lavender chocolate caramel. Antique dusty rose. And a revolutionary tint to match your body chemistry. It’s not that I don’t love the occasional artisan ice cream scoop, every once in a while. It’s the choices. And the decision-making.
It’s a whole lot of decision-making for what amounts to so little control.
I thought for a bit about which card demonstrates this phenomenon. And I think it’s the seven of cups. (Always open to other suggestions, you can hit the comments if you disagree). I’ve found the most painful times in my life have been represented by this card. So, fellow little ant on the log with me, let’s discuss.
Apple, orange, banana.
Knife, gun, fists.
Oil, acrylic, watercolor.
The biggest problem with indecision is the emotional side of it. It is so subtle, it’s hard to detect in our busy lives. We’re trained at an early age to ignore our bodies, to ignore the soft signals telling us something is wrong.
A twist in the gut.
Aches in the joints.
Tension at the neck.
Weeks and weeks, months and months, and suddenly our bodies throw down. I’m done. Listen to me. We might be able to persevere. We may be able to medicate, to hydrate, to sleep for a day or two. But it’s a band-aid approach.
What is the real source of this illness?
What larger issues are we not addressing?
How do we choose?
The tarot suggests we accept the situation. It’s overwhelm. You need to pause. And the next steps are to find what brings you peace. How do you slow down your spinning mind? And what about those soft signals? Can you afford a few minutes every day, to check in with your body, to see what those pains are telling you?
The tarot isn’t offering a simple solution. HINT: There never is one, and anyone promising you that is full of baloney. What IS in your power is the power to pause. The power to prioritize. And the power to listen more, move slower and steadier, and stop anyone from pressuring you into a quick decision.
You can do it, fellow ant. I believe in you.