7 of Cups: Emotional Manipulation?

[RitualVision]

Hello everyone!

I've been contemplating on the possibility of the 7 of Cups representing emotional manipulation via all the cups one is considering. Assuming that it's paired with another card, could the upright be interpreted as emotional manipulation because one has to choose between all the options that have emotional weight for that person? I've always believed that the 7s carry the energy of uncertainty and mystery. Or would reversed be a better fit for my theory? What card combos would lead to this? I'm thinking reversed court cards and the 7 of cups could be a possibility.

[DanielJUK]

I'm not sure it's directly emotional manipulation but one keynote about this card is that it's confusing and there is illusion. In RWS and it's variants, the choices in the cups are floating in the clouds. Are these options even real? Is it delusion and all an illusion and there isn't really any choice? I think one thing about it is to keep your options realistic, keep your feet on the ground when you are making them because these cups are floating in emotional dreams and illusions.

 

I think it's possible this card could reflect coercion (to emotionally pressure someone to make choices) in certain contexts. Depending on the position. This is more likely perhaps with the reversed card. Also cards with it could be a dominant energy next to it, like The Magician, The Emperor, maybe one of the Court cards (especially Kings or Queens). It would have to be in a negative context.

 

This would be tricky to put on the card coming up alone though because it's more wishful thinking and dreams. There is a whole world in our imagination, dreams and fears.

[RitualVision]

8 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

I'm not sure it's directly emotional manipulation but one keynote about this card is that it's confusing and there is illusion. In RWS and it's variants, the choices in the cups are floating in the clouds. Are these options even real? Is it delusion and all an illusion and there isn't really any choice? I think one thing about it is to keep your options realistic, keep your feet on the ground when you are making them because these cups are floating in emotional dreams and illusions.

 

I think it's possible this card could reflect coercion (to emotionally pressure someone to make choices) in certain contexts. Depending on the position. This is more likely perhaps with the reversed card. Also cards with it could be a dominant energy next to it, like The Magician, The Emperor, maybe one of the Court cards (especially Kings or Queens). It would have to be in a negative context.

 

This would be tricky to put on the card coming up alone though because it's more wishful thinking and dreams. There is a whole world in our imagination, dreams and fears.

Thank you so much for this response. I was wondering how illusions and wishful thinking could have us thinking something is there when there isn't it. Couple that with the emotional aspect of the cups made me think of how we can fall into believing something that isn't true. I like the word coercion better when thinking of this, especially in the reverse. 

[JoyousGirl]

Do you mean handling someone with dishonesty and deception to get what you want at the other person's expense? 

 

In the RWS the guy has his back to the viewer. To me there are what appear to be projections - that could be someone else projecting something on to the person from behind - a way of thinking about a person that ultimately makes them behave in the way you expect them to and impacts their choices like a sort of magnetism and puppetry. A sort of confirmation bias too.  Highly sensitive people who haven't guarded themselves would be particularly susceptible to these thought forms entering their awareness through rear chakras (7 major) and maybe they come out the front as channels. Knowing something is going on but unable to prove it (because of manipulator's dishonesty and artifice). Energetically, doubts and confusion can be created by these malicious arrows. They'd respond to what isn't seen, but is known - a guilelessness in the face of guile. So yes, external manipulation is very possible. 

 

Then there is the person projecting something of their own volition. That is a manipulation too, I suppose. Is it a top shelf or bottom shelf projection or decision? 

 

In the Wheel of Change deck there is mention of offerings to the gods to balance out the good and bad. The offerings are plates laden with healthy fresh fruits of the earth, and are eaten by the people afterwards. So balancing out good and bad effects through the diet is one element, which includes mood and health. There is also a volcano in the rear of the card, and that is destructive, but ultimately brings good in the soil and then to the people. 7 is an uneven number, so the legs of the table are a bit wonky one could say. It's also a number of learning the hard way - 7 is a very spiritual number. Then again, there is the self which is under a cloak and yet to make the decision or action that balances the table. So a manipulation of circumstances through choice to bring balance.

Edited September 13 by JoyousGirl

[Barleywine]

I think the array of tantalizing visions (I like the idea of "projections") in the RWS card opens the door to the vulnerability you're talking about since there can be a degree of impressionability. The Thoth version ("Debauch," such an awful word) is more about "debasement." I was once doing a professional reading where the latter came up and I mentioned its illusory nature. The sitter was quite pleased because he was headed toward a career in designing virtual reality environments.

[RitualVision]

On 9/13/2025 at 6:45 PM, JoyousGirl said:

Do you mean handling someone with dishonesty and deception to get what you want at the other person's expense? 

 

In the RWS the guy has his back to the viewer. To me there are what appear to be projections - that could be someone else projecting something on to the person from behind - a way of thinking about a person that ultimately makes them behave in the way you expect them to and impacts their choices like a sort of magnetism and puppetry. A sort of confirmation bias too.  Highly sensitive people who haven't guarded themselves would be particularly susceptible to these thought forms entering their awareness through rear chakras (7 major) and maybe they come out the front as channels. Knowing something is going on but unable to prove it (because of manipulator's dishonesty and artifice). Energetically, doubts and confusion can be created by these malicious arrows. They'd respond to what isn't seen, but is known - a guilelessness in the face of guile. So yes, external manipulation is very possible. 

 

Then there is the person projecting something of their own volition. That is a manipulation too, I suppose. Is it a top shelf or bottom shelf projection or decision? 

 

In the Wheel of Change deck there is mention of offerings to the gods to balance out the good and bad. The offerings are plates laden with healthy fresh fruits of the earth, and are eaten by the people afterwards. So balancing out good and bad effects through the diet is one element, which includes mood and health. There is also a volcano in the rear of the card, and that is destructive, but ultimately brings good in the soil and then to the people. 7 is an uneven number, so the legs of the table are a bit wonky one could say. It's also a number of learning the hard way - 7 is a very spiritual number. Then again, there is the self which is under a cloak and yet to make the decision or action that balances the table. So a manipulation of circumstances through choice to bring balance.

No, not straight out deception, but maybe using someone's emotional vulnerabilities  to gain the upper hand. Like guilt tripping someone in order to get your way or pressing emotional buttons for personal gain. Or even painting an illusionary picture of something that tugs at another person's emotional vulnerabilities. I know we have the swords as thoughts and how they can play with our perception of things, I'm wondering if the 7 of cups does the same thing but from an emotional standpoint instead.  For example, say you want to gain favor over someone and you know they love chocolate chip cookies, so you make sure you "sweeten" them up in order to sway them in your favor. The cookies aren't from kindness or generosity. This is a simple example, but I'm thinking of the ways people do this to tug at the emotions and heartstrings of someone they want gain favor from.

Edited September 15 by RitualVision

[RitualVision]

16 hours ago, Barleywine said:

I think the array of tantalizing visions (I like the idea of "projections") in the RWS card opens the door to the vulnerability you're talking about since there can be a degree of impressionability. The Thoth version ("Debauch," such an awful word) is more about "debasement." I was once doing a professional reading where the latter came up and I mentioned its illusory nature. The sitter was quite pleased because he was headed toward a career in designing virtual reality environments.

Debasement is a thought provoking perspective to view this card from. I'm going to have to think of this in context of emotional manipulation. I don't know if I'd go that far, dismissive is closer to what I'm thinking. Hmm, something for me to think about.

[Barleywine]

6 hours ago, RitualVision said:

No, not straight out deception, but maybe using someone's emotional vulnerabilities  to gain the upper hand. Like guilt tripping someone in order to get your way or pressing emotional buttons for personal gain. Or even painting an illusionary picture of something that tugs at another person's emotional vulnerabilities. I know we have the swords as thoughts and how they can play with our perception of things, I'm wondering if the 7 of cups does the same thing but from an emotional standpoint instead.  For example, say you want to gain favor over someone and you know they love chocolate chip cookies, so you make sure you "sweeten" them up in order to sway them in your favor. The cookies aren't from kindness or generosity. This is a simple example, but I'm thinking of the ways people do this to tug at the emotions and heartstrings of someone they want gain favor from.

I can see this card as "acting out" our internal emotional drama in "real time." In that sense it's always cautionary for me. There is an old science fiction story that presented the idea of "reverse telepathy" in which a woman could only send her thoughts uncontrollably but never receive any. It was the epitome of "no filter" that constantly got her in trouble.

[JoyousGirl]

18 hours ago, RitualVision said:

No, not straight out deception, but maybe using someone's emotional vulnerabilities  to gain the upper hand. Like guilt tripping someone in order to get your way or pressing emotional buttons for personal gain. Or even painting an illusionary picture of something that tugs at another person's emotional vulnerabilities.

 

Illusion is certainly an aspect because the cups are in the clouds.  However things take form beginning with our imagination a lot of the time, too.  

 

There is a sense of materialising something - but does it materialise or not? 

 

If we do a close up of the snake, we see a clearly forked tongue is out and connecting with the rays of the energy body of the person under the sheet. Now I'm going on a tangent here - the etheric body is a sense organ, sort of thing, and the snake senses/smells things with its tongue. So maybe interactions and exchanges on an invisible level are occurring just as you say. Not just saying or doing outright. Sleight of hand. Psychic activity too. Is the snake wisdom? Or forked tongue bad? Is he inciting change (shed your skin/sheet) ?

 

Do you see the 7 of Cups as being the 'victim' of such behaviour? Behaviour that the 7 of Swords is trying to get away with? Or is the Man with his back turned hiding something and giving all these sweet promises amidst their dragon ready-to-pounce intentions? 

 

Going for the symbolism of the man: What does a back turned to us say? Is someone doing something behind our back? Or are we turning our back and ignoring something? And what is the greyish thing on his right shoulder?

 

Wands and Swords are masculine and in action - acting upon, Pentacles and Cups are feminine and in receptive. The directions these 7 people are facing and their mode are  important. 

 

 

Thanks for an opportunity to muse and consider the card more. You are right in whatever makes sense to you about the card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15 by JoyousGirl