Welcome to Tarot for Scholars, a resource that helps you weave the deep wisdom of tarot into your daily life and work. In each post, we offer reflections and prompts for exploring your own inner world and unlocking the unique creative power of your scholarship.
7 of Cups
About this card
A variety of wondrous visions that can either inspire you or leave you paralyzed with too many choices. The experience of getting lost in fantasy, a daydreaming state where you can gather insights from your imagination. The Seven of Cups reminds us of the powers and the perils of the imagination, and of the boundaries needed to channel its visions effectively: dreams must be anchored in reality and/or translated into practical action if they are to guide and inspire us without sweeping us into illusion or delusion.
Other interpretations
Margy’s cards, clockwise from top left: Radiant Tarot; New Chapter Tarot; Cosmic Slumber Tarot; Shining Tribe Tarot; Elemental Tarot; Navigators Tarot of the Mystic Sea; Spolia Tarot; Tarot of the Spirit.
Helen’s cards, clockwise from top left: Moon & Stars Tarot; Light Seer’s Tarot; Japaridze Tarot; Canes Arcanae; Star Spinner Tarot; Muse Tarot; Tarot of Mystical Moments; Forest of Enchantment Tarot.
Questions and prompts
Reflect on how your research subject sparks your imagination. What places, people, or scenes do you find yourself imagining as you explore your subject?
In your work as a scholar, do you consider daydreaming to be a valuable practice, a guilty pleasure, a waste of time, a dangerous distraction, or something else? Reflect on whether a new framing could be useful.
Come up with one practical step you can take in your scholarly work today, inspired by a daydream.
Thanks for joining us for Tarot for Scholars! Your hearts, restacks, and comments brighten our day. 💫
Yours in scholarship,
HELEN SWORD is a scholar, poet, award-winning teacher, and founder of the WriteSPACE, an international writing community with members in 30+ countries. Her research-based books, articles, and online tools empower scholarly writers to write more clearly, confidently, prolifically, and with greater pleasure.
Visit Helen’s website here.
MARGY THOMAS is the creator of ScholarShape, a body of work dedicated to elucidating the patterns of Story-Argument across genres, disciplines, and life itself. Through services and DIY resources, Margy helps scholars use Story-Argument patterns to design their work — and to find its deeper meaning and higher purpose.
Visit Margy’s website here.
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