September: Discernment

Where August asked you to surrender, to shed and release self-imposed restriction, September asks you to discern. The Seven of Cups rises as an invitation to step out of illusion and into clarity.

This card speaks to the realm of choice, fantasy, and temptation. It is easy, under its influence, to scatter energy in too many directions or to chase mirages that promise quick comfort. It reveals the cycle of reaching outside yourself to soothe inner struggles. To grasp for distractions to avoid the heart of the matter.

The imagery of the Seven of Cups often shows dazzling, floating chalices, each filled with something glittering, enticing, or fearsome. This is the card of extremes: overindulgence or avoidance, wishful thinking or paralyzing indecision. The lesson is not in choosing nothing, but in choosing wisely.

Moving Through Patterns

The Seven of Cups mirrors the patterns of relying on the external, whatever that is; people, habits, fantasies, to fill what feels empty inside. It highlights the tendency to swing between extremes: over-efforting, then collapsing; dreaming big, then abandoning the work. This is the month to pause, recognize those pendulum swings, and gently guide yourself back toward center.

September’s medicine is clarity. It asks you to strip the shine from illusion and see things for what they are, not what you wish them to be. It encourages grounded decision-making rooted in facts, not fantasies. The Seven of Cups empowers you to release efforting to revive what was never meant to be and instead choose the path that aligns with your long-term goals.

Where August carried the theme of death and release, September calls for discernment and decision. One closes the old door; the other chooses which new door to walk through.

Practical Steps: Energy of the Seven of Cups

1. Ground in What’s Real
When choices feel overwhelming, return to the basics of your body and daily rhythm. This might mean focusing on movement, nourishing food, or a simple routine that keeps you steady.

2. Notice Patterns of Extremes
This card invites you to pause when you sense yourself reaching for “all or nothing.” Ask: Am I avoiding something deeper, or am I chasing something that sparkles but doesn’t last? Choosing balance in the middle space is the medicine.

3. Choose with Long-Term Alignment
Think about your goals. Does this choice move you closer to stability, clarity, and belonging, or does it scatter your energy? Choose what supports the bigger arc of your life.

4. Release the Need to Revive the Expired
You don’t need to pour effort into things that no longer carry life. Trust that not everything is meant to be revived. By letting go, you free yourself to invest in what is alive and reciprocal.

5. Journal the Cups Before You
Like the figure in the card faced with seven vessels, you can write down what’s “on the table” for you right now, your health goals, financial steps, creative projects, and relationships. Then ask: Which feels heavy with illusion? Which feels aligned with the truth? Let this reflection guide your choices.

6. Step Into the Fog with Curiosity
Try one small step into the unknown. A new routine, a difficult but honest decision, or a clear boundary. Each step lifts more of the mist.

September’s Seven of Cups does not condemn the dreamer; it reminds you that dreaming without grounding becomes escape. The invitation is to bring clarity to your choices, to act with intention rather than drift in fantasy.

This month, release the urge to effort your way back into something expired. Choose instead what brings you peace and purpose. The path forward may not sparkle as brightly as illusion, but it will lead you steadily toward what is real and lasting.

Always,

Your Trusted Friend ❤︎

“From Fog to Clarity” Tarot Spread

Lay the cards left to right: Illusion → Truth → Choice.

Journal what comes up for each: where you’ve been tempted to scatter, what is real and steady, and what you’re ready to choose.

End by naming one concrete step you’ll take this month to honor your clarity over illusion.

Trust your intuition as you interpret the cards and embrace the opportunities for emotional richness and personal development that these months have to offer.