Seven of Cups

Meaning: Choices, opportunities

Depiction:  Down in Nantucket harbor, Ishmael chooses a ship to sign on with. Just like in the RWS card, he has his back to the viewer. Seven ships are before him in the harbor, each with a cup lashed to its side. The Pequod is in the center, with a glowing aura around it.

Text: Chapter 16- The Ship
After much prolonged sauntering and many random inquiries, I learnt that there were three ships up for three-years’ voyages—The Devil-dam, the Tit-bit, and the Pequod. Devil-Dam, I do not know the origin of; Tit-bit is obvious; Pequod, you will no doubt remember, was the name of a celebrated tribe of Massachusetts Indians; now extinct as the ancient Medes. I peered and pryed about the Devil-dam; from her, hopped over to the Tit-bit; and finally, going on board the Pequod, looked around her for a moment, and then decided that this was the very ship for us.

Comments: The only other scene that would be a match for this card is that in Chapter 99, in which Stubb and Flask talk about what they'd do with the gold. But this one is really a better fit because a real choice is actually made.