7 of Disks "Failure" and 1 "Ace of Wands" THOTH TAROT CARD: READING/s. These cards were pulled as a double reading, as a card has already been read in past tarot readings on chiasmus. The Order of this reading is from right to left. 1 "Ace of Wands".

 

Seven of disks from the Thoth tarot is less aligned with Aleister Crowley's fusion of Westen, Eastern and Middle East esoteric, although the card mostly has a connotation with astrology as the Seven of Disks represent Taurus, note the symbol at the bottom of the artwork.  Also noted is the 17th Century geomancy, which many occult astrologists would combine as a complete reading.  This can be seen by the seven disks, Four symbolising Saturn, Three representing Taurus, as the inverted glass shape of Rubeus (red), which if read from a traditional tarot card reading would mean bad luck.   Yet, with Crowley, he has further tarnished the card with the withered leaves that are now a dull purple, from phosphorous deficiency and blight.  A dying landscape.  Hence, the card's title of "Failure". 

Reading:   

Apparently, if the Rubeus was revealed to the Tarot receiver, the reading would end there and then.  I suspect to keep things balanced, this card would be read with another Thoth card, but since I do single, at this point in time, card readings twice a week; Fridays and Sundays, the 'Failure' would be read as a one.   So, I would create a riddle, to accompany the Seven of Disks (Failure) card.  As follows:  "What shape does two pyramids make, when joined at the bottom?"

If answered correctly.  I would say:

"Then may you reside within the chaos, in all of its decay and decline, with great calm and detachment.   For you are, your own guiding light."

If answered incorrectly.

"From lofty highs, the restless spirits await."

7 of Disks "Failure" 

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1 "Ace of Wands" 

In this study of the Thoth Tarot cards and my own interpretation of the Tarot readings, one can say Aleister Crowley (d1947) was not a contradiction or even a paradox in his creation of the Thoth Tarot cards and his religion Thelema, as society began to shift away from its Theocratic past throughout the later part of the 1800s into the 1900s, embracing technology, scientific enlightenment and newer ways of perceiving human spirituality.   He was reflecting that era.  The occult flourished 200 years ago and so did occult societies which evolved from manifestations of Hermeticism and Freemasonry, that in turn was inspired by the Knights Templar after the medieval Crusades.  Showing how the West absorbs parts of Eastern religious beliefs, reworking those beliefs, claiming them as their own.  Although, of the schisms in Christian Theological society between the many different Christian sects, Saints and Scholars in their reinterpretation of the Bible,  by the 15th Century more extreme antithetical versions of this biblical interpretation would be seen in Antinomianism, which, was loosely aligned with the 15th Century reformation that devout Christians may be exempt from moral law.  Therefor to sin, is acceptable.  Is not entirely the same, although showing similarities, with the iconoclastic elements of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.  Where practitioners would take in human vices, sexual encounters as a way of meditation, by practising ego death and seeking the oneness of the god within, devoid of fear of sin and breaking from their monastic vows; which lead to some of the extremes of Hindu, Buddhist Tantric yoga.  And within Islam, it would be Sufism and its various Sufi/Islamic mystics/orders who would further explore what means to be a human being under the Omnipotent, in some cases allowing alcohol consumption, dancing with women and ritual sex.  What was seen as forbidden under Islam, in their eyes brought them closer to Allah.  Crowley was heavily influenced by the Eastern Antinomianism, and as a homosexual he would frequent Marrakesh (Morocco) at the turn of the 20th Century, incorporating some of the Sufi aspects of Islam into his Occult practices, also including Tibetan Tantric Buddhism and Hinduism.   Developing his own unique sexual rituals under his religion of Thelema.  The Ace of Wands card, very much aligns with Crowley's sexual metaphor and ritualization via the Thoth Tarot.

Reading:

The chaos of the unruly phallus, as it emits the seed of fire.  That is the creation of birth and rebirth.  From blissful release, the conjuring of embracing destruction of ego through its sexual realm.  Study the bliss of the little death, so that one can live.   This mediation is both for the masculine and the feminine, for the visionary dreams from orgasm.   

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All Thoth Tarot card analysis and readings to date:  chiasmusmagazine.blogspot.com/search/label/Thoth%20Tarot%20reading

(A.Glass 2023, 2024)