"Knight of Cups" Thoth Tarot card: analysis and reading.

 

Although a more passive card, as opposed to the abundance of militant and Fascist court cards from the Thoth Tarot, the Knight of Cups does however reflect Aleister Crowley's (d1947) judgey qualities when offering his saintly mythological characters, who are usually always male.  Which would be attune to Crowley's own gnostic and Christian beliefs that have been interfused with his version of Occult practises.  Which prior to the countercultures of the late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s had moral standards that were more aligned with Judeo-Christian beliefs than not.  Occultists after and during the Age of Enlightenment saw themselves as proponents of elevated spirituality over the more traditional theocratic belief structures, while sharing the same moral principles.  So, with that being said, Crowley's irritating contradictions of his own moral standards maybe derived from his psychosis driven amphetamine use, who also advocated sexual rituals with his Thelma religion, which was mostly taken from Left Hand path Hindu and Buddhist Tantric practices of using sex as a way to enlightenment, when Crowley visited Tibet in 1905.

The Knight of Cups very much has a self resenting and self judging element to it, which is interesting when compared against the more aggressive Thoth Tarot cards advocating strength and aggression, as though Crowley is judging his passive or feminine side and interests in various intoxication and sexual rituals, he offers a clue with this explanation (Knight of Cups) from the The Book of Thoth :

"When the card is ill dignified, he is sensual, idle and untruthful. Yet with all this he possesses an innocence and purity which are the essence of his nature. But he is, on the whole, so superficial that it is hard to reach this depth. “His name is writ in water...Swiftness and violence ill suit a character naturally placid; it is rare indeed to meet with a person who has succeeded in harmonizing these conflicting elements. He tends to mismanage all his affairs; and unless sheer good fortune attend him, his whole career will be an unbroken record of failure and disaster. Often his mental “civil war” ends in schizophrenia or melancholy madness. The abuse of stimulants and narcotics may precipitate the catastrophe."

A little harsh, don't you think?  Considering the artwork for the card.  Let me see if I can redeem the "Knight of Cups".

Reading:

Who are the worst at judging others?  The ones drowning in sin.  Be honest, be free.  The Knight Holds the Cup towards the heavens, the crab representing Cancer, the sign of water.  Water being the great purifier.  If you indulge in the forbidden, then why do you hide it?  The Knight is honest, he is lead North by his desires, to taste the indulgence, let it be temporary.  Yet he may toy with you, ask what new sensations are to be had, and you may hide your wine and desire and say in feigned judgment, 'do not try and escape this reality'.  But, the Knight is astute, that his high is only for solitude, and to the layman it is for social confusion.   The Knight has already ascended from the material realm, and if he does face South and the card is reversed, he is indeed the fallen, and does so with wryly wit.  It's illuminating spirit is unmistakable, as it is of the great antagonizer and unsettler to the arrogance of man.  If you see the Knight of Cups sitting alone, enjoying sin.  Be wary of inviting the Knight to sit with you, he will play with your contradictions, make you judge his actions and question your own.  Unless you indulge as well.  The Knight of Cups represents freedom of choice.

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(A.Glass 2024)

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