I pulled this one ("Knight of Wands") this morning (December 5th, 2023), after shuffling the full deck of Aleister Crowley's infamous Thoth Tarot cards. Which if one is aware of the late English occultist very detailed and relatively complex occultism theory, that is a combination of medieval Hermeticism, Jewish Quabbala, esoteric Taoism and Egyptian mythology. Crowley's Thoth Tarot is very unique, with incredibly rich and detailed art by Lady Frieda Harris (d1962) in 1940's surrealistic, geometrical and cubist styles. So, the meaning for each card are a clever mix between the said occultist themes. And the above card, "Knight of Wands" if I was to summarize from the explanation for the card, represents the impulsiveness of the male, particularly in war as a brutal warrior, with cruel and bigoted intentions. The actual Tarot cards were developed at the onset of World War Two, so some of the meanings may be indicative of the global events that were transpiring at the time. I would read this card as a warning to rash decisions, and be careful with fire, lean to cultivate its ferocity and tame it or be engulfed by it.
The Knight of Wands card, maybe indicative of our current times. Since nations are now resulting to Total War theory and 'forever' wars. We never learn. Do we?
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"4 of cups. Luxury" is on of Aleister Crowley's (d1947) instability cards, or forewarning of collapse, more so of the individual. In similarity to "5 of Cups. Disappointment", relating to 17th Century geomancy, which is an early manifestation of symbolic occultism, where random shapes, in both nature and structure could indeed foretell fortune or a warning or at least offer an aesthetic vibe, that may lift mood (or decrease it). Which is based around basic number sequencing, with Crowley, from The Book of Thoth, attributing the number 4 as an "awkward number", also identify the 4 of Cups to be aligned with the Latin "Via and Populus", Via meaning "change" or "movement", "clear direction" and Populus, the "crowd" "without clear direction" . According to geometric lore, both are inverse to each other. In which, as discussed, Crowley like many of the post Age of Enlightenment era, saw the utmost of structural stability over change, which indeed lead to elements of proto-Fascist beliefs in the Century that followed, that individualism could lead to social disorder and collapse, as quoted by Crowley, from "The Book of Thoth" :
"...For although the number Four is the manifestation and consolidation of the dyad, it is also secretly preparing catastrophe by emphasizing individuality..."
Possibly Crowley referring to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and:
"...The card refers to the Moon in Cancer, which is her own house; but Cancer itself is so placed that this implies a certain weakness, an abandonment to desire. This tends to introduce the seeds of decay into the fruit of pleasure..."
Very much aligned with Crowley's proto-Fascist beliefs (which holds large doses of contradiction) of a moral collapse.
I will attempt to redeem the card.
Reading:
The mind at times may sense that turmoil is near, in the inner waves of thought, contentment and thinking about a future that has yet to arrive, when these clash, you may find yourself sinking. And this is when the individual, the self becomes afixed on the self, and when things go awry, the self connects to the other selves, to form the crowd, which can become an aimless, ruckus, mass controlled by fears. The instability, although real, will pass, best let it go, then reconnect to other. And even though you may feel balanced on these 'waters' of thoughts, if one can detach from the structure, one can see transcendance, that numbers, shapes are all temporary, moments in time, interpret them as you will, use them for comfort, but realise that once utilized they must be left as pure symbolism. Not as entities. The material world fades, and "luxury" is a flower, which will wither and die.
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I won't be writing an introduction to this card ("XIX. The Sun"), as I have already analysed Aleister Crowley's motivations for the Thoth Tarot. Also noting, in my study, how incredible lush and evocating Lady Frida's 1940s cubism art is, in its representing of the Tarot. However, there will only be my own reading.
For all deeper analysis and study, please refer to the link below.
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Reading:
Rejoice, and dance with the golden hues. For the Sun, the giver of life, illumination from darkness. Herald in the new age, remove us from the shackles of ignorance. And be free from sin, and the fear of death. Be free. For it is the dancing child who holds no discrimination, its energy boundless. As it toys with life, as pure as a whim. Carefree. Looking above, at the sky, beyond the molehill, that may become a mountain. We reach for the sky, yet remain firmly planted into the Earth. Remove the duality, but be wary of arrogance. That death lurks, even for the ones that wish to challenge the heavens. How high can you go? Without crashing below. I seek answers from the signs, and I may be tempted to believe that the path has been guided. Yet, the child's mind is the beginner's mind. Nothing is fixed and nothing is certain. And may I dance on the edge of oblivion, for what the Sun offers, it also takes away. Let me live, just for this day.
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