(Thoth Tarot) Aleister Crowley-Cokehead megalomaniac, genius.

[Mohandas]

The next title change to Crowley's Minor Arcana occurs with the Four of Cups. The G.D. esoteric title is 'Lord of Blended Pleasure' and Crowley chose the title 'Luxury'.

I have been putting much thought into this, as of late. I honestly cannot seem to decipher much of the commentary pertaining to this card in Crowley's Book of Thoth and most of the parts where I do feel that I know where he's going, I don't necessarily agree with.

His opening few lines seem to make sense, he writes "This card refers to Chesed in the sphere of water. Here, below the Abyss, the energy of this element, although ordered, balanced and (for the moment) stabilized, has lost it's original purity of conception"

The fourth Sephira, Chesed is indeed below the Abyss and is the first emanation from the Supernal Triad which exists beyond the realms of form . This sphere is the beginning of understandable manifestation in form and is in fact a certain consummation of spirit and form. Thus the title 'Lord of Blended Pleasure'.

Crowley goes on to write "The card refers to the Moon in Cancer, which is her own house; but Cancer itself is so placid that it implies a certain weakness, an abandonment to desire. This tends to introduce the seeds of decay into the fruit of pleasure"

I am not sure that I agree with Crowley's assessment of the Cancarian influence on the energies of the Moon. These are feminine archetypes of great power and I may be wrong but it sounds to me that an over-inflated male ego may just be coloring the interpretation in this case.

I found it odd to read what he wrote concerning Cancer in it's aspect as the Cardinal sign of Water in another section of the same book, "Cancer is the cardinal sign of the element of Water, and represents the first keen onrush of that element. Cancer also represents the path which leads from the great Mother Binah to Geburah, and is thus the influence of the Supernals descending through the Veil of Water (which is blood) upon the energy of man, and so inspires it."

This sounds much more like it to me, considering that the Major Arcana trump which applies to Cancer is the Chariot. This is clearly not a placid force nor does it imply abandonment to desire but rather a certain sense of nobility. Where Crowley's 'weakness' principle comes in, I do not quite manage to grasp.

Adding the influence of the Moon to the powerful combination of Cancer and Water only serves to further empower the duo with the primordial aspect of femininity in the mystical form of the High Priestess.

As much as Crowley was a self proclaimed devotee of the Goddess, I believe that there were still certain issues of male superiority which were common in the minds of men of his day which he was working through. To view this combination of forces in the way that Crowley did, says much about his way of thinking. Equating this fully empowered feminine trio with weakness and abandonment to desire is clear evidence of this.

So I find the title 'Luxury' difficult to accept with Crowley's definition. I believe that the title 'Lord of Blended Pleasure' is much more representative of the concept which this card depicts.

With Love
Mohandas

[Celtaur]

The fourth Sephira, Chesed is indeed below the Abyss and is the first emanation from the Supernal Triad which exists beyond the realms of form . This sphere is the beginning of understandable manifestation in form and is in fact a certain consummation of spirit and form. Thus the title 'Lord of Blended Pleasure'.

Crowley goes on to write "The card refers to the Moon in Cancer, which is her own house; but Cancer itself is so placid that it implies a certain weakness, an abandonment to desire. This tends to introduce the seeds of decay into the fruit of pleasure"

I think Luxury may be appropriate in the sense that the preceding sephiroh were the building blocks that allows the fourth to enjoy the benefit, and thus the luxury of having been granted that which it is. Water... this card is abundant in water symbolism, and possibly too much to some degree where it is so saturated that the pleasure dissipates. For example, when one drinks when thirsty water (or food when eaten as another example) the fulfillment is so pleasurable, the nourishment is abundantly pleasing. However when one has had the luxury of having enough, then the pleasure dissipates, the thirst and hunger are no longer present. It reminds me of when one has everything handed to them, yet they are not able to appreciate it to a degree of satisfaction because the desire is not necessary it is simply provided.

It reminds me of the pleasure of receiving in Authentic Kabbalah, when the Kli desires to return the light because it realizes that only to receive is not satisfactory enough.

I see the abandonment of desire occuring because it is too saturated, too fulfilled, it has the luxury of being fulfilled to the point that pleasure is achieved, but once achieved the desire for the pleasure decays. The climax into the world of form provides a level of satisfaction that becomes forgotten as it becomes complacent with it's being-ness in this state.

In this "The Lord of Blended Pleasure" is appropriate, showing that there is pleasure to a degree, but then also a lessening of pleasure, that which luxury affords.

[Mohandas]

In this "The Lord of Blended Pleasure" is appropriate, showing that there is pleasure to a degree, but then also a lessening of pleasure, that which luxury affords.

An interesting perspective, duly noted, my friend.

I look forward to continuing with this when I return.

Many blessings

Mohandas

[Mohandas]

Greetings One and All,

With the helpful reminder I have received from a new member as of late I shall endeavor to continue this thread. It has been a long while and upon reflection this thread cannot stand unfinished any longer. Besides, I found in reading it again that I remembered and very much enjoyed the discussion and the insights which emerged through it...nice one Celtaur, I hope you're ready!

Let me gather my thoughts for a short spell and we shall commence anew.

Many thanks to Yaffa Zohar Isha for returning the inspiration.

With Love,
Mohandas

[Yaffa Zohar Isha]

More than enthused to hear what you have to say, and am so glad that we have cycled inspirations! Let's keep it going! Definitely looking forward for many more insights on this topic to come.

❥¥affa Zohar Isha

[Mohandas]

So, moving right along (over a year and a half later!)
we arrive at Crowley's next esoteric title alteration in the Minor Arcana, the Five of Cups.

The original esoteric title of this card is 'Lord of Loss in Pleasure' which Crowley renamed 'Disappointment'. Upon re-reading this section of Crowley's Book of Thoth I arrive at the conclusion that his implied purport most probably stems from his somewhat infamous, disturbed sexuality.

Crowley writes "The attribution is also to Mars in Scorpio, which is his own house; and Mars is the manifestation on the lowest plane of Geburah, while Scorpio in it's worst aspect suggests the putrefying power of water. Yet the powerful male influences do not show actual decay, only the beginning of destruction; hence, the anticipated pleasure is frustrated"

In examining Crowley's life story and reading of his sexual escapades and steamy, often bizarre romances with a number of 'muses' throughout his life, interwoven with periodic drug binges and a very real struggle against addiction (opiates in this case ), we may begin to fathom that his turbulent personal life may well have bled a little too much into the coloring of his tarot philosophy.

In the above paragraph Crowley seems to focus on the effect of the feminine influence of water on the masculine forces of Mars, these two being the basis of this particular lower Arcana. There is no doubt that this combination of forces implies the degeneration of the original purity but the way that it is projected seems to point to impurity in the water (feminine) element itself in it's "putrefying" or "worst" aspect which serves to introduce an element which brings about the eventual decay.

Scorpio is a water sign, one of the four fixed signs of the Zodiac and in the fixed signs we see a certain order and stability. That stability is in this case applied to water and can be seen in the symbolism of an ocean for example, a vast body of mighty waters, the most immense manifestation of stability in water which we can imagine, stretching to the horizon.

Mars is an active force, as is Geburah and the connection between the two is very dynamic. This Geburic/Martian force serves to limit the vast expansive glory of Chesed and pull it ever downward into creation. The story of Persephone and Hades the King of the Underworld is well attributed here.

So, we can see that it is in fact these masculine, fiery principles of Geburah/Mars which are affecting the already "blended pleasure" of the water element by imposing the further limitations which are necessary as it congeals on it's downward path to material creation. It is this process which divides the water element into it's higher and lower faculties.

The idea of the separation of the Higher and Lower waters is mentioned in the Book of Genesis: "And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day

This expanse or firmament can be seen as the Abyss which exists between the Supernal traid and the lower seven sepiroth, between Heaven and Earth or between the earthly oceans from which all planetary life originated and the vast Sea of Binah which is that limitless, plastic ocean of potentiality giving birth to all things soever.

Chesed, though below the Abyss, can be seen as a perfection from above, containing all of the blessings from the primordial three. In order to further it's decent into manifestation it must be controlled and limited for a time. Chesed as the impeccable, unadulterated first image from on high stands as the threshold of the higher/lower waters and the process which is Geburah begins a certain motion downward into realms more and more solidified, thus the image of the inverted pentagram on the Tarot card itself and the esoteric title 'Lord of Loss in Pleasure'.

I believe that Crowley's 'Disappointment' theme, whether consciously or not, was rooted more in his own personal view of the feminine principle than in the doctrines of astrology or tarot.

With Love,
Mohandas

[brifae]

Re: 3 of wands/strength/follow the fire!

The original esoteric title is Lord of Established Strength. Crowley named the card Virtue and I am a little puzzled as to why. Especially considering that his explanation better suits the original title.
He writes "This card refers to Binah in the suit of fire, and so represents the establishment of primeval Energy"

This is a perfect line to sum up the Lord of Established Strength, but Crowley curiously enough, named it Virtue. He mentions the zodiacal attribution of the Sun in Aries which is in accord with the Golden Dawn system. He is absolutely spot on with the interpretation of this combination of forces, they are the force of springtime "the Sun has enkindled the Great Mother" he writes.

In fact, the archaic definition of the word 'virtue' is virginity or chastity. Now we begin to see that his title does not fit the concept. The celebration of spring is no event for the chaste and the 'enkindled mother' is everything but a virgin!

He was right about the symbolism of Sun in Aries being perfectly harmonious with the number three on the tree of life and the forming or 'establishing' of the Supernal Triad, Chokmah as the masculine 'Sun' and Binah clearly as The Great Mother. So one might ask, how is Virtue a more fitting title than Lord of Established strength? Perhaps only Crowley really knows, God rest his soul.

Mohandas

I have thought on this awhile, on planetary, wiccan and creational perspectives
Chockmah is not the sun but the fire, as Binah is not the moon yet the water.
The 3 wands card is about Binah, the great mother goddess, not her son or lover.
It is a female card, with 3 leading, then fire/wands.
Virgin never meant physical virgin, such as the temple virgins (prostitutes)... it meant not yet bearing a child,
as in the maiden or spring connotation. The issue of being with child is not in a material sense here it is a spiritual one,
springing life forth from god and goddess.
So what is the virtue of the great mother? Her ability to give life is established. But she also takes,
her virtue is not necessarily one of compassion.
Compare to that of the other strength namesake the 9 of wands, 9 as we know is moon, foundation.
great strength, which holds the astral from the physical 9 is also another goddess number wheras 10 is gaia or earth mother.

Now compare again the actual strength card, of major arcana, which leads from /geburah/power/mars/fire to compassion/chesed., Then justice down from geburah/power to tifareth, balance or the sun.

This was difficult to explain but just my thoughts as I just got a copy of the book of thoth.

[brifae]

The comparison of the Four as a completion of the Supernal Triad to the appearance of the primordial point of Kether from the Veils of Negative Existence, is brilliant! It is very fitting as both represent a certain beginning and ending, a completion of one phase and the commencement another.

I can see why Crowley named this card Completion and it is not too conceptually far off from the original idea.

Thanks for sharing you view, Celtaur.

Mohandas

Yes Celtaur, excellent, what I was going to say is Chesed or mercy/compassion is the highest value, or love most can be in as humans,
and 4 is a stable number, of wands fire/spirit, we work to be in highest essence of love. Strength is power directed to mercy. Great work perfected.
I dislike the title completion yet understand it.

[brifae]

The next title change to Crowley's Minor Arcana occurs with the Four of Cups. The G.D. esoteric title is 'Lord of Blended Pleasure' and Crowley chose the title 'Luxury'.
His opening few lines seem to make sense, he writes "This card refers to Chesed in the sphere of water. Here, below the Abyss, the energy of this element, although ordered, balanced and (for the moment) stabilized, has lost it's original purity of conception"

The fourth Sephira, Chesed is indeed below the Abyss and is the first emanation from the Supernal Triad which exists beyond the realms of form . This sphere is the beginning of understandable manifestation in form and is in fact a certain consummation of spirit and form. Thus the title 'Lord of Blended Pleasure'.

Crowley goes on to write "The card refers to the Moon in Cancer, which is her own house; but Cancer itself is so placid that it implies a certain weakness, an abandonment to desire. This tends to introduce the seeds of decay into the fruit of pleasure"
"Cancer is the cardinal sign of the element of Water, and represents the first keen onrush of that element. Cancer also represents the path which leads from the great Mother Binah to Geburah, and is thus the influence of the Supernals descending through the Veil of Water (which is blood) upon the energy of man, and so inspires it."

This sounds much more like it to me, considering that the Major Arcana trump which applies to Cancer is the Chariot. This is clearly not a placid force nor does it imply abandonment to desire but rather a certain sense of nobility. Where Crowley's 'weakness' principle comes in, I do not quite manage to grasp.

Adding the influence of the Moon to the powerful combination of Cancer and Water only serves to further empower the duo with the primordial aspect of femininity in the mystical form of the High Priestess.


So I find the title 'Luxury' difficult to accept with Crowley's definition. I believe that the title 'Lord of Blended Pleasure' is much more representative of the concept which this card depicts.

With Love
Mohandas

I agree about Crowleys succint and male ways.
Celtaur has already spoken to the watering down aspect. Cancer is emotion,
power is being passed down from blood (water) to the warrior or humans who make war.
Understanding degrades to power (Binah to Geburah), chariot is the mechanism, will is driving between the polarites as well as emotion and logic.
Knowledge is power, understanding is the motivator (inspirer).
So in the theme of knowledge of good and evil, where will you direct your power (chariot).
With power comes luxury, which intoxicates or corrupts our understanding.
Whereas water is illusion.
Those that have true power thirst back for greater understanding, and direct power for compassion. (4=Chesed/MercyCompassion)
To have compassion is to have suffered anothers understanding.
Love=compassion, love is cruel love is kind, or love hurts or pleasure spiked with pain. Being rich as Celtaur said and affording lots of food which rots in your fridge (image of bad fruit) By which your fruit will you be judged. (Cain, bad seed, deeds, christian).

[brifae]

Re : loss of pleasure 5 cups
Yes sexual pleasure, or loss of erection .
The affair sizzles, match in water glass, not chalice and blade......
Jealuos and anger in emotion, disappointment, 5 is a card of strife, breaking down, the power of emotion in a negative way.
I really like this thread after studying qaballah, tarot and gd first, and now thoth but I dont have the deck just the book, but I also have a book by Cicero which further breaks down the cards into the angels /shemporesh? of YHVH using the babylonian deck (which i have) and the ?egyptian tarot for spells and invocations.