The Tarot of Eli, LLC-Court Cards: Thoth Tarot-Princess of Cups & The Mystic Palette Tarot-Page of Cups.

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Above all things, know thyself.

The Princess of the Waters; Lotus of the Palace of the Floods; Princess and Empress of the Nymphs or Undines. Throne of the Ace of Cups. 

The Thoth Tarot Princess of Cups represents mastery of emotional objectivity achieved by working through manipulation, jealousy, possessiveness, and seduction.

Mundanely, the image of the Thoth- turtle (Tortoise) in the seashell symbolizes the capacity to offer emotional loyalty, while shedding the drama of others and loyalty to others by being objective and non-possessive. In Hindu mythology, the Turtle/Tortoise was also the image given to the force of motion, which caused Earth to travel through space, while being held up by four elephants standing on the back of this Atlas like turtle. Hence, in Hindu mythology the world and Universe is thought to rest on the backs of four elephants who stand on the shell of a turtle (4 directions/4 Elements). In Hinduism, Akupara is a tortoise who carries the world on his back, upholding the Earth and the sea.

Also, one of the Avatars of Vishnu is the giant turtle, Kurma. The Universe was represented as a Serpent. In other words, the Turtle represents the foundation of Life-Force for the Earth which may seem slow in evolutionary terms but is persistent and undaunted.

I AM the Will and the Way, I AM Wealth, I AM Health, I AM Wellbeing, I own the Day!

In the world of personalities, the Princess or Page of Cups represents a dreamy youngster, who enjoys fairy tales with a vivid imagination. In other words, this one can also represent your inner child where the seed of creativity longs to be acknowledged. On the Thoth Card, she is an emotional personality reweave --weaving new perspectives out of her dreamy vibrations. She lets us know that everything is an illusion/dream until it isn't.

In the Thoth Tarot, the Princess of Cups is represented as a Dancing figure robed in a flowing- crystal edged garment, all of which indicates her flowing and crystallizing abilities. Also, the crystals on the Thoth Princess's gown indicate a clear ability to look at things as they are instead of what she wants to see. Thus, we can determine that she is an active rather than passive force from the Great Mother that weaves energy into crystalline images and/or material manifestation.

Her active determination is in the imagery of the Swan taking wing. The Swan is the symbol of AUM (of oriental philosophy) that is the vibratory harmonic of Universal Creation. The Swan coming out of her head represents emotional security and the ability to communicate her feelings, desires, and concerns in realistic and meaningful ways (the dolphinfish emphasizes this ability as it represents the Sun God- Apollo. (Not to be confused with the Dolphin mammal).

The Dolphinfish that is disporting in a foamy- sea, symbolizes the power of creation known as the

Royal Fish, which is also known as the Alchemical first matter. Also, to the Greeks the Dolphin fish, represented Apollo, the Sun god, her consort.

The free-floating lotus blossom shows her trusting heart. She is devoid of a possessive and controlling heart. She very curious and see's many possibilities.

This card has been said to represent the European Elaine the Virgin Moon-goddess of Arthurian legend, who was the keeper of the Grail (Graäl) in the Grail temple, where she wove the tapestries of life, death, and fate. Therefore, in Tarot, she is seen as the dream weaver of a new emotional self-perspective, as all self-perspective is a dream and illusion that the body makes "real" by sensation. She is also the "Dispenser of Joy" and a source of hidden knowledge, bestower of mystical insight and the gift of feminine wisdom.

The Ace of Cups, whom she personalizes, is the root of the powers of Water, shown as a scallop shaped cup cradled in the right arm of the Princess of Cups. It is the Great Grail (Graäl), the Wisdom/Womb of the Mysterious Great Mother. Therefore, the Princesses are the Personification of the Grail in the Element they represent. This is Water, in its most arcane form, Life-Fluid, (Dew of the mother) symbolically/ritually represented as Water, Blood or Wine. The Lotus is her Eastern sacred flower and symbol.

The Great Mother, Binah (Egyptian Hathor/Isis/ Maat), the Sphere of Understanding, and the Trinity Goddess, is often symbolized as the Dark Sea and in the Thoth Deck Ace of Cups, she is shown as the Sea, the Cup, and the Lotus: The Lotus (two in one) being the fertile expression of the Great Mother.

The Ace of Cups shows a ray of light descending from above, representing the Holy Spirit/Whole Self and beneath the Grail we have the Moon. The Waves of Life-Fluid are shown as a web of fluid energy of which the tapestry of Creation (Matrix) is woven from.

To many Native Nations, this weaving of the First Mater would symbolize the Work of the Great Spider Woman. In Western Hermetic Tarot the Princess of Cups represents the Earthly part of Water (Life-Fluid/blood plasma) and the faculty of crystallization and/or alchemical coagulation. The Princess of Cups represents the Grail's power of manifestation, she is the power of water that gives substance to idea by enclosing it in nurturing emotions that support life and to form the basis for chemical combination that is often called solution in alchemy.

The Princess of Wands, Cups, Swords, and Disks, all give a Character to the Root Power they are associated with, the Princesses /Pages are called the Thrones of the Great Mother, as they represent Mother's rule on Earth. Root powers are without will and therefore neutral and without focus. 

The Princesses /Pages are the Intelligently Focused Energy of a Root Power (Elements) and are thus aware and personalized intelligences with conscious characteristics. These Great Daughters of the Great Mother have their own peccadillos, and it behooves the practitioner of magic(magick) to know them. For instance:

1. The Princess of Cups has an infinitely gracious character that is voluptuous, sweet, gentle, and kind, romance, and the perpetual dream of rapture are her very nature. 
2. Unlike the Volcanic nature of the Princess of Wands who is the very act of combustion.
3. The Princess of swords is a sharp wit which can cut 2 ways and is a mood-fighter, Valkyrie. and/or Shield Maiden. 
4. The Princess of Disks is Persephone, the power of renewal, springtime growth, and earthly Fecundity.

To the shallow thinker, the Princess/Page of Cup's dreamy rapture, may seem indolent and selfish, the fact that she goes about her work silently and effortlessly dispels such interpretations.

These Princesses not only represent a personality core but they are also an Elemental Intelligence of Earth, and can be communicated with; as for example the Water-Undines, Air-Sylphs, Tree-Dryads, Fire-Salamanders; However, their dreamy nature is in direct union with a Force beyond the practitioner’s control and like Narcissus* the unwary consciousness can be dragged into a watery-Astral dimension.

Tried and true rituals of magic (k) are recommended so that these forces can be contained before there is overwhelming flow. In the Case of the Princess of Cups, the practitioner’s personality could be overwhelmed by the extreme dreamy rapture of her nature and become unable to operate in the day-to-day world as manmade reality is blurred and obscured as if looking through watery depths. One might want to study the myth of *Narcissus to understand the immensely powerful dreamy nature of this Princess of the Undines.

*In short, Narcissus, was a hunter in Greek mythology, son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. He was an incredibly beautiful young man, and many fell in love with him; However, he only showed those who were enraptured- disdain and contempt. One day, while he was hunting in the woods, the Oread nymph Echo spotted him and immediately fell for him, smitten by his beauty. When Narcissus sensed that someone was following him, Echo eventually revealed herself and tried to hug him. However, he pushed her off and told her not to disturb him. Echo, in despair, from unrequited love, roamed around the woods for the rest of her life, and wilted away until all it remained of her was an echo sound.

To make a long story short, the Greek goddess of retribution and revenge, Nemesis, learned what had happened and decided to punish Narcissus for his behavior. She led him to a pool; there, the man saw his reflection in the water and fell in love with it. Although he did not realize in the beginning that it was just a reflection. However, when he finally discovered his lover as a reflection in the pool, he fell into despair that his love, now unrequited, could not materialize and thereby committed suicide.

There are some interpretations of this myth, which say he was pulled into the reflecting pool by the Undines that resided in it and drowned him. Either way, he was rendered kaput as a human, and is now a beautiful flower.

Many of us don't realize that the Archetypes of the basic 16 types of personalities, as represented in the Court Cards and seen in our world, are also often Elemental Forces as aspects of Earth. Because of the indoctrinated thinking of "Divide and Conquer" we have forgotten that our human bodies, are Elemental Beings as is the Earth and we are the Solar Self/Prana (vital life force) that animates them in our name. Being Celestial, we are a brain's artificial intelligence creation, we are the Force of Life itself!

Originally, we began as a Spiral Entity (Spirit) of the Celestial I AM solar identity and not of the Elements but the Celestial Creator/Creatrix and inheritor of them. Therefore, contrary to popular thinking, we are not seeking to become more Spiritual/Celestial, for that would be like a fish in the Ocean looking for water. We are the "aware consciousness" of Vital Self, while the Great Ocean of Binah and/or the Universal Collective Unconscious, is the Sleeping and/or Dreaming Self. 

Since Spirit is All that is, a Spiral-Energy and being infinite and eternal a spiritual entity seeking Spirit-is a ridiculous concept. We are succeeding in becoming a united Life Force by absorbing the "beast mind" (subconscious) of planetary fear-based survival thought with our love of image-based cosmic creative thought. We are Souls/Solar Selves of the Universal Collective Unconscious and We are attempting the Whole Union of Master (Spirit/Mind) and Masterpiece (Form) which is often called "As above, so below". We are the Union of the Above-Kether- whose God name is Eheieh-"I will be!" and the condensed material forms of Self that are the "Me" which creates "I AM Being" which is the coagulation and/or fulfillment of the original will of Eheieh (I Will Be).

We are a copy of the Divine Creative Trinity- Spirit-Mind-Body and/or I AM ME and/or the interface of Spirit-"I", with the Mind-"AM" and the Body-"Me".! Hence, the New Age concept of Enlightenment as ethereal "eternal happiness" is a misconception as only the material self can feel happiness; we are I AM (Force of existence) who builds a Me (Manifested Awareness) making the information sensual ----but not obviously experienced until the body manifests information as sensual in-form-action of Spiritual Will!

Happiness comes from the harmony and/or synchronicity of the Trinity of Whole Self. This Trinity is a sonata of frequency and vibration that is the music of the invisible and visible worlds from which the entire world of existence dances to in a rhythm of breath. The god's name and identity of I AM is the name of the orchestral conductor. I AM the Conductor of My own Sonata.

The journey towards our "remembering" (enlightenment) is not always happy but often strife ridden, a hero's/heroine's journey. To avoid strife, the “Me” needs to shake off the shackles of indoctrination and dogma for it must operate only by the Will of the “I AM”, that seeks Self-Knowledge/Self- Awareness through the process of Self-Thought and/or Self-information that is experienced through a sensual device and/or made manifest as “Me”; This is how thought/idea/information can be examined/experienced sensually and thereby become Knowledge!

Besides, isn't that what "Sensors" are for, up close examination and the expansion of knowledge? The body is a "Sense of Spiritual Presence" as the fish is a Sense of Ocean. You are the goal and fulfillment of the Divine Creative's Will-to-Be in the form of "I AM Being".

Therefore, as a fellow I AM, I did not come to seek spirituality (I Am Spirit), I have come to seek a sense of presence so that I can examined my Celestial Self-Information, i.e., creativity (imagination) for errors that may impeded the Great Work of "As above so Below!"

I am a Western Hermetic Qabalist (Receiver), an Intimate Spiritual Being/Celestial Energy Intelligence who knows that the material body gives me intimacy with Self-Awareness, which produces the greater " knowing of myself. Therefore, the body aids me in the purpose that I AM; the purpose of us all is TO BE Divine Self! I experience knowledge through being, therefore become wise from experience. and therefore, became a Tantric as well. Tantra Yoga means to "Expand and Liberate through Communion" Hence, the Qabalistic Axiom of "Above all things, know thyself" does not exclude the body!

The Princess of Cups, who gives dreams, intuition, and illusion the necessary manifestation, is not all dreams, either. As earth of water, she can ground vaporous and romantic ideas into manifestation and provide a fixed and fertile medium where the water-nourished life of Self-examination can flourish. Princesses/Pages do not rule degrees of the zodiacal year. Hence, there are no examples of zodiac born celebrities who are/were Princess personalities.

The Mystic Palette Tarot-Page of Cups uses the traditional medieval tarot nomenclature for this court card. However, the image is that of a young princess of the Seas. This young lady reacts by daydreaming and processes what happens to her by watching what comes across her inner landscape. Therefore, the Turtle here represents an inner daydream supporting bubbles of thoughts. In her arms is a seahorse-shaped jellyfish, indicating the malleability of her inner world.

As a messenger, she brings information about feelings or thoughts. As the querent she represents a person who is young at heart, sensitive, idealistic, and has dreamy aspirations.

The Great Dark Ocean of Mother Binah is a profound symbol in Western Hermetic Magick, particularly within the Qabalistic framework and the Princess/Pages are the Maid of the Maid, Mother, Crone that is the trinity of Binah the Creatrix who is the third sephirah on the Tree of Life and represents understanding, form, and the crystallization of divine force into structured creation. The imagery of a “Great Dark Ocean” attributed to Binah conveys deep esoteric concepts regarding the nature of manifestation and the feminine principle of containment.

Here’s an exploration of its layers:

1. Binah as the Womb of Form: The Great Mother

Binah, often referred to as Ima (Mother) or the Great Sea, is associated with the primordial feminine force that takes the infinite, formless energy of Chokmah (Wisdom) and gives it boundaries, form, and limitation. While Chokmah is pure, unstructured creative potential (the spark or seed of creation), Binah is the womb in which this potential gestates and takes shape.

• The “Great Dark Ocean” symbolizes this process of gestation—darkness being the state before full manifestation, just as an embryo develops in the dark womb before birth.
• The waters of the ocean symbolize the primal, boundless depths of potential, akin to the amniotic fluid in the womb.

This concept of “darkness” is not negative. Instead, it reflects the mystery and hiddenness of the creative process—the concealed aspect of divine wisdom.

2. The Abyss and the Void: Crossing Into Manifestation

The Great Dark Ocean also connects to the concept of the Abyss in Hermeticism and Qabalah. Between Binah and the lower sephiroth lies the Abyss, representing the threshold between the purely archetypal forces above (supernal triad) and manifested reality below.

• Before creation takes its final form, it “dissolves” within the oceanic waters of Binah. This is why Binah is considered both the womb of life and death—she births all things but also represents the return to primordial darkness when life ends.
• In many Hermetic teachings, this ocean is connected to Tiamat, the chaotic sea goddess of Mesopotamian myth, and the idea of chaos being subdued and given structure.

3. Saturnian Influence: The Restriction of Form

Binah is also associated with Saturn (Shabbathai), the planetary force of time, limitation, and boundaries. The oceanic imagery aligns with Saturn’s restrictive qualities—giving form and imposing limits upon the infinite, fluid creative forces.

• Just as an ocean contains life but also represents vast mystery and depth, Binah embodies both nourishment and the boundaries that enable growth.
• Her association with the “great sea” (Yam HaGadol) reflects the simultaneous nurturing and constraining aspect of this sephirah—Binah’s nature is to limit infinite energy into manageable, defined existence.

4. The Waters of Understanding: Reflection and Depth

In Hermetic Qabalah, understanding (Binah) is the ability to reflect and comprehend. The ocean represents a deep reservoir of knowledge that is vast, sometimes unfathomable, and often concealed beneath the surface.

• Just as the depths of the ocean hide unknown mysteries, so too does Binah hold hidden wisdom that cannot always be accessed directly. This wisdom is gained through meditation, intuition, and reflection on the deeper meaning of life’s limitations and structures.

In this sense, Binah’s ocean is often depicted as dark because true understanding requires diving into the subconscious, shadow aspects, and the unknown.

5. The Feminine Power of Return and Dissolution

The waters of Binah also symbolize dissolution—the return of form back into formlessness. The Great Dark Ocean is the cosmic matrix to which all things return upon death or dissolution.

• In this way, Binah is often linked to the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess in neopagan systems and the Marah (bitter sea) of biblical symbolism.
• She is not only a womb of birth but the place of disintegration and rebirth, reflecting the Hermetic principle of cycles—life, death, and resurrection.

6. Binah’s Relationship with Chokmah: Dynamic Interplay

In Western Hermeticism, Binah’s Great Ocean cannot be understood in isolation—it is the complement to Chokmah’s dynamic force. The Great Dark Ocean “receives” Chokmah’s energy, similar to how the moon reflects the sun. This dynamic reflects the Qabalistic concept of polarity: the masculine and feminine principles working together to generate creation.

• The ocean, in this sense, becomes the receptive principle—it is not chaotic but holds and nurtures the divine spark until it is ready to manifest.
• Without the containment of Binah’s ocean, the force of Chokmah would remain chaotic and unformed, much like lightning dissipating into the air.

Correspondences of Binah and the Great Dark Ocean

• Planet: Saturn (Shabbathai)
• Element: Water (the primordial waters of creation)
• Tarot Card: The High Priestess and the Empress (reflecting the hidden and manifest feminine forces)
• Symbols: The womb, the sea, the black cube (of Saturn)
• Title: Ima (Mother), Yam HaGadol (Great Sea), Marah (Bitter Sea)

7. Practical Application in Hermetic Magick

The Great Dark Ocean of Binah plays a significant role in initiatory practices. When working with this archetype in ritual or meditation, magicians seek to:

• Embrace and understand limitation: Recognizing that limitation is necessary for manifestation and personal growth.
• Dive into the subconscious mind: Accessing deep wisdom that can only be reached by confronting hidden fears and truths.
• Connect with the feminine power of creation and dissolution: Acknowledging that both birth and death are part of the cycle of creation.

By attuning to the waters of Binah, practitioners learn to balance their inner creative chaos (Chokmah) with the need for structure and wisdom (Binah), bringing their spiritual understanding into practical, manifested reality.

For rituals and invocations of the Creatrix Binah, log onto (above button) my Western Hermetic ritual website Meditation Ritual:

1. The Womb of Understanding 
2. The Ritual of the Sea of Marah (Bitter Sea) a ritual for release
3.  The   Ritual of Saturn’s Cube: Building Form from Chaos 
4.  The High Priestess and the Great Sea Ritual

These rituals will help you establish a deep meaningful and intuitive connection with your inner Divine feminine who heals and enhances your self-awareness and the truth of who you are.

When Princess of Cups or Page of Cups card is thrown during a Divination for a woman, it implies that:

• She is objective, and realistic of heart.
• Emotionally loving and realistic rather than attached and clinging.
• Has a peaceful strength of character.
• She is an insatiable romantic.
• Highly imaginative.
• Time to listen to the child within.

When thrown for a man

• Often, the Princess/Page of Cups/Potions represents his inner feminine nature (anima) that is committed to offering emotional longevity, empathy, intuition, while being loyal in realistic non-possessive ways.
• Time to let the inner child out of repression.

The Princess/Page when thrown for a woman

• May represent both genders, and a person in their life who is one's own age or younger and who may be teaching one lessons about emotionally letting go and about the uses of creative imagination.

When the Princes/ Page f Cups is thrown during a reading the querent is often experiencing:

• Emotional detachment that is free of jealousy.
• Being rapturous and gentle, kind, and tender.
• A personality full of romance, dreams, and loving vision but also a dispenser of hidden insight and wisdom (see-Elaine the Moon Goddess).
• Esthetics.
• Fantasy.
• Intuition.
• Modality
• Poetic charm.
• Gentleness.
• Sensibility.

Ill defined, the Princess/Page of Cups implies:

• Flightiness, shallowness, and inability to accept reality.
• Misuse of love.
• Deception.
• Seductive spells.
• Bubbles in the air.
• Loss of self-assurance.

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