The Tarot of Eli, LLC-Minor Arcana: Thoth Tarot- 3 of Swords-Sorrow & The Lost Soul Tarot - 3 of Swords.

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Above all things, know thyself!

#3. Filled with understanding of its perfect law, I am guided, moment by moment, along the path of liberation.

The 3's of Tarot belong to Binah the 3rd Sephiroth who is called Understanding, she is also named the Sanctifying Intelligence and the Parent of Faith. Here is the implication that religion of any sect could not have a "church" without this underlying structure of Sanctifying Intelligence. In this aspect of Mind, what we love becomes sacred.

THE 3 OF SWORDS-SORROW of both the Thoth and Lost Soul Tarot decks is also called the Lord of Sorrow, as named by Crowley, so once again we get confused by sexual connotations and may even have a challenging time seeing Sorrow as a Sanctifying Intelligence. But energy is male in expression and female in reception and emotion (energy-in-motion) is no exception as it can't move without two places...one to send, and one to receive. The Planet attributed to the 3 of Swords is Saturn in the sign of Libra. The Angels of the Decan are Hayayel and Hoquiam.

To sanctify, is an important concept here, since you are the "image of Goddess/God", you are blessed/loved into manifestation. You are a "church" (Throne of the Divine Creative) built to sanctify the Tree of Life and/or "Heavenly Human" archetype known as Adam Khadmon who is to be sanctified by your Atziluth- Spiritual/Superconscious presence in the material realm of Assiah and/or Earth.

In astrology, Saturn in the house of Libra can influence various aspects of an individual's life. Here are some characteristics associated with this placement:

1. Balancing Act: Libra is associated with balance and harmony, and when Saturn is in this house, it emphasizes the need for balance in relationships and partnerships. Individuals with this placement may feel a sense of responsibility and duty in maintaining equilibrium in their partnerships.

2. Structured Relationships: Saturn brings a sense of structure and discipline to the realms of Libra, influencing how individuals approach their relationships. There may be a desire for commitment, stability, and a clear definition of roles within partnerships.

3. Delayed Gratification: Saturn is often linked with delayed gratification and hard work. In the house of Libra, this can manifest as individuals working patiently towards establishing lasting and meaningful connections. Success in relationships may come through perseverance and dedication.

4. Challenges in Communication: Libra is also associated with communication, and Saturn's influence in this house may bring challenges or a need for serious, thoughtful communication. It's essential for individuals with this placement to communicate effectively and responsibly in their relationships.

5. Commitment Issues: On the flip side, some individuals with Saturn in Libra may face challenges related to commitment or fear of getting too involved. Saturn's influence can create a sense of caution and a desire for a strong foundation before fully committing.

6. Appreciation for Beauty and Aesthetics: Libra is ruled by Venus, and individuals with Saturn in this house may have a disciplined approach to the appreciation of beauty, art, and aesthetics. There may be a tendency to value and seek out relationships that are not only emotionally fulfilling but also aesthetically pleasing.

It's important to note that the overall astrological picture involves the entire birth chart, and the influence of Saturn in Libra is just one piece of the puzzle. Individual experiences may vary based on the positions of other planets, aspects, and the unique characteristics of the natal chart.

Dictionary

sanctify

[ˈsaNG(k)təˌfī]

VERB

1. set apart as or declare holy; consecrate.

   "a small shrine was built to sanctify the site"

   synonyms:

   consecrate · make holy · make sacred · bless · hallow · set apart · dedicate to God · anoint · ordain · canonize · beatify

   • make legitimate or binding by religious sanction.

     "they see their love sanctified by the sacrament of marriage"

     synonyms:

     approve · sanction · give the stamp of approval to · underwrite · condone · justify · vindicate · endorse · support · back · ratify · confirm · warrant · permit · allow · accredit · authorize · legitimize · legitimizean

   • free from sin; purify.

     "may God sanctify his soul"

     synonyms:

     purify · cleanse · free from sin · absolve · unburden · redeem · exculpate · wash someone's sins away · lustrate

   • cause to be or seem morally right or acceptable.

     "ancient customs that are sanctified by tradition"

Hence, to sanctify anything is to "worship" it. By focusing intense emotion on a person, place, or thing, we "Sanctify" it; thereby we will-to- form it.

As Mary is the Church, in Catholic doctrine, so is Binah the Parent of Faith, not the faith itself, but its parental intelligence that is the foundation of organization, structure and sanctity. She is the Will to Form, and your body is the "church" of your spirit/soul; a "church"/throne you wouldn't have without the Creatrix-Binah.

You may ask, "What has this to do with sorrow?" To make this simple, she is the Crone of the triple goddess in this card, and the Crone is the death of the “you” that you think you are. For to think, you must already have been created and thoughts are your creation! Hence, your thoughts of yourself are not "you", merely assumptions. You are the I AM (existence) the divine creator of "what you think you are".

As the concept of the Trinity Goddess begins with Virgin, we have Binah as Priestess who symbolizes the concept of Virgin-Maid, we then have Mother Binah as Empress a concept of Motherhood, and on the 3 of swords, she represents the beginning of Crone which forms in Geburah the 5th Sephiroth -Severity or Strength-, and what one would call Grandmother.

Interestingly the number 5 is the numerology number representing divine grace and in Geburah Strength and/or Severity is considered to be "tough love". Hence, we have Binah representing the Trinity Goddess of Maid (Eros), Mother (Philo), and Crone (Spirit). We are trying to establish what Sorrow is to the Supernal Mother (Upper Triangle) where there is no form, no image, non-space, and no words, which is really a futile endeavor.

In gematria (Numerology), the number 3 holds significant characteristics and symbolic meanings across various traditions, particularly in Jewish mysticism, numerology, and Western esoteric practices. Here are some of the key characteristics and symbolic attributes of the number 3:

1. Balance and Harmony:

   • The number 3 often represents balance and harmony, as it is seen as the synthesis of dualities. In many mystical traditions, it represents the unification of opposites, forming a harmonious whole.

2. Divine Completeness:

   • In Jewish mysticism, the number 3 is considered to signify completeness and perfection, often associated with the divine. It symbolizes the threefold nature of divinity, such as the three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) in the Hebrew Bible.

3. Creativity and Expression:

   • The number 3 is frequently linked to creativity, self-expression, and communication. It embodies the principle of growth and expansion, encouraging artistic and communicative endeavors.

4. Spiritual Awareness:

   • In Western esoteric traditions, the number 3 is associated with spiritual awareness and the unfolding of spiritual consciousness. It is often seen as a symbol of the spiritual journey, representing stages of development and enlightenment.

5. Triads and Trinities:

   • The concept of triads or trinities is central to the symbolism of the number 3. This can be seen in various religious and philosophical contexts, such as the Christian Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the Hindu Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva), and the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas) in Hindu philosophy.

6. Manifestation and Realization:

   • The number 3 is associated with the process of manifestation and realization. In many mystical traditions, it represents the transition from potential to actual, embodying the principle of bringing ideas or spiritual concepts into tangible form.

7. Numerical and Alphabetic Representation:

   • In Hebrew gematria, the number 3 is represented by the letter Gimel (ג). This letter is often associated with the concepts of kindness and nourishment, as well as the idea of movement and progression.

8. Symbolic Figures:

   • The number 3 is often seen in symbolic figures and sacred geometry, such as the triangle. The triangle is a potent symbol representing stability, strength, and the connection between the physical and spiritual realms.

By understanding these characteristics, one can gain deeper insights into the symbolic and mystical significance of the number 3 in various esoteric traditions.

The concept of the Maid-Mother-Crone, also known as the Triple Goddess or Trinity Goddess, is a prominent archetype in various pagan and neo-pagan traditions, particularly within Wicca and other forms of modern witchcraft. This archetype embodies three distinct aspects of the feminine divine, each representing different stages of a woman's life as well as different phases of the lunar cycle. Here’s a detailed explanation of each aspect:

1. Maiden (Maid):

   • Youth and Beginnings: The Maiden symbolizes youth, purity, and new beginnings. She is often associated with the waxing moon, representing growth, expansion, and the start of new ventures.
   • Innocence and Potential: This aspect of the Triple Goddess embodies innocence, potential, and the excitement of youth. She is a symbol of untapped possibilities and the promise of the future.
   • Associated Deities: Goddesses that represent the Maiden aspect include Persephone, Artemis, and Brigid.

2. Mother:

   • Maturity and Fertility: The Mother represents maturity, fertility, nurturing, and the fullness of life. She is associated with the full moon, symbolizing peak power, creativity, and abundance.
   • Nurturing and Protection: This aspect embodies the nurturing, protective, and life-giving qualities of motherhood. She is the creator, the sustainer of life, and the caretaker.
   • Associated Deities: Goddesses that represent the Mother aspect include Demeter, Isis, and Gaia.

3. Crone:

   • Wisdom and Transformation: The Crone symbolizes wisdom, transformation, and the ending of cycles. She is associated with the waning moon, representing decline, introspection, and the passage into death and rebirth.
   • Experience and Insight: This aspect embodies the qualities of experience, deep knowledge, and the guidance that comes from having lived a full life. She is often seen as a guide through the dark times and a source of profound spiritual insight.
   • Associated Deities: Goddesses that represent the Crone aspect include Hecate, Cerridwen, and Baba Yaga.

Symbolism and Significance

• Lunar Phases: The Triple Goddess is closely linked to the phases of the moon. The waxing moon (Maiden), full moon (Mother), and waning moon (Crone) symbolize the cyclical nature of life and the eternal process of growth, fulfillment, and decline.
• Life Cycle: The Maid-Mother-Crone archetype mirrors the natural life cycle of a woman, encompassing her journey from youth to maturity and finally to old age. This reflects the broader cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth in nature.
• Empowerment and Balance: By embracing all three aspects, the Triple Goddess provides a model for the wholeness and balance of the feminine psyche. Each aspect offers unique strengths and wisdom, encouraging women to honor all stages of their lives.
• Ritual and Worship: In many neo-pagan traditions, rituals and worship practices often focus on invoking the Triple Goddess to seek guidance, blessings, and support. Each aspect may be called upon for different purposes, such as invoking the Maiden for new beginnings, the Mother for nurturing and protection, and the Crone for wisdom and transformation.

The Triple Goddess serves as a powerful symbol of the divine feminine, celebrating the diversity and richness of women's experiences and the natural world’s cycles.

From my "below the abyss" point of view, I can only attempt to describe this profound state of consciousness that is beyond the measurement of image or time-space. Every "form" that the Creatrix understands into being, is made of Her magnetic "will-to-form" and/ or understanding and is a part of Her. Much like an Earth Mothers' baby, all children are made of mother's blood, as they are nurtured by her blood and created out of it in the Womb of Mom. They become an integral part of Mother's body. When they are born, there is a body trauma not only of pain, but of a sense of loss; a part of herself removed for both mother and baby. There is a physical, emotional, and mental sorrow felt at birth for both child and mother. Therefore, the understanding midwife would wrap the baby in a blanket and give it to the mother immediately, to lessen the inner pain of loss for both mother and child.

Personally, in this mortal world, to love is to lose and therefore, to know sorrow happens when we find out that all that begins must end. Love and Sorrow are two sides of one coin. Therefore, it takes an undeniable knowledge to Create for knowledge transforms and therefore, it also Destroys that which was previously created. To be alive, is to know sorrow.

Sorrow also comes from having "freedom of choice", the ability to change fate granted to every "child of and on the Throne of the Divine Creative". Many of us think that “freedom of choice" is happiness, but we forget that to have "freedom of choice", we must have a beginning and an end. This was known to the Anglo- Saxon people, as "free-doom", which is where our English word "freedom" originated. Free- doom, means " I choose my own death", something which a slave cannot do. Hence, freedom became a slogan against slavery. Free people know they die and understand to live life to its fullest is to die well; free of the burdens of "shoulda-woulda-coulda". Those in charge of their fate also know that fate can be changed by action, and that Destiny is unchangeable for that "orbit" is from the Soul which wills you to be. The Greek word for a planetary orbit is "ὀρβίτης" (orbits)which can also be translated as "orbit" or "circle.

Hence, your destiny is to be YOU! Above all things know thyself!

As Master Jelaluddin Rumi, the twelfth century Sufi master and poet said about sorrow; "Sorrow prepares you for joy, it violently sweeps everything out of your house, so new joy can find a space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place." 

Once again, the Sanctifying Intelligence is explained.

Sadness: Weltshmerz- The Universal Melancholy-Art by Lola Singer

Also, there is the Understanding that the "World of Man" is imperfect, as it must be for perfection is the static end of motion and to be "alive" is to move. The Great Mother views her children and understands and loves them into existence, knowing that because of the necessity of measurement to create a form, there is always a beginning-Alpha and end-Omega to this form. Hence, the Creatrix must watch her children die. This was/is known in German as Weltschmerz, the Universal Melancholy. Which can also arguably be stated that the Divine She, loves her Children into being and sees us as her "Golden Child" (Sun/Son of Goddess) but we have thought ourselves into becoming monsters and live a profaned image of self. This would cause any mother great sorrow.

We are not bodies of physical evolution; rather we are Celestial Beings, who operate them "in our name". We operate physical bodies in the name of "I AM". From "above"-Atziluth we came to the "below"-Assiah and did so knowingly. Because without a physical sensual being, we cannot become intimate with creation and Self and thereby experience idea as knowledge. Intimacy breeds empathy and knowledge and most of all "true love". In the 3 of Swords, we have the influence of Binah, the Creatrix, in the Astral World of Yetzirah; the Formative world. Yet there is no form beyond the Abyss. Therefore, the Soul, the "child of Binah" must create its own form of Self-Awareness and experience that "Self", through the process of experienced information and/or in-form-action as "Self".

Immortality, that is Soul, has no empathy, and since it is without measurement (Infinite), it can't turn information into experience; thereby, producing knowledge. The Spirit whose Will births The Psyche (the sacred marriage of I and AM) which in turn births Souls is seeking knowledge and will always manifest an image of Self in all 4 Qabalistic Worlds; this includes Assiah and operate it in the name of I AM. Sacrificing insensitivity for sensuality means to "begin and end" as a Form of Self Awareness. Form is measured identity. Sorrow is knowledge!

Therefore, this card is a 3, the number of the major arcana-key 3- The Empress and to her the great Sorrow of the mother is felt when the children leave home and her protection. For she has given birth to Beautiful Children who often think themselves into acting as less than Divine and become indoctrinated slaves to an outside authority and become lost to her inner voice of Love.

We are the Authority of ourselves, and belong only to the Spirit that I AM. This prodigal journey, where children must become the Love- Power that she gave birth to by "learning from tragedy", hurts a loving mother but whose "tough love" knows "it's better to teach one to fish than give them one". Also, the fact that those beautiful children must end because to begin is to end and to end is to transform as a new beginning of wisdom.

The Lost Soul-3 of Swords card displays a problematic situation as the Me which is the ego-personality deals with heart break and is filled with self-absorbed thoughts and illusions of fear and emotional pain; emotional pain is an illusion painted by fear of loss. Sorrow is not "bad" nor "good", it is a messenger that states it is time to let go and move on as all things begin and end.

The Lost Soul- 3 of Swords is a modernized version of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Card. On both cards the pattern of the 3 swords is the same as the heart pierced by Three Swords. This implies the sorrow is deeply felt in the three states of consciousness: The subconscious, the unconscious and the consciousness. It is also representing the ternary goddess who is the Creatrix of Consciousness, Maid, Mother and Crone.

As previously stated, on the subject of Binah- the Great Mother Womb of consciousness, you may remember that Binah is the Third Sephiroth who is the intelligence behind the 3's and is called: Understanding. She is also named the Sanctifying Intelligence and the Parent of Faith. Here is the implication that any religion of any sect, could not have a "church" without this underlying structure of Sanctifying Intelligence. As Mary is the Church, in Catholic doctrine, so is Binah the Parent of Faith...not the faith itself, but its intelligent parental creatrix in the Universal Collective Unconscious, that is the foundation of organization, structure and sanctity. Your body is the Church/Temple of your Spiritual presence on earth.

The subconscious part of our Conscious trinity of Unconscious, subconscious and awake consciousness, is an instinctual survival mind and things that "feel good" are keepers and things that "feel bad" to it are seen as things that threaten our survival. Since we really focus on fear, we have made fear our foundation of worship and/or "fear of god"! Hence to know thyself, one must focus on love, no matter how sorrowful!

All things in life are temporary. The 3 of Swords Card suggests that to enjoy the moments of persons-places -things and let them pass, as you move on your individual journey of "Being". No matter how "you slice it", you are never alone, not in sorrow, not in grief, for everyone loses a loved one. By returning to the Great Mother, who is all around you, in you, and of you (what you imagine her to be) you will know the surcease of the pain of loss.

This card also invokes redemption for the mistakes made by impulsiveness and desire to redeeming past mistakes through study and reason rather than filing them away as fears of shame, embarrassment, and self-nightmares of inferiority, all of which are caused by believing in good and bad as a Self identity .

Because of the need to transform, from one state of knowledge to another, we know that sorrow arrives with every loving attachment in this world of matter. To receive is to lose. To begin is to end. To love is to expand and liberate the mind from the body, yet love needs a body to be sensually intimate and one's soul should love the body it operates in its name, no matter the loss. After the transformation of death, the Psyche (Soul) must return to sensuality to develop discerning thought through the joy and sorrow of intimacy; this return is called "reincarnation".

Many of us know that to love is to end in loss...but we still will love after loss. Love is our nature and loss is the beginning of a new gain. This understanding doesn't lessen sorrow, it just helps us move forward with purging tears running down our face. Thus, there is strength gained in understanding sorrow, whereas fear of sorrow weakens us.

The Power of Saturn is also Chronos, who is Grandfather/Grandmother Time, and Time is destructive and initiatory, bringing a presence of pain and hardship as well as joy and happiness to form and/or self-measurement. But as we may know, hardship and suffering are often where we learn life's greatest lessons. So, the Dark Sterile Grandmother is not evil, she is a Sanctifying Intelligence. In other words, she gives us back our Sacred Divinity by baptizing us in her sacred abyssal womb and/or receives our souls after death and makes them pure again by removing all the false identity of words.

However, there I go trying to legitimize an exercise in futility. Individual Intellect and reason/rationation do not exist above the abyss in the Supernal Trinity Will of Kether, Chokmah and Binah. As I reason, I know that forms, or rationale/measurement does not exist in the Higher 3 of the Supernal as measurement begins in Chesed the 4th Sephiroth who is known as the "Architect of form". Hence, the individual "Mind" must give away to something higher than itself. Some call this state of Higher Consciousness, "The Great Sea of Binah", and others, Samadhi, yet an Ocean of "no-thing" , an amniotic fluid of warm-welcoming darkness, which would also be a sorrow to one who understands themselves to be "something". However, it is obvious that Light/Energy wants to be "something", so you'll be back, and more aware of your-self truth than before you left. This is a baptism of the Personality in the Spiritual Mind of the Superconscious.

This 3 of Swords also represents the wondrous trance of sorrow that first enlightened Buddha, but of this I couldn't say for sure as this is another pretense of knowledge. However, when I left the eternal Bliss of No-Thing, after achieving a state of Sacred Self-Introspection (Dark night of the Soul) where there was no attachment to anything, not even thought. The Creatrix removed from the I AM all that I AM Not (indoctrination and dogma), after which arriving in the waking consciousness once again, I felt a deep and profound sorrow that I never felt before. One might call this "home sickness", as once again I left the warm womb of Mother's immortal love to become sensually mortal in the cold light of a man-made world of ruler-controlled illusions. To live is to love and to love is to know sorrow. To know sorrow is to know love. This I do know, and I love fearlessly as sorrow is just love's shadow and we walk the hero's journey hand-in-hand.

When the 3 of Swords is thrown during a reading, it implies:

• The querent is experiencing thoughts of sorrow.
• Recurring thoughts of sorrowful past events.
• The sorrow of a triangular relationship that is out of balance.
• Disappointment and heartbreak.
•  A type of recognition where one must give up one thing to gain another.
• Releasing: a gift of sorrow, allowing the querent to release and let out the pent-up stress of feared emotions.
• Here difficulty precedes power.
• Also, for initiates, who travel to the abyss, this sorrow is soul deep, for it is of the Sorrow of the Creatrix, who must destroy her precious forms to rebuild Understanding, which will also happen to the personality that succeeds in traversing the Abyss.
• Emotional agony.
• Heart break.

If ill dignified by surrounding card it implies:

• Disruption. 
• Separation.
• Entanglement.
• Self-delusion.

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