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Thoth- 4 of Disks-Power
#4. From the exhaustless riches of its limitless substance, I draw all things needful both spiritual and material.
4 OF DISKS=Power [Pentacles/Stones/Coins) in other decks].…condition of assured material gain, and earthly power completed but nothing beyond. (Waite).
Depicted on the Thoth Card, is a fortress made by the grounding of Chesed (mercy) in Assiah, the Material world. Held by constant authority and vigilance, a type of Law and order holds the 4 Alchemical Elements in balance. Fire (Spirit/Will), Air (mind), Water (emotions), and Earth, are all centered on material security. Material security, once established and horded, often means "nothing ventured nothing gained" and becomes a problem of stasis that will be removed by the Greater Spiritual Self (A Tower Moment) to keep things moving. However, for now things look under control and sitting back and enjoying material security seems justified. Here we also have gift, legacy and inheritance.
The 4 of Disks -Power, is also called the Lord of Earthly Power. The Angels of the Decan are Keveqiah and Mendial The planet is the Sun and here it is in Capricorn.
Astrologically we have Sun in Capricorn which assures the light and warmth of success but nothing beyond the moment. With Sol in Capricorn, the ancients believed this the greatest display of solar power that occurred each year as the Sun seemed to conquer death by reversing the southward plunge into darkness.
"Chessed shows the establishment of the Universe in 3 dimensions, that is , below the Abyss."[Book of Thoth-pg. 213]. Crowley calls this card, "In the Rite of Saturn" and "The Fortress that is upon the Frontier of the Abyss."[See "The Rites of Eleusis, The Equinox (6), Supplement-p.10 ]
The Sun is also representative of the Rational part of our Psyche now being in total control of creative energy for material wealth; boundaries against change are erected and the illusion of security is enjoyed. Now this feeling of benevolent strength, is indeed wonderful but we must also invest in the motion of wealth into prosperity---so being flexible with your wealth is recommended. The 4 of Disks card reminds us that damming a river can secure water, but if we don't leave room for overflow, we stifle the prosperity all around us for a false sense of security. This easily becomes Avarice, blockages of thought and action which naturally follow from excessive devotion to materialistic rewards. However, if the drawbridge of an open mind is open for "outside" traffic we can make something tangible and take concrete steps towards creating security in the physical world that actually enhances that security for others as well.
So when all is examined, this card represents a positive with a caution; a kind of “good for you", that can only keep being good if you expand it to "good for others" as well. That is why the draw bridge is down and the gate open on this illustration of the 4-of Disks, we must allow flowing change in order to really stay Secure in our power.
The illustration of the 4 of Disks suggests a fortress implying law and order maintained by undaunted vigilance. The Disks themselves, are square implying that revolving or motion, is opposite to this card. However, another form of Chesed is in the Key 13 card of the Major Arcana, and it is the Death of stability, so that revolution can continue, 1+3=4, so the number and secret of Chesed lays hidden in Gematria (numerology). Chesed, the Engineer of manifestation, has the power to reorganize creation through a process we call Death which is just a change of perspective.
The 4 square disks each contain one of the symbols for the four elements and the walls are strong and seemingly immobile. Yet we have the Sun reborn in Capricorn and therefore, a promise of new powerful activity is present, and is best shown as the Dancing Skeleton of key 13. What hints at underlying power in the 4 of disks Tarot Card is depicted as the orange-yellow color of the card.
Like the eye of a hurricane, The 4 of Disks is the "Dead Center" of the Engineer of all manifestation. Here at the center, everything looks quite and stable, but violent activity is making it so and soon, that stability will "fly to the winds". Capricorn is the center "where the Sun turns Northward." So the turning is happening in what looks to be stable.
Haindl-Four of Stones-The Power of the Earth
The Haindl-Four of Stones, shows stone in a balanced pattern, on an ancient tree, which could be the Norse World Tree, Yddsdrasil, or the Universal Qabalistic Tree of Life. Both represent the Ancient Power of Earth and Creation. Even in our protected, comfy lives, surrounded by a fortress of concrete and asphalt, we are sometimes made aware of Earth's power, in earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes and even thunderstorms. Earth is always transforming.
On the upper left of the card, is depicted the I-Ching hexagram, 51, "The Arousing" (Wilhelm) or "Shocking" (Wing). The Reverse Hexagram is, 52, "Keeping Still". A double hexagram, it repeats the trigram, "Arousing Thunder". Often the thunderous boom of a lighting storm, can terrify some people, almost like the "Voice of God", shouting out destruction. Yet, summer thunderstorms, often bring relief from the heat of the day. Therefore, the I-Ching message is that if we understand our fears, we can master them.
The roots of the Tree, represent the 4 directions, that are so sacred to the Native Americans, and signifies the Earth in its totality. Each direction of the compass carried different qualities, such as light, darkness, healing , warmth or cold, the seasons etc. The Native Americans believe that by experiencing these qualities, people know their place in the world.
The Tree also signifies the axiom of "As above so below", and the mists rising from the waters and flowing past the tree signify creative ideas, that often seem foggy or obfuscated until we examine them in the rational light of the sun.
When the 4 of Disks/Stones, is thrown during a reading:
- The querent is owning their own personal energy, physical potency and vitality. The very act of which proceeds change.
- There may be a feeling of holding on tightly to what one has, emotionally or physically.
- The enfoldment of Power, here the Ability to Do Work (Power) is unfettered and the engineer is active.
- The querent is taking solid steps towards creating material security in the physical world.
- Here, "nothing ventured nothing gain" is the axiom of the Four.
- Imperturbability.
- Creativity and new ideas.
If ill defined by the surrounding cards (Thoth) or reversed (Haindl) it implies :
- Holding to tightly to what you have, and not taking risks of change.
- Blockage of creative thought due to avarice, or excessive devotion to material things.
- Compulsivity.
- Stubbornness.
- Stagnation.
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