Above all things, know thyself!
#4. From the exhaustless riches of the limitless substance, I draw all things needful both spiritual and material.
Thoth- 4 of Swords-Truce
Triple Goddess Tarot- 4 of Swords
Chesed, the 4th Sephiroth, is the Universal Architect, therefore, the 4's suggest perfection, realization, completion and fixing a matter to a rock solid stability. In the 4 of Swords, this stability is a form of Truce, where equal tension, makes a stability of mental powers and of the 4 elements. However, the 4 of Swords represents Chesed in Yetzirah, influencing the astral world. As you may know, mental creation happens in the fluid light of the dreaming Astral World before the manifestation is solidified in the Material World. Hence, the crystalized stability of the 4's is missing here and therefore, not as stable as the 4's in Malkuth.
Now you may not be able to clearly see that you are not a body, as sight is a copy of the original "I"and your body senses, are copied of this "I" sight, as smell, tasted touch and hearing. Senses also make us feel like we are bound in a body; However, this is the illusion of senses, as you are the Energy Atmosphere around the body, called an Aura. Light/Spirit is your true identity. You really are a Yod (Fiery-hand of God) in the Universal Collective Unconscious, so your Real body, is the Hermaphrodite Tree of Life .The human body is the incarnation, for sensual purposes, of making you intimate with your "dreams". You are a "Sun" (Star intelligence)of the Divine Creative and therefore, as a Sun you have an Atmosphere and the body resides with in the solar corona of the Invisible you. That Invisible you is as Jupiter, a benevolent god, and in this card, Jupiter is in Libra. Thus the normal destructive Swords, are put to rest in the munificent, benevolent and loving nature of Jupiter.
The Rose that was cut apart in the 3 of swords, is restored and Consciousness is settled, and a rest from emotional turmoil is implied by the 4 of Swords. Jupiter in Libra radiates compassion and sensitivity showing the Mercy that is Chesed. Here Jupiter claims authority in the intellectual world. Arguing for convention, Jupiter restores mental balance after the chaos of arbitrary thought.
In the 4 of Swords card, the hilts of the Swords, are formed into the corners of the St, Andrew's Cross, suggesting the rigidity and fixation implied in the 4. The Rose of 49 petals, in which the Swords are sheathed, suggesting social harmony and implying a suggestion of compromise. As does Crowley, I find this compromise to be a less than positive factor. Swords are for war. Hence, this is a truce brought on by force. Making this truce an act of an indolent mind, that would rather be pusillanimous and compromise for social peace rather than work out the thought through the promised struggle. However, it may be to keep the peace; but peace at any cost, is not always preferable. The price of liberty and freedom is courage not compromise. Here, no Treaty has been made, and no one has won. Instead all parties agreed to rest and regroup for further conflict in some future time.
The Triple Goddess Tarot- 4 of Swords, illustrates a meditative scene. Here a young woman is in a yoga meditation, beside her looks to be a artistic interpretation of a chess game, as yet to be played out and won. Above her are 4 swords, 3 pointed down and one crossways. Having swords hanging overhead, is suggestive of a future unsolved problem and a challenge that must be faced and won. Hence, we have an image of Truce here as well, as the young woman is meditating on a solution.
When the 4 of Swords , is thrown during a reading:
- There is mental understanding of a matter, or a relationship coming to full resolution on 4 levels of mental awareness: The Rational, The Emotional of the Unconscious, The Spiritual, and the Subconscious of the Physical.
- Implications of problems that should not be ignored; listen to the inner self and answers will be restored.
- A holding pattern after mastering a difficult mental situation.
- Retreat or withdrawal necessary to heal or hide, by creating a protected mental space. Here insight can be generated by seclusion.
- A moment of logic and discriminating intelligence of integrity and planning.
The negatives of this card are often;
- A bout of illness in order to recuperate. The intellect is relinquishing control back to the body so that a time out of from problems and solutions are achieved as the body has only one focus of getting better.
- Isolation.
- Forced retreat.
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