The Tarot of Eli, LLC-Minor Arcana: Thoth Tarot- 10 of Cups-Satiety & The Declarative Tarot-Layers of Heart (cups)-No.10-Maturation. 

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Above all things, know thyself!

#10. The Kingdom of Spirit is embodied in my flesh.

MALKUTH, Earth, is the 10th Sephiroth on the Tree of Life, and is the placement of the 4 10s. The Thoth 10 OF CUPS is known as SATIETY and is attributed to Mars in Pisces. Crowley calls this card, The Lord of Perfected Success, as this is the influence of MALKUTH in the unconscious Qabalistic Creative World known as Briah. Satiety is a word meaning, filled to the point of excess, though it is hard to argue that excessive happiness is a negative thing; However, perfection is the point where transformation ends, and no change is permitted. Total Happiness without change is the stuff of "Looney bins". The truth is, here one is due to change a cycle, for they are as happy as they can be at this point in their life.

What is exceptional about the Thoth card, is that the general astrological meaning of Mars in Pisces doesn't apply. Pisces is a watery sign and Mars would signify a dispersal of energy to a point of frustration. However, the meaning here is that fiery Mars, the god of war, causes the Waters of Pisces to rush furiously into Briah, the creative world bringing great excess on the material plane of the !0th Sepiroth-Malkuth. The imagery of this card expresses the opinion that all happiness is inspired from above, i.e., comes from the Self of the-Macrocosm. One could say that Happiness, is a higher, harmonious-inner state of energy consciousness and/or a melody of Spirit-Mind-Body where every cord is perfect. However, the caveat that all things must end is also there as the tilting cups on the Thoth card suggest an emptying is coming for all things proceed from order to disorder. There is also the fact that unless change happens there will be no challenges that inspire further creativity. Therefore, this conflict of necessary change is from Mars in Pisces., to stimulate forward motion. Mars is a noted gross, violent force, depicted in Myth as the God of War who attacks any noted perfection. Pisces is notably peaceful, spiritual, sensitive, psychic, and receptive. Hence, Pisces is upset with Mar's brutal, fiery, and dominant character. Therefore, this combination means that the proper work of Water is done, and a substantial disturbance and/or change is due. In fact, many astrologers consider Mars in Pisces to be the worst position of the twelve signs.

In his letter to Lady Frieda Harris (the artist of the Thoth cards) on December 19,1939, Crowley wrote: The background; it ought to look menacing. There is something very sinister about this card. It suggests the morbid hunger which springs from surfeit. The craving of a drug addict is the idea. At the same time, of course, it is the final agony of descent into illusion which renders necessary the completion of the circle by awakening the Eld of the All-Father."

This statement goes along with the Hindu concept that if Shiva (or the Tibetan Yama), in his state as All-Father who is dreaming the universe and if he awakens the universe will cease to exist and become a deconstruction as a beginning for a new reconstruction. This is because Perfection is not of the material worlds, but of the Invisible One. The Invisible Infinite can be compared to water, for no matter how much "stuff" you put in it, it doesn't change the nature of it. Infinite is always infinite and without measurement; hence invisible. So, no matter how many measured creations you put in the Mind the invisible "mind stuff" is still infinitely invisible and unchanged. 

Yet, through all this saturation of happiness, when the Thoth 10 of Cups card is thrown during a reading, it means that emotional matters arranged and settled; there will be no further creation in this phase. Just remember that pleasure proceeds to dissipation and fanatical hunger, as energy-in-motion follows the second law of thermodynamics. The message here is," Enjoy the moment of completion, all is done. Sit back, sip a warm drink, but avoid stagnation, for once again, you'll be called on to perform at your best." To be sure, when Tarot is used for public Divination, it is best applied to mundane matters, whereas the meaning may be different if applied to a more spiritual plane of Hermetic Qabalah initiate and/or aspirant. The Placement of the cards, in the reading will clarify this statement. Either way, a cycle of Happiness is complete; it is saturated. This cycle has ended as all 10's cycle to 01.

10 is a number that when added together [1+0 =1), you end up at the beginning. It is the "up the down staircase" number that places us on top of one flight of stairs, only to find out that we are at the bottom of another flight. There are some Tarot readers that forgot this part of the Arcana, and call the Ten of Cups, ​permanent success, but Qabalists know that the only permanency in this One Energy Universe is change/transformation, so to have permanent success, one must be entirely happy with constant change and the surprises it brings. Yet here dances the "Lord of Material Happiness", the 10th Sephiroth, Malkuth and all seems well even though one can go no further which shouldn't be a surprise for we know how long happiness in material things lasts in a “not this, not that” world! Soon material consumption becomes a madness of its own. Often when one walks their true path, some suffering is encountered, and one finds that "happiness" is not the only and/or True goal. "Inner Fulfillment" does not often mean pleasure, although it gives one a stalwart presence as they know their presence is enough. The Goal of the Divine has been met on Malkuth, as you, who are the "image of God" in the microcosm and thereby, lies an inner happiness of completed Will.

The Declarative Tarot-Layers of Heart (formally cups)-No. 10-Maturation is about emotional maturity. By coping with experiences that are heart felt and emotionally challenging you have reached the heart felt space of managing emotions and understanding self.

In all 10's of the Declarative Tarot is a plethora of imagery imitating the total sum of our life journey up to this point and/or phase in our life. For example, at the bottom of the card is a *Manta Ray pushing a bubble of the growth cycle, an image of a child maturing into an adult senior. Here is a metaphor for our Eternal Guardian (Solar- Self) and/or Psyche that carefully guides us through our life cycles in the Sea of Life. On the left of the Longhorned Mobula Ray are three growth stages of tadpoles. When we journey through life, each of us begins by feeling small and vulnerable. However, at some point we begin to master our movement and expand our self-awareness and gain a sense of accomplishment. We begin growing within, and as an example of this growth we see a tadpole with legs on its way to frog maturity. Like the lotus, you have risen from the mud of obfuscation to reach the sunlight of understanding and expand into your wonderful and unique beauty.

Also shown on this card is a Blue Whale rising out of the Sea in a joyous breach. The sight of such a large and magnificent being frolicking about inspires us to enjoy our own presence as a sensual and sentient being. Also shown are ripe pomegranates, this fruit willingly shares its seeds of knowledge which is a metaphoric symbol for the Akasha of the Soul. For once we begin to know ourselves, the Soul begins sharing its ancient library of experiences with its body representative.

The many images of maturation include the wheat next to ancient trees and maturing fern fonds that unfurl towards the future. Not to be outdone, fruited grapes are shown as if hair on the face of the fecund and fertile celestial being. The moon and the sun remind us that we live on a celestial being called the Earth, and we experience the cycles of her seasons as well as those of the Moon. Therefore, the central Celestial face is a reminder of our own Soul/Psyche with its eyes open to the Light of Higher Self. Shown on the neck is a spiral design that was often used by the ancients to represent a vortex of sound and/or a doorway into another dimension. We are reminded here that our voice is a "voice of declaration", a god voice that decides the song we sing in our travels. Declaring our existence for all to hear. Voice is a magical casting forth and becomes our doorway into the next part of our journey. Speaking ill makes us ill, and speaking well creates wellness. Your voice is a powerful presence.... use it wisely! For it is not what you put into your mouth that will pollute your body-life, but what you put out of it!

*Manta rays are not as commonly featured in folklore as some other animals, but in the cultures and regions where they do appear, they often hold significant symbolic meanings. Here are some interpretations from various cultures:

1. Pacific Islander Cultures: In some Pacific Island cultures, manta rays are symbols of spirit guardians or ancestors. They're seen as graceful and powerful creatures, symbolizing protection.

2. Indigenous Australian Culture: Some indigenous Australian tribes regard the manta ray as a totem animal. As with other totems, the manta ray is considered a protector and is deeply respected.

3. General Symbolism: Due to their unique appearance and graceful movements, manta rays can symbolize freedom, grace, and fluidity. Their ability to glide effortlessly through the ocean can be seen as a metaphor for moving through life with grace and ease, overcoming obstacles smoothly.

4. Spiritual Symbolism: In some spiritual circles, the manta ray is seen as a symbol of deeper understanding or a broader perspective on life due to its wide "wingspan" and its graceful, soaring movements through water.

It's worth noting that symbolism can vary between cultures and individuals. What a manta ray represents to one person or culture might differ from its meaning to another. Always consider the specific cultural or individual context when interpreting symbols.

When thrown in a divination, the Ten of Cups, or the No. 10-Maturation card implies: 

• Matters arranged as wished, permanent and lasting success of a physical issue, as it is done and finished. 
• However, being a 10, this is a short duration card, as 10's are a union of 1 and 0, so from one to zero is the flow of this cards influence. 
• Often one is only satiated and/or overly full for a brief period, much like the impermanence of a drug, with struggle around the corner. 
• The 10 of Cups, although in the stable form of the Tree of Life, has a conflicting element that causes a tilting of the Cups, spilling water from the Great Lotus that overhangs the complete system, implying some effort is required. 
• This meaning of material success is reinforced if the 10 of Cup's lands on the position of "Beneath you" or "of House and Home", on a Celtic cross layout. In fact, which would be paramount for this card, as it is a 10 of Malkuth (Kingdom) in an Earthly existence position. However, the tilting of the cups shows us that 10s are the end of one issue, and the beginning of the unfathomable "new".
• Emotional fulfillment in intellectual ideas.
• Search for the path of inner completion.
• Optimism.
• Fulfillment.
• Dreams that come true on an emotional level.

If ill defined by the surrounding cards, it implies:

• Bathos.
• Inner emptiness.
• Sentimentality.
• Quarrelsome relationship.
• Disharmony

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