The Tarot of Eli, LLC-Minor Arcana: Thoth Tarot- 10 of Wands-Oppression & The Modern Witch Tarot- Ten of Wands

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Above all things, know yourself!

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

The Thoth Tarot, the 10 of Wands, is also called Lord of Oppression, and is Saturn in Sagittarius. The Angels attributed to the Decan, are Reyayel and Avamel. The 10 OF WANDS-Oppression; is Malkuth in Aziluth, the world of Archetypes and is the influence of Malkuth in the world of Pure Spirit. In the Book of Thoth, on page 194, Crowley writes:

" The number 10 refers to Malkuth which depends from the other nine Sephiroth, but is not directly in communication with them. It shows the Force detached from its Spiritual forces. It has become a blind Force; so, the most violent form of that particular energy, without modifying influences.".

Basically, the destructive powers of Saturn's lead-jackboots are amplified on the neck of the ethereal-Sagittarius, leading to selfishly applied material force, and often cruelly. On the Thoth, 10 of Wands, the suggestion of the 8 crude leaded bar-like wands, and 2 in the form of Dorjes (Tibetan spear- symbols of Thunderbolts) suggests, cruelty, malice, overbearing force and energy that can be injustice.

However, the word oppression may also have a lighter side as one must understand that a certain amount of energy must be oppressed at all times, for form to exist. Energy must be contained in a "Thought Form" before it can become emoted in solution (liquid light of the Astral Plane) and coagulated into manifestation. This "vital life force" that we know as "sexual energy", because it must flow from one pole to another (male to female), can also be oppressed in a Tantric Sexual ritual of Energy Magic, to build up to a extreme concentration, much like a "big bang", where upon it is released as a cleansing fire, which completely overwhelms any barriers to Spiritual Manifestation and reestablishes equalized energetic health in both participants. Then again, too much oppression of energy-in-motion (emotion) can lead to disaster. Like electricity, Water or Fire, energy resists this oppression, and will "slip its bonds" at any sign of weakening--- sometimes destructively so. There really are no negative cards in Thoth Tarot, as it is all about "Above all things, know thyself" and/or Self-knowledge. Hence, it is about knowledge, of which there is no "good" or "bad". In knowledge there is only experience that creates "KNOWING"/Self-Awareness.

Often, because of cultural indoctrination, we oppress our own ability to act, an obfuscation brought on because of our own socially manipulated self-perspective that places a certain "value" on others. Therefore, most of us tend to be crueler to ourselves than to others, because we often fear error in ourselves more than others. We can escape this cycle of destruction if we understand that the oppression we feel, is often the Mind being told by the ego to change perspectives; installing in the mind a non-solution of fearing the problem instead of acting to correct it. This is because the ego is survival orientated and fears change, rejection, and above all-risk. However, we can identify oppression as the viral programing of indoctrination and dogma, and choose to act (Will) rather than react (subconscious programming). By catching the ego in its "slave programing" tricks , we can avoid an emotional imprisonment of our spirit being instructed to serve the body's limits. Here one's Soul is told to realize the body's feared limits and willfully go beyond them. It also behooves one to remember that it's better to pop a small balloon, than an over pressurized steam boiler, so act now rather than oppress. Therefore, stop oppressing our emotional energy and establish a safety pressure relief valve, such as yoga or meditation or even physical exercise. I also find that by daily repeating the "Truth about Self-the Trestle Board" releases "knee jerk" emotional bonds.

Often, by taking things too seriously, we fail to use the power of mirth that cracks the veneer of perspective, so that we can see beyond our self-made prison of "I can't". Truth being, "I can’t", usually means "I am afraid to" and/or "I don't want to”; However, "I Can't" becomes a statement of low self-value as we know that often repeated lies become belief and in the subconscious they become automatic response. So just say," I don't want to" and get on with your motion. For as we all know, with impassioned focus, we can accomplish anything. Always be true to your own Self!

The only thing important about importance, is that it isn't important. 

Therefore, it sometimes helps to laugh at one's fears. That's the beautiful side of Will and "freedom of choice". So remember this: we use "thought" to oppress energy into form, for creation's sake----including our own identity, but eventually, because change is the only constant in this energy Universe, that oppression will end whether voluntarily or by emotional-explosion and/or rage. Energy will free itself and continue transformative motion. Those who are freely changing their perspectives, by doing, and seeing error and then correcting it, will find that the once feared false- end we call death is merely a movement towards another perspective and will experience what the Tibetans' call "reincarnation"; reincarnation is simply expanding and liberating one's personality by the addition of experienced knowledge that always changes perspective. It is a grievous error of ignorance to believe that the Universal Self created you as Itself, only for you to return to nothing! By fearing an end, you seem to have one, by not fearing and end, you consciously experience transformation. All is Mind, and Mind is Self, and the Universe is created by the I AM to "Above all things, know thyself"!

The Thoth 10 of Wands card is made clear by Crowley, in his Book of Thoth-pg. 194, where he writes," The whole picture suggests oppression and repression. It is a stupid and obstinate cruelty from which there is no escape. It is a Will which has not understood anything beyond its dull purpose, its 'lust of result', and will devour itself in the conflagrations it has evoked." 

The Tarot 10's are also and end of a cycle. From 10 to 1 again, goes the cycle of transformation. Therefore, this will not last long, all you have to do, is change perspective and not repeat the past. Our identities of the Psyche as a Spiritual Being, are suppressed by indoctrination and dogma and don't allow us to see the massive potential given us as Divine Images of SELF/I AM. and therefore, rob us of our freedom of choice. Hence, the search for self or its purpose, is a constant preoccupation among the masses. This compounds oppression. For to be a Self, looking for Self, is a fish in the ocean looking for water. YOU ARE ALREADY HERE! Your purpose is To Be! What your fate is...well, that is up to you!

If it is here; it is there. If it is there; it is here. If it is not here; it is not there.

- Zen Koen

The Modern Witch Tarot- Ten of Wands, depicts the Traditional art interpretation of this card. Here a person is overburdened with a load of 10, fertile and leafy wands. This image represents one who has taken on too much responsibility in business, career or relationship. It is time to stop being a martyr and learn to delegate. This card also implies the recovery after a difficult period awaits the querent. Such as recovered money or health after illness.

Remember, that to advance one's self in the spiritual journey of "Above all things know thyself", one becomes a "sensitive", an empathic, intuitive lover of all things. This brings with it a burden of sorrow for the plight of the indoctrinated mundane people around you who are also trying to make the lies of dogma and indoctrination a successful life form. The futility of it all "hurts". Yet you must "let go and let the Soul" of each individual decide when to push the persona towards a journey of greater potential. Let them Be and above all things be YOU!

One cannot carry this great burden of responsibility for each person- for long. This struggle is clearly shown in the more traditional Tarot Cards, like the Rider-Waite-Smith or The Modern Witch Tarot 10 of wands, where one is overburdened and one can't go any further with such an emotional overload. Hence the term "the straw that broke the camel's back" is experienced and often in an explosion of rage; for example "road rage", that often happens after reaching the end of one's endurance to contain the oppressed emotional energy of fear, often called "stress". The image of the many traditional tarot cards, usually display an overwhelming burden that has broken down the will to go on.

When the 10 of Wands is thrown in a divination and  well dignified by the surrounding Cards, such as positive Major Arcana it implies:

• The querent is being generous or experiencing generosity from another.
• Self-Sacrifice as in the form of oppressing one's wants for another's.
• Disinterestedness in a situation.
• Emerging from a bad situation. 
• Wisdom gained from adversity.
• With holding sexual energy, under heavy stimulation, for the purpose of amassing a overwhelming amount for explosive healing/transforming purposes (Tantric). 

When the 10 of Wands is thrown during a Divination, but is ill dignified by the surrounding cards , the Querent may experience: 

• Cruelty and malice towards others.
• Oppression, Injustice and over-bearing  strength being applied for selfish and material ends.
• Sometimes shows failure in a   matter, and opposition too strong to be controlled arising from the      person's too great selfishness at the beginning.
• Ill will, envy, slander, obstinacy  and swiftness in evil.
• Dogma.
• Fixation.
• Authority problems.
• The unresolved issues of the father relationship.

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