#tarotthothhermeticqabalahmagickelitarotstrickingly.com

Above all things, know thyself!

#7. Living from that will, supported by its unfailing wisdom and understanding, mine is the victorious life.

Moon in Aquarius – Netzach (Victory) in Yetzirah (Formative World of Air)

The 7 of Swords, titled "Futility" in the Thoth Tarot, is the card of mental sabotage — the place where the Solar Will knows what it wants, yet the mind busily constructs elaborate reasons why it cannot be. Crowley describes this as “unbalanced force applied to a weak structure,” and the image on the card portrays this perfectly: one central sword — the clear intention of the Soul — is hemmed in and overwhelmed by six other blades, each one a negative voice, a "yes-but" argument that cuts against the current of the True Will.

This is the mind that says, “I will…” and immediately adds, “…but.”

The “Yes-But” Mind: Sabotage by Thought

The central sword, marked with the Solar glyph (☉) — the circle and central point — is the authentic directive of the Soul. It is the Logos of your True Self speaking from Tiphareth, the Solar center of consciousness. Around it cluster six other swords, each marked by a planetary glyph. These are the internalized forces that, when inverted or misaligned, whisper the excuses that fracture Will and scatter attention.

Each represents a form of self-defeating thought:

1. Saturn – “It’s Too Complicated”

Saturn (♄) brings structure, order, and discipline. But inverted, Saturn becomes the voice of restriction and bureaucracy, declaring that there’s “too much red tape,” or that “it’s too difficult to even begin.” This is the part of the psyche that erects walls where none exist, making the path to manifestation seem impossibly obstructed.

2. Mercury – “I Can’t…”

Mercury (☿), the swift messenger of intellect and communication, when inverted, becomes a negative chatterbox of subconscious origin. Its voice is filled with “I can’t… I wish I could… If only…” — a flood of small, corrosive phrases that wear down resolve and scatter mental focus into futile speculation.

3. Jupiter – “I’m Not Lucky Enough”

Jupiter (♃) is the expansive, benevolent force that encourages growth. Misaligned, it turns into the belief that “things never work out for me,” or “I’m not talented enough.” It labels opportunities as “too limiting” or “too small” — and so the psyche never reaches for them at all.

4. Mars – “I Don’t Have the Energy”

Mars (♂), the fiery engine of vitality and will, in shadow becomes exhaustion and apathy. “I’m too tired… I don’t have the energy… It’s dull and boring…” These mantras sap momentum before it even begins, ensuring the fire never catches.

5. Venus – “I Don’t Care”

Venus (♀), the harmonizer and magnet of love, when inverted wraps itself in denial. It says, “I don’t really want that anyway… It doesn’t mean anything to me…” The Venusian shadow shields the heart from disappointment by pretending it was never invested to begin with — a classic defense mechanism of futility.

6. Sun and Moon – “Wanna-Be-ism”

The final sword, marked with the twin loops of Sun and Moon, symbolizes the split between conscious and subconscious — a self-sabotage loop wherein the outer and inner selves contradict each other. Here lives the “wanna-be” syndrome: endless dreaming and fantasizing, but no action taken. Desire remains unmanifested because it is never brought into form.

The Solar Sword – Voice of the True Will

At the center of this noisy chaos is the primary sword bearing the Solar glyph — the Soul’s Will and the true directive of Tiphareth. It is your Solar Logos, the inner authority of the Self. But its clarity is drowned out by the clamor of the lesser voices — the six self-defeating arguments orbiting around it.

The lesson here is clear: the Soul always knows what it wants. It is the scattered swords of the rationalizing mind that obscure the way. The path to mastery is to quiet those six futile voices and listen to the Solar directive at the center — the still, silent knowing of “I AM” that speaks without hesitation or excuse.

Hermetic Insight: Netzach in Yetzirah

On the Tree of Life, the 7 of Swords resides in Netzach, the sphere of Venus, within the Formative World of Yetzirah (Air). Netzach governs desire, passion, and emotional drive — and in the suit of Swords, this sphere’s natural fluidity becomes unstable. Here, thought is influenced by shifting feelings and subconscious currents, producing a mind that talks itself out of its own will.

This is why Crowley names this card Futility: it is not that the goal is unreachable, but that mental energy is scattered and dispersed, unable to coalesce into the decisive thrust of a single sword. The act of sabotage is internal — and therefore can only be undone by inner discipline.

Alchemical Formula: Aligning Thought with Will

The alchemical work of the 7 of Swords is to reclaim the central sword — the Solar directive — and bring the six peripheral voices into service of that aim. This is done not by fighting them, but by transmuting their essence:

• Saturn’s caution becomes strategic planning.

• Mercury’s chatter becomes inspired articulation.

• Jupiter’s doubt becomes expansive faith.

• Mars’ lethargy becomes disciplined action.

• Venus’ denial becomes heartfelt devotion.

• Sun and Moon’s split becomes integrated purpose.

When each planetary force is brought back into harmony with the Sun-Self, the scattered swords become allies rather than saboteurs. The “yes-but” mind dissolves, and the Will becomes a single blade — unstoppable, inevitable, solar.

Divinatory Meaning

Upright: Self-sabotage, scattered thought, overthinking, excuses, fear of failure, lack of confidence, internal contradiction. A dream deferred by the “yes-but” mind.

Ill-defined: Clarity of purpose regained. The ability to cut through self-doubt and organize thought into decisive action. The scattered mind becomes a single sword aligned with the Solar Will.

Astrologically the 7 of Swords is Moon and in Aquarius, the Crescent above the sword tip on the Thoth Tarot is the Moon and the wavy lines at the bottom of the Thoth card is the sign of Aquarius. Each of the Thoth- 6 swords of procrastination bear a planetary sign on the hilt for the 6 ways we sabotage ourselves. In the Mystic Palette Tarot, the hawk is sabotaged by its greed as it tries to steal five swords and is looking back in consternation at the 2 left behind.

The Moon in Aquarius brings a unique blend of emotional detachment, intellectual curiosity, and a strong desire for independence. Here are the key characteristics associated with this placement:

1. Emotional Detachment: Individuals with the Moon in Aquarius tend to approach emotions in a more logical or analytical way. They may not express their feelings as openly or intensely as others, preferring to keep a certain distance.

2. Innovative Thinking: Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet of innovation and sudden insights. Those with this placement often have original ideas and enjoy thinking outside the box, particularly in matters related to social issues or humanitarian causes.

3. Strong Humanitarian Instincts: People with the Moon in Aquarius are often deeply concerned with social justice, equality, and making the world a better place. They might be drawn to causes that support the greater good and strive to bring about positive change.

4. Independence: This placement fosters a strong need for personal freedom and autonomy. Individuals with the Moon in Aquarius might resist emotional dependency or any situation that feels too confining.

5. Unconventional Relationships: In relationships, they may prefer unconventional dynamics or partnerships that allow for plenty of personal space. They are often drawn to friendships and communities that reflect their ideals and values.

6. Intellectual Connection: Emotional fulfillment for them often comes through intellectual stimulation. They may seek partners or friends who can engage them in deep, meaningful conversations.

7. Forward-Thinking: The Moon in Aquarius is often associated with a future-oriented mindset. These individuals may have a strong interest in technology, progressive ideas, and envisioning what’s next.

8. Eccentricity: There's often a quirky, unconventional side to those with the Moon in Aquarius. They might have unusual hobbies, interests, or ways of expressing themselves.

This placement is all about balancing emotional needs with a desire for freedom and intellectual engagement, making for a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable emotional landscape. Hence, there is a tendency to self-sabotage as shown on the sword hilts.

Thoth Tarot – 7 of Swords: Futility-Overview

Netzach (Victory) in Yetzirah (Formative World of Air) – Moon in Aquarius

Therefore, the 7 of Swords, titled Futility in the Thoth Tarot, is the battlefield of the sabotaging mind — the realm where we know what we want (symbolized by the central Solar sword) yet construct elaborate reasons why we cannot attain it (the six lesser swords surrounding it). This is the “yes-but” mind that defeats itself before the first blow is struck. It is the psyche undermined by its own rationalizations and emotional noise.

In the suit of Swords — the element of Air, thought, and reason — the number 7 represents Netzach, the 7th Sephiroth on the Tree of Life. Netzach is called Victory, but it is not the victory of conquest — it is the victory of harmony, the triumph of feeling, desire, and instinct properly aligned with Will.

Netzach: The Sphere of Love, Instinct, and the Group Mind

Netzach is the sphere of Venus, and its power is that of attraction, magnetism, passion, and cohesion. It governs love, feelings, and instincts — but more profoundly, it is the realm of the Group Mind of humanity: the vast, living egregore woven of collective emotion. This is the emotional field that influences nature, art, and the subtle forces of manifestation.

The Golden Dawn describes Netzach in this way:

“The beams of Chesed and Geburah meet in Netzach and thence in Netzach arises a green, pure, brilliant, liquid, and gleaming like an emerald. And the Sphere of its operations is that of Nogah or External Splendor, producing zeal, love, harmony, and it ruleth the Sphere of Action of the Planet Venus and the nature of the Vegetable World. And Jehovah Tzabaoth is a God of Hosts and of Armies, of Triumph and of Victory, ruling the universe in Justice and Eternity. And its Archangel Hanial, is the Prince of Love and Harmony, and the Name of the Order of Angels is Elohim, or Gods who are also called the Order of Principalities.”

Here we see that Netzach is the meeting-place of polarities — Chesed (Mercy) and Geburah (Severity) converge here, and their beams mingle into the emerald fire of love and artistic inspiration. Venus’s domain in Netzach is Nogah — the sphere of External Splendor, which radiates outward as beauty, magnetism, and creative impulse.

Futility: Emotion Scattering Thought

When the airy swords of thought descend into Netzach’s watery, emotional domain, the intellect loses its sharpness. Feelings cloud reason, and instinct diverts logic. The result is mental scattering: thought disperses into a thousand conflicting currents, none strong enough to pierce through to manifestation. This is the essence of Futility.

It is not that the Will is weak — the central Solar sword represents the unwavering directive of the Soul — but that its force is diffused by six counter-currents of sabotaging thought. Each bears a planetary glyph and represents a particular negative pattern:

Here’s a modernized, elucidated, and more fluid version of that Golden Dawn passage, with deeper Western Hermetic insights woven in for clarity:

Modernized and Elucidated Version:

The forces of Chesed (Mercy) and Geburah (Severity) converge within the Sphere of Netzach, and from this union arises a vibrant and luminous green brilliance—pure, fluid, and shimmering like the heart of an emerald. Netzach, the Sephirah of Victory, channels the creative flow of Nogah, the sphere of External Splendor, which manifests as passion, devotion, the fire of love, and the harmonizing power that binds opposites into beauty.

Netzach governs the Venusian current—the sphere of desire, sensuality, attraction, and aesthetic harmony. It is also intimately linked to the Vegetable Kingdom, which flourishes under Venus' gentle yet fecund touch, expressing the alchemical relationship between beauty, life force, and organic growth.

(Go to femme fatale blog for deeper insight.)

The Divine Name associated with Netzach is Jehovah Tzabaoth—the Lord of Hosts and Armies. This is not merely the Mind of war but the Mind who commands the dynamic interplay of cosmic forces, ensuring Victory through Equilibrium and ruling the manifested world through Eternal Justice. This name reflects the divine orchestration that holds all opposites in harmonious tension—the pulse that keeps creation dancing between order and chaos.

The Archangel Haniel, whose name can be translated as “Grace of God” or “Glory of God,” presides over this sphere. Haniel is the luminous Prince of Love, Beauty, and Mystical Harmony, teaching the mysteries of attraction and the spiritual ecstasy found in aesthetic and emotional rapture.

The Angelic Order of Netzach is called the Elohim, a plural Divine Name that means Gods—suggesting this order of beings embodies the vast creative forces that sculpt the outer world through beauty, art, desire, and natural growth. In some systems, they are also aligned with the Principalities, who govern the subtle forces that influence nations, cultures, and the collective expressions of beauty and spirit through art, music, and natural cycles.

Let’s expand the interpretation further, bringing in the Tarot, planetary mysteries, and alchemical resonance of Netzach. Here’s the expanded version for those who wish more layers of Western Hermetic insight:

Expanded and Hermetically Enriched Elucidation of Netzach (Victory):

The forces of Chesed (Mercy, expansive loving-kindness) and Geburah (Severity, disciplined force) pour into Netzach, where they are reconciled in the shimmering green brilliance of divine beauty in motion. This green is not just a color, but a vibratory key—the living pulse of growth, desire, art, passion, and the very rhythm of life itself. It is the green ray of Venus, glowing fluidly, not static like stone, but alive like a glistening leaf covered in dew or the dancing shimmer of the sea at dawn. This is the green of nature, eroticism, fertility, and creative intoxication—a color both of life’s beauty and its fleeting impermanence.

Nogah – External Splendor

The sphere of Nogah, often translated as "External Splendor" or "Brightness," reveals Venus as a mirror of divine beauty in the material world. In Nogah, the spiritual potency of beauty translates into art, love, sensuality, music, passion, and devotion. This is the sphere where we are enraptured by aesthetic harmony, whether it be in the melody of a song, the touch of a lover, the fragrance of flowers, or the ecstasy found in the perfect line of poetry. Here, love and victory are one, for to truly love is to overcome the illusion of separateness.

Planetary Rulership and the Vegetable Kingdom

Netzach governs the Planetary Sphere of Venus, the radiant Queen of the Heavens, the morning and evening star who weaves the threads of attraction between all living things. This rulership extends into the Vegetable Kingdom, where plants stretch toward the Sun in an act of natural devotion—a living metaphor for the magical act of aspiration. All green life, from the mightiest oak to the most delicate vine, exists under the rulership of Netzach, reflecting its law of beauty in form, the fecund dance of life and death, and the perennial cycle of blooming and decay.

The Divine Name Jehovah Tzabaoth expresses the Lord of Hosts—but in Netzach, this is not merely a military host, but the host of life’s countless forms, a divine general commanding the endless armies of desire, attraction, and creation. This is the force of Victory through Harmony—the realization that beauty is a divine weapon and love is the greatest act of conquest, not through domination, but through the irresistible call toward union and creative ecstasy.

The Archangel Haniel, whose name means "Grace of God," is the Prince of Love, Ecstasy, and Mystical Harmony. Haniel teaches that beauty is not decoration but revelation—a crack through which the Light of the Supernal pours into the world. Every moment of aesthetic rapture is a gateway into divine consciousness. Haniel presides over the rites of sacred sensuality, the mysticism of love, and the alchemical process where desire becomes devotion.

The Elohim – Angelic Order of Gods

The Elohim, the angelic host of Netzach, bear the plural Divine Name meaning Gods or Powers. This is the order that governs the interplay between divine creativity and the forms it takes in the world of manifestation. They preside over inspiration, guiding artists, musicians, poets, and lovers. They are also known as the Principalities, the angels that oversee nations, cultures, and civilizations, weaving the tapestry of collective myth and beauty.

The Tarot Connection – The Sevens

Netzach resonates strongly with the Sevens of the Tarot, each expressing a particular challenge or revelation that comes from the raw current of desire and victory:

• Seven of Wands (Valor): The courage to stand for what you desire, to fight for beauty or love in a world of opposition.
• Seven of Cups (Debauch): The danger of illusion, when desire turns into indulgence, and beauty is mistaken for mere glamour.
• Seven of Swords (Futility): The cunning required to navigate complex desires, the risk of deception in pursuit of victory.
• Seven of Disks (Failure): The sobering realization that not all desires bloom, and that beauty, once lost, can haunt the soul.

Each of these cards reflects Netzach’s initiatory challenge: how to pursue victory through beauty without becoming enslaved to the image instead of the essence.

Alchemical Resonance

Netzach, as Venus, embodies the Green Lion of alchemy—desire that dissolves form to reveal the inner gold. This is the wet way of alchemy, the path of union through love and the transformation of raw desire into divine rapture. The alchemist working through Netzach learns that:

“True beauty is not what the eyes see, but what the heart knows when it finds itself reflected in the world.”

One of Netzach’s most mystical secrets is its path to Tiphereth—the Path of The Lovers. This is the Hermetic Marriage, where love ceases to be desire for the other and becomes the realization that the other is the Beloved within. This path teaches that all desire—no matter how profane—can become a sacrament if it is spiritually integrated.

Summary: Netzach’s Formula

Victory through Beauty
Desire transmuted into Devotion
Passion married to Purpose
Love as a Path to Liberation
Nature as the Living Temple

The symbols for Netzach, that are used in Western Magic and Tarot are:

1. The Medieval Girdle.

2. The Rose.

#. The oil lamp.

Netzach is the first Sephiroth of the astral-Formative triangle and is the first energy intelligence to make up the personality of the individual. You may remember that I stated that the Personality is made up of the Four Alchemical Elements, each of which are represented by the lower Sephira, in the familiar sequence of Fire, Water, Air and Earth. Netzach is Fire (Will-energy), Hod is Water (Emotion-intuition), Yesod is Air (intelligence-Mind) and Malkuth is Earth (Body).

Unless you exorcise the lesser or false ego (good-bad) built for you by media-controlled indoctrination and dogma (often called your "inner demons"), it is futile indeed to think you have any control over your life. Yet again the axiom of Qabalah: "Above all things, know thyself!" rings true!

The most important part of initiation is to observe the layers of lies that your ego/ personality is constructed from, removing layer after layer of words that make the false you, until the real you shines true. This "Garbage in" is called man-made persona and the "Garbage out" is the dysfunctional action of "seeking yourself" in the eyes of your peers, or of some outside authority.

You are already divinely approved---your existence proves this, and your Software for operating the Hardware, was already created by the Higher Self, out of its library of living experience which many call "the Soul". In other words, you are the only Author, and therefore, your only Authority is the Soul... which is also the "You": the Sun of awake consciousness. Your real identity is Life, and you make Lifetimes. This is because you are the Psyche/Soul who is timeless! Time is a paradigm of measurement, so necessary for forms but is a false assumption of the intangible.

Often, Mystery schools, such as The Golden Dawn, use a set of Tattva exercises as a type of "controlled day- dream" (guided meditations), intended to bring the student into direct contact with the subtle Elemental realms immediately underlying the material sphere of sensation. Tarot also brings those Elemental realms into sensual manifestation for the aspirant, all of which is necessary to prepare the aspirant for more advanced techniques of scrying with Tarot Cards and thereby producing a bridge between the Cosmic Mind and the personal microcosmic Mind. The astral realm beginning with Yesod and including Netzach and Hod, is a fluidic, non-solid realm where everything begins in assumption/ illusion/dream. It is the place in Mind where our Formative consciousness can experiment with image, such as children role-playing, to comprehend in a later stage of growth which is the actual manifestation of being "that". Everything is an illusion until it isn't.

If done with controlled will, this is ability to imagen is a boon to any creative endeavor on Earth; if taken as rote, or a law laid down by some divine deity, all hell will break loose in the physical realm, as the experiment is unobserved and left with its errors as it hasn't been analyzed as to its value as living information. Therefore, your "form creating mind" (imagination) is controlled by the words of the "few who wish to rule the many" and/or an alien/outside authority!

Since you are the creator of your own thought, I AM, then you must realize that "thought" isn't the real you at all! You are the thinker, not the thought! If you believe every thought you think, it becomes a noisy "yourself" identity, then a happy life as the ternary you is a futile one indeed.

Thought is merely a theory unproven and needs to be made into in-form-action to create Understanding and Wisdom through intimacy with your creation. You then experience the "thinking" as information, which must be proven by experience and/or in-form-action so that you can discern whether this thinking is true knowledge or a falsehood. You are not what you think you are.... you are Spirit which is Willful Celestial Energy. Above all things know thyself!

Also, every experiment is a failure until it isn't. Therefore, if the information you used didn't work, keep expanding your information base until it does! This function is called learning, which leads to Understanding and understanding leads to Wisdom and the combination of both is love! Indoctrination has an end, learning doesn't.

The Astral plane of Mind is not a Master of your personality nor is anything that you contact in it! It is a collective of racial and cultural dreams. Therefore, the Astral is your malleable substance to create with, not be created by! Many " Medium-Channels" just channel astral personae, and live in an illusion of devotional thought, not allowing them to see that they are their own "holy' delusions. Truth being that the energy you feel in your body, is the Real You, as you are the Energy of The Divine Creative, and/or "Sun/Son of God".

This makes the 6th Sephiroth, The Son/Sun, the True Soul Presence that is "You". You are a Solar Being, who has 7 light bodies surrounding a physical one, a type of Spiritual atmosphere. The physical makes the necessary sensual body that we need to experience information intimately and thereby produce knowledge. Therefore, we didn't come seeking "the light", for we are "the light". Rather, we are Light seeking "enfleshenment!"

Let me explain what few wish you to know: A god is a dominant Consciousness on its Plane of Manifestation (a plane is a trinity of 3 points-in-time that make a triangle). Every one of the 10 Sephiroth, is a demigod, therefore you are composed of the united cooperation of these energy intelligences we call Sephiroth, which contribute to the make up the One Collective Self, and when united as "One" become the Divine Hermaphrodite that is Adam Khadmon (The Divine Hermaphrodite and/or the "Heavenly Human" as shown above.)

The Soul completes the Will of the One by manifesting a "Self-Image" by adding depth to the equation of I AM through the progressive condensing of identities. The homo Sapien sapiens is the Top Mammal Predator because of its connection to the Divine Creative (Imagination and rationale), the ruler of all domains! So, you are a Great Group of 10 Sephirotic demigods, /interdimensional creative intelligences, who should be working as One Group Psyche of your individual Tree of Life...A One Living Divine Creative! Each of us is our own "Tree of Life".

The fact that we think we "are not" creative authors of our "life", is because we’ve been mentally separated from the reality of our divinity by the divide and conquer efforts of the Patriarchy and/or military industrial complex (The good you and the bad you fantasy). To "think it" is to begin the process of creation and one must eventually prove it as a "life movement"; a movement that is either forward or backward by emoting it as life motion!

What was done by the manipulation of our imagination, the beginning of all creation, (auto-suggestion and pleasure /pain training) by "The few who wish to rule the many" and the dogma of “divide and conquer” using disinformation as "worded truth" has divided our trinity of Spirit-Mind-Body, and/or put a membrane and/or an oceanic caul of words between our 3 aspects of Spiritual Self, so now we can't manifest our "whole self-plane" and we have no depth of character which cause us to run around seeking Spirit! This is like a fish in the ocean seeking water! A perfect description of "futility"!

The Astral plane of Mind is the beginning of theory formation, a fluid light residing in the lower and/or coagulated subconscious (Netzach) influenced by the subconscious dreams (Hod-Yesod) before it is crystalized and/or coagulated on earth (Malkuth). Hence, everything in thought is malleable and not written in stone.

By giving us "nightmare" stories of how bad our natural body is, and how unintelligent our mind is, and that the Spirit must be sought, the rulers of definition have divided our imagination into good/bad, a 2-dimensional block against our masterful Mental Trinity of Ten Dimensions. Therefore, you forgot the human body is a god of its domain and you are the Divine Universal Breath and/or Prana that keeps it breathing. Your Primary Identity is that of the Spirit and by seeking it you keep pushing it away from you: you are the Spirit! You are the Divine Will encompassing a body, not a body looking for Divine Will! The body lives because of your dream of Being you!

Ego and the Personality are the least powerful self-reflection as they reside as programs in the brain; one you the psyche should have installed in the brain but were not allowed to by "those who rule definition" and/or Rulers who supply "futile" codes we call the Social Egregore. Before you even have even solidified a physical intelligence you were made to reject the body as bad and dirty (especially when naked) a shameful device, causing a division amongst your Spirit-Mind-Body before you even reached 7 years old!

Therefore, we all must return consciously to the Astral-dream plane of our unconscious and clean up our software (wetware) thus allowing the Above Intelligence (Greater Self), The I AM, to operate the Below intelligence (Lesser Self), ME, for the purpose of expanding and liberating life from the Patriarchy created entropy/evil's/ignorance's stifling hold! We than have control of our fate, and the fate of the Cosmos rather than the futility of doing so with worded clots of identity.

By now you may be aware that when we are dealing with Netzach, we are dealing with understanding a particularly difficult State of Energy Conscious. Netzach is where both the Macrocosm (Great) and Microcosm (Small) meet. Therefore, in Netzach, we are dealing with the understanding of the entire race patterns of humankind, animal instinctual and patterns of our own individual persona. But if that isn't enough, we must understand that this Spirit-Mind-Body paradigm is an illusion! For a persona/personality is a "mask" of word sponsored thought, place over the invisible I AM, so we can pretend we are it as a ME. That is how the experiment of "thought" is intimately experienced. It is a purposeful faux identity so that we can "play act" it out to see if it is Futile or a Viable progressive self-awareness! For We are Life, experimenting with Self-Identity as a "Lifetime"!

It is often heard but rarely applied, that to think the same thoughts over and over, and expecting different results in the "now", is Futile if not insane. Therefore, on the Thoth Deck 7 of Swords, Crowley/Harris have precariously balanced the 6 planetary swords, one against the other, aimed against the Larger Sun Sword (Your Solar Self). Implying unstable effort, vacillation, and untrustworthy character.

🪶 Medieval Feathers Tarot – Seven of Swords: Act Before the Edge Dulls

The Medieval Feathers Seven of Swords takes a more immediate, worldly view of this same principle. The card depicts six swords dulled with age, once sharp and resilient but now unable to cut as they once did. A new seventh sword has appeared — sharper, quicker, and far more dangerous if mishandled. Beside it lies the feather of the Atlantic Puffin, a symbol of lightness, grace, and careful awareness. The message is that such sharpness requires mindfulness — precision guided by wisdom.

In its upright position, this card advises quick action and alertness. When something wonderful or valuable appears, you must seize the opportunity before it slips away. The sharpness here is not only literal but mental: the ability to stay awake, to notice what others overlook, and to focus your perception on what truly matters. The mind must remain alert, flexible, and responsive — ready to act when the time is ripe.

If reversed, the sharpness has turned inward. You may be narrowing your vision to what is merely convenient, seeking only what serves your own interests. This rigidity leads to selfishness and ignorance, alienating you from those around you. The reversed card urges you to open your mind and listen — for others’ perspectives may reveal truths you would otherwise miss.

🜁 Comparative Insight

Both versions of the Seven of Swords speak to mental sharpness and its potential for sabotage or success, though they approach it from different levels of consciousness.

• Thoth’s “Futility” operates on the inner plane: it reveals how thought, scattered by subconscious voices and emotional interference, can undermine the very Will that seeks to manifest. Its battlefield is within the psyche.

• Medieval Feathers’ “New Blade” operates on the outer plane: it shows how alertness and precision — or the lack thereof — affect our ability to recognize and seize opportunity in the external world. Its battlefield is within perception and action.

In both cases, mental clarity is the remedy. Whether taming the six sabotaging voices of the Thoth card or honing the edge of awareness in the Medieval Feathers deck, the core message is the same: true sharpness lies in focused consciousness. When the mind serves the Solar Will rather than scattering it, thought becomes a blade of triumph — and futility is transmuted into victory.

However, 7 is a number associated with introspection and the occult (hidden). Therefore, the 7 of Swords asks us to be resourceful and strategic in our thinking. You will find that it is important to have open and honest discussions with others and stay away from things that seem suspicious and/or too good to be true. Tactical thinking is now a benefit.

The number 7 holds significant meaning in both numerology and gematria, symbolizing a variety of spiritual, mystical, and intellectual qualities. Here's an exploration of its characteristics in both systems:

Numerology Characteristics of Number 7

1. Spirituality and Introspection: The number 7 is often associated with spiritual awakening, introspection, and the quest for deeper understanding. It is considered a highly spiritual number that seeks truth and wisdom beyond the material world.

2. Mysticism and Esoteric Knowledge: People or situations influenced by the number 7 are often drawn to the mystical, the occult, and the metaphysical. They may have a natural curiosity about the hidden aspects of reality and the workings of the universe.

3. Intellect and Analysis: The number 7 is also linked to intellectual pursuits, analysis, and deep thinking. Those influenced by this number are often analytical, thoughtful, and introspective, preferring to explore ideas and concepts in depth.

4. Isolation and Solitude: The energy of 7 can sometimes lead to a preference for solitude and a need for personal space. It is a number that values time alone for reflection and meditation.

5. Perfection and Completeness: In numerology, 7 is seen as a symbol of completeness and perfection, often considered a "divine" number because of its associations with the creation of the world (e.g., seven days in the biblical creation story).

6. Inner Wisdom and Intuition: The number 7 is strongly connected to inner wisdom, intuition, and a deep understanding of oneself and others. Those influenced by this number may have a heightened sense of intuition and an innate ability to perceive truths that are not immediately obvious.

Gematria Characteristics of Number 7

In Hebrew gematria, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value, and the number 7 is associated with various words and concepts that carry spiritual significance:

1. Zayin (ז): The 7th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Zayin, has the numerical value of 7. It represents a sword or weapon, symbolizing both protection and the struggle for survival. Zayin also denotes the idea of sustenance and nourishment.

2. Shabbat (שבת): The word for Sabbath, "Shabbat," is closely associated with the number 7, as it falls on the seventh day of the week. Shabbat is a day of rest and spiritual renewal, reflecting the number 7's connection to completeness and holiness.

3. Completion and Perfection: The number 7 frequently appears in the Torah and other Jewish texts, often symbolizing divine completion or perfection, such as the seven days of creation, the seven branches of the Menorah, and the seven heavens (In Hindu-the 7 levels of Samadhi.).

4. Cycles and Natural Order: In gematria, the number 7 is seen as representing the natural order and cycles of the world, such as the seven days in a week, seven colors in the rainbow, and seven notes in a musical scale.

5. Divine Protection and Covenant: The number 7 often symbolizes divine protection and covenant, as seen in the seven blessings during a Jewish wedding (Sheva Brachot) and the seven days of mourning (Shiva).

Combined Interpretation

When viewed through the lenses of both numerology and gematria, the number 7 emerges as a symbol of spiritual depth, intellectual pursuit, and divine perfection. It represents the bridge between the earthly and the divine, the known and the unknown, making it a powerful number in both mystical and practical contexts.

The Tarot-Seven of Swords is about those stealthy thoughts that instill in our subconscious the necessary subordination that enables us to recognize our place in the world of the Military Industrial Complex (Archon) and/or Patriarchy. Introspection and/or self- critique allow us to banish the "false ego" and/or Wetiko mind virus allowing us to maintain an enlightened identity of self throughout our lives. After working on the first step towards acknowledging you are not the you that you think you are, the Life that you really are places the body in a new position, one beyond your wildest dreams.

The 7 of Swords is about theft of your identity by the "false ego" and suggests that you will be faced with cheating and theft, implying that you should beware of cunning and betrayal from not only those around you who profess a false authority but also your subconscious. The 7 of Swords also suggests that you cannot solve your problems without help from friends, who will see beyond the denial imposed on you by your "false ego" and the false authority of others.

The 7 of Swords is about the futility of impulsive acts, undercover acts, and even detective work. You may have to act alone, keeping your ideas to yourself, or you might find that you are avoiding issues. The "false ego" is a noted "sneak thief" or "Trickster", and represents deception, which can apply to one's loss of self-identity. The "false ego" often lies to achieve a false sense of acceptance from peers.

I acknowledge the fact that sometimes a "little white lie" may be necessary to "keep the peace", just be careful that this lie doesn't hurt others or yourself. The more consciously aware one is of the "subconscious" and its mind virus, the more the subconscious becomes conscious and is a companion of your awake consciousness that is of the ambassador of the Soul. Absolute control over what is programmed into your corporeal mind and/or brain is a spiritual discipline. In your brain exists "heaven" or "hell", your knowing self-identity will decide that!

When the 7 of Swords is thrown during a reading:

•  The querent may be experiencing thoughts of futility. 
• A sense of resignation produced by wanting something but believing they can't have it and/or "giving up" before they even start.
• There is a possibility of breaking through this futile cloud, of lies, in 7 weeks or 7 Months. 
• This card suggests that because of guilt feelings or resentment, the querent is creating problems for themselves. 
• There is a certain craftiness displayed, schemes and actions by the ego are brought to bear, which solve nothing. 
• There is an opportunity to regroup and review if one forgoes the schemes and seeks advice from others. 
• There is suggested that there is just too much noise in the brain for focused action, as many feeble thoughts of vacillation out shout the One strong will to act.
• Instead of the Power of I AM, we are caught in the self-denial of I ain’t... Often we run "mind loops" that constantly repeat our past as today's reason for not progressing or going forward with our life. These mind loops are the "nag within" syndrome that fear of discomfort that often generates in our subconscious to avoid presumed pain.

Also, when the 7 of Swords card is thrown, the querent will:

•  Have the opportunity in the next 7 weeks or 7 months to break out of self-imposed defeatism and move towards creating what one really wants. 
•  Now it’s time to "damn the torpedoes and go full steam ahead". 
• Know and declare what you want, for that is the truth. The falsehood is the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. 
• Remember that the 7's are associated with the Charioteer, which is the originator of motion and change. So, this card is not nagging at your weakness but advising you that choosing your wants moves you forward into a satisfying life motion and that you have the inherent power to do so. 
• Have the capability to release sabotaging thought processes that were developed in the past that may go back to 7 years or when you were 7 years old. 
• Focus on what you genuinely want; focus your heart, creative mind and passion on it, and your programed self-defeat won’t be able to impede you; it’s just becoming white noise in the backwash of your powerful wake on the ocean of possibilities.

If ill defined by the Surrounding Cards in the layout, it implies:

• Deceitfulness. 
• Intrigues. 
• Insincerity.
• Betrayal.

Thank you for your interest, comments, and supportive donations. Your generosity blesses you. May you live long and prosper.

For quick answers to your questions, log onto Eli's Thoth Tarot Guide, and get concise answers concerning Tarot and Western hermetic magick.

For information about Western Hermetic Thoth Tarot readings, or master tarot classes, log onto my website-elitarotstrickingly.com and click on the Tarot Pricing Tag. Thank you for your interest.

Nontraditional Tarot Card blogs, home page, Tarot Store, Master Tarot Classes.

Traditional Tarot Card Comparisons Blog and tarot readings store.

Western Hermetic Magick ritual and invocation website and blog.