#tarotqabalahthothelitarotstrickingly.com
Learn a card a day!
Thoth- 9 of Swords-Cruelty
#9-In thought and word and deed, I rest my life, from day to day, upon the sure foundation of Eternal Being.
The Thoth 9 of Swords-Cruelty, presents a ghastly image of 9 crooked, chipped swords, dripping blood. If this isn't gloomy enough, we have the celestial rule of Mars in Gemini, representing a primal raging hunger that has no restraint. If you are feeling "out of sorts" this is not a card you wish to look at, as the colors are perfectly nauseating and the background is full of chaotic lined shapes suggesting a brain full of disjointed thoughts. Here is a mind in its lowest state of self -abusive thought.
9 is a number of completion, and is also the number of the 9th Sephira Yesod-Foundation, on the Tree of Life. Yesod is on the middle pillar of the Tree of Life, and has rectified the imbalances of the past energy disorders of Air. This, however, does not rectify the degeneration of the energy as it continues down the Tree. In this position, all-action Mars can't stay balanced in the house of all-talk Gemini.
Swords, usually depict the pure intellect that acts like air as its energy in motion continually heats up with passion and cools down with rationale. In the case of the 9 of Swords, consciousness has fallen into an unenlightened void of rational thought, stirring heartless animal passions; passions that are of the psychopath and the fanatic. As Crowley has stated, this card represents, "the character of the inquisitor"; it seems intellectual but is operating in a rage that is without restraint. All this sounds just awful and terribly gloomy, yet, it is the cultural foundation of "Divide and conquer" indoctrination technique that society has become so used to that we are unknowingly dividing our subconscious, consciousness and unconsciousness, making each counter productive to the other, when all are really One Consciousness, of 3 aspects; one Psyche/Soul.
Our consumerism society is based on "fanning the flames" of that primitive raging hunger of survival thinking in order to produce the "fanatical shopper “whose world is always lacking self-fulfillment and whose survival depends on the next Sale or the latest gadget or toy. Here the survival mind is an absolute servant of fear, while the Unconscious is dreaming of freedom from fear and the consciousness is trying to outrun time. It is the realm of the Neti-Neti (Sanskrit for, “Not This-Not That") consciousness, that consumes unrelentingly, hoping for happiness in a future accumulation; a futile seeking of happiness at any cost, because happiness isn't in accumulation nor resides in glutinous bellies. Rather Happiness is a balance of inner and outer beauty and or a harmonious melody of the 3 aspects of Psyche. So if one is programed to exit in a Neti-Neti world, there is only one result in the completion of the patriarchy greed of such hungry poisoness thought and that is the insanity of inner self cruelty where the slave master our heart is running from is in our own head.
Thankfully, many of us have enough strength in or character to know that happiness, is not a thing, but rather a "balance of Mind, body and soul" and have found out that by treating other people with respect, (do unto another as you would have done to you) rather than someone we have to conquer for our own sense of security, we have a happier presence on this earth. It is best to understand the truth of Self, for "everyone I see is another way to be me", is the truth of One Self that we are all the "selves" of.
The 9 of Swords is the state of consciousness that is called "wanna-be", were one is not alive/happy until they achieve some future possession or goal. This person is a corpse, a zombie, who lives only in yesterday’s emotions and uncertain futures, leaving the moment of now vacant of their presence. This phenomenon of “walking corpse" is not a new thing that some Hollywood director dreamt- up as the latest horror thriller. Rather, you'll find this "living dead" concept in the two-thousand-year old Gnostic Gospel of Thomas that is part of the Nag Hammadi Library.
In paragraph 56, of the Gospel of Thomas, it is written, "Whoever has come to understand the World has found only a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world”, if you can understand this Gnostic statement, you can understand the self-abuse of positioned thoughts depicted on the 9 of Swords-Cruelty. Because the practice of "Self-inflicted cruelty" is going on in most human brains right now, most of us constantly belittle ourselves, in order to appease our dogma or indoctrination; i.e. our inner Pavlovian- slaver programing.
Again, for this can not be overstated, the Thoth 9 of Swords, is called THE LORD OF DESPAIR AND CRUELTY, or Cruelty in short. This is Mars in Gemini; this is Yesod influencing Yetzirah in the Astral-Formative World. With a smattering of astrological data, one knows that the fiery energy of Mars, does little good in a sign of dualities. This "little good" is shown by the 9 rusty swords, dripping blood and poison on Crowley's card. One may shudder at the despair, meanings of illness, suffering and cruelty this card represents; But each of us, who are paying attention to our brain, often find this to be a "inner self cruelty" of our consciousness, as it cuts us with the emotionally poisoned blades of embarrassment, low-self-esteem, humiliation, self-condemnation, and/or inner or outer disgust. It is the internal Slave Master software that is installed in our Personality by our cultural indoctrination supervised by "The Few Who Rule the Many" and/or the Patriarchy of "useless old men" who have designed a world to totally benefit them. The very definition of ruler is "one who controls definition"; Ruler's make sure this Internal-Mental Salver indoctrinated program is installed before you even reach 7 years old. Like rusty hooks of poisonous self-futility, this is a hard one to remove! Peer pressure, just drives this poison deeper into self-identity. Then the media, keeps slashing at your self-value...."you need this....you need that....to lack them, you are nothing!” Lack of self-worth Is at the very least implied, or blatantly rubbed in your face, daily, if not hour by hour. “Resistance is futile", blare the horns of the pusillanimous invertebrates who enforce "their masters will" on others. With such a bombardment of self-delusion, one may just want to stop the world and get off!
There is an axiom in Buddhism that states, “Life is Suffering” … but only if you live in the lizard brain of survival thinking, fearing pain rather than enjoying your intimate presence. Life is indeed a mental/sensual experience, and we can be our own worst enemies just by doubting our own value in the World made to devalue you. To see yourself as Lack, is the necessary software to continue the panicked consumerism that Muti -National mind programmers and/or definition peddlers- want! But think! Before any human judgment, you were already approved into being by your Higher Self/Solar Psyche. So once again, the Qabalistic axiom reads true, “Above all things, Know thyself"! It's simple really; you had to be approved by all that is Divine, to be made alive! Your presence is your Judgment....and obviously you are good enough for God/ The Divine Creative!
You are a Divine answer, to a Divine question, that began with I AM, what that I AM is, is what Creation is all about! Therefore, stop questioning your existence and become answers instead! Action is the Fiery Spirit that moves you, reaction is usually run by the uncertain animal who thinks the whole universe is out to eat it! "I Am" dares ask, "What am I"? And you are the answer to that question, "I AM ME"!
Therefore, the primary meaning of the 9 of Swords, cruelty, is about you being your own worst enemy, divided against yourself, mentally and emotionally. Always nay-saying before you can ever start a motion. This is “a moment of doubt" drawn out as a Life-Time. Sure we may often doubt ourselves, after all every new motion is a risk! But if the Child of Wonder, that innocent curiosity that is self before "pleasure pain training", still has "I's" in you, you're are going to "do it" anyway. We are always striving forward, we are being Pushed along by the Inner Spiritual Self, just like Dark Energy pushes the Universe of Matter forever outwards. Life is a Driving Force...and the Spirit-Mind-Body is the vehicle driven from one transformation unto another!
Now I am sure you are taught to believe that you have only one life, but that is a programed hogwash whose purpose is to keep you chasing time and stimulating your fear of death which keeps your identity in the subconscious. Foolishly believing that you, a sensual learning conscious of the Soul, can learn all that is to be learned in one lifetime. This keeps you from understanding the very nature of “Life Cycles” and /or Karma and how energy transforms as a constant renewal of Self. Relax and breathe deep. For if you die (Transformation), the soul, will just "reabsorb" the software garbage in the personality/ego that is now released, and try another revision of it in "Wetware" performance, that we know as "alive". Therefore, you are not rushed, nor an ego and if your Will (spirit) makes you take only one step a day towards active self-knowledge, you still are journeying towards your destination and thereby becoming a useful representative of the Soul.
So, "get over yourself and get on with you! Impeccability is what we do'' ; is a correctional software loop that I run in my self-doubting brain/ego; it just overrides the "pity pot" of self-defeating thought every time it comes online. But installing that software loop, took determination, and plain old fashion "jackass” stubbornness and constant repetition as a meditation of seconds, done most minutes, until it becomes automatic daily operation. Don't you think it’s time, we programed our own Wet Ware! That is the real occult message of the 9 of Swords.
ABOVE ALL THINGS, KNOW THYSELF!
Each of us has experienced the temptations to remain chained to the bedeviling thoughts of our subjugation and/or definitions of the few who wish to rule the many. The 9 of Swords, reminds us, that we are not performing well mentally, when we are under the rule of self-belittlement . Again, you are obviously good enough to be the "image of the Divine Creative'", you are good enough for you! In our God-ness/ Goodness), resides the constant ability in each of us, to become More Self-Aware, rather than becoming less by seeking more stuff to hide self in.
Haindl-Nine of Swords-Cruelty
New title: "Agonized Thought".
The Haindl Tarot-Nine of Swords, also concentrates on cruelty of thought. Here the I-Ching Hexagram, 6, Sung, which Haindl translates as "Conflict" denotes a battle in the person. Represented in the card's art is an image of a fantiful bird of paradise all pierced with swords, a very picture of cruelty. Fantasy images in the Haindl Tarot represent human culture. Hence, the picture depicts human cruelty and not the harshness of fate, or the destructive power of nature. Due to our survival mind's profaning by cultural indoctrination and definitions, human beings are in conflict within themselves as they act both consciously and compulsively. We all know what we do, and yet at that subconscious level, we act from hidden survival drives that have been corrupted by "Pleasure/Pain" training and therefore, push us to do terrible things. The Bird image suggests that the Spirit-Mind-Body that is the Whole Human, can build and/or create paradise. However, our concepts of paradise have been corrupted by the use of violence and destruction to supposedly achieve it.
The new title moves the emphasis from the wanton cruelty of the fear prodded beast within our subconsciousness, to a conscious mental attempt to come to terms with pain. Hence, still painful, but more emotional with possibilities for change. Hence there is a caution here as this conflict when contained "within" makes people more vulnerable to danger "without". This Hexagram 6, of the I-Ching, points out that on a social level, a situation where power serves the corrupt and greedy, rather than those who work for the good of the people. This distortion produces cruelty throughout society.
The reverse Hexagram, 5, HSU, means "waiting" and therefore implies, that we must not act impulsively, but rather, wait for the proper moment. The implication here is that such a moment shall arrive. The Arm shown on the lower right of the card, is a subtle reminder to not give up hope. This arm comes from another picture of Haindl's, called the "Three Graces" suggesting that love and hope of paradise never vanishes.
When the Nine/9 of Swords is thrown during a reading, the Querent will be or has been experiencing:
- Illness, malice, cruelty, pain, despair and suffering, in a period of 9 days, or 9 weeks or from self-cruelty thought processes in the past when nine years old.
- There is burden, want, oppression, as well as, subtlety and craft.
- There is also lying to oneself or others because of and "inferiority complex".
- All of this dysfunctional thought is basically from "self-belittlement", that is often so subtle that we don't even acknowledge it in ourselves. But the program is clever, as you will notice whenever you try to mentally or physically, step out of "comfort zones", you will be challenged with worry and seemingly rational explanations on why you should not take that step.
- Fear as a guide to maturity.
- Feeling like a victim.
If ill defined by the surrounding cards:
- Shame.
- Guilt.
- Terror.
- Infamy.
- Misery.
- Hate.
- Manipulation.
Thank you for your interest, comments, and supportive donations. Your generosity blesses you. May you live long and prosper.
helping people become more magic and less tragic since 2010