The Tarot of Eli, LLC-Minor Arcana: Thoth Tarot-Ace of Cups & The Astromatrix Tarot-Ace of Cups.

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Above all things, know thyself!

#1. I am the center of expression for the primal will to good.

The root powers of the Waters.

To us moderns, who think in myth and now call it science, it may be understood that Kether is the "Dark energy" and Mother Binah- the "Dark Matter" (Dark Mater). Therefore, there is an element of darkness in the Thoth and Dream Tarot Ace of Cups just as there is an element of darkness with the Moon. In Latin-Mater is Mother and is the true dark energy as "Dark Mater/Mother" who is the Abyssal Womb and/or the Sea of the Universal Collective Unconsciousness. Now I know that this seems a play on words even though modern physics doesn't really understand this unseen dark matter (Mater) which the Qabalists have called this "pure light" (unseen) of Kether and the entire Supernal Triangle as the "non-space " for thousands of years. 

The First Frequency of light and therefore, the purist light, is called the Qabalistic Kether, the Source of All. Yet it is not known to us objectively, but its presence is subjectively understood as a movement within all that moves (string/serpent theory) and the purest form of energy; hence it is shown as white purity in the image of the Thoth Ace of Cups, although it is an unlimited source of light/energy and therefore, unseen.  

Again, the Aces are attributed to the 1st Sephiroth Kether and Cups are attributed to the 3rd Sephiroth-Mother Binah in the Qabalistic world of Briah, and they represent the purest forms of energy, which is unseen by the human eye, but must be represented in a seeable illusion of white which is theoretically the balanced weights of all colors combined. Each Ace of its suit is a specific type, and density of Energy that we call the Alchemical Elements and/or Pythagorean Universal Elements. Cups represent the Universal Element of Water, that is the Universal Collective Unconsciousness (Unconscious and subconscious) and represents emotion, intuition, imagination, dreams, etc.

The Ace of Cups is Kether in Briah, depicting the influence of Kether on the Intuitive Mental Level of the Divine Feminine. The Ace of Cups is the Root Powers of Water, a universal element used to symbolize intuition, unconsciousness, and emotions (energy-emoted). It is the fabric of the Universe that all things are formed in.

The Thoth version of this Card shows the wave action characteristic of physical water, the scallop shaped waves of the Thoth card with its scalloped waves. Kether, the pure light, is the source of all frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum and is shown as the source, woven out of microwaves of light and/or radio waves of frequency making a scallop-shaped Web of white light in the background of the Thoth Ace of Cups. The Thoth Ace of Cups shows us a magnificent Graäl/Grail overflowing with and flowing through with "White-Kether energy", empowering the surroundings with ​Spider Woman's Web emanating from the Thoth Ace. Also, for those of us who do not know the Myths of Grandmother Spider, she is a Native American description of the Great Mother Goddess who wove the fabric of the universe.

Today we acknowledge time-space/electromagnetic grid, as a woven grid of energy, a matrix if you will. and we recognize the "String Theory" (serpentine strings) of quantum physics, that states that there are strings of energy that form quantum particles, to the ancients this was often shown as the Serpentine flow of energy. The similarity simply means that we have proven the Myth to be the Science that acknowledges the electromagnetic spectrum of light.

The Ace of Cups represents the secrets of Water/The Universe Collective Unconscious of Western Hermetic Qabalah, in its original form as "The Dark Sea of Mother Binah" (or Lake). The Wyrd (weaving) of Atoms into flowing waves/currents of energy-form and/or "thought form" reminding us that water holds memory of its perfected form (Dr. Masaru Emoto-Messages from Water). Hence, Lady Frieda Harris (the artist of Thoth) used the scallop shapes to represent Oceans of Water as did the famous Botticelli painting of Venus. Water is the Feminine complement (magnetic), the Moon- vulva- womb to the masculine- electric- Sun-phallus. This scallop shaping of the energy is also shown on the swirling skirt of the Princess of Cups, who is the personification of the Ace of Cups. With the Princess of Cups, carrying forth the Will to Form of the Mother on Earth. The Ace of Cups rules the Libra-Scorpio-Sagittarius quadrant above the North Pole, and the area of the Pacific Ocean.

Upon the Dark Sea of Binah are Lotuses, 2 in 1, that fill the Thoth Grail-cup with Life Fluid, which is either represented as Water, Wine, Semen or Blood according to the selected purpose of the symbolism. In such symbolism, the Western Blood Red Rose can replace the Eastern Lotus, thus representing the Blood and/or the wine dark Sea of Binah from which all Life flows. The Blood Red Rose is also the image for the "Rosy Cross" symbol and the Red Goddess, Babalon (Crowley gematric spelling for the Red Goddess) or the Crimson Sky Dancer, a Yogini of the Tibetan Tantra.

Remembering that all Aces are the "seed" of a force, and that no matter how much imagery we use to describe "The Womb with a View". I know Her as an unseen Force that makes/understands form from dream to manifestation. To represent this amazing Creatrix Force, in any form of metaphor is difficult at most, and a mystery in the least, as is the power of Imagination. It's like trying to identify the one who has left melting footprints in the snow. You know someone has been there, but no conclusive clue on their identity. Hence, it is said that She is the Seed-Waters of all Life, of Energy as Form.

Often, I envision all ideas of Self, as foam on the waves of Her Universal Ocean; they come and go, but she is always there in her purity. Therefore, when thrown, the Ace of Cups represents the seed-waters of a form, and ideas begin to formulate; a birth starting in the mind as a zygote that will take about a year to manifest its true form (Aces are also considered to be one-year cards). Beauty, fertility, productiveness; the Mysterious Seed-Waters of Femininity.

The Cup represents the Womb/Enclosure where manifestation is developed and emerges from the Lotus (Crown) implying the idea of Womb, the seed of the concept of conception and not a gender yet. Thus, the Ace of Wands is the idea of Phallus-ejaculation, and the Ace of Cups is the Idea of Womb-reception. Here the concepts of electric and magnetic begin. The Cup and serpent motif, representing male electric and female magnetic, are represented in the 2 green handles on the Graäl/Grail cup and as an intertwined, pretzel- like motif on the cup itself, representing the serpentine flow of energy.

The Ace of Cups is derived from-Yoni Moon, as the Ace of Wands is from Lingam- Sun. Thus, we have the "Holy Grail", the wisdom of the Divine Creatrix; here the dark Sea of Binah supports the 2 in 1 (androgynous) Lotuses that fill the cup with Vital Life Fluid, be it symbolized, by semen, water, wine, or blood. 2 in 1, is the realization of the Womb and Phallus. According to Crowley, the White Light descending into the Ace of Cups is depiction of the Holy Ghost and/or Holy Spirit/Energy that enlivens all form, i.e., the male semen like flow of ejaculated vital Life force that comes down through the Magus to Mother Binah. On the face of the Thoth Ace of Cups, are the 3 intertwining rings that represent the serpent-like twisting of the 3 Aeon of Osiris, Isis, and Horus. 

As Crowley states in his book of Thoth, pg., 195.

"The card represents the element of Water at its most secret and original form. It is the feminine complement of the Ace of Wands, and is derived from the Yoni and the Moon exactly as that is from the Lingam and the Sun." This Statement is true for all Tarot Ace of Cup cards.

The Astromatrix Tarot-Ace of cups depicts the Great Mother Cup overflowing with the vital life force into a sea, implying that the seed of any future endeavor is so much more than the small step that began its development. The sea represents the totality of the soul filled presence in the heart space, which radiates outward as the many creature experiences of life. Here the divine twins of compassion and empathy as connective expressions that bring abundant opportunities awaiting to be released and nurtured into life expanding awareness. There are 5 flows out of the cup and one Yod (blue flame shape) held in suspension above the cup and flowing out of the cup as falling "flames of water". The Yod, is the Hebrew letter that is the beginning of all Hebrew letters, which are used to explain the numerical system of Qabalah. Yod, translate to the English word "hand", and is shown as the "Hand of the Divine Creative".

The Astromatrix Ace of Cups is similar to the Rider-Waite-Smith -Ace of Cups and the Yod force is shown as the Divine white hand of the Divine Creative. The Cup represents the all-encompassing Maternal Force, symbolized as water pouring dramatically from the Cup and becoming calm underneath as a placid lake decorated with water lilies. Both cards show the Ace of Cups as the perfection and formalization of Tetragramaton (the All Encompassing) evolving towards matter.

The Twenty-six drops of water are the gematria number of Tetragramaton, the Divine Creative and I would suggest you get and read the A. Crowley book 777 for in-depth understanding of gematria which is Qabalisitic numerology. The White Dove is the symbol for Venus as the Great Mother, who produces the circle and the equal armed cross of Earth, illustrated as being held in the dove's beak on the Rider-Waite=Smith card and/or the beginning of life as the Yod force in the Astromatrix card.

The Ace of Cups of Tarot conveys a fluid, ever-changing, nourishing, communicative fertile connected to knowledge, memory, positive, and negative feelings and/or emotions. As water can quench a thirst or drown one, so can emotional energy flow. For these free-flowing emotions to transform into abundance, and nourishment, mentally and physically it must be allowed to flow freely towards harmonious choices and great works both with receptivity and love. Otherwise, it will stagnate, and one will be locked in a swamp of yesterday's emotions. This makes me think of one of my favorite phrases:" Let go and let Goddess".

In Traditional Tarot, such as the RWS Tarot and Astromatrix Tarot, overflowing the cup are 5 rivers of life-giving water. In the Rider-Waite-Smith Ace of Cups Tarot card, the five streams flowing from the cup into the lake symbolize the five senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. This imagery suggests the idea of sensory perception and experience overflowing or emerging from the depths of the subconscious represented by the cup. The streams represent the abundance of emotional and creative potential that is available when one connects deeply with their inner self. It's as if the cup is overflowing with the richness of sensory experience, indicating the fertile potential for emotional fulfillment and creative expression.

WHEN THE ACE OF CUPS   CARD IS THROWN DURING A DIVINATION:

It implies:

• A new attitude brings rewards.
• Spontaneous and innocent emotions.
• In a period of One Year, the querent will develop a new relationship, or new awareness about existing relationship.
• Is experiencing a new bust of empathy, emotion, sentiment, or enthusiasm. 
• This is a time for staying open and vulnerable to reap rewards.
• The opening of spiritual, psychic, intuitive channels/
• Heart opening to the gift of Love.
• Longing for union.
• Receptivity.
• Devotion.
• Harmony.

If ill defined by the surrounding cards, it implies:

• Vagueness.
• Irrationality.
• Hysteria.
• Trouble communicating.
• Value of life questioned. 
• All hopes are vain and meaningless.
• Loneliness haunts you. 
• Love fades away, leaving you depressed and empty.

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For traditional Tarot Card comparisons-Rider-Waite-Smith & B.O.T.A. etc.