Six of Wands

Six of Wands

3rd Decan of Leo (Sol), August 2nd-11th
Ruled By: Jupiter in Sagittarius
Constellation: Crater
Element: Fire, Tiphareth in Atziluth

Keywords: Victory, glory, beauty, balance, success (albeit short-lived), gain after struggle, happiness, satisfaction, battles won, leadership, enthusiasm, harmony resulting from conflict, warmth in relationships, passing trials, acing a test, small victories, steps toward progress, breakthroughs, self-confidence, fruit of one's labor, direction, purpose, pride, glory, recognition, Crater as The Cup of triumph!

Description: The battle has been won, but the war rages on. Today you wear the crown of victory, but do not rest on your laurels! Celebrate on this day and collect your bounty while retaining the knowledge that material gain and acclaim are often fleeting.

Six naturally follows five. When examining the fives, one will notice that the prevailing theme is that of disharmony, disappointment, disarray, and dissatisfaction. With the sixes, corresponding to Tiphareth on the Tree of Life, one has assuredly reached some sort of resolution. Strife has momentarily come to an end. Tiphareth translates to Beauty. When one is centered, one is stable. Where there is stability, there is beauty through the natural unfolding of a higher order. Harmonious affairs inspire symmetry, equipoise, and reciprocity.

Because wands represent the element of fire, this victory has been fueled by passion, desire, love, and Will Power. Will Power not of the lower self, but by the True Will of the True Man residing in Tiphareth -- the Heart Center. And since this does pertain to matters of the heart, it may suggest some sort of gain in love affairs, romantic partnerships, and/or loving relationships in general. Reciprocity between opposites could also mean that an internal reconciliation has taken place. The Higher and lower self, the inner and the outer, are no longer at odds with each other. Warring factions have laid down their weapons.

Now is your time to shine and receive some recognition for all of your efforts. Your confidence in Self has paid off. All eyes are on you, hoisting you into a position of high regard. As you wear this crown of victory, however, do not let all of the fame that comes with it go to your head. The shadowy side of the Six of Wands hints at pride, inflation, and vainglory. Remember: This is a card of heart-centeredness. The empathetic and compassionate heart keeps the head in check. It is the courage to follow one's heart that has lead to success. As always: Balance between head and heart is key.

Integrity and authenticity are the flagships of any great leader. By remaining true to one's True Self and acting from that space of wholeness, winning in some arena is almost always guaranteed. Even after loss. We learn and grow from prior defeats and past mistakes. Again, this is just one battle that has been won. You win some and you lose some. There's always a give and a take -- a gain and a loss. If we never give up, we never stay defeated. Hope springs eternal from the heart.

Shining the light of loving awareness on disparate parts dissolves contrasts and resolves conflicts. This, ultimately, reunites and reforms like and unlike into a more cohesive and cooperative unit. It is an arduous task, indeed, but well worth the energy invested. If this card has appeared in front of you, you will soon be reaping rewards and receiving a big ole cosmic 'pat on the back' for whatever it is you have (or are about to have) overcome.

During this time in the spotlight, remember that you have now become a symbol for others. You are now a  beacon of inspiration as well as a wayshower. Those that follow in your wake are also those that you may have to fall back on for guidance and assistance in future challenges to come. If you're in a position of exaltation, then it's only because of a system of support that's raising you up. Reciprocity: Support goes both ways.

What has fallen away and what is coming into being have become blended. As we release the past, we stand open-armed in the present, ready to embrace the incoming future. The Old King passes on the torch of Wisdom to the Inner Sun/Son, who is Crowning Glory from the Womb of Understanding. Peace and serenity reign supreme in the Kingdom.

This is the same 'Crowned and Conquering Child' referred to in Thelema, known as Ra-Hoor-Khuit. Synonymous with Adam Kadmon, the One Self and the True Will, that is seated in the heart of every man, woman, and child.

• In many versions of this card, we see a blonde person (a hermaphrodite, most likely) riding atop a white horse.
• The fair-colored hair represents Prana.
• That the laurel is made of leaves, belonging to the Plant or Vegetable Kingdom, is a reference to Venus and the sphere of Netzach. Imagination, thought, emotion, and desire have been successfully purified in order for the Hidden God (Kether - the Crown) to be reflected in and radiated through Tiphareth. Venus is also connected to the heart and throat centers. Herein lies a subtlety: Da'ath (as a synthesis of the Supernal Triad) is the Dark Son (Sirius) behind the Sun (Regulus).
• The white horse symbolizes the vital body, which has received a windfall of solar radiance to regenerate and preserve the personality -- as well as to further the consciousness of humanity (through the individual) along the evolutionary ladder of progress.

Two of Cups

II of Cups

1st Decan of Cancer (Moon), June 21st-30th
Ruled by: The Moon in Cancer
Constellation: Ursa Minor
Element: Water, Chokmah in Briah (Creative - Heh)

Keywords: Union, love, wisdom, PhiloSophia (combining: Love-Wisdom), reciprocity, harmony, creation, creative juices, environmental coitus, sexual intercourse, relationships, ecstasy, twin mirrors, friendship, beneficence, nurturing, nourishment, purity, flowering, overflowing, connection.

Description: Most prominently, the Two of Cups alludes to a union between Self and Other, Lower Self and Higher Self, Subject and Object, and/or the Masculine and Feminine Polarities. The harmonious blending between the two inspire love, creativity, and mutual appreciation. The two (Hermes 'and' Aphrodite) are truly three ('and'), and the three ('and') are truly one (Hermaphrodite).

Unconditional love is implied, with the capacity for deep and mutual receptivity. The love here between the two are equal and untainted. In this merger, Self has become found in Other and Other in Self. There is no Other, there is only Self. And yet both are celebrated, fully supported, and expanded by and within the communion. It is just that the illusion of Separation (Cancer) has been transcended as a result of the willingness of these twins to come face-to-face and sincerely reflect upon one another.

Deep healing at a soul level unfolds as a consequence of this sacred coming together. Within the comfort of each other's embrace, virtues are exalted and vices are left behind. Joy and ecstasy abound, and the realization that All is Love is experienced and embodied through Wisdom (Chokmah) and Understanding (Binah).

Passion, excitement, and emotion overflow, and still all is tranquil. Through balance, there is stability. In this frenzied stillness, words fail and the irrational prevails. Imagine being submerged in a warm bath or a hot tub. The water engulfs and massages. It's intense but tensions find release, and the overall feeling is one of being able to let out a long sigh of relief.

This card can also represent that realization that the home environment (Cancer) is an reflection of one's inner life. This might inspire one to tidy things up or rearrange to make the home feel more cozy -- and to better express that inner life. This urge, in itself, directly correlates to the inner Alchemical Marriage that is or is about to take place. All objects in one's home exist for the purpose of pleasing, nurturing, caring, and tending to one's self -- until such objects are outgrown and are of no longer of use. Once a space has been uncluttered of what is purposeless, there is an easiness of emotion and an effortless flow of creativity. One can then more readily open to receive.

There can also be the sudden realization, with the appearance of this card, that the personal will is also illusory. The personal will (individual) is but an iceberg floating around in the ocean of the One Self, the True Will. An ocean (Mother Deep) that keeps the iceberg of the small self afloat. And what is an iceberg but an inseparable portion of that same ocean in a temporary state of crystallization? Remember, again, that the feeling here is that of being submerged in a warm bath. The ice of the small self is melting back to unite with the ocean of the expanded Self.

It's as if one has finally returned home from a long and grueling journey -- mirroring the process of individuation. Going out into the world, separating oneself from Mother's nourishing bosom (Moon in Cancer) to make one's mark on the world. Only to return home (Cancer) after one's character has been fully fleshed out. Or the feeling is one of having been rescued from a shipwreck. With it comes both elation and relaxation.

Wherever there is the pairing together of opposites, there is new life. Each side is transformed by the alliance, and something not yet seen before begins to take shape. Even if this manifestation be merely the introduction of a new thought-form. It is still something that had not yet been prior to this joining. This is the nature and outcome of all sexuality, and make no mistake about it: All relationships are sexual. All interactions are dual and rooted in gender and polarity: There is a giving (masculine) and a receiving (feminine). When you speak, you give out. When you listen, you receive.

Extend and be open to receiving affection, tenderness, warmth, and appreciation for those within your immediate environment and community. See the truth: They are mirrors. They reflect back to you some aspect resident within yourself that you may not have yet acknowledged. What of a new attraction? Is there someone you feel mysteriously drawn to? Has someone shown up possessing of traits you feel admiration for? Traits that you might find intimidating or impressive? Observe them to receive them. Their very materialization into your sphere of awareness is a clue that a new facet of you is about to be illuminated.