The Tarot of Eli 2, LLC: Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot- Seven of Wands & The Archeon Tarot - 7 of Wands

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✴︎ The Hermetic Depth of the RWS Seven of Wands

Qabalistic Attribution:
This card corresponds to Netzach (Victory) in the Suit of Fire (Atziluth) — that is, the Victory of the Fiery Will.
Its Thoth equivalent is titled VALOUR, ruled by Mars in Leo.

The Esoteric Principle:
When the Will (Fire) descends to Netzach — the Sephirah of Venus, desire, and endurance — the dynamic creative energy of Leo is suddenly forced to manifest through emotional, instinctual, and passionate channels. The result is not peaceful strength, but valor born from necessity. This is the Will defending itself against the friction of the material and psychic world.

The single figure in the RWS card, holding the high ground, represents the Individual Self defending its own creative sovereignty against the pressure of collective egregores, demands, or competitive forces.
 

In Qabalistic psychology, this is Tiphereth’s Solar Will standing firm within Netzach’s storm of passions — a heroic act of maintaining self-identity amid the world’s reactions.

🔥 Symbolism in the Rider–Waite–Smith Imagery

• The Craggy Ground: Represents the uneven and unstable plane of manifestation — the field of human struggle. To stand upon it is to assert Will in the midst of chaos.

• The Six Wands Below: Symbolize the surrounding forces of competition, envy, or external opposition — yet also the other aspects of the self that challenge one’s inner sovereignty.

• The Leafy Wands: Denote that even the attacks arise from vital energy — not pure evil, but the natural resistance met by any growing force.

• The Figure’s Position: The “one above six” echoes the Seventh Sephirah Netzach as it receives energy from the Sixth Sephirah Tiphareth, the Solar Self. It is the self-assertion of spiritual valor against the forces of inertia.

⚔️ Hermetic Interpretation: The Fire of Endurance

Mars (Force) in Leo (Solar Fire) expresses a noble struggle — the kind of courage that springs from the heart rather than from aggression. It is the fire of the spiritual warrior. The outer battle reflects the inner discipline of defending the Light of Self against doubt, fear, and distraction.

Thus, the Seven of Wands represents:

• The defense of individuality.

• The assertion of creative sovereignty.

• The necessity of courageous persistence when one’s purpose is challenged.

• The Heroic Stand — not of domination, but of devotion to one’s own flame.

🜂 Hermetic Teaching

The RWS imagery conveys the same principle as the Thoth’s “VALOUR”:

“When one’s Will is pure, resistance is the measure of strength.”

In Hermetic terms, the Fires of Netzach forge the spiritual warrior. Every opposition becomes the hammer that tempers the sword of the Will. Thus, this card is not about worldly victory but about the valor of maintaining one’s divine intention amid trial — a Solar act of self-affirmation shining through the storm of desire.

The Spiritual Warrior and the Coward’s World

Here you feel strong and confident, for your strength is born from the Solar Self — not from approval or agreement. Yet strength always arouses the jealousy of those who have surrendered their own light. The weak of character cannot abide the radiance of another, and so they attack not from courage but from envy. Such egos, imprisoned in their fear of true individuality, seek power only through the act of tearing others down. They would rather besmirch the character of the strong than confront their own inner poverty.

This is the shadow of the world-ego — a collective cowardice that hides behind the walls of words, laws, and institutions, blaming one another for their weakness while condemning the free soul who refuses to conform. This is the upside-down world where cowards rule, their trembling wills fortified by propaganda and the machinery of control. The young and the virtuous are sacrificed to preserve the illusions of decrepit powers — the useless old men who run the Military-Industrial Complex, enthroning their fear as law.

But the Seven of Wands calls forth the Wall of Will: the inner fortress of those who will not kneel to corruption. Here stands the true Spiritual Warrior, the Child of the Sun, who defends the sovereignty of the Soul against the collective madness of the mob. This is not rebellion born of hatred — it is the sacred defiance of Love, defending Life itself from the devourers of Light.

Thus, implied here is the greater command:
“Stand firm as a wall against evil. Defend the Light of your Soul, and it shall defend you.”

💎 Desire, Glamour, and the Temptation of Fire

Because this is a card of the Sevens, its root is found in Netzach—the Sephirah of Desire, Victory, and Venus—operating within the Element of Fire. Thus, the Seven of Wands often manifests through the burning passions of attraction, the magnetism of beauty, or the intoxication of emotional heat.

This may appear outwardly as a strong sexual attraction, an impulsive relationship, or even a hasty marriage born from the fever of infatuation. The same fiery current may also express itself as a fascination with the arts—music, dance, or fashion—yet without sufficient focus or discipline to crystallize that inspiration into form. The flame burns brightly, but without direction it consumes itself.

Here lies the mystery of Netzach in Atziluth: the Fire of Will passing through the filter of Desire. The result is often a love of the image rather than the essence—a devotion to the glamour of the jewel instead of the Light it reflects. The splendor of jewels, the shimmer of luxury, and the ecstasy of passion all belong to the beauty of Venus; but when mistaken for value itself, they become mere illusions.

The initiate of Fire learns through this card that the glamour of beauty must be married to the discipline of the Soul. Only then does desire become art, and passion become power.

🔥 The Discipline of Desire

Nevertheless, the energy of this card is thrilling—like a tidal wave of creative force rising from the depths of being. Yet, such energy, if ungoverned, rushes outward and is soon spent. The untempered fire that begins as ecstasy can end as exhaustion. Thus, this card warns of the potential for love lost, financial waste, or friendship destroyed through excess and indulgence.

Here the aspirant must learn to “watch the watcher”—that is, to become the silent witness of one’s own desires, to perceive the root from which they arise. For every passion, every craving, every surge of attraction is a reflection of the same Divine Fire, seeking its rightful expression through consciousness.

We are Celestial Energy long before we are flesh, and our names are written in the stars before they are spoken on Earth. To know this is the beginning of Wisdom. Hence, the ancient maxim, “Above all things, know thyself,” demands that we become intimate with the nature of passion and desire—not to suppress them, but to master them.

For when we believe that we are bodies seeking Spirit, we fall into illusion. But when we remember that Spirit owns and animates the body, we reclaim our Divine Authority. It is then that Desire becomes Will, and Will becomes Love in action—the victorious flame of Netzach purified by the discipline of the Soul.

☀ The Solar Root of Valor: Tiphareth and the Fall into False Ego

The 6th Sephiroth—Tiphareth, the Beauty and the Solar Soul—is the fecund spiritual power that gives life to the Seven of Wands and to its lower reflection, Netzach, the sphere of Victory, Desire, and Endurance. Netzach is the echo of the Sun refracted through the lens of passion, where the Divine Will-to-Create becomes the human drive to express, to love, to conquer, and to be admired.

Thus, behind every emotional surge and fiery defense seen in this card stands the radiant presence of the Solar Self—the Soul or Buddha Psyche that our personality is meant to mirror. The true Self of Tiphareth is a being of equilibrium and beauty, whose light brings harmony to the Tree of Life. Yet, this reflection is rarely seen clearly in the average human consciousness.

Through centuries of indoctrination, propaganda, and media word-hypnosis, the mind of humanity has been shaped into a false ego, a counterfeit self built upon the illusion of lack. This artificial identity—manufactured by priests, politicians, and profiteers—enslaves the psyche to external authority. By controlling the definitions of words, they have controlled the definitions of souls. And so, humanity has been taught to believe that its power lies outside itself, in systems, saviors, and hierarchies, rather than in the blazing heart of its own Solar Being.

The 7 of Wands, therefore, becomes the moment when the Soul, awakened by the light of Tiphareth, rises within Netzach to reclaim its dominion from this collective hypnosis. The One stands against the Six—the Solar Self defends its high ground against the crowd of false definitions. It is the rebellion of the Light against its own enslavement.

☀ The Solar Soul’s Victory over the Mask of Words

The 6th Sephiroth—Tiphareth—is the fecund Solar Power radiating behind the Seven of Wands and animating the Sephirotic Being of Netzach. Tiphareth is the Soul, the Christos or Buddha Psyche, whose pure brilliance our personalities are meant to mirror. Yet through indoctrination, propaganda, media sorcery, and the entropic “mind virus” of materialism, a false ego has been woven into the brain—a programmed persona enslaved to the words and definitions of others.

Thus, this card may also be read as the Victory of the Solar Soul over the false identity—the triumph of authentic Being over the hypnotic illusion of selfhood defined by external forces. Humanity has been trained to believe in sensation as the self, mistaking the echo for the voice, the shadow for the substance.

The Seven of Wands is the act of standing in the True Light of the Soul, tearing off the linguistic masks of false authority. It proclaims:

“I am not the sensation; I am the Psyche of Power that creates sensation.”

In that moment of inner rebellion, the Light of Tiphareth shines through Netzach’s emotional veil, restoring clarity, courage, and Self-Sovereignty. Here, the Will of the Sun overcomes the glamour of the world, and the Warrior of Spirit reclaims dominion over mind and matter alike.

🌙 The Archeon Tarot – Seven of Wands

The Archeon Tarot – Seven of Wands depicts a serene yet powerful scene: an Asian temple rising behind a sacred grove of seven wands. In this grove, strange and ancient rituals unfold beneath the gaze of the Moon. Though no combatants appear, the air hums with unseen power — the stillness before spiritual combat, the peace that precedes great resolve.

This imagery suggests strength, solidity, and undaunted courage that comes not from outward conflict but from inner mastery. The temple behind the grove symbolizes the sanctuary of the Soul — the sacred mind where Will is forged into valor through discipline and ritual. The Moon’s light reveals the secret workings of the psyche: intuition, emotion, and dream converging into the courage to act with spiritual authority.

Hence, the Archeon Seven of Wands speaks of determination and the presence of a formidable soul, one who stands unshaken before the shadows. It is the valor of silence, the inner warrior meditating before movement — where power gathers in stillness, and readiness itself becomes strength.

If reversed, this card reflects a loss of will — a collapse of faith or conviction. It warns of surrendering to doubt, indecision, or emotional vulnerability. The reversal reminds the aspirant that even the smallest lapse in confidence can allow chaos to enter the sacred grove of the mind. To restore balance, one must return to the temple within and rekindle the flame of faith.

🔥 Seven of Wands Comparison

(Rider–Waite–Smith vs. Archeon Tarot)
Qabalistic Attribution: Netzach (Victory) in Atziluth (the World of Fire)
Astrological Correspondence: Mars in Leo

he Archeon Tarot – Seven of Wands presents a quieter yet equally powerful vision: an Asian temple standing behind a sacred grove of seven wands beneath the ethereal glow of the Moon. There are no combatants; the conflict here is inward. This card embodies spiritual fortitude rather than physical defense. The grove symbolizes the disciplined circle of one’s spiritual boundaries, while the temple signifies the sanctuary of the Soul.

In gematria, the number seven holds significant meanings and associations across various traditions, particularly in Jewish mysticism and Kabbalistic teachings. Here are some key interpretations and associations:

1. Spiritual Perfection and Completion: The number seven is often seen as representing spiritual perfection and completion. This is rooted in the biblical creation narrative, where God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, making the seventh day (Shabbat) holy.

2. Divine Order and Law: Seven symbolizes divine order and law. This is evident in the seven-branched Menorah, which is a symbol of light, wisdom, and divine guidance in the Jewish tradition.

3. Connection to the Divine: Seven represents the connection between the divine and the earthly. In Kabbalah, the seventh sephira on the Tree of Life is Netzach (Victory), which is associated with endurance and eternity.

4. Completion in Cycles: Seven often signifies the completion of cycles. This can be seen in various religious and mystical contexts, such as the seven days of the week, the seven-year agricultural cycle in the Torah (Shmita), and the seven heavens in Jewish cosmology.

5. Mystical and Hidden Knowledge: Seven is also linked to mystical and hidden knowledge. This can be seen in the seven levels of Torah interpretation (Pardes) and the seven layers of spiritual realms or consciousness in mystical traditions.

6. Protection and Blessings: In Jewish tradition, seven is considered a number of protection and blessings. For example, the seven blessings recited at a Jewish wedding (Sheva Brachot) and the seven circuits made around the groom by the bride (Hakafot) symbolize divine blessings and protection.

These associations show how the number seven is deeply embedded in the symbolic and mystical frameworks of gematria and other esoteric traditions.

[Questions on Tarot or the Western Hermetic Qabalah? log onto EliChatGPT and get quick answers.]

Throwing the SEVEN OF WANDS card during a reading implies that:

• Within 7 days or 7 weeks, the querent will need to display personal valor to achieve success, as there will be opposition obstacles, difficulties, and quarreling; however, the querent will also have the courage to meet them.
• Victory is always possible if we have the courage and proper energy excised to meet ignorance, pretense, wrangling, and threat, face to face.
• The querent is exploring innovative ideas of self.
• The querent is standing completely on their own but knowing how to achieve victory over a conflict. 
• Depending on the dignity of the cards, ill or well, victory may just be in small and unimportant things and influence over a subordinate.
• Results may not yet be seen from the effort expended, slow down and await the results.
• A rough way to view this 7 of Wands-Valour (English spelling) Just grab your flaming club and charge! You'll succeed without dying, but you may bleed a little.

If ill defined by the surrounding cards or reversed, it implies:

• Indecisiveness.
• Ignorance.
• discrepancy between instinct and spirit.

• Gain and success in 7 weeks or 7 months, depending on the position of the Card.
• We have here, victory after strife caused by industriousness, energy expression, love and pleasure gained by labor.   
• There is also a suggestion of Victory gained by avoiding strife through actions of sociability and carefulness.

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