The Tarot of Eli 2: Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot- Seven of Cups& The Archeon Tarot-7 of Cups

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The Sevens are ruled by the Seventh Sephira-Netzach which means Victory. Victory may sound pleasing, but one must remember that Victory requires a battle to be fought and won, sometimes with little reward.

The Rider-Waite-Smith Seven of Cups presents a shadowy male figure gazing upon seven chalices that emerge from a clouded, ambiguous ether. Each cup contains a symbolic object—sacred in essence, yet here depicted in a distorted or profaned form. This imagery suggests a warning: that each spiritual treasure, if misunderstood or pursued blindly, becomes a trap for the ego.

• The head in the cup alludes to the corruption of thought, or intellect divorced from gnosis—the mental form usurping the living spirit of understanding.

• The veiled woman represents the Goddess hidden beneath layers of dogma and indoctrinated belief—the Shekinah or Sophia obscured by fear-based theology and patriarchal programming.

• The serpent, often misunderstood, here warns of the distortion of the vital force—the misuse of kundalini, or Spirit-in-Motion, turned toward lust or domination rather than illumination.

• The mountain or tower denotes the corruption of manifested form—structure without soul, the false elevation of material permanence as spiritual attainment.

• The jewels reveal the corruption of wealth, where abundance is hoarded, worshipped, and used to control, rather than shared as a means of generative creation.

• The victory wreath, potentially crowned with a skull, signals the corruption of victory—ambition driven by ego, where glory becomes decay and conquest overshadows wisdom.

• The dragon, that ancient power of the subconscious and the libido, symbolizes the misdirection of the inner fire—the sacred beast within, which if repressed or exploited, becomes destructive instead of divine.

The dark cloud upon which the cups float is the veil of illusion cast by the ego and its false projections—what the Qabalists call the Qliphoth, or shells of dead consciousness. These illusions promise fulfillment but deliver fragmentation, for happiness is not found in possession but in integration—in Knowing Thyself, the core axiom of Hermetic Wisdom.

This card thus serves as a Threshold Guardian on the path of transformation. It is not simply about choice or temptation—it is about disillusionment, the necessary purging of false ideals. The Sevens on the Tree of Life are attributed to Netzach, the sphere of Venus, where desire, imagination, and emotion intermingle. But in the suit of Cups, this becomes unstable, as the waters of feeling become turbulent and dreamy.

In essence, the Seven of Cups is a Card of Alchemical Transition—the Nigredo phase where the illusion must be dissolved. Though the goal (represented by the potential of the cups) is near, one must endure inner hardship, discernment, and possibly sacrifice. The seeker must separate the gold from the dross, for only through the refinement of will and clarity of soul does one pierce through the mists of illusion into the radiant knowing of the Higher Self.

Hence, we recognize that the human form is itself a living sacrament. A sacrament is not merely a ritual—it is a divine action imbued with presence and will. Since the body is not inert but alive, sentient, and radiant with purpose, it becomes the sacred rite of Spirit’s self-declaration. It is the magickal act of intimacy—the rite to be. To exist as “I Am” is the most primal and continuous act of High Magick, and the body is the chalice through which Spirit expresses this rite.

To think ill of any aspect of our ternary Being—Spirit (I), Mind (Am), and Body (Me)—is to profane the sacred architecture of our existence. This triune Self is the living Temple of the Most High, the realized form of the original Divine Will. That Will, known to Qabalists as Kether, the Crown of the Tree of Life, declares itself through the ineffable Divine Name Eheieh—“I Will Be.” This is not a static statement—it is the perpetual unfolding of Being, the eternal verb of Existence.

Therefore, we are not separate from that Divine Movement—we are the goal and embodiment of its intention. We are the fulfillment of that primordial utterance: “I AM Being.” The One’s Will did not merely move toward us—we are the destination of that Will, the flowering of the Invisible into Form.

Now, regarding the Seven of Cups—Waite only hints at what Crowley boldly unveils in the Thoth Tarot as Debauch. Here we see the danger of illusion magnified: the self-conscious mind becomes intoxicated with the plethora of external options, opinions, identities, and emotional mirages. This intoxication veils the true "I" with a psychic caul—a film of distortion which cloaks the awake consciousness and replaces true identity with a constructed persona.

This false ego, born of indoctrination and fueled by fear and desire, dares to claim, “I am you.” It is the great deceiver—the whisperer in the dark waters of unconsciousness. But this is not the voice of Spirit. This is not the “I Am.” The real Self is the sovereign presence behind all appearances, the silent flame of Love, Life, and Truth.

Any inner voice that tells you you are broken, unworthy, shameful, or powerless—that is the adversary, the shadow that clings to the shell of the Tree, not its living branches. Cast it off. Reclaim the Throne of Self.

You are the Magickal Manifestation of the Divine Will to Be.
You are the sacrament of Eheieh.
You are the Light of I AM.

The Archeon Tarot’s Seven of Cups overflows with effervescent dreams, like champagne poured from the Grail of the Imagination. Each cup brims with the vapor of possibility—visions not yet incarnate, sparkling temptations that blur the line between epiphany and illusion. Above them soars Venus, the radiant Empress of Desire, astride a celestial Pegasus—an archetype of exalted emotion unbound by gravity. She rides the winds of Air, yet is framed by the luminous Moon—symbol of deep Waters and the subconscious tides.

Together, Pegasus and Moon form the bridge between Air and Water—the airy realm of idea and the watery realm of feeling. This is the ethereal playground where Neshamah, the Divine Soul, takes flight—soaring over the rainbow of astral potential, where dreams are not lies but unshaped truths awaiting the crucible of Will.

But beware: this card does not promise clarity. Rather, it invites you into the mist. The rainbow is both portal and veil; beauty and seduction dance together here. Venus, though lovely, is not soft in Scorpio. Here she becomes the Sorceress of Depth, the Alchemist of Desire, plumbing the waters of the Soul for what is truly worth manifesting. In Scorpio, the Lady of Love becomes the Witch Queen of Transformation—she demands penetration of illusion, not indulgence in it.

This is the Netzachian Challenge in the suit of Cups: can you distill the truth of your desire from the perfume of your fantasy? Can you magnetize the vision into form without drowning in the mirage?

The Seven of Cups is not just a card of choices—it is a threshold of soul alchemy, where Love must become Law and Imagination must serve Intention. You stand before the Grails of Becoming. Choose wisely, for not all cups contain gold—some conceal shadow.

When Venus is in Scorpio, it brings intensity, passion, and depth to relationships, creativity, and the ways an individual values both themselves and others. This placement combines Venus's associations with love, beauty, and harmony with Scorpio's energy of transformation, mystery, and emotional intensity.

Key Characteristics of Venus in Scorpio:

1. Emotional Depth and Passion

• Individuals with Venus in Scorpio experience love and relationships with profound emotional intensity.
• They seek deep, transformative connections and often view relationships as a journey of personal and mutual evolution.
• Casual or superficial relationships hold little appeal—they crave emotional authenticity and depth.

2. Magnetism and Charisma

• Venus in Scorpio bestows a magnetic charm, making these individuals alluring and mysterious to others.
• Their charisma often comes from their ability to understand and connect with the deeper emotional layers of those they engage with.

3. Transformative Love

• Relationships are rarely "easy" with this placement, as Venus in Scorpio pushes for emotional growth and transformation.
• This placement often signals an all-or-nothing approach to love, where the individual seeks intense bonds that can lead to significant personal growth, but also potential challenges and emotional rebirth.

4. Jealousy and Possessiveness

• Scorpio's influence can make Venus prone to feelings of jealousy or possessiveness in relationships.
• Trust and loyalty are paramount, and any perceived betrayal or dishonesty can evoke strong emotional reactions.
• They often need to learn how to balance their intense desire for closeness with a healthy respect for boundaries.

5. Mysterious Beauty and Aesthetic

• Venus in Scorpio often resonates with an appreciation for the dark, mysterious, or taboo.
• Their aesthetic preferences lean towards the sultry, provocative, or transformative, whether in art, fashion, or personal style.
• They have an eye for uncovering hidden beauty in places others might overlook.

6. Sensuality and Physical Connection

• Physical intimacy is deeply important for Venus in Scorpio, as it serves as a way to express their emotional depth.
• They often view sexuality as a sacred, transformative act, merging both physical and spiritual dimensions.

7. Financial Acumen

• In the financial realm, Venus in Scorpio can manifest as a sharp instinct for managing resources and investments, often with a strategic and long-term perspective.
• They are drawn to financial endeavors involving transformation, such as inheritance, joint finances, or fields like psychology or occult studies.

8. Healing and Transformation

• Venus in Scorpio individuals often have an innate ability to heal and transform others through love and relationships.
• They are drawn to partners and situations where emotional or psychological growth is a key theme.

Challenges of Venus in Scorpio:

• Intensity Overload: Their passionate approach can sometimes overwhelm themselves or their partners.
• Trust Issues: They may struggle with suspicion or fear of betrayal, even in secure relationships.
• Emotional Extremes: They can swing between profound devotion and emotional withdrawal if they feel threatened.

Growth Opportunities for Venus in Scorpio:

• Learning to trust in the depth of their connections without needing control.
• Balancing their intense emotions with moments of lightheartedness.
• Recognizing that transformation doesn't always require destruction—it can also occur gently.

In Summary:

Venus in Scorpio brings a powerful and transformative energy to love, relationships, and creative expression. While the intensity of this placement can be both a gift and a challenge, it ultimately fosters deep connections and the potential for profound emotional and spiritual growth.

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When the Seven/7 of Cups is thrown during a divination, the Querent has or will experience:

• For the next 7 weeks or 7months; Lying, deceit, promises unfulfilled. illusion, and deception. Either by self-denial or by others.
• Slight success but there is not enough energy to maintain it, so error develops.
• Victory, but that is neutralized by the spinelessness of the person.

• Drunkenness, wrath, vanity, lust, fornication for the sake of ego, violence against women.
• Selfish dissipation.
• Deception in love and friendship.
• Some success gained but not followed up on. 
• Fairy favors.
• Images of reflection.
• Imagination.
• Sentiment.
• Things seen in the glass of contemplation, some attainment in these degrees but nothing substantial or permanent gained.

If reversed or surrounded in negative cards:

• Desire.
• Determination.
• Will.
• Project.

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