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Above all things, know thyself!
Radiant: Rider-Waite-Smith-Tarot, Seven of Swords
The Rider–Waite–Smith Seven of Swords presents a more psychological and practical image than later decks steeped in overt Western Hermetic symbolism. This makes it an excellent foundation card for beginners. Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot shows a lone thief sneaking away with five swords while two remain planted in the ground behind him. He cannot carry them all. The message is simple and sharp: the mind that tries to seize every idea at once ends up mastering none.
This is the futility of over-analysis. When the intellect attempts to possess every angle, every contingency, every possible outcome, it fractures itself. One thought must be examined at a time. To circle endlessly around the same anxieties and expect a different conclusion is self-deception.
The thief teaches a paradox: sometimes you must move forward with incomplete certainty. Take what is usable. Leave behind the excess. Release the obsessive need to feel secure through total comprehension. No one carries all seven swords.
Do not deceive yourself into believing you have all the answers before you begin. Wisdom often starts in motion, not in mastery.
The ancient axiom, “Above all things, know thyself,” stands at the heart of Western Hermetic Qabalah and the Gnosis. In Gospel of Thomas discovered among the Nag Hammadi codices, the Christ voice declares:
“If they say the kingdom is in the sky, the birds will precede you. If they say it is in the sea, the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you and outside of you… When you come to know yourselves, you will be known.”
The Seven of Swords becomes dangerous when the mind searches outward for security rather than inward for alignment.
Hermetically, we are androgynous beings — solar and lunar, active and receptive — striving toward the equilibrium of Tiphareth, the Solar center of Beauty on the Tree of Life. Six is the number of the Sun — not male, not female, but unified consciousness. It is the Christed/Buddhic state of radiant awareness attainable within incarnation.
The lower Sephiroth — Chesed through Hod and Yesod — form the field in which ideas condense. This is the astral architecture of manifestation: liquid light, shaped by the assumptions of the I AM. Thought becomes pattern. Pattern becomes dream. Dream becomes form.
All is Mind.
The Seven of Swords warns against becoming lost in the maze of your own projections. The mind can generate endless strategies, justifications, and subtle evasions. But if you do not know yourself, you are impoverished by your own cleverness.
We are not merely bodies thinking thoughts. We are spiraling fields of conscious energy dreaming we are human. The Tarot’s 78 glyphs chart this experiment in Self-Awareness — Spirit imagining itself as “me.”
The real theft of the Seven of Swords is not deception of others — it is self-deception.
Take what you truly know. Leave the rest.
Above all things — know thyself.
In astrology, the Moon represents emotions, instincts, and the subconscious. When the Moon is in the house of Aquarius, it brings unique characteristics to the individual's emotional expression.
Aquarius is an air sign associated with innovation, humanitarianism, and unconventional thinking. When the Moon is placed in the house of Aquarius, it can influence the following characteristics:
Intellectual Emotions: Individuals with the Moon in Aquarius may approach emotions with an intellectual and rational mindset. They tend to analyze their feelings and may not be as driven by emotional impulses as some other signs.
Independence: Aquarius is known for its independent nature, and this trait can be reflected in emotional matters. People with the Moon in Aquarius may value their emotional independence and appreciate personal space in relationships.
Humanitarian Concerns: The Moon in Aquarius may foster a sense of concern for humanity and social causes. These individuals may be emotionally driven to contribute to societal well-being and may be involved in activities that promote positive change.
Unconventional Expression: Emotions are expressed in a unique and often unconventional manner. The individual may not conform to traditional emotional expectations and may appreciate non-traditional forms of self-expression.
Open-mindedness: Aquarius is an open-minded sign, and the Moon in this house can bring a willingness to explore and understand different perspectives. Emotionally, individuals may be accepting of diversity and open to new ideas.
Detached Emotionally: There can be a sense of emotional detachment or objectivity. While they may care deeply about others and societal issues, they might not let emotions cloud their judgment, preferring to approach situations with a level-headed mindset.
Friendship Focus: Friendships may play a significant role in their emotional life. They may find emotional support and connection through a broad network of friends who share common interests and values.
It's important to note that the overall astrological profile, including the positions of other planets and aspects, will provide a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's personality and emotional tendencies.
Triple Goddess Tarot – Seven of Swords
The Triple Goddess Tarot diverges sharply from the more psychological ambiguity of the Rider–Waite–Smith image and moves into something morally pointed and behaviorally direct.
Here we see a hooded woman in dark garments walking through a moonlit alley. One sword is held downward in her right hand; two crossed scabbarded swords rest on her back. Four additional swords are displayed upright on a wooden rack fixed into a stone wall. The atmosphere is nocturnal, secretive, deliberate.
This is not accidental symbolism.
The Moon governs concealment, instinct, and the hidden motivations of the psyche. In Western Hermetic understanding, lunar light is reflected light — it does not generate truth; it reflects impressions. Therefore, this card suggests action motivated by emotional undercurrents rather than Solar clarity.
Western Hermetic Interpretation
The Seven corresponds to Netzach — desire, emotion, attraction, and personal victory.
Swords correspond to Air — thought, communication, strategy.
When Netzach operates through Air without Solar correction (Tiphareth), intellect becomes a tool of desire.
In this image:
The four swords on the wall suggest structure, law, or established order (Four = stability, foundation).
The woman bypasses that order.
The swords on her back imply concealed strategy.
The downward blade in her hand suggests action already in motion.
This is not merely cleverness.
It is conscious deviation.
Western Hermetically, this card can indicate:
Acting from reactive emotion rather than balanced reason.
Using intellect to justify something the inner conscience already questions.
Operating from shadow rather than centered Will.
Without Tiphareth (Solar integrity), Netzach’s desire becomes manipulation.
The Rider–Waite–Smith Seven of Swords
The Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot presents a thief attempting to carry five swords while leaving two behind. The expression is almost light — even smug.
Here the emphasis is on mental overreach and self-deception rather than overt moral wrongdoing.
The RWS card asks:
Are you trying to carry too much?
Are you strategizing instead of confronting?
Are you rationalizing instead of acting directly?
It shows cleverness without grounding.
The Triple Goddess card, however, intensifies the ethical dimension. It implies conscious stealth. It suggests knowing you are stepping outside integrity.
Clear Comparative Distinction
Rider–Waite–Smith:
Mental strategy, self-deception, overthinking, intellectual evasion.
Triple Goddess:
Conscious stealth, secrecy, ethical compromise, deliberate shadow action.
Western Hermetic Warning
The Seven of Swords in either form reflects imbalance in the Ruach (the reasoning self).
If guided by Solar awareness (Tiphareth), strategy becomes wisdom.
If guided by reactive desire (Netzach unchecked), strategy becomes manipulation.
“Be prepared to reap what you sow” is an entirely Hermetic principle — the Law of Cause and Effect operates regardless of cleverness. The mind may justify the act, but the pattern returns.
The real question this card poses is not:
“Can you get away with it?”
But:
“Are you aligned with your Higher Will?”
Because no strategy escapes the equilibrium of the Tree.
Above all things — know thyself.
When the Seven of Swords Appears in a Reading
When the Seven of Swords is thrown, the querent is — or soon will be — moving through a cycle of 7 weeks or 7 months marked by unstable or misdirected effort.
This is not failure through lack of intelligence.
It is failure through divided will.
Core Pattern: Futility Through Self-Doubt
The querent may be:
Experiencing futile effort due to internal vacillation.
Unstable in execution — beginning strongly, but not sustaining momentum.
Yielding just before victory is secured.
Drained by self-defeating internal dialogue.
Western Hermetically, this card reflects Netzach (desire/emotion) interfering with Hod (clarity/intellect). The emotional body undermines the reasoning mind. Thought becomes colored by insecurity rather than guided by Solar equilibrium.
The result is:
Effort without coherence.
Strategy without endurance.
Partial success, followed by retreat.
This is the mind “talking itself out” of triumph.
Overland Journey Symbolism
The suggestion of overland travel with mixed results reflects the symbolic terrain of Air (Swords). This is mental terrain. The querent is navigating shifting internal landscapes.
The journey is rarely smooth because:
The goal is questioned.
Motives are second-guessed.
The will is divided against itself.
Behavioral Indicators
The Seven of Swords may also indicate:
A fascination with appearance over substance.
Compliments masking insecurity.
Sensitivity to criticism.
Inclination to “spy,” monitor, or test others rather than confront directly.
Betraying confidences — sometimes unintentionally — due to inconsistency or emotional fluctuation.
These traits arise from inner instability rather than deliberate malice.
In Hermetic terms, this is a Ruach out of alignment with Tiphareth. When the Solar center is dim, personality fragments compete for dominance.
If Reversed or Ill-Dignified
When poorly aspected, the qualities harden:
Conscious deceit.
Intrigue and manipulation.
Insincerity.
Strategic dishonesty.
Here the instability becomes deliberate.
Instead of vacillation, there is calculated evasion.
The difference is important:
Upright: Internal conflict causing self-sabotage.
Ill-dignified: Externalized manipulation affecting others.
Western Hermetic Correction
The remedy is Solar integration.
The querent must:
Anchor in Tiphareth — the center of balanced Will.
Separate emotion from analysis.
Act from clarity rather than reaction.
Continue effort beyond the point of discomfort.
The Seven of Swords warns:
Victory is lost not because it cannot be achieved,
but because the will withdraws before completion.
This card does not predict defeat.
It predicts divided intention.
Unify the will — and futility dissolves.
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