The Shadow Series, Tarot Card Comparisons: The Thoth 9 of Wands & The Shadow Tarot 9 of Primordial Fire.

THE THOTH QABALISTIC TAROT-EIGHT OF WANDS: STRENGTH.

 

Astrologically this card is Moon in Sagittarius, the Lunar powers of reflection and illusion acquire  great strength in Sagittarius which is a double sided coin.

This means that successes are accompanied by strife and apprehension.

Qabalistically, this card represents  Yesod (Foundation) in Atziluth (The World of Pure Spirit) . Now the world of Pure Spirit is Pure Energy Conscious, a Purity of Mind that isn't known to harbor empathy. It is the Great Strength of Will which can drive a body mercilessly. Great Passions at the expense of the physical can happen in this state of Mind but recovery from any illness rendered is assured.

The Thoth 9 of Wands represents Spiritual Power (Spiraling Energy) , potency, force and internal strength----A  powerful flow of Serpentine Force and/or Kundalini (Sex force) that drives the Great Will To Be of the Universal Unconscious. This is the same force felt by a student when learning from a Master Teacher who Channels directly from Kether (Solar Crown on the Middle Energy pillar, connected to the Moon-Binah who is Goddess Mother) depicted on this card as the crowning sun. The Student may become excited molecularity as well as mentally, and may have to "ground" their energetic excitement before they can either eat or sleep. This forces overcomes any physical resistance to motion  and thus if ill directed can have negative results.  Either way, the querent will be arriving at peak experience in 9days, 9weeks or 9 months depending on the Strength being channeled which is determined by the surrounding cards in the reading.

Spiritual energy is the Primary "One" so it is strong and aggressive and delays are over as swift progress is being made. Because of the Sun and Moon flow,  this card is about Great Strength in Union. When the God and Goddess dance in your Soul (Inner Self) "All things great and small are created", but if you lean too far towards imbalance, where the electric ( Will to Force-Male) and the Electric (Magnetic Will to form-Female) are not dancing in the same rhythm, all emotional hell could be breaking loose, so this card also advises us to stop, take a few deep breaths, and focus before releasing the Power of Spiritual Will! Therefore Spiritual Will involves the Spiral Dance of the Communion of Goddess/God; Electric and Magnetic  forces intertwined and is a weaving of Power that roars in the passion of "Thy Will Be Done!".

I have often Channeled this Dance of Power in Tantra Magick Ritual, and I know from personal experience, that such Great Strength, as in any powerful flow of energy, leaves behind a residue of heat and if you are a wide open channel, a lot of heat or "The burning" is experienced on the emotional, mental, and physical planes! It is best to practice pranic breathing exercises (Prana is a Hindu name for "Life/Sex Force") before ever attempting to invoke the Shakti-Shiva Dance of Creation! But for the untrained individual this is a Strength of Will, that may not be optimized, but is unusual and is exciting.

The 9 of Wands, is Yesod in Aziluth; it is The Lord of Great Strength. It's Planet is the Moon and the sign is Sagittarius. 

Angels of the Decan are: Yirthiel, and Sahiah.

The 9 of Wands-Strength, is the influence of Yesod in the World of pure spirit.  In Yesod, Lunar powers do acquire great strength in the sign of Sagittarius, but being the Moon, there are two sides to this "coin". Meaning, that successes are usually acquired by strife, apprehension and moments of insecurity.[illustration of Four Worlds, from the book: THE QABALISTIC TAROT, by Robert Wang]

The good health and strength of this card is certain, but it harbors doubt about the later course it may take. It is best to know the aphorism: "Change is Stability", when viewing this card.

The Nines may be considered the best that can be obtained from the type of forces involved, when regarded from a practical-material-mundane standpoint.

The Thoth Deck 9 of Wands, shows 8 background Wands as Arrows (Sagittarius influence) and one Master Arrow in the forefront, sporting a Sun at one end as a driving force, and a Moon at the other end as it's point. This implies that Sagittarius joins the Sun and the Moon, and that the Greatest Strength is the Balance of this coupling flow. The flow of Electric Male and Magnetic Female receptivity. Together, all that is Living Form, is from this flow and reception. When we, as a personality, master both the Male Force and the Female force within,it is called a "Oneness" and it reveals all the 4 Worlds in a communion of the Sun (Father) and the Moon (Mother) that never ceases. The Tenfold flames of the card, imply that the Energy of the Solar Logos, is directed down ward into the "reflection of being'. 

The Shadow Tarot card, the 9 of Primordial Fire illustrates the sigil of Alocas, the 52nd spirit as Solomon bound them. Alocas is also a "Great Duke of Hell" who appears as a mounted soldier riding a great horse.

According to the Goetia: Alloces or Alocas is a Duke, Great, Mighty and Strong, appearing in the Form of a Soldier (or Warrior) riding upon a Great Horse. His Face is like that of a Lion, very Red, and having Flaming Eyes. His Speech is hoarse and very big. His Office is to teach the Art of Astronomy, and all the Liberal Sciences. He bringeth unto thee Good Familiars; also he ruleth over 36 Legions of Spirits.

The Shadow of Alocas appears as the demon Furfur (see illustration) who when invoked into a triangle, appears as an angel, rather than a stag headed beast.

Honestly I love these nightmare images of the medieval monks, but in truth they are not only impractical, they just aren't there unless you believe or need it to be so. So have fun being "freaky", as it gives our egos a sense of doing something "bad" which thrills the rebellious personality. Again, for me, Alocas or Furfur, shows up as a very beautiful being. 

One calls on Alocas to teach the art of astronomy and science. One calls on Furfur, to raise storms, romantic love, and answering questions both arcane and divine. All of which one can get from their own Greater Self by "Climbing the Inner Tree of Life" through skrying, meditation, and the study of Gnosis, both Qabalistic and Rosicrucian.

 When the Thoth or Shadow card is thrown during a reading, it implies:

Thank you for your interest, comments and supportive donations. May you live long and prosper!