Post Discussion Thoughts: “Ace + Princess of Wands and Cups” Oct.26th 2025

ACE OF WANDS: “The Root of the Powers of Fire”. The Aces are placed in the sephira of Kether representing the initial seed that is creating the roots to awakening the powers of that element. It is on this bases that the Aces are not the full development of the element, but the inner rumblings of what is to be released. It is the first action of the “Yod” (Hand) the Father in “Yod He Vau He”. The Aces can be seen as the journey of the Middle Pillar. The Princesses are the formed vessel manifested by their element, and because of this completion they are placed in Malkuth, the Final “He”, and earning the title of “The throne of the Ace” of their element.

The Ace of Wands is the“First Force” in the Fool’s development of Willpower that is set in Chokmah. The Yod (hand of the higher divine) is the lightning striking the crown of the Godhead Self. The Tree of Life will soon take form as the fiery wand of manifestation to be activated by the Princess of Wands. The blue flaming upward triangle forms the elemental symbol for Fire, while the three growing circles (red, purple, and orange) could be showing the energetic transformation from earth, spirit, willpower. The ten flames emanating from the Tree is igniting the ten sephiras into action, and the undefined forms on the trunk is what will be defined as the descent to Malkuth begins. The force of the Ace of Wands is the “Divine Will” to turn desires, inspirations, and creative energy into formed matter.

PRINCESS OF WANDS: “Earth of Fire” and “Princess of the Shining Flame”. Here is manifestation of the “Living Flame of Will”. “I WILL” is the first of the four virtues that represent the elemental force. She is the vehicle of the element of Fire now personified in Malkuth. The final “He” in Yod He Vau He. The inherent force of this Princess is depicted as a winged Tiger (female energy) above her head and at her waist (solar plexus) showing the origins and active placement of the Divine Will. The flaming orange sun behind her head is the infinite power of desire. The Sun is the luminary energy of Tiphareth while Hod (Mercury/Orange) is how her actions speak of Truth. Ruling the quadrant space of the Summer signs of Cancer, Leo, and Virgo, she is the Chariot (Cancer) and charioteer maneuvering her own Will. She is the Lust/Leo archetype of vitality, courage, and self control. Her enthusiasm, adventurous spirit and brilliant energy is a force to behold and can be found as attractive to others. The altar shows a full blossomed Rose revealing the true essence of these characteristics. As the Hermit (Virgo), the Princess can bring a refinement to the Spirit of the Will and to remain true to the flickering flame as a continuous guide to remaining authentic to ones Self.

This Princess is Earth of Fire. One who has self control in her actions and how they are directed. If not properly contained, the Princess of Wands can reveal a destructive side to others and allowing the ego to take over. Lesson is to respect your inherent power and use it as means that reflects the true Spirit of your Will.

ACE OF CUPS: “The Root of the Powers of Water”. This is the first form in Binah, after the initial first force of Chokmah. The Ace of Cups is the supernal Mother of the Hé Primal in “Yod He Vau He”. She is receptive to the Yod motion from the Ace of Wands and their union has begun the first formation of love and beauty. The Tree of Life has been transformed to cradle the large cup-like shell filled with pearls and a ruby crystal. This is the early development of the Holy Grail that is seen in the Chariot card. The backdrop of the Full Moon (Tiphareth/Yesod) shows the harmonious energy presiding over the moment of creation. The inverted triangle (female symbol) encapsulates the large shell at the peak of receptivity. The triangle’s wavy form supports the continuous fertility and reinforces the lower sephiras of Hod (spiritual intellect), Netzach (beauty), and Yesod (subconscious realm). Malkuth is the root of the powers of water for this downward triangle apex. The droplet forming a crown is the awakening of Kether moving into Binah. The eye emerging from the tree hollow is from the Hanged Man revealing the subconscious Self. The white lotuses are the development of spiritual purity of existence.

For me, the energy center of the Ace of Cups is held in the connection between Yesod and Malkuth. The eye in Yesod is that illusionary Self that is experiencing the awakening to the conscious Self. The Full Moon (Tiphareth/Yesod union) is rising but also reflecting into the still waters. Formation is transpiring and its currents are in Yesod. As previously mentioned, Malkuth is the root of the powers of water for the Ace of Cups. It is where the Ace of Cups ends and begins a new cycle of conception.

PRINCESS OF CUPS: “Earth of Water” and “Princess of the Waters”. Here is the manifestation of the embodied soul. The centered stream of water pouring over the moon, as seen in the Ace of Cups, has emerged as a graceful form of beauty and inner strength. Our Princess of Cups has risen and shines brightly with her luminous light. The final “He” in Yod He Vau He. She is the final form of creation which first began within the currents of the supernal mother (He Primal), Binah. Holding a lotus above she defines her title as “Lotus of the Palace of the Floods” and the crest of the open winged swan is the ascension of the divine soul. The environment is nurturing and yet ephemeral. As heiress to the throne of the Ace of Cups, she is the vessel of receptivity where water ebbs and flows and is in constant flux. Transformation from one form to the next is her nature.

Ruling the quadrant space of the Autumn signs of Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius, the Princess of Cups inherits the elemental traits of these signs to shape her form. She is Adjustment (Libra), using intuitive discernment to create a harmonious experience. She is Death (Scorpio), transformation that reveals the many layers of the soul; the (re) dissolution of the soul. And she is Art (Sagittarius), the alchemical process of dissolving and binding the inner Self to create beauty and love through healing.

This Princess is Earth of Water. One whose creative form is shaped around love and graceful beauty. Her calling is receptive and one of non resistance. She is the second virtue, “To Dare” in fluid form; revealing, healing and transformative. She is the water manifestation of the Middle Pillar. Being in Malkuth, the Princesses are the culmination of force and form through their elements. They are empowered through the journey of the sephiras and paths of the Tree of Life. In Book M, Meleen shares a quote. Crowley states the Princesses enigmatic life force as “the materialization of the element, yet the re-absorption of the energy, and they are thus at the same time permanent and non-existent”.