1944 · CLOSE READING
The Book of Thoth
The Book of Thoth (1944), PDF p. 230
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POWER
FOUR OF DISKS
The Four, Chesed, shows the establishment of the Universe in three dimensions, that is,
below the Abyss. The generating idea is exhibited in its full material sense. The card is ruled
by the Sun in Capricornus, the Sign in which he is reborn. The disks are very large and solid;
the suggestion of the card is that of a fortress. This represents Law and Order, maintained by
constant authority and vigilance. The disks themselves are square; revolution is very opposite
to the card; and they contain the signs of the Four Elements. For all that, they revolve; defence
is valid only when violently active. So far as it appears stationary, it is the “dead centre” of the
engineer; and Capricornus is the point at which the Sun “turns again Northward”. The back‐
ground is of deep azure, flecked yellow, suggesting a moat; but beyond this is a pattern of
green and indigo to represent the guarded fields whose security is assured by the fortress.
In the Yî King, Sol in Capricornus is represented by the Second Hexagram, Khwan,
which is the Female Principle. Compare the English word Queen, Anglo‐Saxon Cwen, old Mer‐
cian Kwoen. Cognate are Icelandic Kvan, Gothic Kwens, woman. The Indo‐
Germanic type
is g (w)eni and the Sanskrit root GwEN. Note also Cwm, coombe, and agnate words, meaning
an enclosed valley, usually with water running from it. Womb—possibly a softened form?
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