Lapsang Souchong

What this is

Lapsang Souchong is the Martial tea of this set, the black tea of Fujian dried over smoking pinewood fires until it takes on its unmistakable smoke. Bold, warming, and fortifying, it tastes of campfire and resin. It is the most assertive of the seven, the cup with fire in its making.

What it governs

It is set under Mars and so over Tuesday, sharing the Martial virtues of fire, warmth, and fortifying strength. Its domain is the warming and bracing of the body, the smoke and fire that fortify against the cold and the contest. It governs the day's call to gather your strength and meet the day's challenge warm.

Its properties

Its colour is the deep dark amber of strong smoked tea, its scent and taste of pinewood smoke and resin, its character warming and fortifying. The upright virtue of Lapsang Souchong is Martial warmth, the smoke-fire that fortifies and braces; its shadow is only the harshness of too much, the smoke that overwhelms the cup. A cup of it is the war-spirit's fire made drinkable, the same Mars-force that Phaleg wields in battle brought down to the warming and fortifying of your own body before the day's contest. The tea dried over fire carries the fire into you.

Where else it appears

Lapsang Souchong is Mars's note steeped in a cup, the same red iron that is Phaleg's metal and Samael's sword and the severity of Geburah, here made smoke and fire. Its fortifying warmth echoes the Martial principle of fire and strength that every system gives the planet. The Mars that grants victory in arms in the grand telling fortifies your single body in the cup. Set them together and it is one fortifying fire at two scales.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

On The Day, Lapsang Souchong is the tea-face of Tuesday, beside Mars, the archangel Samael, the hawk, and the spirit Phaleg. When it appears the day calls for warmth and fortifying strength: brew the bold smoky cup, gather your fire, meet the day's challenge braced and warm. Read it as the day's fortification, the war-force turned to your own strengthening.

Why it matters

Lapsang Souchong carries the truth that fire fortifies as well as destroys, that the smoke-warmed cup braces you for the contest. It matters because the Tuesday self needs warming before it acts. It asks you to gather your fire and let it strengthen you.

Correspondences

planet

Mars

element

Fire

zodiac

Aries

sephirah

Geburah

day

Tuesday

colour

Dark amber

metal

Iron

tarot

The Tower