“Botis, sometimes Otis, is a demon described in the Lesser Key of Solomon (as the seventeenth spirit) and the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (as a ninth spirit) as a President and an Earl who initially appears as a viper before changing into a sword-toting, fanged, and horned human who discusses matters past, present, and future; brings favor from allies and enemies, and rules 60 legions of demons. In the Munich Manual of Demonic Magic, Botis appears as Otius, and is mostly identical except that he is a preses and Count, appears in the more humanoid form to begin with, and rules only 36 legions of demons. In the Grand Grimoire, Botis appears as a subordinate of Agaliarept. According to Rudd, Botis is opposed by the Shemhamphorasch angel Lauviah.”
Source: Wikipedia
Personally, I have given Botis the 3 of Wands in my deck of cards. This is because this demon’s office of teaching things past, present and future is consistent with the card’s interpretation of foresight. I have however given him the Page of Swords to stay consistent with the Occult Tarot deck. As always, I hope to select one card per day to provide a base for inspiration and guidance while hoping for a response from our demons.
The suit of Swords is tied to the element of fire. Swords are associated with unbridled energy, recklessness, unpredictability, male virility, force, power, passion, and even strength. Thus, the element of fire is universally acknowledged to be a masculine element. When it comes to the Page of Swords tarot card, there is need for subjects to curb their impulses and urges if they are to have a desirable outcome after the reading.
Wand Archetypes are some very unpredictable and reckless individuals. This is because the influences of the element of fire cause them to behave in an erratic manner. They can lash out, fight, insult, or behave in an antisocial manner at any time. They struggle with acting on impulse and usually behave in the heat of the moment. Given their difficulty in restraining themselves, Wand Archetypes usually find themselves in more trouble than is their fair share.
The Page of Swords is found in the Minor Arcana deck. When it appears upright during a reading, it is interpreted as curiosity, new ideas, new methods of communicating, and thirst for knowledge. If it is reversed however it is interpreted as haste, all talk no action, haphazard activity, or even self-expression. I have dubbed this card the “Novel Card” because it implies new patterns of thinking or acting that are novel.
The Page of Swords shows a young man holding a sword which is pointing upwards. He leans to one side while observing the other side as if interested in what is going on around him. There is a breeze blowing through his hair and ruffling the clouds upwards. The ground on which he stands is green and lush perhaps showing that his ideas and intentions are fertile and can prove fruitful if he actually executes them.
The Demon
Demon Botis: The Seventeenth Spirit of Solomon
Botis is one of the 72 spirits of King Solomon that are listed in the Ars Goetia. He is a fallen angel who was summoned and ensnared by King Solomon in the days of antiquity. He is listed as the 17th of these spirits and ranked as a Great President and Earl of Hell. The demon has dominion over 60 legions of lesser demons that carry out his commands.
Not much else is known regarding this demon which is a consistent theme with these mysterious beings.
It is challenging to trace the origins of this demon given the shortage of information surrounding him. He is not mentioned in any ancient Middle Eastern mythology or early Graeco-Roman accounts. However, his presence in the Ars Goetia implies that he has Jewish or Abrahamic origins. He is also listed in credible grimoires such as the Dictionnaire Infernal and the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum.
He is often depicted as an ugly viper which has human hands. In this form, he is always shown clutching a sword. The demon is also capable of transforming into a human form with horns and large teeth at the request of the conjuror. It is noteworthy that different accounts may present his depictions with some variations here and there. Botis appears in these monstrous forms and they can be unnerving to inexperienced conjurors.
Note – there are no mentions whether Botis is benevolent, malevolent, or indifferent towards human beings. Inexperienced conjurors should therefore give him a wide berth in favor of more experienced personnel.
The Message
Will I come up with some revolutionary idea? Should I put more effort at work?
I believe that Botis can be an important ally for any conjuror. His offices are all useful whereas his vast hordes of legions can be used to do much within practice. Firstly, he is capable of telling things past, present, and future thereby placing the conjuror at an advantage. Alternatively, he is capable of reconciling friends and foes alike – this is important for getting ahead in life as the demon basically makes it easy to relate and interact with other people.
If the tarot reading revealed the 9 of Cups, I will be optimistic but proceed with caution. If the card was upright I will anticipate that I may realize a novel idea or something revolutionary – these can be instrumental in making people successful. Alternatively, I may look to curb my curiosity despite maintaining my thirst for knowledge. Even a new way of communicating can be useful to society today.
If the card was reversed, I will take steps to be cautious. I will take deliberate steps to improve my efforts in pursuing my goals. I will also take steps to deliberately care for the quality of my performances lest I do things haphazardly. I will also be careful in everything I do to avoid being hasty in my actions – this can be seen in the problems which are associated with Fire Archetypes’ recklessness.
Helpful Resources on The Occult Tarot Series
Divination and Summoning of Demons with Tarot Cards
Occult Tarot by Travis McHenry
Drawing on daemons, symbols, and sigils from ancient magickal grimoires including Archidoxis Magica and the Key of Solomon, Occult Tarot presents a fully realized divination tool to finally embrace and behold the mysteries of the night.
The first tarot deck to faithfully adhere to the Solomonic principles of demon conjuration, Occult Tarot allows practitioners to discover the power of ancient demons and learn to tame the beasts that wander between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Should we be sold out, if you are in the USA you can grab this deck from Amazon.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botis
https://occult-world.com/botis/
https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-of-swords/page-of-swords/