I Ching/Tarot Associations - Karen Witter

[Frankelmick]

Dharma and everyone

Here's an article written by Karen Witter explaining her I Ching/Tarot associations.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WheelofTarot/message/5

It's way out of my league but the end result is fascinating and rings very true for me.

Best wishes

Mick

 

[dharma]

Hello Mick!

I have not yet read through the I Ching/Tarot page with a fine-tooth comb but I did manage to read some of the "Three Stages of Death/Transformation in the Tarot and in the Bible" and found it utterly fascinating. Wow! Karen's work is brilliant - is it in book form? If not, it should be. It absolutely deserves it's own space on the bookshelves -a must have. Thanks for bringing her work to my attention.

Dharma

 

[Frankelmick]

Dharma,Willow and everyone,

At the end of this post I've copied in a section of an e-mail from Karen where she explains her Tarot/I Ching correspondences for the Major Arcana.

I don't understand her method but the end result is fascinating.

I'll try to post my thoughts here, going through the Trumps in I Ching order.

We'll take it one Hexagram at a time.

Best wishes,

Mick
http://www.north-node.com/

I-Ching/Tarot (A theoretical system of correspondence based upon the template of the Wheel of Tarot which I have developed):

1. There are 4 archetypal elements and 4 attributional elements in the I-Ching.

Shown below:

Archetype Air (Heaven)
Attribute Air (Wind)
Archetype Water (Water)
Attribute Water (Marsh)

Archetype Earth (Earth)
Attribute Earth (Mountain)
Archetype Fire (Fire)
Attribute Fire (Thunder)

2. Although the Sefer Yetzirah refers to three elements of air, water, fire (in that order)....it states that earth is formed from water (see 3:4 and 3:8). Additionally, in the Bahir, it is written in verse 188;
?Is it not true that [at first] there was water, and that fire emanated from it? Water therefore included fire.?

Thus giving the three primary elements in the order of AWF with W creating E and thus ultimately constituting the order of AWEF.

?From the unattributed void were created air and water. Raising creation, He dwells as monarch in the citadel of the body. Lord! In the fire and water [of the body] exits The Light.? (Maru Sohale M:1 Pg. 1037).

Commentaries on the Sefer Yetzirah make a distinction between the Tohu, or Universe of Chaos, in which the Sephiroth were vessels that could not function as emanations, and the Rectified Universe after these vessels were shattered and in which the Sephiroth could now function as emanations. Thus, there may be understood to be two distinct ordering of the elements.

The first ordering is that which is non-emanative unshattered vessels)and self contained. It is represented by AWEF in which fire is equivalent to air in that this ordering represents a continuous self internalized recycling . It is a non-emanative ordering. That is, it is an ordering of the elements which is descriptive of an immutable essence.

The second ordering is that which is emanative (the rectified universe)and results in the possibility for manifestation. It is represented by the AWFE ordering where E is the created effect of the AWF causation.
AWEF represents the structure of the Universe but in a static non-creative sense and AWFE represents the creative emanation of the
Universe.

Thus, there is indicated in the Sefer Yetzirah, the concept of archetype (essential structure=AWEF) and attribute (creative emanation=AWFE) that can be easily fitted to the I-Ching.

3. If this archetype/attribute structure of the ordering of the elements is applied to the template of the Wheel of Tarot, the Archetype
is represented in its purity in the central cards of the spheres....Magician, High Priestess, Empress, and Emperor.

The Archetypes as they are related to the attributes are represented by the four cards that surround each of the four spheres of the template.

4. Since sphere #1 and #2 are involutionary, the attribute is placed on top of the hexagram because the archetype has yet to fully manifest
itself. Since sphere #3 and #4 are evolutionary, the archetype is placed on the top of the hexagram because the archetype is being
redeemed from the materialization.

5. The order of the archetype is in accord with the Sefer Yetzirah order of the vessels before they are broken which is AWEF and the order
of the attributes is in accord with the Sefer Yetzirah orders of the rectified universe after the vessels were broken which is AWFE.

Given the above understanding, assignments can be made thus:

Sphere #1
Magician: (Heaven/Heaven) #1
Hierophant: (Wind/Heaven) #9
Hermit: (Marsh/Heaven) #43
Death: (Thunder/Heaven) #34
Star: (Mountain/Heaven) #26

Sphere #2
High Priestess: (Water/Water) #29
Lovers: (Wind/Water) #59
Wheel of Fortune: (Marsh/Water) # 47
Temperance: (Thunder/Water) #40
Moon: (Mountain/Water) #4

Sphere #3
Empress: (Earth/Earth) #2
Chariot: (Earth/Wind) #46
Justice: (Earth/Marsh) #19
Devil: (Earth/Thunder) #24
Sun: (Earth/Mountain) #15

Sphere #4
Emperor: (Fire/Fire) #30
Strength: (Fire/Wind) #50
Hanged Man: (Fire/Marsh) #38
Tower: (Fire/Thunder) #21
Judgement: (Fire/Mountain) #56

The Fool and the World are further permutations of the archetypes just as the Magician through the Emperor represented the pure archetypes, the Fool and the World represent the two forms of blending the four archetypes. Thus:

Fool: (Earth/Heaven) #11
World: (Water/Fire) # 63

*Rationale: The double archetypes represent the center of each of the four spheres. The attributes are then combined with the archetypes to represent each of the four places around the primal spheres.

On spheres #1 and #2, on each of the four surrounding elaborative spheres, the archetype is placed beneath the attribute because these
two spheres represent the process of involution. During the process of involution the archetype is yet to fully manifest and is therefore contained within the element....or placed beneath the attribute.

On the other hand, on spheres #3 and #4 the archetype is placed about the attribute. This is because these two spheres represent the phase of evolution in which the archetypes become fully manifest through the particular ground of each attribute.

As an example: Placement #1 on the #2 sphere of the Wheel of Tarot has the I-Ching sign of Wind over Water assigned to it. Water is the
archetype and since the #2 sphere is one of involution, the Water is placed beneath the Wind. On the other hand, placement #1 on the #4
sphere of the Wheel of Tarot has the I-Ching sign of Fire over Wind assigned to it. Fire is the archetype of the #4 sphere but since it is
a sphere related to the process of evolution, rather than involution, the Fire is placed over the Wind.

Note the ordering of this arrangement: Sphere #1 has the archetype of Heaven in all the lower trigrams and the unfolding of AWFE attributes in all the upper trigrams. Sphere #2 has the archetype of Water in all the lower trigrams and the unfolding of AWFE attributes in all the upper trigrams. Sphere #3 has the archetype of Earth in all the upper trigrams and the unfolding of the AWFE attributes in all the lower trigrams. Sphere #4 has the archetype of Fire in all of the upper trigrams and the unfolding of AWFE in all the lower trigrams.

Associations between the Trump and Court cards

The Wheel of Tarot is designed, in part, upon the idea of the elements.
When one arranges these elements onto The Wheel of Tarot, the 16 attributional positions ( four positions surrounding the four archetypes) can be understood as representative of elemental ?parts? of elements just like the court cards. Therefore, I have been able to derive an association between 16 of the majors and the 16 court cards.

The Fool and the World are outside of the template of the Wheel of Tarot.

The first four cards of the Majors are the archetypes of the ?Wheel?.
Thus: Magician=Air, High Priestess=Water, Empress=Earth, and Emperor=Fire. The remaining 16 majors, then, are associated as ?parts? or elemental attributes of the archetypes.

Karen Witter

 

[Frankelmick]

Is anyone interested in looking at the first of Karen's I Ching/Tarot correspondences?

Hx 1 and I Le Bateleur (The Magician).

I've found that when Le Bateleur comes up in a Tarot reading it has been really useful to think of the card in terms of hexagram 1.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

Going through the Tarot trumps in I Ching sequence, the next in Karen's set of correspondences is between

Hx 2 and III L'Imperatrice (The Empress)

I think that the pure Yin energy of the second hexagram finds a good match in the Empress card.

Whenever The Empress card appears in a Tarot reading, I've found that the link to Hx 2 is practical and useful.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

In Karen's system, there is no Tarot trump which corresponds to Hx 3.

Hx4 corresponds to XVIII La Lune (the Moon)

Just as Youthful Folly means confusion and subsequent enlightenment the Moon card can represent dreams and delusions leading on to an awakening.

The correspondence between Hx 4 and the Moon has helped me in Tarot readings because I can now see that among other things, the Moon card can sometimes represent inexperience.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

There are no Tarot trump correspondences for Hx 5, 6 ,7 or 8 in Karen's system.

Hx 9 The Taming Power Of The Small corresponds to Tarot trump V Jupiter (The Hierophant).

As you go through more and more of these correspondences, wonderful connections start to appear.

Just as Hx 9 is Hx 1 with changing line 4, The Hierophant is The Magician with some of the potential actualised. But not the most powerful potential which would include changing line 5.

So the limited power of Hx 9 corresponds very nicely for me with The Hierophant who is perhaps a slightly old-fashioned but very valuable teacher.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

There's no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 10 in Karen's system.

Hx 11 Peace corresponds to Tarot trump Le Mat (The Fool).

I find this correspondence to be very, very practical in readings.

Hx 11 is wonderful. Earth sinks down from above and meets Heaven rising from below. "Heaven and Earth unite: The image of Peace."

Just like the Fool, I think it represents a kind of ideal.

Following the ideas of Cheng Yi, I think that hx 11 represents an exceptional kind of organisation where every level of management is really listening to the work force and are able to delegate. The management are experts in delegation who really understand how the organisation works and the workers are highly competent, efficient people who've been given responsibility and power.

And for many Tarot readers, the Fool embodies the spirit of the Tarot. Innocence and wisdom combined.
The Fool is a genius. He is completely himself and his way of doing things would definitely be full of joy.

Hx 11 T'ai is sometimes translated as Advance and this definitely fits with the Fool on his famous spiritual journey.

Both the Fool and hx 11 point to a meeting of Heaven and Earth.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

There's no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 12, 13 and 14 in Karen's system.

Hx 15 Modesty corresponds to Tarot trump XIX Le Soleil (The Sun).

At first I couldn't see the connection and I asked Karen how the blazing light of the life-force represented by The Sun card could correspond to Hx 15 which represents humility.

She explained that true humility is very different from false modesty. The naked children playing in the sun on Tarot trump XIX represent our true nature in all its simple, natural humility.

Wilhelm notes on p.67 that, "There are not many hexagrams in the Book of Changes in which all the lines have an exclusively favorable meaning, as in the hexagram of Modesty."

Similarly, for every deck and in every Tarot book that I've seen, the Sun card has a totally positive interpretation.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

There's no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 16, 17 and 18 in Karen's system.

Hx 19 Approach corresponds to Tarot trump VIII La Justice (Justice).

What I really like about this correspondence is that it links Justice to The Fool (hx 11).

Whereas hx 11 has a Yang line 3, in hx 19, line 3 is Yin. The line judgement for 19,3 contains the strong warning "nothing is favourable".

And the negative side of the Tarot card Justice is the risk of becoming complacent about self-development.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

There's no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 20 in Karen's system.

Hx 21 Biting Through corresponds to Tarot trump XVI La Maison de Dieu (The Tower).

This correspondence is very graphic I think. The thunder and lightning of Hx 21 is shown on Trump XVI as lightning strikes the Tower.

Could the people falling from the Tower be receiving the punishment talked about in Hx 21?

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

There's no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 22 or 23 in Karen's system.

Hx 24 Return (The Turning Point) corresponds to Tarot trump XV Le Diable (The Devil).

The Devil represents the illusion that you have no choice. The Devil also represents being driven by your desires above all else.

I've found that these 2 meanings also apply to readings where Hx 24 appears. Where Hx 24 is the nuclear hexagram (for example Hx 4), I've found that these interpretations of The Devil card represent the heart of the situation being asked about.

Using this system, links start to emerge between the Tarot cards. For example, the Devil (Hx 24) is linked to the Empress (Hx 2) by changing line 1. And the judgement for 24,1 is highly auspicious. You found the turning point before things went too far in the wrong direction. No damage done.

The Devil card is sometimes linked to Capricorn and Hx 24 also refers to the Winter Solstice.

I find these correspondences to be practical and useful in my Tarot readings and in my I Ching readings.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

There's no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 25 in Karen's system.

Hx 26 The Taming Power of the Great corresponds to Tarot trump XVII L'étoile (The Star).

This gives a very practical and useful link between the Star (Hx 26)and the Hierophant (Hx 9). The change in line 5 from Yang to Yin is the source of the great power of the Star.

This is the power of Yin; the difference between the freedom of the Star and the Hierophant who, for all his knowledge, is somewhat stuck in the traditions of the past.

The Star represents creative freedom and relaxation. The card is linked to the sign of Aquarius. I think it's a hghly auspicious card in a reading about a future project, especially a creative one.

Similarly, I think Hx 26 is very favourable especially lines 4, 5 & 6.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

There's no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 27 or 28 in Karen's system.

Hx 29 The Abysmal(Water) corresponds to Tarot trump II Junon (The High Priestess).

The watery and potentially dangerous world of Hx 29 links to the esoteric understanding of the High Priestess.

I?ve found this correspondence to be very useful in practise. When the High Priestess turns up in Tarot readings, perhaps it represents a Hx 29 situation where it would be dangerous to try to change things? Better to focus on your own feelings and make progress a little bit at a time.

And perhaps Hx 29 has to do with emotional understanding rather than thinking too hard and trying to apply the letter of the law?

For me this correspondence emphasises the connection between the water trigram and the moon. Tarot trump II is linked to the Moon.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

Going through the Tarot trumps in I Ching sequence, the next in Karen's set of correspondences is between Hx 30 The Clinging, Fire and IIII L'Empereur (The Emperor).

This gives the pairing of the doubled hexagrams 29 & 30 with the High Priestess and The Emperor.

The Emperor is in command and ready for battle. He lives in a dry, unemotional world.

I think this corresponds well to the fiery image of Hx30. The Emperor is linked to Aries the sign of cardinal fire.

Perhaps Hx 30 represents a pair of eyes viewing the world from a distance with clarity of vision. Could this correspond to the commanding light of the Emperor?

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

In Karen's system there are no Tarot trump correspondences for Hx 31,32 and 33.

The next correspondence is between Hx 34 Great Power and XIII La Mort (Death).

I think this emphasises the positive meanings of the Death card. Tremendous forward movement, transformation, great inner power and strength.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

In Karen's system there are no Tarot trump correspondences for Hx 35,36 and 37.

The next correspondence is between Hx 38 Opposition and XII Le Pendu (The Hanged Man).

The Hanged Man doesn't struggle.

For me, this correspondence has made me think of Hx 38 as tending to mean, don't try to force this situation. Now's the time to let it go and wait.

As 38,1 says, "If you lose your horse, do not run after it".

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

Dharma and everyone,

In Karen's system there is no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 39.

The next correspondence is between Hx 40 Deliverance and XIV Temperance

Temperance can be about blending and finding a balance which adds a nuance of meaning to Hx 40.

And with the link to Hx 40, Temperance has become much more active for me.

Also, Temperance becomes a card of forgiveness with the link to the Hx 40 image.

"Thus the superior man pardons mistakes
And forgives misdeeds."

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[dharma]

Temperance often has to do with the process and moment of unification of opposites / extremes, and is often a symbol associated with health and healing on all levels, and reconciliation and cooperation in relationships. Its properties of blending and balance are brought about slowly over time, hence the reason I picture any situation influenced by it as a 'meal' needing sufficient time to simmer slowly on the back burner of the stove until all the relevant elements in the mixture have absorbed and the necessary integration has occured.

Thanks Mick for pointing out the similarity of properties between Temperance and hx40.
D

 

[Frankelmick]

Dharma and everyone,

In Karen's system there is no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 41 and Hx 42.

The next correspondence is between Hx 43 Breakthrough and VIIII L'Ermite (The Hermit).

Alfred Huang translates the name of Hx 43 as Eliminating. I find it very useful and practical in Tarot readings to think of the Hermit card as more than just the querent being reclusive.

The Hermit card can often mean that the reason for self-searching and isolation is to help eliminate something from your life. Especially working on yourself to eliminate some unwanted way that you behave.

Karen's system now gives us a journey through the Yang rising Hexagrams from Hx 2 to Hx 1.

Here's the sequence:

Hx 2 - III The Empress
Hx 24 - XV The Devil
Hx 20 - VIII Justice
Hx 11 - The Fool
Hx 34 - XIII Death
Hx 43 - VIIII The Hermit
Hx 1 - I The Magician

I find all of Karen's correspondences to be trustworthy and practical. I use them all the time in my Tarot readings.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[dharma]

Mick,
I am curious. How exactly does Karen Witter come up with these associations - hexagrams to cards? What is the basis for her conclusions? I ask because I notice that her method systematically leaves out some of the hexagrams from the pairing equations between the two systems.

I think it might be more accurate to use all the hexagrams by bringing some together and combining them when necessary for certain cards. After all, the full scope of the 64 hexagrams are present within the 22 major cards but in some instances a single card may contain complexities that a one hexagram alone cannot by itself define sufficiently.

For instance, I am naturally drawn to and inclined to associate The Hermit card with Hx #20 because of this hexagram's "higher perspective overview". However, since The Hermit's usual contemplative and introspective meanings are only the preliminary steps that lead him/her to discovery and atonement, I can see its underlying connection to Hx#43 as well.

Anyway, just a thought. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Frankelmick]

Dharma,

If you go back to the top of this thread, there's a link to an article that Karen wrote.

It's completely over my head. Way out of my league.

Hopefully you'll be able to make some sense of it.

Karen and I had a fascinating e-mail conversation working our way through her correspondences and they all seem to work very well in practice for me.

I know what you mean about trying to use all the hexagrams but for this thread, I'd like to stick to working my way through Karen's ideas.

Hope you understand

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

Dharma,

Sorry, I've just noticed a mistake in my Yang rising sequence.

I put Hx 20 for Justice. That should have been Hx 19.

Mick

 

[dharma]

Mick,
i understand completely

don't mind me i sometimes wonder about stuff and then think outloud ...

(hope it's not too intrusive

)

by all means, keep on doing what you're doing - it's all good!

 

[Frankelmick]

Dharma and everyone,

In Karen's system there is no Tarot trump correspondence for Hx 44 and Hx 45.

The next correspondence is between Hx 46 Pushing Upwards and VII The Chariot.

Both Hx 46 and VII The Chariot are to do with progress and positive forward movement.

All of the line judgements for Hx 46 strike a positive note and the top line asks you to be "unremittingly persevering".

For me, this links really well to VII The Chariot.

VII The Chariot can be linked to the Sign of Cancer, perhaps Hx 46 has something of the quiet tenacity that?s associated with Cancer?

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

Dharma and everyone,

In Karen Witter's sytem, the next correspondence is between Hx 47 Oppression (Exhaustion) and X The Wheel of Fortune.

I think that this connection has helped me to understand Hx 47. Just like the Wheel of Fortune, Hx 47 refers to a time when there is nothing you can do but trust that the Wheel of Fortune will turn again and things will improve in their own time.

Here's my non-sexist version of Wilhelm (p.182), "When the water has flowed out below, the lake must dry up and become exhausted. That is fate. This symbolizes an adverse fate in human life. In such times there is nothing you can do but acquiesce in your fate and remain true to yourself."

The inescapable power of the Wheel of Fortune is emphasised by Wilhelm's next sentence, "This concerns the deepest stratum of your being, for this alone is superior to all external fate."

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[Frankelmick]

Dharma and everyone,

In Karen Witter's sytem, the next correspondence is between Hx 50 The Cauldron and XI La Force (Strength).

I think that this correspondence is one of the most graphic. Both Hx 50 and the Strength card symbolise solidity and inner power. Both have very favourable divinatory meanings.

I think this is especially true of the 5th and 6th lines. Wilhelm/Baynes page 197, "In the preceding line the carrying rings are described as golden, to denote their strength; here they are said to be of jade. Jade is notable for its combination of hardness with soft lustre."

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[shelley]

Which is beatifully corroborated by these threads:

What hexagram represents romantic love? and

Installing Love: Archive through February 04, 2004 (you'll have to scroll right down to Dharma's post of Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 05:08 pm for the relevant bit.

Love,

Shelley

 

[dharma]

Keen insight and retentive memory, Shelley.

Can I have some of that heady-goodness* that keeps your mental capacity so sharp and focused?? my little brain only needs a wee bite i'm sure ...

*if you're really a Simpsons fan, then you'll be able to tell me which episode this term (heady-goodness) comes from

 

[shelley]

D'oh!!

You've got me there, Dharma!

As for sharp & focused, well it's a bit intermittent

Seriously, I generally remember stuff that makes sense to me but I'm not so good at learning by rote. I suppose that's true for most people but I do seem to be quite strong on pattern-recognition so that I see links and hence make mental hooks to hang bits of information from.

'Way back in school I used to pass exams without having done any homework or revision because I'd absorbed what I needed in class. It irritated the hell out of my teachers! Of course in subjects I didn't 'get' in class, I couldn't get past writing my name on the paper.

So I guess 'sharp & focused' isn't how it works at all! I just have a (selectively) sticky brain!


But do tell about the Simpsons episode.

Love,

Shelley