Karen Witter - I-Ching/Tarot:

7 Archetype Air (Heaven) 111

3 Attribute Air (Wind) 110


2 Archetype Water (Water) 010

6 Attribute Water (Marsh) 011


0 Archetype Earth (Earth) 000

1 Attribute Earth (Mountain) 100


5 Archetype Fire (Fire) 101

4 Attribute Fire (Thunder) 001

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. This ordering is equivalent to the Enochian and Pythagorean ordering of the elements.

In fact, this order of the creation of the elements is the same in the Eastern theology. “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 They Light.” (Maru Sohale M:1 Pg. 1037).

Further, 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 must 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.

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.< BR>
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: (1=line, 0= broken line, left to right reads topto bottom.)

Sphere #1
Magician: 111111 (Heaven/Heaven) #1
Hierophant: 110111 (Wind/Heaven) #9
Hermit: 011111 (Marsh/Heaven) #43
Death: 001111 (Thunder/Heaven) #34
Star: 100111 (Mountain/Heaven) #26


Sphere #2
High Priestess: 010010 (Water/Water) #29
Lovers: 110010 (Wind/Water) #59
Wheel of Fortune: 011010 (Marsh/Water) # 47
Temperance: 001010 (Thunder/Water) #40
Moon: 100010 (Mountain/Water) #4


Sphere #3
Empress: 000000 (Earth/Earth) #2
Chariot: 000110 (Earth/Wind) #46 Justice: 000011 (Earth/Marsh) #19
Devil: 000001 (Earth/Thunder) #24 Sun: 000100 (Earth/Mountain) #15


Sphere #4
Emperor: 101101 (Fire/Fire) #30
Strength: 101110 (Fire/Wind) #50
Hanged Man: 101011 (Fire/Marsh) #38
Tower: 101001 (Fire/Thunder) #21
Judgement 101100 (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: 000111 (Earth/Heaven) #11
World: 010101 (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.

I-CHING CORRELATIONS TO THE WHEEL OF TAROT: 



(The following descriptions have been taken from “I-Ching and Transpersonal Psychology” by Marysol Gonzalez Sterling. pg. 37-41)

ARCHETYPE: HEAVEN

“The creative principle. Yang. Positive. The light principle. The active. Male. active. cold. non-demonstrative. the Father. King. Strong. Firm. Energy. Breathing. the lungs. Regeneration process. Produces invisible seeds in every form of development. It has grown beyond Earth and rises above it. Great beginnings: it works in the invisible world with time and the spirit. United, in one direction. Content. Symbol of Purity. Without effort, knowledge through what is easy. Through movement it joins easily what is divided (Yin). Something shiny that catches the eye. Where opposites come together. The time of judgment. The mind and the head. The circle, round. The union, success, power. Psychologically it indicates the extreme mental and emotional states. Determines direction, represents the path and purpose in life. Originality. Individuation, a person by oneself. Totality, perfection. It belongs to the interior state of change. Shares with Lake the element of metal.”

ARCHETYPE: WATER

“The abysmal, dangerous, and difficult. The rain, to flow, the brooks, the oceans, the moon, the blood, the patterns of the sea. The emotions, deceptions, hidden things, thieves, the ambush. The time of concentration and work. Resistance. The middle son. The past. To cover, to clothe, penetrating like water and pain. Humid, melancholy. Increases anxiety and madness. The water flows toward that which is true and natural in itself, fills deep places and block progress. Does not fear jumping into the precipice. It bends and straightens itself. Belongs to the the interior state. The kidneys. To uphold one’s duty. Symbolizes the spirit trapped in the physical. The unconscious, lack of recognition, ignorance, instinctive, possessive. Love and perseverance, or pleasure and decadence. Emotions and desires. Psychologically, it causes illness through anxiety, worry, fright, fear, phobias, terror, and tension. Baptism and perfection. The principle of love fighting against matter to reach the light. The fetus in the water of the mother’s womb. Represents the Water element.”

ARCHETYPE: EARTH

“The receptive principle, Yin. The principle of darkness, of weakness, passivity. Divide and separate, the female; inactive, loving, demonstrative, the mother. Must not be a leader or guide; adapted devotionally to CHIEN. Gives in, responds, to do things the simple way. The absolutely simple is possible. The blood, the night, the winter. The plants disappear and are kept safe from the cold. A kettle to melt and boil things, Economy, frugality, support, an anchor, the trunk of a tree. That from which other things arise, the process of birth, the action of matter in space, completes things. Shapes, the power to transform. The crop, the work of peace, the rise of the human being. Psychologically it causes illness through depression, despair, and melancholy. Belongs to the interior state of change. The time of darkness. The space. God causes things to be of service to others and the main service is in the receptive. The intestines, the stomach. The earthly nature of the human being. Balance, justice, fame, and immortality. the human being must not give too much credit to his or her attributes, which will chain the human to earth. Shares with the mountain the element of Earth.”

ARCHETYPE: FIRE

“Clarity, intelligence. The Sun. Dependence, attachment to matter until it is consumed. Affection, devotion, adaptable, yielding. Heat, dry, brilliance. The lightning. It shines and beautifies. One sees the other in the fire. The colors. The middle daughter. the future. When power is at its maximum. The moment of conception and attaining the summit of life. The descent of the spirit. Being conscious. Perception, to clarify, to illuminate. The eye. The fire that consumes from within. Psychologically, it causes illness through extreme forms of delirium and hysteria. It belongs to the interior state of change. The material, the physical body trapped by the spirit. The conscience. The fire of cleanliness and sacrifice. The illumination and the manifestation of beauty. Lightning, instantaneous intuition. The immediate knowledge. Self-expression, the artist, to create and transform. Represents the Fire element.”

ATTRIBUTE: WIND

“Penetrating air, submissive, gentle, soft, flexible, adaptable, religious. To wander, spread, disseminate. Indecisive, advances and retreats. The elder daughter. To work hard and persevere. To consider quietly. Initial decision, to wait, to know later when to advance and when to retreat. Understanding, the union of love. Make things flow in their own way, develop, and grow according to the seeds they contain. Near gain, purity, and totality. Psychologically, it causes illness through despondency, grief, sorrow, and sadness. It belongs to the external state of change. The indecisive as well as the decisive. The physical and spiritual vitalizing energy. The renewal of life, the union between spirit and body. The period of adult life. Liberty, travel, mental growth, spiritual movement. Everything has a slow influence. Share with Thunder the Wood element.”

ATTRIBUTE: MARSH

“Joy, quiet, calm water. Many strange things may rise from the bottom of the lake, while the surface is so quiet. Seductiveness, an excess of joy carries danger. Sensual pleasure. To satisfy people and things. Happiness. Satisfaction. The younger daughter. Hard inside, soft outside. Fixed inside, flexible and yielding outside. The lake reflects the sunlight, the creative trapped by the physical water of Yin inside Earth. Sincerity, innocence. Youth. The fruits fall and open. A reflection of light. Mirror. To talk, laugh, drink, smile, taste, eat. Belongs to the exterior state of change. Represents knowledge and radiate intelligence. Talking too much and uttering slander is its negative side. Psychologically, it causes illness through overexcitement and frenzied states of mind. Association, duality, adaptation. To achieve some purpose of the awakening of ideas. Childhood. Dependence, need of support on something stronger. Shares with the creative the Metal element.”

ATTRIBUTE: THUNDER

“The awakening, the excitement, rapid movement. Growing up. The elder son. Lightning and fire. God manifests in thunder. Tension, energy, moves. The spirit is manifested in matter. The path of a superior human being. One’s place in life. The excitement of power, influential, causing movement and growth. The beginning of movement, a restless little child. All new things, expansion, birth. Revelation, clarity of understanding. What returns to life after disappearing. Rapid and strong growth. The path that leads to the goal or field of activity. Discharges tension. Shocking, electrical, violent, noise, heart attack, earthquake, music, sound. The morning, Spring, feeling active. The birth of physical existence. The beginning of a project, purpose, and direction. Psychologically, it causes illness through a sudden fit of anger and rage. Belongs to the exterior state of change. The unexpected, commotion, destruction. To leave aside that which is damaged and make room for the new. To change plans. To overcome the past. Shares with the Wind the Wood element.”

ATTRIBUTE: MOUNTAIN

“To relax, to be quiet, meditation, calm, rest. Obstruction, obstinacy, immovable, perseverance. God creates everything according to perfection and completes the work in the Mountain. To sleep, the end of life, older people, maturity, inactivity. The younger son. The time of that which has begun, like the end of a fight. Contemplation of movement. To wait for growth. Transition between the old and new beginnings. To nourish everything that grows in the vicinity. The period when the seeds join the new beginnings. Time of mystery and silence. The doors, to open, protection, doorman, a narrow path between difficulties. It belongs to the exterior state of change. Psychologically, it causes illness through stubborn, obstinate, and imperturbable states of mind. Meditation, prayer, to relax the mind and body. The barrier or entrance, r
epresents the end of life. . Mysticism, the contact between the inferior and superior being. That which remains, what remains of the past. Shares with the receptive the Earth Element.”

The interpretations in parenthesis of these hexagrams are those taken from “I-Ching and Transpersonal Psychology” by Marysol Gonzalez Sterling Pg. 91-94. The Images of the Hexagrams are taken from the translation of the I-Ching by Richard Wilhelm and Cary F. Bayenes.

MAGICIAN: (Heaven/Heaven). #1. “The Creative”. “Heaven”. “Yang” (The active power. The Spirit. Individual integrity) The Image: “Great indeed is the sublimity of the Creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven. The clouds pass and the rain does its work, and all individual beings flow into their forms, Because the holy man is clear as to the end and the beginning, as to the way in which each of the six stages completes itself in its own time, he mounts on them toward heaven as though on six dragons.” AND “The movement of heaven is full of power. Thus the superior man makes himself strong and untiring.”

HIGH PRIESTESS: (Water/Water). #29. “Mastering Pitfalls.” “Danger” “The Abyss”. “The Deep”. (Danger. Absorption. Darkness) The Image: “Water flows on uninterruptedly and reaches its goal: The image of the Abysmal repeated. Thus the superior man walks in lasting virtue and carries on the business of teaching.”

EMPRESS: (Earth/Earth). #2. “The Receptive”. “Earth”. “Yin”. “The Passive Principle”. “Natural Response”. (The natural response. Acceptance. Crystallization) The Image: “A mare belongs to the creatures of the earth; she roams the earth without bound. Yielding, devoted, furthering through perseverance: thus the superior man has a direction for his way of life.” AND “The earth’s condition is receptive devotion. Thus the superior man who has breadth of character carries the outer world.”

EMPEROR: (Fire/Fire). #30 “Fire”. “Synergy”. “Flaming Beauty”. (Synergy. Cohesion. Luminosity. To shoot) The Image: “ That which is bright rises twice: The image of Fire. Thus the great man, by perpetuating this brightness, illumines the four quarters of the world.”

HIEROPHANT: (Wind/Heaven). #9 “Nurturance of the Small”. “Minor Restraint”. “The Lesser Nourisher”. “Restrained”. (To restrain. Dominate. Minor limitation) The Image: “The wind drives across heaven: The image of The Taming Power of The Small. Thus the superior man refines the outward aspect of his nature.”

LOVERS: (Wind/Water). #59 “Dispersal”. “Reuniting”. “Scattering and Disintegration”. (Getting together, To forget, To abandon. To expand. Dissolution) The Image: “The wind drives over the water: The image of Dispersion. Thus the kings of old sacrificed to the Lord and built temples.”
CHARIOT: (Earth/Wind). #46. “Rising”. “Pushing Upward”. “Promotion”. “Advancement”. (To advance. Ambition. To grow. To raise up) The Image: “Within the earth, wood grows: The image of Pushing Upward. Thus the superior man of devoted character heaps up small things in order to achieve something high and great.”

STRENGTH: (Fire/Wind) #50. “The Cauldron”. “Cosmic Order”. “A Sacrificial Vessel”. (Small cauldron. The transformation. To remove. To mix. Alchemy.) The Image: “Fire over wood. The image of The Cauldron. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate by making his position correct.”

HERMIT: (Marsh/Heaven). #43. “Parting”. “Breakthrough”. “Resolution”. (Resolution. To agree. To correspond. Assembly) The Image: “The lake has risen up to heaven: The image of Break-through. Thus the superior man dispenses riches downward and refrains from resting on his virtue.”

WHEEL OF FORTUNE: (Marsh/Water). #47. “Exhaustion”. “Adversity”. “Repression”. (Adversity. Dishonor. Exhaustion. Repression) The Image: “There is no water in the lake: The image of Exhaustion. Thus the superior man stakes his life on following his will.”

JUSTICE: (Earth/Marsh). #19. “Overseeing”. “Conduct”. “Approach”. “Promotion”. (Promotion. To teach. To influence) The Image: “The earth above the lake: the image of Approach. Thus the superior man is inexhaustible in his will to teach, and without limits in his tolerance and protection of the people.”

HANGED MAN: (Fire/Marsh). #38 “Disharmony”. “Contradiction”. “The Estranged/Opposites”. “Neutrality”. (Contradiction. To defend oneself. Discord. Disunity.) The Image: “Above, fire; below, the lake: The image of Opposition. Thus amid all fellowship the superior man retains his individuality.”

DEATH: (Thunder/Heaven) #34 “Great Power”. (To direct. To straighten. To stop.) The Image: “Thunder in heaven above: The image of The Power of The Great. Thus the superior man does not tread upon paths that do not accord with established order.”

TEMPERANCE: (Thunder/Water). #40 “Liberation”. “Release”. (Relief. Salvation. To become independent. Remove.) The Image: “Thunder and rain set in: The image of Deliverance. Thus the superior man pardons mistakes and forgives misdeeds.”

DEVIL: (Earth/Thunder). #24 “Return”. (To repeat. The return. Revision. To recover. To improve.) The Image: “Thunder within the earth: The image of The Turing Point. Thus the kings of antiquity closed the passes at the time of solstice. Merchants and strangers did not go about, and the ruler did not travel through the provinces.”

TOWER: (Fire/Thunder). #21. “Biting Thru”. “Reform”. “Gnawing”. (To reform. To judge. To force. To punish.) The Image: “Thunder and Lightning” The image of Biting Through. Thus the kings of former times made firm the laws through clearly defined penalties.”

STAR: (Mountain/Heaven). #26 “Nurturance of the Great”. “Major Restraint”. “The Great Nourisher”. “Potential Energy”. (Potential energy. Limited by the Strong.) The Image: “Heaven within the mountain: The image of The Taming Power of The Great. Thus the superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby.”

MOON: (Mountain/Water)” #4. “Darkness”. “Inexperience”. “Uncultivated Growth”. “Youthful ignorance” (Inexperience. Juvenile craziness. The apprentice.) The Image: “A spring wells up at the foot of the mountain: The image of Youth. Thus the superior man fosters his character by thoroughness in all that he does.”

SUN: (Earth/Mountain). #15. “Humility”. “Modesty”. “Moderation”. (Moderation. Humility. Acceptance.) The Image: “Within the earth, a mountain: The image of Modesty. Thus the superior man reduces that which is too much, and augments that which is too little. He weighs things and makes them equal.”

JUDGEMENT: (Fire/Mountain). #56. “Travel”. “The Stranger”. “Transience”. (Traveling. The pilgrim. To wander. Foreigner. To get lost. The stranger.) The Image: “Fire on the Mountain: The image of The Wanderer. Thus the superior man is clear-minded and cautious in imposing penalties, and protracts no lawsuits.”

FOOL: (Earth/Heaven). #11 “Prospering”. “Peace”. “Harmony”. (To prosper. Progress. One meeting the other. Movement. The Image: “Heaven and earth unite: the image of Peace. Thus the ruler divides and completes the course of heaven and earth; He furthers and regulates the gifts of heaven and earth, and so aids the people.”

WORLD: (Water/Fire). #63. “Completion”. “After the End”. “After Completion” (Perfection. Culmination. To realize oneself.) The Image: “Water over fire: the image of the condition in After Completion. Thus the superior man takes thought of misfortune and arms himself against it in advance.”

Love and Light Karen