Michael Sternbach
Hi Aeclectics,
As every Thothie knows, every Court Card is attributed with a hexagram according to Crowley's peculiar system of linking the four elements of the Western tradition with the I Ching. In this thread, I would like to explore this topic, hoping to find out how far we can take the analogy. I would like to know what each of you makes out of this scheme. For example, whether you apply it when reading the cards, and if so, how. Does the analogy extend to the so-called individual lines that accompyny each hexagram - as Crowley suggests? Not all of them seem to be applicable...
I start out by comparing the Prince of Disks with the corresponding hexagram 53 or Chien. I use the Wilhelm translation.
http://www2.unipr.it/~deyoung/I_Ching_Wilhelm_Translation.html
Chien is translated as "Development (Gradual Progress)." About it, we read:
"This gives the idea of a development that proceeds gradually, step by step. The attributes of the trigrams also point to this: within is tranquillity, which guards against precipitate actions, and without is penetration, which makes development and progress possible."
This is in fact in line with the characterization of the Prince of Disks in the BoT:
"The character denoted by this card is that of great energy brought to bear upon the most solid of practical matters. He is energetic and enduring, a capable manager, a steadfast and per severing worker. He is competent, ingenious, thoughtful, cautious, 'trustworthy, imperturbable; he constantly seeks new uses for common things, and adapts his circumstances to his purposes in a slow, steady, well-thought out plan."
Again, the I Ching:
"Gentleness that is adaptable, but at the same time penetrating, is the outer form that should proceed from inner calm. The very gradualness of the development makes it necessary to have perseverance, for perseverance alone prevents slow progress from dwindling to nothing."
The individual lines don't seem to say much about our Prince, perhaps with the exception of "six in the second place": "Eating and drinking in peace and concord." In my understanding, the Prince of Disks is definitely inclined towards such sensual pleasures.
As every Thothie knows, every Court Card is attributed with a hexagram according to Crowley's peculiar system of linking the four elements of the Western tradition with the I Ching. In this thread, I would like to explore this topic, hoping to find out how far we can take the analogy. I would like to know what each of you makes out of this scheme. For example, whether you apply it when reading the cards, and if so, how. Does the analogy extend to the so-called individual lines that accompyny each hexagram - as Crowley suggests? Not all of them seem to be applicable...
I start out by comparing the Prince of Disks with the corresponding hexagram 53 or Chien. I use the Wilhelm translation.
http://www2.unipr.it/~deyoung/I_Ching_Wilhelm_Translation.html
Chien is translated as "Development (Gradual Progress)." About it, we read:
"This gives the idea of a development that proceeds gradually, step by step. The attributes of the trigrams also point to this: within is tranquillity, which guards against precipitate actions, and without is penetration, which makes development and progress possible."
This is in fact in line with the characterization of the Prince of Disks in the BoT:
"The character denoted by this card is that of great energy brought to bear upon the most solid of practical matters. He is energetic and enduring, a capable manager, a steadfast and per severing worker. He is competent, ingenious, thoughtful, cautious, 'trustworthy, imperturbable; he constantly seeks new uses for common things, and adapts his circumstances to his purposes in a slow, steady, well-thought out plan."
Again, the I Ching:
"Gentleness that is adaptable, but at the same time penetrating, is the outer form that should proceed from inner calm. The very gradualness of the development makes it necessary to have perseverance, for perseverance alone prevents slow progress from dwindling to nothing."
The individual lines don't seem to say much about our Prince, perhaps with the exception of "six in the second place": "Eating and drinking in peace and concord." In my understanding, the Prince of Disks is definitely inclined towards such sensual pleasures.