I recently discovered a post from an old blog of mine that I completely forgot I wrote. On re-reading it, I remembered that it was the seed that would gradually evolve into my forthcoming book Stellas Daemonum. The post itself came 10 days after a group Lunar Ritual that led to a sharp shift in my focus towards the huge influence that astrology had on Western Magic.
The aim of Stellas Daemonum is to reveal the line of evolution from the celestial magic apparent in the cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece, which, via the Gnostics, the Neoplatonists, the Byzantines and the Arabs, went on to influence much of what we recognise in Grimoires such as the Key of Solomon. Following those introductory chapters, the bulk of the material found in the book is dedicated to presenting a much-elaborated list of entries for ninety-three of the spirits found in texts such as the Testament of Solomon, the Lemegeton, the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, the Book of the Offices of Spirits, the Livre des Esperitz and several more. Then, by explaining the magical, linguistic, physical and cultural origins of the names and forms of each of the spirits found in this grimoiric volume in detail, running conclusions are drawn regarding the infernal, elemental, lunar, planetary and stellar principles that each of them resonate with.
An initial link to the book, which is due for release via Red Wheel/Weiser in 2020, can be found here.
In the meantime, although the tone and content of Stellas Daemonum are completely different in nature to it, here’s the old post that started the whole project rolling.
“And I Solomon, having heard this, glorified God. And though I marvelled at the apology of the demons, I did not credit it until it came true. And I did not believe their words; but when they were realized, then I understood, and at my death I wrote this Testament to the children of Israel, and gave it to them, so that they might know the powers of the demons and their shapes, and the names of their angels, by which these angels are frustrated. And I glorified the Lord God of Israel, and commanded the spirits to be bound with bonds indissoluble.”
– Testament of Solomon, 66.
My recent learning processes have led me to the conclusion that the origin of all religion, magical and spiritual phenomenon, like everything else that exists, is stellar in nature, and the ideas I’ve expressed about the Zodiac being a manifestation of ‘God,’ alludes to that stellar totality. The trillions of stars that surround us are a reflection of the vast plurality of divine forces that their existence symbolises. And just as we can call that collective of galaxies, constellations, stars, planets, moons and asteroids ‘the Cosmos,’ so may we also call it ‘God.’ If we dislike that term through reasons of conditioning, however, we can call it ‘the Divine,’ ‘the All,’ or ‘the Universe’ instead. It really doesn’t make a difference.
As per the maxim of Hermes, what goes on out there in the universe also goes on in here, inside of us, and vice-versa. This maxim is also the basis of astrology in which the movement of celestial bodies is reflected in the world around us as well as within our own psyches. The division between the ‘higher’ (or divine influence) and the ‘lower’ (that which is observably manifest), however, is ultimately an illusion, though due to our inherent ignorance, we maintain this separation until we experience Gnosis. A convenient but temporary bridge that can connect these illusory states into something resembling unity lies in what we name the sub-lunar aspects of the internal and external manifestation of the Divine which is both unseen and physically manifest at the same time.
This borderlands between the realms of the sub-lunar is named as ‘Qesheth,’ meaning ‘bow,’ in the Qaballah. This signifies the paths of Qoph, Shin and Tau that connect Malkuth to the Sephirah of Yesod, Hod and Netzach, which represent the Unconscious, the Lower Intellect and the Aesthetic senses. Elsewhere, another such bridge is called Bïfrost, the Rainbow Bridge that connects Midgard, the realm of men, with Asgard, the realm of the gods. In Persian lore a bridge with the exact same function was the Chinvat Bridge, which was guarded by two canine sentinels which not only act as the gatekeepers to the celestial realms beyond the bridge, but also to the chthonic chasms below it. Working with such liminal spaces, therefore, grants access to both the celestial and chthonic realms, as is seen in the myth of Odin hanging himself from the heights of the World Tree before descending to its lowest roots to sacrifice a portion of himself to the Waters of the Well of Wyrd. This sacrifice is reflected across the human cultural spectrum in the myth of the Descent into the Underworld, the reward of returning alive from brings the gift of divine insight.
By working with the denizens between the material and invisible realms, one realises the nature of the vertical pillar that begins in the depths of the underworld and rises like a serpent to the celestial crown of the heavens, as symbolised by the fixed star Polaris at its apex, around which the Great Dragon, flying free, sets its guard. In such paradigms, the angels that Solomon set over the demons he conjured reflect our own innate, if obfuscated, sense of unified consciousness. As stated above though, the division between the concepts of ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ expressed here is ultimately an illusion. By ‘reconnecting’ the ‘angels’ and ‘demons,’ one does nothing but realise their true, unified nature.
A Gnostic cognate in which a similar concept of wholeness is found in the name of Abrasax. This name represents a complete and undivided circle and signifies time, the cosmos and the Self in a single, unified form. By understanding the essential oneness of these allegedly ‘high’ and ‘low’ aspects of extraneous entities into a single Unity (and, by extension, the ‘celestial’ and ‘chthonic’ aspects of our own natures), one comes to realise what the core of the Great Work is all about.
The I Ching often provides some interesting synchronicities when used as a method of divination or contemplation. Having recorded and analysed the results of Tarot readings for some time with the notion of trying to find statistical biases in the planetary and zodiacal themes of my results, I recently started to do the same thing with the I Ching to see if anything significant became apparent.
Since April 4th of this year, a total of 40 I Ching consultations have been recorded, resulting in the creation of a total of 68 Hexagrams (this includes those created from Changing Lines). These 40 readings led to the formation of 240 (as 40 x 6 = 240) lines, of which 122 (50.83%) were Yin lines and 118 (49.17%) were Yang. The proximity of these figures show the expected probability of 50/50 being very closely approximated.
The same can be said for the actual numbers of heads and tails thrown in these castings, in which three coins are thrown and given scores to produce the necessary Trigrams and Hexagrams. The scoring system works like this:
Changing Yin: 3 Tails = 6. Yang: 2 Tails and 1 Head = 7 Yin: 2 Heads and 1 Tail = 8 Changing Yang: 3 Heads = 9.
With a Hexagram requiring 18 separate coins to be tossed (in batches of three), 40 different initial Hexagrams required a total of 720 coins being flipped. In my results, 378 (52.5%) of these coins came in as Heads and 342 (47.5%) came in as tails. While this varies a small amount from the expected 50/50 ratio, it’s still too close to be recognised as a skewed result.
Things become a little more complicated when analysing the probabilities of producing Changing and Unchanging Yin and Yang lines, but the expected probabilities for each of these expressed as fractions is:
This reveals that although the balance between Yin and Yang in total is about what it should be (see the second paragraph above), an imbalance of probabilities is notable around the Yin lines, with the Changing Yin Line appearing 33% less than it should and the Unchanging Yin Line appearing 13.3% more than it should. In total, Changing Lines should appear 25% of the time (as 1/8th + 1/8th = 1/4 = 25%), but in these results, due to the particularly large skew in results relating to the Changing Yin, the Changing Lines appear exactly 5% less than expected.
Is this significant, though? Well, almost. A skew of 5% is on the very cusp of what you could call significant in statistical terms so this doesn’t clearly represent what could be called ‘interference’ from the magical mechanisms that are supposed to lie behind such divinatory methods. I believe it would take at least 1,000 readings to reach what could be called a truly significant set of statistical results, but as this would probably take several years to complete, I can’t present anything solid and ‘scientific’ being expressed thus far.
However, at this early stage, the fact that most of the apparent skewing comes around both the Changing and Unchanging Yin lines can lead to a hypothesis being drawn about a possible synchronistic ‘interference’ (at least as far as my own results are concerned) coming from the Yin, the feminine aspect of the Tao.
Something I’ve often struggled with when performing Tarot readings is applying fitting interpretations of the Court Cards. While capable of making approximate meanings of their importance, after facing a larger than average flush of Royal figures in a recent reading, I found myself appealing to Crowley’s Book of Thoth for aid. Not finding this especially helpful due to its emphasis on likening the Court Cards to certain personality types, I decided to do a couple of things I’d always neglected to before. Firstly, I followed the advice suggesting the consultation of the I Ching hexagrams to provide a more detailed and accurate interpretation. While familiar with both the I Ching and the Tarot for long enough, having not read the Book of Thoth for a while, these correspondences were something I had completely forgotten about. Following that, I also refreshed myself with the Court Cards’ correspondences to the Minor Arcana, which I’m much better at accurately interpreting. After taking these steps to refresh myself with basic and obvious knowledge I was able to apply a far more satisfying set of interpretations than I had before, so thought I’d share the methods of application here.
As Crowley’s interpretations of the Court Cards in the Book of Thoth are found in full on the Hermetic Library page, they have only been summarised with a brief quote in this post. Similarly truncated summaries of the corresponding hexagrams from Richard Wilhelm’s translation of the I Ching have also been included, as have a series of short tables revealing the correspondences between the Court Cards, the Zodiacal decans and the Minor Arcana.
The Knight of Wands
The moral qualities appropriate to this figure are activity, generosity, fierceness, impetuosity, pride, impulsiveness, swiftness in unpredictable actions. If wrongly energised, he is evil-minded, cruel, bigoted and brutal. He is in either case ill-fitted to carry on his action; he has no means of modifying it according to circumstances. If he fails in his first effort, he has no resource.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Scorpio
20-29
Venus
7 of Cups
Debauch
Sagittarius
0-9
Mercury
8 of Wands
Swiftness
Sagittarius
10-19
Moon
9 of Wands
Strength
Corresponding Hexagram
51. Chen. The Arousing/Thunder.
The hexagram Chên represents the eldest son, who seizes rule
with energy and power. A yang line develops below two yin lines and presses
upward forcibly. This movement is so violent that it arouses terror. It is
symbolized by thunder, which bursts forth from the earth and by its shock
causes fear and trembling.
The Judgement Shock brings success. Shock comes–oh, oh! Laughing words–ha, ha! The shock terrifies for a hundred miles, And he does not let fall the sacrificial spoon and chalice.
The shock that comes from the manifestation of God within the depths of the earth makes man afraid, but this fear of God is good, for joy and merriment can follow upon it. When a man has learned within his heart what fear and trembling mean, he is safeguarded against any terror produced by outside influences. Let the thunder roll and spread terror a hundred miles around: he remains so composed and reverent in spirit that the sacrificial rite is not interrupted. This is the spirit that must animate leaders and rulers of men—a profound inner seriousness from which all terrors glance off harmlessly.
The Image Thunder repeated: the image of Shock. Thus in fear and trembling The superior man sets his life in order And examines himself.
The shock of continuing thunder brings fear and trembling. The superior man is always filled with reverence at the manifestation of God; he sets his life in order and searches his heart, lest it harbour any secret opposition to the will of God. Thus reverence is the foundation of true culture.
The characteristics of the Queen are adaptability, persistent energy, calm authority which she knows how to use to enhance her attractiveness. She is kindly and generous, but impatient of opposition. She has immense capacity for friendship and for love, but always on her own initiative.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Pisces
20-29
Mars
10 of Cups
Satiety
Aries
0-9
Mars
2 of Wands
Dominion
Aries
10-19
Sun
3 of Wands
Virtue
Corresponding Hexagram
17. Sui. Following
The trigram Tui, the Joyous, whose attribute is gladness, is
above; Chên, the Arousing, which has the attribute of movement, is below. Joy
in movement induces following. The Joyous is the youngest daughter, while the
Arousing is the eldest son. An older man defers to a young girl and shows her
consideration. By this he moves her to follow him.
The Judgement Following has supreme success. Perseverance furthers. No blame.
In order to obtain a following one must first know how to
adapt oneself. If a man would rule he must first learn to serve, for only in
this way does he secure from those below him the joyous assent that is
necessary if they are to follow him. If he has to obtain a following by force
or cunning, by conspiracy or by creating faction, he invariably arouses
resistance, which obstructs willing adherence. But even joyous movement can
lead to evil consequences, hence the added stipulation, “Perseverance
furthers” – that is, consistency in doing right – together with “No
blame.” Just as we should not ask others to follow us unless this
condition is fulfilled, so it is only under this condition that we can in turn
follow others without coming to harm. The thought of obtaining a following
through adaptation to the demands of the time is a great and significant idea;
this is why the appended judgment is so favourable.
The Image Thunder in the middle of the lake: The image of Following. Thus the superior man at nightfall Goes indoors for rest and recuperation.
In the autumn electricity withdraws into the earth again and rests. Here it is the thunder in the middle of the lake that serves as the image – thunder in its winter rest, not thunder in motion. The idea of following in the sense of adaptation to the demands of the time grows out of this image. Thunder in the middle of the lake indicates times of darkness and rest. Similarly, a superior man, after being tirelessly active all day, allows himself rest and recuperation at night. No situation can become favourable until one is able to adapt to it and does not wear himself out with mistaken resistance.
Keywords: Following.
The Prince of Wands
The moral qualities appropriate to this figure are swiftness and strength. But he is sometimes inclined to act on impulse; sometimes easily led by external influences; sometimes, especially in trifles, a prey to indecision. He is often violent, especially in the expression of an opinion, but he does not necessarily hold the opinion about which he is so emphatic. He states a vigorous proposition for the sake of stating it. He is in fact very slow to make up his mind thoroughly on any subject, but always sees both sides of every question. He is essentially just, but always feels that justice is not to be attained in the intellectual world. His character is intensely noble and generous. He may be an extravagant boaster, while slyly laughing both at the object of his boast and at himself for making it. He is romantic, especially in matters of history and tradition, to the point of folly, and may engineer “stunts” or play elaborate practical jokes.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Cancer
20-29
Moon
4 of Cups
Luxury
Leo
0-9
Saturn
5 of Wands
Strife
Leo
10-19
Jupiter
6 of Wands
Victory
Corresponding Hexagram
42. Yi. Increase.
The idea of increase is expressed in the fact that the
strong lowest line of the upper trigram has sunk down and taken its place under
the lower trigram. This conception also expresses the fundamental idea on which
the Book of Changes is based. To rule truly is to serve. A sacrifice of the
higher element that produces an increase of the lower is called an out-and-out
increase: it indicates the spirit that alone has power to help the world.
The Judgement Increase. It furthers one To undertake something. It furthers one to cross the great water.
Sacrifice on the part of those above for the increase of
those below fills the people with a sense of joy and gratitude that is
extremely valuable for the flowering of the commonwealth. When people are thus
devoted to their leaders, undertakings are possible, and even difficult and
dangerous enterprises will succeed. Therefore in such times of progress and
successful development it is necessary to work and make the best use of time.
This time resembles that of the marriage of heaven and earth, when the earth
partakes of the creative power of heaven, forming and bringing forth living
beings. The time of INCREASE does not endure, therefore it must be utilized
while it lasts.
The Image Wind and thunder: the image of Increase. Thus the superior man: If he sees good, he imitates it; If he has faults, he rids himself of them.
While observing how thunder and wind increase and strengthen each other, a man can not the way to self-increase and self-improvement. When he discovers good in others, he should imitate it and thus make everything on earth his own. If he perceives something bad in himself, let him rid himself of it. In this way he becomes free of evil. This ethical change represents the most important increase of personality.
Keywords: Addition, Increase.
The Princess of Wands
The character of the Princess is extremely individual. She is brilliant and daring. She creates her own beauty by her essential vigour and energy. The force of her character imposes the impression of beauty upon the beholder. In anger or love she is sudden, violent, and implacable. She consumes all that comes into her sphere. She is ambitious and aspiring, full of enthusiasm which is often irrational. She never forgets an injury, and the only quality of patience to be found in her is the patience with which she lies in ambush to avenge.
Being ‘Earthbound’ the Princesses do not have any Zodiacal attributes.
Corresponding Hexagram
27. I. The Corners of the Mouth.
This hexagram is a
picture of an open mouth; above and below are firm lines of the lips, and
between them the opening. Starting with the mouth, through which we take food
for nourishment, the thought leads to nourishment itself. Nourishment of
oneself, specifically of the body, is represented in the three lower lines,
while the three upper lines represent nourishment and care of others, in a
higher, spiritual sense.
The Judgement The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment. And to what a man seeks To fill his own mouth with.
In bestowing care and nourishment, it is important that the
right people should be taken care of and that we should attend to our own
nourishment in the right way. If we wish to know what anyone is like, we have
only to observe on whom he bestows his care and what sides of his own nature he
cultivates and nourishes. Nature nourishes all creatures. The great man fosters
and takes care of superior men, in order to take care of all men through them.
Mencius says about this: If we wish to know whether anyone is superior or not,
we need only observe what part of his being he regards as especially important.
The body has superior and inferior, important and unimportant parts. We must
not injure important parts for the sake of the unimportant, nor must we injure
the superior parts for the sake of the inferior. He who cultivates the inferior
parts of his nature is an inferior man. He who cultivates the superior parts of
his nature is a superior man.
The Image At the foot of the mountain, thunder: The image of Providing Nourishment. Thus the superior man is careful of his words And temperate in eating and drinking.
“God comes forth in the sign of the Arousing”:
when in the spring the life forces stir again, all things comes into being
anew. “He brings to perfection in the sign of Keeping Still”: thus in
the early spring, when the seeds fall to earth, all things are made ready. This
is an image of providing nourishment through movement and tranquillity. The
superior man takes it as a pattern for the nourishment and cultivation of his
character. Words are a movement going form within outward. Eating and drinking
are movements from without inward. Both kinds of movement can be modified by
tranquillity. For tranquillity keeps the words that come out of the mouth from
exceeding proper measure, and keeps the food that goes into the mouth from exceeding
its proper measure. Thus character is cultivated.
Keywords: Nourishment.
The Knight of Cups
The characteristics of the person signified by this card are nevertheless mostly passive, in accordance with the Zodiacal attribution. He is graceful, dilettante, with the qualities of Venus, or a weak Jupiter. He is amiable in a passive way. He is quick to respond to attraction, and easily becomes enthusiastic under such stimulus; but he is not very enduring. He is exceedingly sensitive to external influence, but with no material depth in his character.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Aquarius
20-29
Moon
7 of Swords
Futility
Pisces
0-9
Saturn
8 of Cups
Indolence
Pisces
10-19
Jupiter
9 of Cups
Happiness
Corresponding Hexagram
54. Kuei Mei. The Marrying Maiden.
Above we have Chên, the eldest son, and below, Tui, the
youngest daughter. The man leads and the girl follows him in gladness. The
picture is that of the entrance of the girl into her husband’s house. In all,
there are four hexagrams depicting the relationship between husband and wife.
Hsien, INFLUENCE, (31), describes the attraction that a young couple have for
each other; Hêng, DURATION (32), portrays the permanent relationships of
marriage; Chien, DEVELOPMENT (53), reflects the protracted, ceremonious
procedures attending THE MARRYING MAIDEN, shows a young girl under the guidance
of an older man who marries her.
The Judgement The Marrying Maiden. Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further.
A girl who is
taken into the family, but not as the chief wife, must behave with special
caution and reserve. She must not take it upon herself to supplant the mistress
of the house, for that would mean disorder and lead to untenable relationships.
The same is true of all voluntary relationships between human beings. While
legally regulated relationships based on personal inclination depend in the
long run entirely on tactful reserve. Affection as the essential principle of
relatedness is of the greatest importance in all relationships in the world.
For the union of heaven and earth is the origin of the whole of nature. Among
human beings likewise, spontaneous affection is the all-inclusive principle of
union.
The Image Thunder over the lake: The image of The Marrying Maiden. Thus the superior man Understands the transitory In the light of the eternity of the end.
Thunder stirs the water of the lake, which follows it in shimmering waves. This symbolises the girl who follows the man of her choice. But every relationship between individuals bears within it the danger that wrong turns may be taken, leading to endless misunderstandings and disagreements. Therefore it is necessary constantly to remain mindful of the end. If we permit ourselves to drift along, we come together and are parted again as the day may determine. If on the other hand a man fixes his mind on an end that endures, he will succeed in avoiding the reefs that confront the closer relationships of people.
Keywords: Unfortunate Marriage.
The Queen of Cups
The characteristics associated with this card are principally dreaminess, illusion and tranquillity. She is the perfect agent and patient, able to receive and transmit everything without herself being affected thereby. If ill-dignified, all these qualities are degraded.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Gemini
20-29
Sun
10 of Swords
Ruin
Cancer
0-9
Venus
2 of Cups
Love
Cancer
10-19
Mercury
3 of Cups
Abundance
Corresponding Hexagram
58. Tui. The Joyous/Lake.
This hexagram, like
sun, is one of the eight formed by doubling of a trigram. The trigram Tui
denotes the youngest daughter; it is symbolized by the smiling lake, and its
attribute is joyousness. Contrary to appearances, it is not the yielding
quality of the top line that accounts for joy here. The attribute of the yielding
or dark principle is not joy but melancholy. However, joy is indicated by the
fact that there are two strong lines within, expressing themselves through the
medium of gentleness. True joy, therefore, rests on firmness and strength
within, manifesting itself outwardly as yielding and gentle.
The Judgement The Joyous. Success. Perseverance is favourable.
The joyous
mood is infectious and therefore brings success. But joy must be based on
steadfastness if it is not to degenerate into uncontrolled mirth. Truth and
strength must dwell in the heart, while gentleness reveals itself in social
intercourse. In this way one assumes the right attitude toward God and man and achieves
something. Under certain conditions, intimidation without gentleness may
achieve something momentarily, but not for all time. When, on the other hand,
the hearts of men are won by friendliness, they are led to take all hardships
upon themselves willingly, and if need be will not shun death itself, so great
is the power of joy over men.
The Image Lakes resting on one another: The image of the Joyous. Thus the superior man joins with his friends For discussion and practice.
A lake evaporates upward and thus gradually dries up; but when two lakes are joined they do not dry up so readily, for one replenishes the other. It is the same in the field of knowledge. Knowledge should be a refreshing and vitalising force. It becomes so only through stimulating intercourse with congenial friends with whom one holds discussion and practices application of the truths of life. In this way learning becomes many-sided and takes on a cheerful lightness, whereas there is always something ponderous and one- sided about the learning of the self-taught.
Keywords: Pleasure, Help from Friends, Still Water.
The Prince of Cups
The moral characteristics of the person pictured in this card are subtlety, secret violence, and craft. He is intensely secret, an artist in all his ways. On the surface he appears calm and imperturbable, but this is a mask of the most intense passion. He is on the surface susceptible to external influences, but he accepts them only to transmute them to the advantage of his secret designs. He is thus completely without conscience in the ordinary sense of the word, and is therefore usually distrusted by his neighbours. They feel they do not, and can never, understand him. Thus he inspires unreasonable fear. He is in fact perfectly ruthless. He cares intensely for power, wisdom, and his own aims. He feels no responsibility to others, and although his abilities are so immense, he cannot be relied upon to work in harness.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Libra
20-29
Jupiter
4 of Swords
Truce
Scorpio
0-9
Mars
5 of Cups
Disappointment
Scorpio
10-19
Sun
6 of Cups
Pleasure
Corresponding Hexagram
61. Chung Fu. Inner Truth.
The wind
blows over the lake and stirs the surface of the water. Thus visible effects of
the invisible manifest themselves. The hexagram consists of firm lines above
and below, while it is open in the center. This indicates a heart free of
prejudices and therefore open to truth. On the other hand, each of the two
trigrams has a firm line in the middle; this indicates the force of inner truth
in the influences they present. The attributes of the two trigrams are: above,
gentleness, forbearance toward inferiors; below, joyousness in obeying
superiors. Such conditions create the basis of a mutual confidence that makes
achievements possible. The character of fu (“truth”) is actually the
picture of a bird’s foot over a fledgling. It suggests the idea of brooding. An
egg is hollow. The light-giving power must work to quicken it from outside, but
there must be a germ of life within, if life is to be awakened. Far-reaching
speculations can be linked with these ideas.
The Judgement Inner Truth. Pigs and fishes. Good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water. Perseverance furthers.
Pigs and
fishes are the least intelligent of all animals and therefore the most
difficult to influence. The force of inner truth must grow great indeed before
its influence can extend to such creatures. In dealing with persons as
intractable and as difficult to influence as a pig or a fish, the whole secret
of success depends on finding the right way of approach. One must first rid
oneself of all prejudice and, so to speak, let the psyche of the other person
act on one without restraint. Then one will establish contact with him,
understand and gain power over him. When a door has thus been opened, the force
of one’s personality will influence him. If in this way one finds no obstacles
insurmountable, one can undertake even the most dangerous things, such as
crossing the great water, and succeed. But it is important to understand upon
what the force inner truth depends. This force is not identical with simple
intimacy or a secret bond. Close ties may exist also among thieves; it is true
that such a bond acts as a force but, since it is not invincible, it does not
bring good fortune. All association on the basis of common interests holds only
up to a certain point. Where the community of interest ceases, the holding together
ceases also, and the closest friendship often changes into hate. Only when the
bond is based on what is right, on steadfastness, will it remain so firm that
it triumphs over everything.
The Image Wind over lake: the image of Inner Truth. Thus the superior man discusses criminal cases In order to delay executions.
Wind stirs water by penetrating it. Thus the superior man, when obliged to judge the mistakes of men, tries to penetrate their minds with understanding, in order to gain a sympathetic appreciation of the circumstances. In ancient China, the entire administration of justice was guided by this principle. A deep understanding that knows how to pardon was considered the highest form of justice. This system was not without success, for its aim was to make so strong a moral impression that there was no reason to fear abuse of such mildness. For it sprang not from weakness but from a superior clarity.
Keywords: Inmost Sincerity.
The Princess of Cups
The character of the Princess is infinitely gracious. All sweetness, all voluptuousness, gentleness, kindness and tenderness are in her character. She lives in the world of Romance, in the perpetual dream of rapture. On a superficial examination she might be thought selfish and indolent, but this is a quite false impression; silently and effortlessly she goes about her work.
Being ‘Earthbound’ the Princesses do not have any Zodiacal attributes.
Corresponding Hexagram
41. Sun. Decrease.
This hexagram
represents a decrease of the lower trigram in favour of the upper, because the
third line, originally strong, has moved up to the top, and the top line,
originally weak, has replaced it. What is below is decreased to the benefit of
what is above. This is out-and-out decrease. If the foundations of a building
are decreased in strength and the upper walls are strengthened, the whole
structure loves its stability. Likewise, a decrease in the prosperity of the
people in favor of the government is out-and-out decrease. And the entire theme
of the hexagram is directed to showing how this shift of wealth can take place
without causing the sources of wealth can take place without causing the
sources of wealth in the nation and its lower classes to fail.
The Judgement Decrease combined with sincerity Brings about supreme good fortune Without blame. One may be persevering in this. It furthers one to undertake something. How is this to be carried out? One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice.
Decrease does
not under all circumstances mean something bad. Increase and decrease come in
their own time. What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to
cover up poverty with empty pretense. If a time of scanty resources brings out
an inner truth, one must not feel ashamed of simplicity. For simplicity is then
the very thing needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings.
Indeed, there need by no concern if the outward beauty of the civilization,
even the elaboration of religious forms, should have to suffer because of
simplicity. One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to compensate
for what is lacking in externals; then the power of the content makes up for
the simplicity of form. There is no need of presenting false appearances to
God. Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed.
The Image At the foot of the mountain, the lake: The image of Decrease. Thus the superior man controls his anger And restrains his instincts.
The lake at the foot of the mountain evaporates. In this way it decreases to the benefit of the mountain, which is enriched by its moisture. The mountain stands as the symbol of stubborn strength that can harden into anger. The lake is the symbol of unchecked gaiety that can develop into passionate drives at the expense of the life forces. Therefore decrease is necessary; anger must be decreased by keeping still, the instincts must be curbed by restriction. By this decrease of the lower powers of the psyche, the higher aspects of the soul are enriched.
Keywords: Diminution.
The Knight of Swords
The moral qualities of a person thus indicated are activity and skill, subtlety and cleverness. He is fierce, delicate and courageous, but altogether the prey of his idea, which comes to him as an inspiration without reflection.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Taurus
20-29
Saturn
7 of Disks
Failure
Gemini
0-9
Jupiter
8 of Swords
Interference
Gemini
10-19
Mars
9 of Swords
Cruelty
Corresponding Hexagram
32. Heng. Duration.
The strong trigram Chên is above, the weak trigram Sun
below. This hexagram is the inverse of the preceding one. In the latter we have
influence, here we have union as an enduring condition. The two images are
thunder and wind, which are likewise constantly paired phenomena. The lower
trigram indicates gentleness within; the upper, movement without. In the sphere
of social relationships, the hexagram represents the institution of marriage as
the enduring union of the sexes. During courtship the young man subordinates
himself to the girl, but in marriage, which is represented by the coming
together of the eldest son and the eldest daughter, the husband is the
directing and moving force outside, while the wife, inside, is gentle and
submissive.
The Judgement Duration. Success. No blame. Perseverance furthers. It furthers one to have somewhere to go.
Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by
hindrances. It is not a state of rest, for mere standstill is regression.
Duration is rather the self- contained and therefore self-renewing movement of
an organized, firmly integrated whole, taking place in accordance with
immutable laws and beginning anew at every ending. The end is reached by an
inward movement, by inhalation, systole, contraction, and this movement turns
into a new beginning, in which the movement is directed outward, in exhalation,
diastole, expansion. Heavenly bodies exemplify duration. They move in their
fixed orbits, and because of this their light-giving power endures. The seasons
of the year follow a fixed law of change and transformation, hence can produce
effects that endure. So likewise the dedicated man embodies an enduring meaning
in his way of life, and thereby the world is formed. In that which gives things
their duration, we can come to understand the nature of all beings in heaven
and on earth.
The Image Thunder and wind: the image of Duration. Thus the superior man stands firm And does not change his direction.
Thunder rolls, and the wind blows; both are examples of extreme mobility and so are seemingly the very opposite of duration, but the laws governing their appearance and subsidence, their coming and going, endure. In the same way the independence of the superior man is not based on rigidity and immobility of character. He always keeps abreast of the time and changes with it. What endures is the unswerving directive, the inner law of his being, which determines all his actions.
Keywords: Perseverance. Keeping to the Path.
The Queen of Swords
The person symbolized by this card should be intensely perceptive, a keen observer, a subtle interpreter, an intense individualist, swift and accurate at recording ideas; in action confident, in spirit gracious and just. Her movements will be graceful, and her ability in dancing and balancing exceptional.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Virgo
20-29
Mercury
10 of Disks
Wealth
Libra
0-9
Moon
2 of Swords
Peace
Libra
10-19
Saturn
3 of Swords
Sorrow
Corresponding Hexagram
28. Ta Kuo. Preponderance of the Great
This hexagram consists of four strong lines inside and two
weak lines outside. When the strong are outside and the weak inside, all is
well and there is nothing out of balance, nothing extraordinary in the
situation. Here, however, the opposite is the case. The hexagram represents a
beam that is thick and heavy in the middle but too weak at the ends. This is a
condition that cannot last; it must be changed, must pass, or misfortune will
result.
The Judgement Preponderance of the Great. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Success.
The weight of the great is excessive. The load is too heavy
for the strength of the supports. The ridgepole on which the whole roof rests,
sags to the breaking point, because its supporting ends are too weak for the
load they bear. It is an exceptional time and situation; therefore
extraordinary measures are demanded. It is necessary to find a way of
transition as quickly as possible, and to take action. This promises success.
For although the strong element is in excess, it is in the middle, that is, at
the center of gravity, so that a revolution is not to be feared. Nothing is to
be achieved by forcible measures. The problem must be solved by gently
penetration to the meaning of the situation (as is suggested by the attribute
of the inner trigram, Sun); then the change-over to other conditions will be
successful. It demands real superiority; therefore the time when the great preponderates
is a momentous time.
The Image The lake rises above the trees: The image of Preponderance of the Great. Thus the superior man, when he stands alone, Is unconcerned, And if he has to renounce the world, He is undaunted.
Extraordinary times when the great preponderates are like flood times when the lake rises over the treetops. But such conditions are temporary. The two trigrams indicate the attitude proper to such exceptional times: the symbol of the trigram Sun is the tree, which stands firm even though it stands alone, and the attribute of Tui is joyousness, which remains undaunted even if it must renounce the world.
Keywords: Great Carefulness. Weak Beam.
The Prince of Swords
A person thus symbolized is purely intellectual. He is full of ideas and designs which tumble over each other. He is a mass of fine ideals unrelated to practical effort. He has all the apparatus of Thought in the highest degree, intensely clever, admirably rational, but unstable of purpose, and in reality indifferent even to his own ideas, as knowing that any one of them is just as good as any other. He reduces everything to unreality by removing its substance and transmuting it to an ideal world of ratiocination which is purely formal and out of relation to any facts, even those upon which it is based.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Capricorn
20-29
Sun
4 of Disks
Power
Aquarius
0-9
Venus
5 of Swords
Defeat
Aquarius
10-19
Mercury
6 of Swords
Science
Corresponding Hexagram
57. Sun. The Gentle/Penetrating Wind.
Sun is one of the eight doubled trigrams. It is the eldest
daughter and symbolizes wind or wood; it has for its attribute gentleness,
which nonetheless penetrates like the wind or like growing wood with its roots.
The dark principle, in itself rigid and immovable, is dissolved by the
penetrating light principle, to which it subordinates itself in gentleness. In
nature, it is the wind that disperses the gathered clouds, leaving the sky
clear and serene. In human life it is penetrating clarity of judgment that
thwarts all dark hidden motives. In the life of the community it is the
powerful influence of a great personality that uncovers and breaks up those
intrigues which shun the light of day.
The Judgement The Gentle. Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great man.
Penetration produces gradual and inconspicuous effects. It
should be effected not by an act of violation but by influence that never
lapses. Results of this kind are less striking to the eye than those won by
surprise attack, but they are more enduring and more complete. If one would
produce such effects, one must have a clearly defined goal, for only when the
penetrating influence works always in the same direction can the object be
attained. Small strength can achieve its purpose only by subordinating itself
to an eminent man who is capable of creating order.
The Image Winds following one upon the other: The image of the Gently Penetrating. Thus the superior man Spreads his commands abroad And carries out his undertakings.
The penetrating quality of the wind depends upon its ceaselessness. This is what makes it so powerful; time is its instrument. In the same way the ruler’s thought should penetrate the soul of the people. This too requires a lasting influence brought about by enlightenment and command. Only when the command has been assimilated by the people is action in accordance with it possible. Action without preparation of the ground only frightens and repels.
The character of the Princess is stern and revengeful. Her logic is destructive. She is firm and aggressive, with great practical wisdom and subtlety in material things. She shews great cleverness and dexterity in the management of practical affairs, especially where they are of a controversial nature. She is very adroit in the settlement of controversies.
Being ‘Earthbound’ the Princesses do not have any Zodiacal attributes.
Corresponding Hexagram
18. Ku. Work on what has been Spoiled.
The Chinese character ku represents a bowl in whose contents
worms are breeding. This means decay. It is come about because the gentle
indifference in the lower trigram has come together with the rigid inertia of
the upper, and the result is stagnation. Since this implies guilt, the
conditions embody a demand for removal of the cause. Hence the meaning of the
hexagram is not simply “what has been spoiled” but “work on what
has been spoiled”.
The Judgement Work on What Has Been Spoiled Has supreme success. It furthers one to cross the great water. Before the starting point, three days. After the starting point, three days.
What has been spoiled through man’s fault can be made good again through man’s work. It is not immutable fate, as in the time of STANDSTILL, that has caused the state of corruption, but rather the abuse of human freedom. Work toward improving conditions promises well, because it accords the possibilities of the time. We must not recoil from work and danger—symbolised by crossing of the great water—but must take hold energetically. Success depends, however, on proper deliberation. This is expressed by the lines, “Before the starting point, three days. After the starting point, three days.” We must first know the cause of corruption before we can do away with them; hence it is necessary to be cautious during the time before the start. Then we must see to it that the new way is safely entered upon, so that a relapse may be avoided; therefore we must pay attention to the time after the start. Decisiveness and energy must take the place of inertia and indifference that have led to decay, in order that the ending may be followed by a new beginning.
The Image The wind blows low on the mountain: The image of Decay. Thus the superior man stirs up the people And strengthens their spirit.
When the wind blow s slow on the mountain, it is thrown back and spoils the vegetation. This contains a challenge to improvement. It is the same with debasing attitudes and fashions; they corrupt human society. His methods likewise must be derived from the two trigrams, but in such a way that their effects unfold in orderly sequence. The superior must first remove stagnation by stirring up public opinion, as the wind stirs up everything, and must strengthen and tranquillise the character of the people, as the mountain gives tranquillity and nourishment to all that grows in its vicinity.
Keywords: Troublesome Services. Arrest of Decay. Hard Work.
The Knight of Disks
Those whom he symbolizes tend to be dull, heavy and preoccupied with material things. They are laborious and patient, but would have little intellectual grasp even of matters which concern them most closely. Their success in these is due to instinct, to imitation of Nature. They lack initiative; their fire is the smouldering fire of the process of growth.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Leo
20-29
Mars
7 of Wands
Valour
Virgo
0-9
Sun
8 of Disks
Prudence
Virgo
10-19
Venus
9 of Disks
Gain
Corresponding Hexagram
62. Hsiao Kuo. Preponderance of the Small.
While in the hexagram Ta Kuo, PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT
(28), the strong lines preponderate and are within, inclosed between weak lines
at the top and bottom, the present hexagram has weak lines preponderating,
though here again they are on the outside, the strong lines being within. This
indeed is the basis of the exceptional situation indicated by the hexagram.
When strong lines are outside, we have the hexagram I, PROVIDING NOURISHMENT
(27), or Chung Fu, INNER TRUTH, (61); neither represents and exceptional state.
When strong elements within preponderate, they necessarily enforce their will.
This creates struggle and exceptional conditions in general. But in the present
hexagram it is the weak element that perforce must mediate with the outside
world. If a man occupies a position of authority for which he is by nature
really inadequate, extraordinary prudence is necessary.
The Judgement Preponderance of the Small. Success. Perseverance furthers. Small things may be done; great things should not be done. The flying bird brings the message: It is not well to strive upward, It is well to remain below. Great good fortune.
Exceptional modesty and conscientiousness are sure to be
rewarded with success; however, if a man is not to throw himself away, it is
important that they should not become empty form and subservience but be
combined always with a correct dignity in personal behavior. We must understand
the demands of the time in order to find the necessary offset for its
deficiencies and damages. In any event we must not count on great success,
since the requisite strength is lacking. In this lies the importance of the
message that one should not strive after lofty things but hold to lowly things.
The structure of the hexagram gives rise to the idea that this message is
brought by a bird. In Ta Kuo, PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT (28), the four strong,
heavy lines within, supported only by two weak lines without, give the image of
a sagging ridgepole. Here the supporting weak lines are both outside and
preponderant; this gives the image of a soaring bird. But a bird should not try
to surpass itself and fly into the sun; it should descend to the earth, where
its nest is. In this way it gives the message conveyed by the hexagram.
The Image Thunder on the mountain: The image of Preponderance of the Small. Thus in his conduct the superior man gives preponderance to reverence. In bereavement he gives preponderance to grief. In his expenditures he gives preponderance to thrift.
Thunder on the mountain is different from thunder on the plain. In the mountains, thunder seems much nearer; outside the mountains, it is less audible than the thunder of an ordinary storm. Thus the superior man derives an imperative from this image: he must always fix his eyes more closely and more directly on duty than does the ordinary man, even though this might make his behaviour seem petty to the outside world. He is exceptionally conscientious in his actions. In bereavement emotion means more to him than ceremoniousness. In all his personal expenditures he is extremely simple and unpretentious. In comparison with the man of the masses, all this makes him stand out as exceptional. But the essential significance of his attitude lies in the fact that in external matters he is on the side of the lowly.
Keywords: Non-essential. Success of Trifles. A Wounded Bird. Small Divergences.
The Queen of Disks
Persons signified by this card possess the finest of the quieter qualities. They are ambitious, but only in useful directions. They possess immense funds of affection, kindness, and greatness of heart. They are not intellectual, and not particularly intelligent; but instinct and intuition are more than adequate for their needs. These people are quiet, hard-working, practical, sensible, domesticated, often (in a reticent and unassuming fashion) lustful and even debauched. They are inclined to the abuse of alcohol and of drugs. It is as if they could only realize their essential happiness by getting outside themselves.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Sagittarius
20-29
Saturn
10 of Wands
Oppression
Capricorn
0-9
Jupiter
2 of Disks
Change
Capricorn
10-19
Mars
3 of Disks
Works
Corresponding Hexagram
31. Hsien. Influence (Wooing)
The name of the
hexagram means “universal,” “general,” and in a figurative
sense “to influence,” “to stimulate.” The upper trigram is
Tui, the Joyous; the lower is Kên, Keeping still. By its persistent, quiet
influence, the lower, rigid trigram stimulates the upper, weak trigram, which
responds to this stimulation cheerfully and joyously. Kên, the lower trigram,
is the youngest son; the upper, Tui, is the youngest daughter. Thus the
universal mutual attraction between the sexes is represented. In courtship, the
masculine principle must seize the initiative and place itself below the
feminine principle. Just as the first part of book 1 begins with the hexagrams
of heaven and earth, the foundations of all that exists, the second part begins
with the hexagrams of courtship and marriage, the foundations of all social
relationships.
The Judgement Influence. Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.
The weak element is
above, the strong below; hence their powers attract each other, so that they
unite. This brings about success, for all success depends on the effect of
mutual attraction. By keeping still within while experiencing joy without, one
can prevent the joy from going to excess and hold it within proper bounds. This
is the meaning of the added admonition, “Perseverance furthers,” for
it is perseverance that makes the difference between seduction and courtship;
in the latter the strong man takes a position inferior to that of the weak girl
and shows consideration for her. This attraction between affinities is a
general law of nature. Heaven and earth attract each other and thus all
creatures come into being. Through such attraction the sage influences men’s
hearts, and thus the world attains peace. From the attractions they exert we
can learn the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.
The Image A lake on the mountain: The image of Influence. Thus the superior man encourages people to approach him By his readiness to receive them.
A mountain with a
lake on its summit is stimulated by the moisture from the lake. It has this
advantage because its summit does not jut out as a peak but is sunken. The
image counsels that the mind should be kept humble and free, so that it may
remain receptive to good advice. People soon give up counselling a man who
thinks that he knows everything better than anyone else.
Keywords: Influencing to Action. All. Jointly.
The Prince of Disks
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 persevering 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. He is lacking almost entirely in emotion. He is somewhat insensitive, and may appear dull, but he is not; it so appears because he makes no effort to understand ideas which are beyond his scope. He may often appear stupid, and is inclined to be resentful of more spiritual types. He is slow to anger, but, if driven, becomes implacable. It is not very practicable to distinguish between the good and evil dignities in this card; one can merely say that, in case of his being ill-dignified, both the quality and quantity of his characteristics are somewhat degraded. The reaction of others to him will depend almost entirely upon their own temperaments.
Corresponding Small Cards
Zodiac Signs
Degrees
Decan of
Minor Arcana
Name
Aries
20-29
Venus
4 of Wands
Completion
Taurus
0-9
Mercury
5 of Disks
Worry
Taurus
10-19
Moon
6 of Disks
Success
Corresponding Hexagram
53. Chien. Development (Gradual Progress)
This hexagram is
made up of Sun (wood, penetration) above, i.e., without, and Kên (mountain,
stillness) below, i.e., within. A tree on a mountain develops slowly according
to the law of its being and consequently stands firmly rooted. 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.
The Judgement Development. The maiden Is given in marriage. Good fortune. Perseverance furthers.
The development of
events that leads to a girl’s following a man to his home proceeds slowly. The
various formalities must be disposed of before the marriage takes place. This
principle of gradual development can be applied to other situations as well; it
is always applicable where it is a matter of correct relationships of
co-operation, as for instance in the appointment of an official. The
development must be allowed to take its proper course. Hasty action would not
be wise. This is also true, finally, of any effort to exert influence on
others, for here too the essential factor is a correct way of development
through cultivation of one’s own personality. No influence such as that exerted
by agitators has a lasting effect. Within the personality too, development must
follow the same course if lasting results are to be achieved. 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 Image On the mountain, a tree: The image of Development. Thus the superior man abides in dignity and virtue, In order to improve the mores.
The tree on the
mountain is visible from afar, and its development influences the landscape of
the entire region. It does not shoot up like a swamp plant; its growth proceeds
gradually. Thus also the work of influencing people can be only gradual. No
sudden influence or awakening is of lasting effect. Progress must be quite
gradual, and in order to obtain such progress in public opinion and in the
mores of the people, it is necessary for the personality to acquire influence
and weight. This comes about through careful and constant work on one’s own
moral development.
The characteristics of an individual signified by this card are too various to enumerate; one must summarize by saying that she is Womanhood in its ultimate projection. She contains all the characteristics of woman, and it would depend entirely upon the influences to which she is subjected whether one or another becomes manifest. But in every case her attributes will be pure in themselves, and not necessarily connected with any other attributes which in the normal way one regards as symbolic. In one sense, then, her general reputation will be of bewildering inconsistency. It is rather like a lottery wheel from which the extraction of any number does not predict or influence the result of any subsequent operation.
Being ‘Earthbound’ the Princesses do not have any Zodiacal attributes.
Corresponding Hexagram
52. Ken. Keeping Still.
The image of this
hexagram is the mountain, the youngest son of heaven and earth. The male
principle is at the top because it strives upward by nature; the female
principle is below, since the direction of its movement has come to its normal
end. In its application to man, the hexagram turns upon the problem of
achieving a quiet heart. It is very difficult to bring quiet to the heart.
While Buddhism strives for rest through an ebbing away of all movement in
nirvana, the Book of Changes holds that rest is merely a state of polarity that
always posits movement as its complement. Possibly the words of the text embody
directions for the practice of yoga.
The Judgement Keeping Still. Keeping his back still So that he no longer feels his body. He goes into the courtyard And does not see his people. No blame.
True quiet means
keeping still when the time has come to keep still, and going forward when the
time has come to go forward. In this way rest and movement are in agreement
with the demands of the time, and thus there is light in life. The hexagram
signifies the end and the beginning of all movement. The back is named because
in the back are located all the nerve fibers that mediate movement. If the
movement of these spinal nerves is brought to a standstill, the ego, with its
restlessness, disappears as it were. When a man has thus become calm, he may
turn to the outside world. He no longer sees in it the struggle and tumult of
individual beings, and therefore he has that true peace of mind which is needed
for understanding the great laws of the universe and for acting in harmony with
them. Whoever acts from these deep levels makes no mistakes.
The Image Mountains standing close together: The image of Keeping Still. Thus the superior man Does not permit his thoughts To go beyond his situation.
The heart thinks
constantly. This cannot be changed, but the movements of the heart-that is, a
man’s thoughts-should restrict themselves to the immediate situation. All
thinking that goes beyond this only makes the heart sore.
Keywords: Peace. A Mountain.
Further I Ching Correspondences
In addition to the sixteen Court Cards, five of the cards of the Minor Arcana (those corresponding to Decans ruled by Sol), also have their equivalent Hexagrams. (Click Hexagram links for summaries).
Mahakala Bhairava (‘Beyond Time’ and ‘Frightful’) is a fearsome aspect of Shiva associated with Annihilation. Known as Nagpo Chenpo (Great Black One), Vajrabhairava and Yamantaka (Destroyer of Death) in Tibetan Buddhism. The eight Ashtami Bhairavas that manifest from him represent the eight primary aspects of fear, and their correspondence with the Nakshatras represents them as portions of time and space of which Bhairava is the whole. Their consorts represent their vital expressions of Divine power, and together, they combine to form Bhairavi, Bhairava’s consort. In their totality, Bhairava and Bhairavi are of unified essence and their division into two separate entities serves only as a symbol expressing the objective Absolute and the possibility of becoming subjectively aware of it through the manifestation of Kundalini. Being destroyers and wrathful, this pairing represents the destruction of diversions such as ignorance, attachments, the ego and obstructive emotions that bar our union with the divine source. While fearsome, their associationa with negative emotions represents the knowledge of those emotions, how they can be obstacles to us and how, by destroying and overcoming their influences, we may perfect ourselves. Two of Mahakala Bhairava’s mantras to assist with this perfection, are:
Kaal Ashtami – the 8th Lunar Day (Ashtami) of the waning fortnight, with Bhairava Ashtami,—which comes in the month of Kartik—being the most auspicious, especially if it falls on a Sunday or Tuesday. During this festival, Bhairava is depicted riding his dog in a form named Dandapani, in which he wields a Danda rod, to punish wrongdoers. An all-night vigil is held on the night of and at midnight an arati is performed with conches, drums and cymbals. After a bath the next morning, rites honouring dead kinsmen are performed and Bhairava, his Dog and Bhairavi are worshipped with offerings of flowers, milk, curds and sweets. In Varanasi, an eight day pilgrimage is taken in the days before this major festival.
Experimental Praxis
As Lord of Time, Mahakala Bhairava cannot strictly be apportioned specific Zodiacal properties, yet, with each of his eight manifestations having particular Nakshatras and planets assigned to them, he can be thought of as the sum-total of the entire Zodiac, all nine of the planets and, by extension, every aspect of time and space. With this intent in mind, meditating on and appealing to the Ashta Bhairava and their Shaktis through the course of the Lunar Cycle, can be seen as a month-long devotional ritual to them.
As well as being more convenient for division, the reduction to twenty-seven Mansions from the original twenty-eight also allows a connection between the Lunar Cycle and the sacred number 108, as, with the subsequent division of the twenty-seven Nakshatras into four padas—each of which is attributed a sequential Zodiac sign—a total of 108 (27 x 4) padas are passed through in every Lunar Cycle. An elaboration on the aforementioned adoration of my own devising involves attributing each of those padas to two of the 64 Bhairavas, which presents a more complete meditation on the Lord of Time, Death and the Universe. Considering the meanings of the names of each of these manifestations explored over the last eight posts, it is clear that these names are all epithets of Shiva in his most dreadful form, making a devotion such as this a long and considered reflection on each of those 64 symbolic aspects of his terrible and purifying nature.
Where no specific mantra has been provided for the 56 sub-Bhairavas in the previous posts, one can chant “Om…. Namaha” with the appropriate name of Bhairava being inserted after ‘Om.’
As noted above, the number 108 is of special importance in Vedic and Tantric traditions. The Shivaganas, the attendants of Shiva who reside in chthonic or liminal locations such as cemeteries and charnel grounds, were 108 in number. It is also the number of beads on a Rudhraksha and the number of names attributed to many gods, including Bhairava, Additionally, when rounded up, the Sun and Moon are (on average) 108 times the distance from the Earth as their own diameters, with the diameter of the Sun also being approximately 108 times that of the Earth.
The mantras of the 108 names of Bhairava are:
Om Bhairavaaya namaha
Om Bhuutanaathaaya namaha
Om Bhritaatmane namaha
Om Bhuutabhaavanaaya namaha
Om Kshetragyaaya namaha
Om Kshetrapaalaaya namaha
Om Kshetradaaya namaha
Om Kshatriyaaya namaha
Om Viraaje namaha
Om Shmashaanavaasine namaha
Om Maamsaashine namaha
Om Kharvaroshine namaha
Om Smarantakaaya namaha
Om Raktapaaya namaha
Om Paanayaaya namaha
Om Siddhaaya namaha
Om Siddhidaaya namaha
Om Siddhisevitaaya namaha
Om Kankaalaaya namaha
Om Kalaashamanaaya namaha
Om Kalaakaashtaaya namaha
Om Tanaye namaha
Om Kavaye namaha
Om Trinetraaya namaha
Om Bahunetraaya namaha
Om Pigala-lochanaaya namaha
Om Shuulapaanaye namaha
Om Khadgapaanaye namaha
Om Kapaaline namaha
Om Dhuumralochanaaya namaha
Om Abhirave namaha
Om Bhauraviinaathaaya namaha
Om Bhuutapaaya namaha
Om Yoginiipataye namaha
Om Dhanadaaya namaha
Om Dhanahaarine namaha
Om Dhanavate namaha
Om Priitivardhanaaya namaha
Om Naagahaaraaya namaha
Om Naagapaashaaya namaha
Om Vyomakeshaaya namaha
Om Kapaalabhrite namaha
Om Kaalaaya namaha
Om Kapaalamaaline namaha
Om Kamaniiyaaya namaha
Om Kalaanidhaye namaha
Om Trilochanaaya namaha
Om Jvalannetraaya namaha
Om Trishikhine namaha
Om Trilokashaaya namaha
Om Trinetrataapaaya namaha
Om Dibhaaya namaha
Om Shaantaaya namaha
Om Shaantajanapriyaaya namaha
Om Batukaaya namaha
Om Batuveshaaya namaha
Om Khatvaangadhaarakaaya namaha
Om Yanaadhyakshaaya namaha
Om Pashupataye namaha
Om Bhikshukaaya namaha
Om Parichaarakaaya namaha
Om Dhuurtaaya namaha
Om Digambaraaya namaha
Om SHuuraaya namaha
Om Harine namaha
Om Paandulochanaaya namaha
Om Prashaantaaya namaha
Om Shaantidaaya namaha
Om Siddhaaya namaha
Om Shankarapriyabaandhavaaya namaha
Om Ashtamuurtaye namaha
Om Nidhiishaaya namaha
Om Gyaanachakshushe namaha
Om Tapomadaaya namaha
Om Ashtaadhaaraaya namaha
Om Shadaadhaaraaya namaha
Om Sarpayuktaaya namaha
Om Shikhisakhaaya namaha
Om Bhuudharaaya namaha
Om Bhuudharaadhiishaaya namaha
Om Bhuupataye namaha
Om Bhuudharaatmagyaaya namaha
Om Kankaaladhaarine namaha
Om Mundine namaha
Om Naagayagyopavitavate namaha
Om Jribhbhanaaya namaha
Om Mohanaaya namaha
Om Stambhine namaha
Om Maranaaya namaha
Om Kshobhanaaya namaha
Om Shuddhaniilaamjanaprakhyaaya namaha
Om Dvityaghne namaha
Om Mundabhuushitaaya namaha
Om Balibhuuje namaha
Om Balibhunanaathaaya namaha
Om Baalaaya namaha
Om Baalaparaakramaaya namaha
Om Sarvaapattaaranaaya namaha
Om Durgaaya namaha
Om Dushta Bhuutanishevitaaya namaha
Om Kaamine namaha
Om Kalaanidhaye namaha
Om Kaantaaya namaha
Om Kaaminiivashakridvashine namaha
Om Sarvasiddhipadaaya namaha
Om Vaidyaaya namaha
Om Prabhave namaha
Om Vishnave Namaha
Hymn to Kalabhairava
I Worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
Whose sacred lotus feet are worshipped by the King of Devas,
The compassionate One,
Whose sacrificial thread is made of serpents,
On whose forehead shines the moon.
The naked one,
Whom Nārada and multitudes of other Yogis adore.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
Our great Saviour in our voyage across the ocean of the world.
The blue-throated, three-eyed grantor of all desires,
The lotus-eyed, who is the death of death,
The imperishable One,
Holding the rosary of human bone and the trident.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
The primeval cause,
Holding in His hands trident, axe, noose, and staff 8
–Him of the black body,
The first of all Deva, imperishable, incorruptible,
Lord formidable and powerful,
Who loves to dance wonderfully.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
Of great and beautiful body,
The giver of both enjoyment and liberation,
Who loves and smiles upon all His devotees,
Whose body is the whole world,
Whose waist is adorned with little tinkling bells;
Beautiful are they, and made of gold.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
The protector of the bridge of dharma,
Destroyer of the path of adharma,
Liberator form the bonds of karma,
The all-pervading giver of welfare to all,
Whose golden body is adorned with serpent coils.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī
Whose feet are beautiful with the lustre of the gems thereon–
The stainless, eternal Iṣṭadevatā,
One without a second,
Destroyer of pride, and liberator from the gaping jaw of the God of Death.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
Whose loud laughter broke the shell of many an egg of the lotus-born;
Strong ruler, at whose glance the net of sin is broken; Giver of the eight powers,
Whose shoulders serpents garland.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
I worship Kālabhairava, Lord of the city of Kāśī,
The Saviour of all, giver of great fame,
The all-pervading One,
Who purifies of both sin and virtue the people of Kāśī;
The ancient Lord of the world,
Wise in the wisdom of all moralities.
I worship Kālabhairava, the Lord of the city of Kāśī
Perusing the names of the Ashta Bhairavas and their emanations in the list below, it’s clear that each name represents either a physical feature of, an adornment of, an action performed by or a general attribute of Shiva. Some of them also coincide with the descriptions found in the Sahasranamas, or ‘Thousand Names of Shiva.’
General physical attributes include: ‘Black-Limbed,’ ‘Large-Eyed,’ ‘Red-Eyed,’ ‘Deformed or Unusual number of Eyes’ (Shiva has three), ‘Having Excessive Limbs’ and ‘Large-bodied.’ ‘An Ascetic with Matted Hair,’ ‘ugly or deformed’ and ‘crooked’ refer to Shiva in his form as Bhikshatana – ‘the Supreme Mendicant’ – in which he carried a human skull (Kapala) as a begging bowl and was followed by demonic attendants (bhuta) and love-sick women. ‘Blue-throated’ references his drinking of the poison Halahala, which rose up from the primordial waters, and threatened to suffocate the gods and devas with its noxious fume. Shiva absorbed the poison into his body, but his throat was left blue as a result.
Of his adornments, the ‘Moon Ornament’ describes the Crescent Moon upon Shiva’s brow which, being but an ornament, symbolises him as the Lord of Time. The ‘Skin of an Elephant,’ refers to Shiva in his form Gajasurasamhara, in which he slew the Elephant-demon Gajasura then danced vigourously in his skin.
Gajasurasamhara
The Conch Shell is carried by several of the Bhairavas and is an important ritual musical instrument in Hinduism. In myth it was created by Shiva after he destroyed the asuras with his trident, with the ashes of their burnt bodies blowing into the sea and solidifying into conch shells on their passing. ‘The Tusk of a Hog’ refers to the necklace Shiva made from the tusks of the ferocious boar that emanated from Vishnu’s right nostril (that associated with the Solar, masculine, Pingala Nadi) and almost destroyed the Three Worlds. This symbolises Shiva’s ability to balance the Nadis.
Many of the other aspects named are descriptives of Shiva’s terrible form, Bhairava, such as ‘Fierce,’ ‘Wrathful,’ ‘Mad,’ ‘Dreadful’ and ‘Terrible,’ while others describe the spiritual states Shiva leads towards, such as ‘Annihilation’ and ‘Stilling the mind.’ His divine nature is revealed in names such as ‘Lord of Union’ (through Yoga), ‘Moving in the Ether’ (describes the invisible realm of thought) and ‘fulfller of desires. Other characteristics are apparent in names such as ‘Dog/deer’ (Bhairava rides a dog, but Ruru Bhairava is depicted holding a deer), ‘Mountain Dweller (he lives at the peak of the impenetrable Mount Kailash in the Himalayas), ‘Vampire/Ghoul’ (he is the leader of various demonic spirits) and ‘the Sun’ (he is occasionally depicted as a solar deity).
I meditate on Bhairava the Destroyer, Who is with Chandika Shakthi,
Who has ten hands, three eyes and a snake as a sacred thread,
Who has protruding teeth,
A fearful look and grants eight types of wealth,
Who is nude, a youth and rides on a dog,
Who holds trident, drum, conch, mace and wheel in his hands,
Who holds sword, vessel, Gadwangam, rope and goad.
And who has fearful looks, wears a skull garland and is greatly exuberant.
Samhara Bhairava is Bhairava the Destroyer. He dissolves all negative past karmas, grants wealth and is associated with the Northeast. He is the colour of lightning, rides a dog and is associated with Mercury and the Nakshatras Ashlesa, Jyeshtha and Revati, which begin at 16º 40 Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces in the Sidereal Zodiac. His mantra should be repeated 9, 21, 108 or 1008 times, and is as follows:
“Om Namo Bhagavate Samhara Bhairavaye Bhuta Preta Pisaca Brahma Raksasan Uccataya Samharaya Samharaya Sarva Bhaya Chedanam Kuru Kuru Svaha.”
The eight manifestations of this aspect of Bhairava, with translations of their names, are:
Saṃhāra – Annihilation
Atiriktāṅga – Having Excessive Limbs
Kālāgni – The Fire that Destroys Time
Priyaṅkara – Attracting Love or Regard
Ghoranāda – Bellowing
Viśālākṣa – Large-Eyed
Yogīśa – Lord of Union
Dakṣasaṃsthita – Stilling the Mind
His consort is the Matrika Chandika, a powerful, terrifying goddess who is a form of Durga and represents the manifestation of all divine power. She hates evildoers and becomes wrathful on seeing them. She comes in the form of a woman seated on a lotus with a vermilion and coral complexion and eighteen arms bearing a string of beads, a battle axe, a mace, an arrow, a thunderbolt, a lotus, a bow, a water-pot, a cudgel, a lance, a sword, a shield, a conch, a bell, a wine-cup, a trident, a noose and a discus. She assists with the overcoming of Anger, and her mantra is:
“Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche.”
This resolves all problems, relaxes the mind, promotes harmonious relationships, eliminates fear and protects from enemies.
I salute the fearful Bhairava,
Who is a great God of blood-red colour,
Who has three eyes, blesses, is peaceful, young and nude,
Who holds a sword, trident, skull and pestle in his hand,
Who has with him Chamunda Shakthi who rides on a corpse.
Bheeshana Bhairava is the Fearful Bhairava. He is red in colour, obliterates all evil spirits and negativity, is associated with the North and carries a kunda flower, a bludgeon studded with iron and a javelin. He rides a Lion and is associated with Ketu and the Nakshatras Ashvini, Magha and Mula, which begin at 0º Aries, Leo and Sagittarius in the Sidereal Zodiac, and also Rahu and the Nakshatras Ardra, Swati and Shatbhisha, which begin at 6º 40 Gemini, Libra and Aquarius of the Sidereal Zodiac. His mantra should be repeated 9, 21, 108 or 1008 times, and is as follows:
“Om Hreem Bheeshana Bhairavaya Sarva Saaba Nirvanaya Mam Vasham Kuru Kuru Svaaha.”
The eight manifestations of this aspect of Bhairava, with translations of their names, are:
Bheeshana – Horrible
Bhayahara – Terrible
Sarvajña – Omniscient
Kālāgni – Fire that destroys Time
Mahāraudra – Very Dreadful
Dakṣiṇa – Sacred Fire, An Offering
Mukhara – Noisy, A Conch Shell
Asthira – Fickle.
His consort is the Matrika Chamunda, who is also known as Rakta Kali. She represents the destruction of the ego’s tendency towards doing harm and acting in a depraved manner and appears as a terrifying old woman. She is invoked to destroy evil and is associated with cremation grounds and fig trees and can be offered meat, alcohol and animal or human sacrifices. She is described as wearing a garland of severed heads or skulls. She is described as having four, eight, ten or twelve arms, holding a drum, trident, sword, snake, skull-mace, thunderbolt, a severed head and a skull-cup filled with blood. She stands on the corpse of a man or seated on a defeated demon or corpse. She is adorned by ornaments of bones, skulls, and serpents and also wears a Yajnopavita of skulls and a headdress formed of piled, matted hair tied with snakes or skull ornaments. Sometimes, a crescent moon is seen on her head. Her eye sockets are described as burning the world with flames. She is accompanied by evil spirits. She is also shown to be surrounded by skeletons or ghosts and beasts like jackals, who are shown eating the flesh of the corpse which the goddess sits or stands on. The jackals and her fearsome companions are sometimes depicted as drinking blood from the skull-cup or blood dripping from the severed head, implying that she drinks the blood of the defeated enemies. At times, she is depicted seated on an owl and her banner depicts an eagle. Her mantra is:
“Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche.”
This resolves all problems, relaxes the mind, promotes harmonious relationships, eliminates fear and protects from enemies.
