Crowley: The issue of the vulture, two-in-one conveyed; this is the chariot of power. ... Triumph, victory, hope, memory, digestion, violence in maintaining traditional ideas, the "die-hard," ruthlessness, lust of destruction, obedience, faithfulness, authority under authority. (BT p. 256)

Kua 34, The image: THUS THE SUPERIOR MAN DOES NOT TREAD UPON PATHS THAT DO NOT ACCORD WITH ESTABLISHED ORDER. (p. 134)

Crowley names kua 34, "VIOLENCE, THE GREAT RAM."

Wilhelm: (kua 34) The union of movement and strength gives the meaning of THE POWER OF THE GREAT. It is the contrast between power and violent force that is expressed in the meaning of the hexagram. (p. 133)

The union of movement and strength seems a fitting description for the heavily armoured man riding a chariot, which is the image of trump VII, THE CHARIOT. The driver of the chariot is not himself the ruler. He is the tool for the exercise of the rulers will. The power of the great (the ruler) flows through the charioteer. He is the faithful and obedient authority under the authority of the ruler who, when necessary, exercises violence in maintaining the traditional or established order and the ideals which sustain it.

Wilhelm: (kua 43) Even a single passion still lurking in the heart has power to obscure reason. Passion and reason cannot exist side by side - fight without quarter is necessary if the good is to prevail. (p. 166)

The "two-in-one conveyed" can thus be seen to refer to the human attributes of passion and reason which are associated with the exercise of force, which is related to passion, versus the controlled release of that force, which is called, power. The two kua that are linked to this card describe the social and personal effects that accompany the release of energy through these two modes. In this imagery the heart is the vehicle or chariot for passion and reason. The superior person must learn to give each their proper place in the conveyance. Passion provides the motive force; reason controls its movements. When passion usurps the reins of control; ruthlessness and lust of destruction may characterize ones actions.

Circumstances may demand the exercise of authority. Conditions in society may necessitate action for the restoration of order. Conditions in the individuals "society of mind" may call for decisions to breakthrough confining habits of behavior.

Wilhelm: (kua 43) This hexagram signifies on the one hand a break-through after a long accumulation of tension. ... on the other hand, applied to human conditions, it refers to the time when inferior people gradually begin to disappear. ... as a result of resolute action. (p. 166)

Kua 43, Miscellaneous notes: THE STRONG TURNS RESOLUTELY AGAINST THE WEAK. (p. 602)

Crowley: ruthlessness, lust of destruction

Crowley: (regarding kua 43) It represents the damping down of the creative impulse, weakness, corruption, or mirage affecting that principle itself. But viewing the hexagram as a weapon or method or procedure, it counsels the ruler to purge the state of unworthy officers. (BT p. 209)

Crowley: (I Ching, kua 43, line 4) Uproot small men like purslane - tan their skins;

Wilhelm: (kua 34) The hexagram points to a time when inner worth mounts with great force and comes to power. But its strength has already passed beyond the median line, hence there is danger that one may rely entirely on one's own power and forget to ask what is right. There is danger too that, being intent on movement, we may not wait for the right time. For that is truly great power which does not degenerate into mere force. (p. 133)

Crowley: The "die-hard", triumph, victory

Crowley: (I Ching, kua 43 line 3) Fight on alone; persistent courage wins!

Wilhelm: (kua 43) ... in developing his character he takes care not to become hardened in obstinacy. (line 5) One must go on resolutely and not allow himself to be deflected from his course. (line 6) Victory seems to have been achieved. (p. 169,170)

Crowley's design of the card is; a heavily armoured man in a powerful chariot. An additional symbol is, "a fence" which is the traditional attribution of the Hebrew letter CHETH, associated with this trump. It is fascinating to find all of these symbols included in the imagery of the kua.

Kua 43, line 2: A CRY OF ALARM. ARMS AT EVENING AND AT NIGHT. FEAR NOTHING. READINESS IS EVERYTHING. TO BE CIRCUMSPECT AND NOT TO FORGET ONE'S ARMOR IS THE RIGHT WAY TO SECURITY. (p. 168)

Kua 34, line 4: THE HEDGE (fence) OPENS; THERE IS NO ENTANGLEMENT. POWER DEPENDS UPON THE AXLE OF A BIG CART. (p. 135)

Crowley: (I Ching, kua 34 line 3) Fences entangle rams who blindly shove.

Other interpreters of the I Ching substitute the word "fence" for "hedge" in their translations. And of course, it is not difficult to read "chariot" for "big cart". Wilhelm's expansion on the meaning of this line demonstrates the appropriateness of this imagery for illustrating the conceptual content of kua 34.

Wilhelm: (kua 34) Such a man's power does not show externally, yet it can move heavy loads, like a big cart whose real strength lies in its axle. One can give up a belligerent, stubborn way of acting and will not have to regret it. If we venture too far we come to a deadlock, unable either to advance or retreat, and whatever we do merely serves to complicate things further. Such obstinacy leads to insuperable difficulties. (p. 135)

Such is the fate of, "the die-hard."