Archetype 14: Wealth
God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you.”
—1 Kings 3:10–14
The Reading
This reading describes King Solomon at this early point in his reign. Solomon has a dream in which he meets God. God promises to grant Solomon whatever he wants. Solomon doesn’t ask for wealth or power. Instead he says, “I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:7–9). At this pivotal moment, Solomon chooses wisdom over wealth and thereby will be granted both. However, it is his great wisdom for which he will be remembered.
The Hexagram
The trigrams indicate that strength, the attribute of God, and light, the attribute of Christ, are now united. This indicates a time favoring strength on the inside and clarity and culture on the outside. Strength is present, but it is expressed as light.
The Archetype
There is a time...
- To feel the alignment of strength and light and know that the light shines far.
- To feel the synergy between strength and clarity.
- To fight against evil and to promote Wisdom’s way.
- To understand that a true leader’s strength is tempered with kindness, modesty, and wisdom.
- To manage great wealth with great wisdom and use it in accordance with God’s will.
Now is that time.
Moving Lines
Other interpretations of Archetype 14:
- Tom Christensen's interpretation [click here]
- Cafe Au Soul's interpretation [click here]
- LiSe's interpretation [click here]
- Richard Wilhelm's interpretation [click here]
Internal Links:
- Return to the Hexagram Index Table [click here].
- Return to Consulting the Christian I Ching [click here].
- Purchase a printed copy of Wisdom's Way; The Christian I Ching [click here].
- Learn about our Online Christian I Ching Workshop [click here].
- Find out about personal consultations [click here].
Reproduced with permission from Wisdom's Way; The Christian I Ching copyright (c) 2015 Roger Sessions.