Quantifying Divination Variables: From Symbols to Numbers

BY NICOLE LAU

Divination speaks in symbols—cards, hexagrams, planetary positions, runes. But symbols alone are hard to compare, aggregate, or analyze statistically. How do you measure the "strength" of The Magician versus The Hermit? How do you quantify the difference between Hexagram 1 and Hexagram 63? How do you calculate the average outcome across multiple readings?

In Dynamic Divination Modeling Theory, we quantify divination variables—converting symbols into numbers without losing their meaning. This enables statistical analysis, trend tracking, confidence scoring, and data-driven decision-making. This article teaches you how to transform symbolic divination into quantitative modeling while honoring the depth of the symbols.

Why Quantify?

Limitations of Pure Symbolism

Symbolic interpretation is rich and nuanced, but:
• Hard to compare across readings (Is today's reading "better" than last month's?)
• Difficult to aggregate (What's the average prediction across 10 readings?)
• Impossible to apply statistics (What's the confidence interval? The probability distribution?)
• Subjective (Two readers may interpret the same card very differently)

Advantages of Quantification

Converting symbols to numbers enables:
• Comparison: Track changes over time (Is the situation improving or worsening?)
• Aggregation: Combine multiple readings into summary statistics
• Probability: Assign confidence levels and probability distributions
• Validation: Test predictions against outcomes, measure accuracy
• Visualization: Create charts, graphs, dashboards
• Machine learning: Train models on historical divination data

Core Quantification Methods

Method 1: Ordinal Scales (Ranking)

Assign each symbol a position on an ordered scale.

Example: Tarot Energy Level (1-10 scale)
1 = Depleted (Ten of Swords, Five of Pentacles)
3 = Low (Four of Cups, Eight of Swords)
5 = Neutral (Two of Pentacles, Temperance)
7 = Moderate (Eight of Pentacles, Six of Wands)
10 = Peak (The Sun, Ace of Wands, The World)

Usage: Track energy levels over time, calculate average energy across readings

Method 2: Binary Encoding (0/1)

Convert symbols to binary values for specific attributes.

Example: I Ching Line Encoding
Yang line = 1
Yin line = 0
Hexagram 1 (Qian, all yang) = 111111 = 63 in decimal
Hexagram 2 (Kun, all yin) = 000000 = 0 in decimal

Usage: Mathematical operations on hexagrams, state-space analysis

Method 3: Categorical Encoding (Nominal)

Assign symbols to categories, then count frequencies.

Example: Tarot Suit Distribution
Pentacles = Material/Financial
Cups = Emotional/Relational
Swords = Mental/Conflict
Wands = Creative/Action
Major Arcana = Archetypal/Transformational

Usage: Analyze which life domains are most active across multiple readings

Method 4: Continuous Scales (Ratio)

Map symbols to continuous numerical values.

Example: Astrological Aspect Strength
Exact aspect (0° orb) = 1.0
1° orb = 0.9
2° orb = 0.8
...
10° orb = 0.0 (no aspect)

Usage: Weight aspects by exactness, calculate overall chart tension

Quantifying Tarot: The Comprehensive System

Dimension 1: Polarity (-10 to +10)

Measures whether a card is challenging or supportive.

Highly challenging (-10 to -7):
• Ten of Swords = -10 (complete breakdown)
• The Tower = -9 (sudden destruction)
• Five of Pentacles = -8 (loss, hardship)
• Three of Swords = -7 (heartbreak)

Moderately challenging (-6 to -3):
• Eight of Swords = -5 (limiting beliefs)
• Five of Cups = -4 (disappointment)
• Seven of Swords = -3 (deception)

Neutral (-2 to +2):
• Two of Pentacles = 0 (balancing)
• The Hanged Man = 0 (suspension)
• Temperance = +1 (balance)

Moderately supportive (+3 to +6):
• Six of Pentacles = +4 (generosity)
• Three of Cups = +5 (celebration)
• Eight of Pentacles = +6 (mastery)

Highly supportive (+7 to +10):
• The Star = +8 (hope, healing)
• The Sun = +9 (joy, success)
• The World = +10 (completion, integration)
• Ace of Wands = +8 (new beginning)

Dimension 2: Energy Level (0-10)

Measures vitality, momentum, activity.

Low energy (0-3):
• Four of Swords = 1 (rest, depletion)
• The Hermit = 2 (withdrawal)
• Four of Cups = 2 (apathy)

Medium energy (4-6):
• Two of Pentacles = 5 (balancing)
• Six of Pentacles = 5 (exchange)
• Temperance = 5 (moderation)

High energy (7-10):
• Eight of Wands = 9 (rapid movement)
• The Chariot = 8 (directed force)
• The Sun = 10 (peak vitality)

Dimension 3: Stability (0-10)

Measures how stable or volatile the situation is.

Unstable (0-3):
• The Tower = 0 (chaos)
• Five of Pentacles = 2 (crisis)
• Seven of Swords = 2 (deception, instability)

Moderate stability (4-6):
• Two of Pentacles = 4 (balancing act)
• The Hanged Man = 5 (suspended, waiting)
• Eight of Pentacles = 6 (steady work)

Highly stable (7-10):
• Four of Pentacles = 8 (stuck but stable)
• The Emperor = 9 (structure, order)
• The World = 10 (complete, integrated)

Dimension 4: Timeframe (Days)

Estimates how long until manifestation.

Immediate (1-7 days):
• Aces = 3-7 days (new beginnings manifest quickly)
• Eight of Wands = 1-3 days (rapid movement)

Short-term (1-3 months):
• Numbered cards (2-7) = 2-8 weeks
• Court Pages = 2-4 weeks

Medium-term (3-6 months):
• Numbered cards (8-10) = 2-4 months
• Court Knights = 1-3 months

Long-term (6+ months):
• Court Queens/Kings = 3-6 months
• Major Arcana = 6-12 months (archetypal shifts take time)

Quantifying I Ching: Binary to Decimal

Hexagram as 6-Bit Binary Number

Each hexagram is a 6-bit binary number (yin=0, yang=1).

Example conversions:
Hexagram 1 (Qian) = ☰☰ = 111111₂ = 63₁₀
Hexagram 2 (Kun) = ☷☷ = 000000₂ = 0₁₀
Hexagram 11 (Peace) = ☰☷ = 111000₂ = 56₁₀
Hexagram 12 (Standstill) = ☷☰ = 000111₂ = 7₁₀

Usage: Mathematical distance between hexagrams, state-space coordinates

Changing Lines as Transformation Magnitude

Number of changing lines = magnitude of transformation.

0 changing lines: Stable state, no transformation = 0
1 changing line: Focused transformation = 1
2 changing lines: Moderate transformation = 2
3 changing lines: Significant transformation = 3
4-6 changing lines: Radical transformation = 4-6

Hexagram Polarity Score

Assign polarity based on hexagram meaning:

Highly favorable (+8 to +10):
• Hex 1 (Creative) = +10
• Hex 11 (Peace) = +9
• Hex 14 (Great Possession) = +9
• Hex 63 (After Completion) = +8

Challenging (-8 to -10):
• Hex 12 (Standstill) = -8
• Hex 29 (Abysmal) = -7
• Hex 47 (Oppression) = -9

Neutral (0):
• Hex 5 (Waiting) = 0
• Hex 52 (Keeping Still) = 0

Quantifying Astrology: Aspect Strength Formula

Aspect Strength Calculation

Formula: Strength = Base_Value × (1 - Orb/Max_Orb)

Base values:
• Conjunction = 1.0
• Opposition = 0.9
• Trine = 0.8
• Square = 0.7
• Sextile = 0.5

Example:
Sun trine Moon with 2° orb (max orb = 8°)
Strength = 0.8 × (1 - 2/8) = 0.8 × 0.75 = 0.6

Chart Tension Score

Sum of all challenging aspects minus sum of all harmonious aspects.

Formula: Tension = Σ(Squares + Oppositions) - Σ(Trines + Sextiles)

Example chart:
• 3 squares (strength 0.7 each) = 2.1
• 2 oppositions (strength 0.9 each) = 1.8
• 4 trines (strength 0.8 each) = 3.2
• 2 sextiles (strength 0.5 each) = 1.0
Tension = (2.1 + 1.8) - (3.2 + 1.0) = 3.9 - 4.2 = -0.3 (slightly harmonious overall)

Statistical Analysis of Divination Data

Tracking Variables Over Time

Once quantified, you can track how variables change.

Example: Monthly confidence tracking
Month 1: The Magician (polarity +9, energy 8)
Month 2: Eight of Swords (polarity -5, energy 3)
Month 3: Strength (polarity +7, energy 7)
Month 4: The Sun (polarity +9, energy 10)

Trend analysis:
• Polarity: +9 → -5 → +7 → +9 (dip in Month 2, recovery)
• Energy: 8 → 3 → 7 → 10 (same pattern)
• Interpretation: Month 2 was a low point, but system recovered and exceeded initial state by Month 4

Calculating Averages and Confidence Intervals

Example: 5 readings on same question
Reading 1: Polarity +7
Reading 2: Polarity +6
Reading 3: Polarity +8
Reading 4: Polarity +5
Reading 5: Polarity +7

Statistics:
• Mean = (7+6+8+5+7)/5 = 6.6
• Standard deviation = 1.14
• 95% confidence interval = 6.6 ± 1.0 = [5.6, 7.6]

Interpretation: The true polarity is likely between +5.6 and +7.6 (moderately positive) with 95% confidence. High convergence (low standard deviation) = high confidence in prediction.

Probability Distributions

Assign probabilities to different outcomes based on quantified readings.

Example: Scenario probabilities
Best case (polarity +9): 20%
Good case (polarity +6): 35%
Neutral (polarity 0): 25%
Challenging (polarity -5): 15%
Worst case (polarity -9): 5%

Expected value: E[polarity] = 0.20(9) + 0.35(6) + 0.25(0) + 0.15(-5) + 0.05(-9) = 1.8 + 2.1 + 0 - 0.75 - 0.45 = +2.8 (slightly positive expected outcome)

Case Study: 6-Month Career Tracking

Monthly tarot readings, quantified:

Month 1: Four of Pentacles
Polarity: -2, Energy: 4, Stability: 8

Month 2: Eight of Swords
Polarity: -5, Energy: 3, Stability: 5

Month 3: Ace of Wands
Polarity: +8, Energy: 9, Stability: 3

Month 4: Three of Wands
Polarity: +7, Energy: 7, Stability: 6

Month 5: Eight of Pentacles
Polarity: +6, Energy: 6, Stability: 7

Month 6: Six of Wands
Polarity: +8, Energy: 8, Stability: 7

Quantitative analysis:

Polarity trend: -2 → -5 → +8 → +7 → +6 → +8
• Months 1-2: Negative (stuck, limiting beliefs)
• Month 3: Breakthrough (sudden shift to positive)
• Months 4-6: Sustained positive (stable growth)
• Interpretation: Clear inflection point at Month 3

Energy trend: 4 → 3 → 9 → 7 → 6 → 8
• Low energy Months 1-2
• Spike in Month 3 (breakthrough)
• Moderate-high energy Months 4-6
• Interpretation: Energy increased and stabilized after breakthrough

Stability trend: 8 → 5 → 3 → 6 → 7 → 7
• High stability Month 1 (stuck but stable)
• Decreased Month 2-3 (instability during transition)
• Recovered Months 4-6 (new stable state)
• Interpretation: Temporary instability during breakthrough, then restabilization at higher level

Statistical summary:
• Average polarity: +3.7 (moderately positive overall)
• Polarity standard deviation: 6.1 (high variability = significant change occurred)
• Correlation: Polarity and Energy = 0.89 (strong positive correlation—when polarity improves, energy increases)

Why Quantification Changes Divination

Symbolic divination: Rich interpretation, but hard to compare, aggregate, or validate.

Quantified divination: Numerical data, statistical analysis, trend tracking, probability distributions, testable predictions, data-driven decisions.

This transforms divination from art into data science—honoring the symbols while enabling rigorous analysis.

The old way: Interpret symbols, trust intuition, hope for accuracy. The new way: Quantify variables, track trends, calculate statistics, test predictions, measure accuracy. From symbols to numbers. From art to science. From intuition to data. This is quantified divination.