ripples on water, swirling
漪 centers on the gentle, circular movement of water: ripples spreading outward or a swirling motion on the surface.
漪 combines 氵 (water) with 猗, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to a gentle or flowing quality. The exact historical development is uncertain.
The water radical 氵 beside 猗 suggests a soft, spreading motion. Picture a stone dropped into a pond, sending out ripples that swirl outward.
For イ, imagine the ripples forming the letter 'E' on the water's surface: E -> イ, and each ripple echoes the shape.