|
|
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Inner Truth,
Line 5:
"He possesses truth, which links together.
No blame."
Your strong devotion to your Inner Truth can benefit others, as well as yourself.
As Brian Browne Walker puts it, you can "create unity where there is chaos."
By being a strong example of living Inner Truth, you can be the force that holds a
group together. There is "no blame" in taking this central role.
Tomorrow
we'll look at the conditions in the future that will effect the situation outlined in Inner
Truth and the three changing lines.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Inner Truth,
Line 2:
"A crane calling in the shade.
Its young answer. I have a good goblet. I will share it with you."
Voicing your Inner Truth is like a crane calling from the shade. You may not be "visible," but those with
whom you share a natural affinity will recognize this truth and respond.
You have something good - your truth - to offer. Don't be afraid to say so, and don't be afraid to share
it.
We have one more changing line, Line 5. We'll look at that tomorrow.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Inner Truth, Line 1:
"Being
prepared brings good fortune. If there
are secret designs, it is disquieting.."
You must be prepared for the effect
that living your Inner Truth may have on others.
You must give up any
hidden agendas. Living and being what you truly are is what will bring you good fortune. Do not concern yourself
with what others may think.
We'll look at our next changing line tomorrow.
9:46 pm est
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
No.
61, Inner Truth:
"Inner Truth. Pigs and fishes.
Good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
Perseverance furthers."
In
order to arrive at the correct solution to a difficult situation, you must first find, and acknowledge, your inner truth.
Pigs and fishes were thought to be the very dimmest of animals. But one's inner truth is so powerful, it can influence
even the most stubborn of creatures. The Yi is telling you that if you
speak to others from your own inner truth, you will be able accomplish great things.
We received three changing lines that will give us specific advice on finding, and using, that inner truth. We'll
look at Line 1 tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
No. 23, Splitting Apart:
"Splitting apart. It does not further one
To go anywhere."
You were advised in the main message, Keeping Still, to maintain a "quiet heart." That quiet heart
will stand you in good stead in the coming time of Splitting Apart.
Some relationship or life circumstance will be coming apart, and you will be going your own way. This is a change that
is beyond your control. It is not a situation that you can hold together.
"It does not further one to go anywhere." Keeping still - acceptance - is your best course of action.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Keeping Still,
Line 3:
"Keeping his hips still.
Making his sacrum stiff.
Dangerous. The heart suffocates."
The Yi is warning
you of the dangers of attempting to force a meditative state.
If a fire is burning, and you try to smother it, but cannot completely deprive it of oxygen, you end up with a great deal
of suffocating smoke. The same is true of trying to force down the thoughts that are fueling your agitation.
Try, instead, to find a way to remove,
one stick at a time, the thoughts that fuel the fire. Remember, the main message here, Keeping Still:
"The superior man does not permit this thoughts to go beyond his situation."
Tomorrow we'll look at the future.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
No. 52, Keeping Still:
"Keeping
Still. Keeping his back still
So that he no longer feels his body.
He goes into his courtyard
And does
not see his people.
No blame."
This main message addresses
"the problem of keeping a quiet heart." [Wilhelm] The Image is direct in its advice:
"Thus
the superior man
Does not permit his thoughts
To go beyond his situation."
Do not let worries about what is past or anxiety over what will happen in the future
dominate your thinking.
The Yi is telling you: Be here now.
This message seems to specifically advise meditation: Keep your back still, and shut out all external distractions.
Note: there is "no blame" in not paying attention to other people's wants and needs every minute of the day.
We have one
changing line, Line 3. We'll look at that tomorrow.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
No. 22, Grace:
"Grace has success.
In small matters
It is favorable to undertake something."
We received this reading with no changing lines, which indicates an atmosphere and set of conditions that will
endure indefinitely.
Grace in the I Ching means
the beauty of form: gracefulness. Now is a time when you can focus on the form and beauty of things. Ending global
warming and world hunger can wait.
The Yi is encouraging you to concentrate on the structure
of your novel, the composition of your painting, the exact positioning of your arms as you dance, the layout of your scrapbook.
Through immersing yourself in the small details of exterior form, you will enlighten yourself on the inner, deeper substance
of what you create.
Friday, February 20, 2009
No. 5, Waiting:
"Waiting. If you are sincere,
You
have light and success.
Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water."
This future reading, formed from The Well and Changing Line 1, signals that you will
need to wait awhile before the "clear water" will be available to you.
Wilhelm explains:
"This hexagram shows the clouds in the heavens, giving rain to refresh all that grows and to provide mankind with food
and drink. The rain will come in its own time. We cannot make it come; we have to wait for it. "
This view of Waiting is something the I Ching and the Bible agree on:
"Waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the
waiting.” [Romans 8:24]
The situation is one that cannot be rushed. Only patience, with neither
doubt nor anxiety, will bring good fortune.
4:49 pm est
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Well,
Line 1:
"One does not drink the mud of the well.
No animals come to an old well."
Line 1 is a word of caution: In this process of reaching down deep in your Well, the mind can easily become preoccupied with trivialities and side issues that "muddy the waters."
You need to go deep. Keep reaching until you find the wellspring, the source that is clear
and fresh.
What side issues are clouding up your waters?
...
Tomorrow we look at what The Well holds
for the future.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
No. 48, The
Well:
"The Well. The town may be changed,
but the well cannot be changed.
It neither decreases nor increases.
They come and go and draw from the well.
If one gets down almost to the water
And the rope does not go all the
way,
Or the jug breaks, it brings misfortune."
Receiving The Well as a main message signals a time when you need to reach down, inside yourself, and
bring up that which is essential..
The Yi is reminding you that your external circumstances
will change, but what comes from the source does not.
It is always there, clear and true.
But you must make the effort to access it. If your effort doesn't go deep enough, the "water" you bring
up will be muddy. Or if you are careless in reaching for the depths, you will bring up nothing.
What "water" should you be reaching for?
We had one changing line, Line
1, which gives some additional guidance. We'll look at that tomorrow.
Monday, February 16, 2009
No. 6, Conflict:
"Conflict. You are sincere
And are being obstructed.
A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune.
Going through to the end brings misfortune.
It furthers one to see the great man.
It does not further one to cross
the great water."
The future of Opposition
appears to be Conflict.
In this Conflict, you are not at fault. The
Yi makes that clear. You have done everything in your power to get past this. Unfortunately, your sincerity is
not enough to make this conflict go away.
If the path you are pursing is increasing the
conflict, stop. Meet the other halfway, but no more. Pushing ahead in the hope that you will "win" brings
nothing but misfortune.
If you can't let go of this, seek the counsel of someone wiser.
And don't rush into a new project - or a new relationship - as a way of distracting yourself. Acceptance needs
to come first before you will be ready to move on.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Opposition / Contradiction, Line
5:
"Remorse disappears.
The companion bites his way through the wrappings.
If one goes to him,
How could this be a mistake?"
Misunderstandings - and defensiveness and self- protectiveness about them - are likely
the cause of Opposition or Contradiction in a close relationship.
. Receiving this line shows that the other party is willing
to "bite his way through" what is keeping you apart.
The Yi advises
you to meet him - or her - half way. You won't regret it.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Opposition / Contradiction, Line 1:
"Remorse disappears. If you lose your horse, do not run after it; It will come back of its own accord. When you see evil people, Guard yourself against mistakes."
In times of Opposition, which is the present circumstance, don't
agonize over problems in a close relationship. There may be a misunderstanding which will cause a temporary separation.
If you don't panic or lose your composure, things will return to normal when the other party is ready. Chasing after this
person will only cause them to move farther away.
There may well be someone observing this interaction who does not
have your best interests at heart. Don't take any impulsive actions, especially if they are being urged by someone else.
Line 5 has more specific advice about how to respond to this time of Opposition
and Contradiction. We'll look at that tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
No. 38, Opposition / Contradiction:
"Opposition. In small matters, good fortune."
For the time being, Opposition appears to be inevitable. It may be that you are
at odds with someone, or it may be that you can't make up your mind about which way to go.
There is not much you can do about the "outside" opposing forces,
except to take only the sort of small steps that will not provoke a strong response. Right now, if you "push, "
the other side will definitely "shove."
If your contradictions are internal, however, you can try to achieve
clarity by broadening your viewpoint, and looking for the bigger picture.
We received two changing lines, Lines 1 and 5, that may help you identify
where the Opposition is coming from. We'll look at Line 1 tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
No. 11, Peace:
"Peace. The small departs,
The great approaches.
Good fortune. Success."
The future of Dispersion / Reuniting
is: Peace.
Receiving this future message signals a time of social harmony. It is
the result that follows from the Dispersion of hard attitudes, and the Reuniting of those who belong together.
When it comes, enjoy it, and remember
what actions brought you to this fortunate place.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Dispersion / Reuniting, Line
6:
"He dissolves his blood. Departing, keeping at a distance, going out, Is without blame."
Are you focusing on someone as the cause of all your problems? Has
this person got you all fired up? Is your blood boiling?
The Yi advises that this is a danger and conflict that you should walk
away from. This doesn't mean that you are not in the right in this battle - it just means that "keeping at
a distance" is the smart thing to do.
Depart, and keep on going. If you can do this, a brighter future
awaits.
We'll look at that future tomorrow.
8:51 am est
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Dispersion / Reuniting, Line
5:
"His loud cries are as dissolving as sweat.
Dissolution! A king abides without blame."
Ever
had an illness where you get worse and worse, until your fever "breaks" and you are covered in sweat? And from that
point, you start to get better?
Your situation of alienation and separation from others
needs that kind of fever-breaking big event - what Wilhelm calls "a great and stimulating idea" that will break
the "general deadlock." This "great idea," which you will need to shout at the top of your lungs,
is what will dissolve the present barriers.
We received this same advice on Jan. 27. Did a "great and stimulating idea" occur to you, but the
change it would cause seem too big, too earth-shaking to pursue?
The Yi advises
you to think again.
We'll look at the final line we received, Line
6, tomorrow. And hang in there with these changing lines; the future of this reading is worth working for.
10:00 am est
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Dispersion / Reuniting, Line 3:
"He dissolves his self. No remorse."
The Yi can't put it any clearer
than this: You must let go of your attitudes and opinions - and your own personal agenda - for the success promised in the main message to be yours.
This is a time to be entirely selfless. Invest all your efforts "in a great task outside yourself." Working
for the common good, without regard for what's in it for you, will bring you the greatest reward in the end.
This is the second time we have received this line. Give this some more thought. Is there
a "great task" calling you?
The Yi has two more pieces of specific advice,
Lines 5 and 6. We'll look at Line 5 tomorrow.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Dispersion
/ Reuniting, Line 1:
"He brings help with the strength of a horse.
Good
fortune."
Do you sense that you and someone close to you are starting to head in different directions? The Yi advises
moving quickly, and strongly, to turn that around.
The main message says - and we have been
told this twice - that now is a time when hard attitudes or set ways of thinking can be Dispersed,
which will bring about Reuniting with a significant other, family, friends, or a social
group that is important to you.
Receiving Line 1 this time (we didn't last time) is the Yi telling
you to move decisively to get this relationship back together. The sooner, the better.
We'll
look at second of the four changing lines, Line 3, tomorrow.
9:15 am est
Thursday, February 5, 2009
No. 59, Dispersion / Reuniting:
"Dispersion. Success.
The king approaches his temple.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
Perseverance furthers."
If you are saying to yourself, "Hey, we just did
this one," you are correct. We received this main message, with three changing lines, on Jan. 24.
Receiving it again, so soon - this time with four
changing lines - means you need to pay more attention to what needs Dispersing in your life. Receiving this message signals a time when the Dispersion of hard attitudes or set ways of thinking will bring about Reuniting
with family, friends, or social groups. Receiving it again means that you focused on the wrong attitude, or that you
didn't follow the advice in the changing lines.
The Yi advised participating in a "common
enterprise or celebration." The older texts suggest that this be a religious ceremony or sacred rite of some sort.
Modern texts suggest only that it be a common enterprise, undertaken for the common good, setting aside the consideration
of "what's in it for me."
We'll look at the first of our four changing
lines, Line 1, tomorrow, as we try to work through this one again.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
No. 26, The Taming Power of the Great / Potential Energy / Restraint:
"The Taming Power of the Great.
Perseverance
furthers. Not eating at home brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water."
There is
great potential in the future of your Fellowship with Others.
"Not eating at home brings good fortune" does not, unfortunately, mean that the
Yi is encouraging you to head for Red Lobster this evening. It means that now is the time to take your virtues out and share
them with others - making this future reading an echo of the main message, Fellowship.
Ambitious or far-reaching goals are favored now, as long as they are aligned with
the common good. Just be sure you expend this storehouse of energy and potential in a controlled and careful manner.
8:56 am est
Monday, February 2, 2009
Fellowship with Others, Line 5:
"Those bound in
fellowship first weep and lament,
But afterward
they laugh. After great struggles they succeed
in meeting."
The Yi's final bit of advice on Fellowship: It won't
be easy. But it's worth hanging in there.
I leave you with Confucius' interpretation of
this:
"Life leads the thoughtful person on a path of many windings.
Now the course is checked, now it runs straight again. Here winged thoughts may pour freely forth in words, There the heavy burden of knowledge must be shut away in silence, But when two people are at one in their inmost hearts, They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze. And when two people understand each other in their inmost
hearts, Their words are sweet and strong,
like the fragrance of orchids."
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Fellowship with Others, Line 4:
"He climbs up on
his wall; he cannot attack.
Good fortune."
Yesterday's line warned against taking sides in
your Fellowship with Others. Line 4 contains similar advice.
If you can't take sides, what are you supposed to do? Stay above the fray - in between the two factions.
In this you will find your good fortune.
The Yi has one more piece of specific advice on how
to behave in regard to Fellowship. We'll look at that tomorrow.
|
|
 |
|
What is the I Ching?
The symbol you see above is the bagua, the symbol of the I Ching for 5,000 years
before it was "adopted" as the octagonal logo of the Dharma Iniative in the television series "Lost."
The I Ching, also known as the Yi Jing, or (in English) Book of Changes, is an
oracle; a divination device that forms a pattern reflecting the forces at work
in the Universe at a particular point in time.
This pattern,
when viewed in the context of a concern or question, sends a message of timeless advice and insight.
Richard Wilhelm explained it this way in a footnote to his translation of Ta Chaun - The Great Treatise: "The way in which the
Book of Changes works can best be compared to an electrical circuit reaching into all situations. "The circuit only affords the potentiality
of lighting: it does not give light. "But
when contact with a definite situation is established, the 'current' is activated, and the given situation is illumined." Plug yourself in. -------------------------------
The great Swiss pyschiatrist C.G.
Jung, who was a serious student of the I Ching, said:
"The
I Ching does not offer itself with proofs and results; it does not vaunt itself, nor is it easy to approach. Like a part of
nature, it waits until it is discovered.
"It offers neither
facts nor power, but for lovers of self-knowledge, of wisdom - if there be such - it seems to be the right book. . .
.
"He who
is not pleased by it does not have to use it, and he who is against it is not obliged to find it true. "Let it go forth into the world for the benefit
of those who can discern its meaning." -------------------------------------------
|
