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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Influence, Line 2:
"The influence shows
itself in the calves of the legs.
Misfortune.
Tarrying brings good fortune."
The urge to act grows. You want to stride ahead, filled with energy from the
new Influence that has entered your life.
Are you clear on exactly how
you should proceed? And more importantly, why?
Take your time. You are still
in the early stages of a new reality. Going slowly will help you avoid mistakes.
As you move forward, something will inevitably have to be left behind. We'll look at the
future of this message tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Influence, Line 1:
"The influence shows
itself in the big toe."
Once this major Influence
enters your life, you will be ready to head in a new direction. There is anticipation, a readiness to move.
You are literally just itching to get started.
At this very early stage - Line 1 - the
Yi urges you not to act on impulse. Moving forward requires a coordinated effort of your whole "body."
Attempting to run when only one part of you is ready will cause you to stumble.
Success depends on taking things as they come, in their own time. First things first.
We'll look at the Yi's advice on the next step - Line 2 - tomorrow.
Monday, March 29, 2010
No. 31, Influence:
"Influence. Success.
Perseverance furthers.
To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune."
Most interesting. Today's reading carries
very much the same message as yesterday's: A major Influence will be entering your life.
R.L. Wing calls this hexagram Attraction, pointing out that "The universe as we know it
is held together and governed by the various laws of Attraction," right down to its smallest unit, the
atom, held together by the attraction of its positive and negative charges.
Yesterday's message foretold of "the 'dynamic interaction' of very different forces: the meeting
of the yin and the yang. 'From such encounters, great things are born and order is established.' [Wing]"
The danger here is that this Influence will be so different,
and so unlike you, that you will shy away from it. Don't. The Image says, "Thus
the superior man encourages people to approach him by his readiness to receive them."
Joining with this Influence in a serious, long-term commitment will bring success.
We received Changing Lines 1 and 2; the Yi has some specific advice
for us on the beginning stages of this process. We'll look at Line 1 tomorrow.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
No. 44, Coming to Meet / Temptation:
"Coming to meet.
The influence is powerful."
A
strong influence is about to enter your life.
We received this hexagram without changing
lines, which focuses the meaning of Coming to Meet on the "dynamic interaction" of very different forces:
the meeting of the yin and the yang. "From such encounters, great things are born and order is established." [Wing]
This may be a meeting with someone, or something, new. Or it may be a sudden awakening
to a previously hidden or suppressed aspect of your self that now seeks full and open expression.
Do not fight or ignore this influence. Meet it head-on. This encounter may well be the "new beginning" foretold
in the last reading.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
No. 3, Difficulty at the Beginning:
Difficulty at the beginning works supreme success,
Furthering through perseverance.
Nothing should be undertaken
until clarity is attained.
It furthers one to appoint helpers.
"When it is a man's fate to undertake new beginnings, everything is still unformed,
dark." [Wilhelm]
This is the future of the time of Contemplation. The
Image of this hexagram is clouds and thunder, the chaos of the storms of spring from which natural growth arises.
Remember - all true growth is organic. "Accept and
bear with the discomfort of chaos without attempting to push it away. Allow it to clear of its own accord, in its own
time." [Walker]
Go slow, don't bite off more than you can chew,
and look for friends who can help and support you. "Supreme success" lies waiting.
What is this "new beginning" for you?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Contemplation, Line 6:
"Contemplation of his life.
The superior man is without blame."
You will reach
the end of this process of Contemplation with a true understanding of your life.
"Ego-less contemplation is the key." [Wing] This does not mean you will not continue to make human
mistakes. You will.
But if you focus on your place within the greater
good, your own path will become clear. On that journey, you will proceed without blame.
9:54 am edt
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Contemplation, Line 1:
"Boylike contemplation.
For an inferior man, no blame.
For a superior man, humiliation."
If you are young, or new to a path, relatively shallow Contemplation
is a necessary first step. You must first understand the surface before you are ready to move deeper.
You can't stay stuck in this mode, however. You do not want to remain "an adult who contents himself with the beliefs
he accepted in childhood." [Anthony and Moog]
Take the time necessary
to fully comprehend where you are meant to be.
We'll see where this process is headed tomorrow in Line 6.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
No.
20. Contemplation:
"Contemplation. The ablution has been made,
But not yet the offering.
Full
of trust they look up to him."
Now is the time
quietly and thoroughly assess your situation. You need to examine your deepest values and the course you propose to take.
That is the beginning - the ablution, or cleansing. Making the offering - real changes - can wait until you
have deepened your understanding. There's no rush.
The Yi has specific advice
for the beginning and end of this process, Lines 1 and 6. We'll look at Line 1 tomorrow.
However, you needn't wait to more openly live your real values. The more honest you are about what you truly want,
the more influence you will have on others.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
No. 47,
Oppression / Exhaustion:
"Oppression.
Success. Perseverance.
The great man brings about good fortune.
No blame.
When one has something to say.
It is not believed."
There is something you feel you were meant to do
- as opposed to what others expect you to do.
You have made
a few steps down this path, but you have not experienced the "success" you wished for, nor has it brought you the
validation you seek. You feel drained and depressed. You are ready to quit. Anthony and Moog describe this as your "true
self's fears of being extinguished."
We received this hexagram without
changing lines, indicating that this state of affairs will continue as long as you keep trying to convince others of the rightness
of your path. It is not going to happen
True "success" is possible, however, if you persevere in your own course of action,
regardless of the opposition of others. There is no blame in this.
"Thus the
superior man stakes his life on following his will." [The Image]
Monday, March 22, 2010
No. 50, The Cauldron / The Ting / Cosmic Order:
"The Cauldron. Supreme good fortune.
Success."
The Cauldron - or Ting - was a vessel used
to make offerings in ancient Chinese religious ceremonies.
In order for you to obtain "supreme good fortune," it will be necessary to make a sacrifice. "Earthly
values" must be sacrificed to "the divine." [Wilhelm]
What "earthly value" do you need to sacrifice? Probably the ego-driven goal you are striving
for - that Youthful Folly the Yi warned you about in Lines 3 and 4.
R.L.
Wing calls this hexagram Cosmic Order because it "symbolizes a state of affairs
where the needs of the individual and the needs of the cosmos are in harmony."
Giving up an unrealistic goal is the first step toward establishing this harmony. Supreme
good fortune and success will follow.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Youthful Folly, Line 4:
"Entangled folly
brings humiliation."
You need to "get real." And
you will have to do it by yourself.
The main message said you are in a situation that is new to you,
but you can navigate this unknown territory successfully, IF you are willing to learn.
Yesterday's line warned that you are in danger of rushing after something that is not, in fact, obtainable. Line 4 says
"Your attitude is unrealistic in regard to what is really going on in your life and therefore you cannot be instructed."
[Wing]
The Yi suggests a folie a deux may be going on here - someone is sharing and reinforcing
your unrealistic ideas. If you don't separate yourself from this folly, it will end in humiliation.
Some form of sacrifice will be required to get you back on your path. We'll look at that tomorrow.
9:51 am edt
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Youthful Folly, Line 3:
"Take not
a maiden who, when she sees a man of bronze,
Loses possession of herself.
Nothing furthers."
Do you want something so badly you're willing to ignore all
the warning signs to get it?
The Yi cautions most strongly against
this type of Youthful Folly. It may be a love relationship, but it may also be a job, or a position of status
and power. It might even be an object, like a car or house that you know you can't afford, but sign for anyway.
Maintain your dignity and self-possession. A headlong rush will gain you nothing.
The Yi senses that you are brushing this advice aside. It has more to say on the subject
in Line 4, tomorrow.
10:12 am edt
Friday, March 19, 2010
No. 4, Youthful Folly / Inexperience:
"Youthful Folly has success.
It is not
I who seek the young fool.
The young fool seeks me.
At the first oracle I inform him.
If he asks two or three
times, it is importunity.
If he importunes, I give him no information.
Perseverance furthers."
You are facing a situation that is
new to you. You will ultimately be successful, BUT . . .
Success depends on how you
proceed. "There is no shame in seeking guidance in life." [Walker]
When you seek guidance, ask your question, and then pay attention to
the answer. Don't immediately challenge the advice.
When you are inexperienced in some
area, there are no stupid questions. But don't keep asking once you get the answer, just because it's not what you want
to hear.
We received two changing lines, Lines 3 and 4, with some specific
advice. We'll look at Line 3 tomorrow.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
No. 29, Flowing Water:*
"Flowing
Water repeated.
If you are sincere, you have success in your heart,
And whatever you do succeeds."
You are approaching the rapids in the river of life.
In the future of this time of Gathering Together, you will need
to "go with the flow." Be prepared to move through, and beyond, rapid change. Holding to your
center will be the key.
The Image explains:
"Water
flows on uninterruptedly and reaches its goal.
The image of Flowing Water repeated.
Thus the superior man walks
in lasting virtue,
And carries on the business of teaching."
"Water sets the example for the right conduct in such circumstances. It flows on and on, and merely fills up
all the places through which it flows; it does not shrink from any dangerous spot nor from any plunge, and nothing can make
it lose its own essential nature. It remains true to itself under all conditions." [Wilhelm]
What circumstances are on the horizon that you will need to "flow" through?
*Most translations title this hexagram The Abysmal, which Western minds tend to define as "extremely
or hopelessly bad." That is misleading, so I have substituted "Flowing Water" as being more descriptive
of the true message, as explained in The Image.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Gathering Together, Line 4:
"Great good
fortune. No blame."
Great good fortune
--- and no blame. This will develop if you are Gathering Together with others in the right spirit, for a good
cause.
Some translations view this as a result of a "sacrifice" on your
part that will be "rewarded." This is only true if you take it for granted that you are the center of the
universe, a view the I Ching tends to discourage.
Rather, this line
describes a situation where you are contributing to the common good, while following your own natural path.
Sacrifice is not called for - just unselfishness.
Things will move on - rapdily - in
the future, which we'll look at tomorrow.
10:34 am edt
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Gathering Together, Line 2:
"Letting oneself be drawn
Brings good fortune and remains blameless.
If one is sincere,
It furthers
one to bring even a small offering."
"At the
time of Gathering Together, we should make no arbitrary choice of the way. There are secret forces at work,
leading together those who belong together. We must yield to this attraction; then we make no mistakes." [Wilhelm]
Do you feel drawn, for reasons you can't quite define, to a person, a cause, an area of study?
Is this area of interest different from what you had planned? Did it present itself "out of the blue?"
Does it seem "too good to be true?" The Yi is saying, "Don't over-analyze this."
"Where inner relationships exist, no great preparations and formalities are necessary. People understand one another
forthwith, just as the Divinity graciously accepts a small offering if it comes from the heart." [Wilhelm]
This is the time to follow your heart.
And where will that lead? We'll see
tomorrow, with Line 4.
Monday, March 15, 2010
No. 45. Gathering Together:
"Gathering
Together. Success.
The king approaches his temple.
It furthers one to see the great man.
This brings
success. Perseverance furthers.
To bring great offerings creates good fortune.
It furthers one to undertake
something."
The flow of the Universe continues to favor Gathering Together with others,
and working together toward a common goal.
A strong and steady center - a leader - will be needed to keep
things in order. Offer your services in strengthening the bonds between members of your group. The stronger the
group, the more security for you.
Or it may be that you,
personally and internally, need to "get it together." As R.L. Wing points out, "When you are not in accord
with your goals, you may well feel indecision, conflict, or malaise; when you are, a sense of confidence and well-being will
surround you."
We received Lines 2 and 4 with this hexagram. Tomorrow, Line 2 will give us some very specific
advice on how to handle any "indecision."
Sunday, March 14, 2010
No.
41, Decrease :
"Decrease combined with sincerity
Brings about supreme good fortune
Without
blame.
One may be persevering in this.
It furthers one to undertake something.
How is this to be carried out?
One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice."
"Just as Alice had to shrink herself to enter Wonderland, we must shrink our view of ourselves to gain partnership with
the higher powers." [Walker] This is the Yi's version of the addiction recovery program saying,
"Let go, and let God."
We see here the future of The Army/ Collective Force.
With the battle won, it's time for the "conquering" part of your personality to step aside, and let the
"civilians" - your nurturing and rebuilding side - take over. Simplicity and sincerity now are the key to "supreme good fortune."
As Wilhelm points out, "Decrease does not under all circumstances
mean something bad. Increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters is to understand the time and not try
to cover up poverty with empty pretense."
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Army / Collective Force, Line 6:
"The
great prince issues commands,
Founds states, vests families with fiefs.
Inferior people should not be employed."
Good news: Your "war"
will be won.
When the struggle is over, the great prince (that's
you) must move quickly to establish a new, stable order.
Line 6 is a reminder that within
every group or Collective Force there will be people with "inferior" motives and agendas. Don't give them
any privileges or authority in the new configuration.
If your battle
was within yourself, don't let bad habits or old fears sneak back in.
You
will need to maintain this strength for the future, which we'll look at tomorrow.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Army, Collective Force, Line 1:
"An army must set forth in proper order.
If the order is not good, misfortune threatens."
Do you feel like you are under attack? When you are in this
mode, your only thought may be to defend yourself, and strike back.
To make good
use of the Collective Force available to you now, you must first "get it together." Before you take
action, calm your mind. Ask yourself, who is really the "enemy" here? Is it another person? Or is it
your own fears, or bad habits?
Get clear first on what you're fighting. Then plan
and organize before marching into battle.
We'll look at what awaits at the end of this
situation, Line 6, tomorrow.
9:59 am est
Thursday, March 11, 2010
No.
7, The Army / Collective Force:
"The Army. The army
needs perseverance
And
a strong man. Good fortune without blame."
You
are entering a time when the use of Collective Force will be necessary. The Yi has been sending repeated messages
on this theme - this is the third time in the past two months that we received The Army. The last two
times it was as a future message; this time, it's the main message. "The
rules, it is said, are two-fold - first, that the war be for a righteous end; and second, that the manner of conducting
it, especially at the outset, be right." [Legg]
In other
words, be sure your efforts are for something truly worthwhile, then pursue your goal in an honest and honorable way.
This is the Yi reminding you: You may
have to be militant and use some force in moving forward. There is no blame in this. We received
Lines 1 and 6 - advice for the beginning and end of this phase. We'll look at Line 1 tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
No. 10, Treading / Conduct:
"Treading. Treading upon the tail
of the tiger. It does not bite the man. Success."
The future of Limitation will be a situation that calls for considerable caution.
The tiger is most likely "a wild, intractable
person." [Wilhelm] Is it your boss? Your mother? Your ex? Whoever it is, it's someone you have to step
lightly around.
I met a woman yesterday in this exact situation. Her husband had left some months ago in the throes of a fairly spectacular
midlife crisis. Her family wanted her to sue for divorce and "drag him through the courts." With virtually no assets
to fight over, however, her wiser course was to get a dissolution and concentrate her energies on moving forward with her
own life.
Take note: In your situation, you
cannot avoid contact with this "wild, intractable" person altogether. But by Treading carefully, and not stepping on his "tail" too
hard, you will be able to continue on your own path without harm. And that is success.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Limitation, Line 6:
"Galling limitation.
Perseverance brings misfortune.
Remorse disappears."
Are the rules you are setting for yourself or others too strict? In the long run, this will only
cause rebellion.
Take, for example, a diet. Don't choose one that absolutely
forbids everything you enjoy. You are just setting yourself up for failure.
The main message still holds true, of course: living your life within reasonable limits will bring success. But
with Line 6, the Yi is saying, "Lighten up!"
The Yi will continue
to advise moderation, as we will see in the future message, tomorrow.
10:21 am est
Monday, March 8, 2010
Limitation, Line 4:
"Contented
limitation. Success."
You must live within your
Limitations to be successful, but struggle of any kind won't help.
Choose a course of action that is natural for you. We all have our in-born limitations. Don't make being the top salesman
your goal if you don't really like dealing with people.
Look for a way to move forward that uses your own natural tendencies. Then you can move past obstacles and reach your destination,
the way water uses gravity to carve channels and reach the ocean.
Line 6 is an echo of the main message. We'll look at that tomorrow.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
No. 60, Limitation:
"Limitation. Success.
Galling limitation must
not be persevered in."
As you Push Upward, you will
have to live within your Limitations.
"The most ancient and basic concern of mankind is that of regulating
production and consumption within the dictates of nature." [R.L. Wing] Everything has a limit, and to ignore
these natural limits results in disaster. Observing the limits, however, results in success.
But don't limit yourself unnecessarily. There's nothing to be gained by it.
We
received two changing lines, Line 4 and Line 6, which have specific advice on how to proceed within your Limitations.
We'll look at Line 4 tomorrow.
1:25 pm est
Saturday, March 6, 2010
No. 46, Pushing Upward:
"Pushing upward has supreme success.
One must see the great man.
Fear not.
Departure toward the
south
Brings good fortune.”
A very auspicious
message: Success is assured . . . IF one exerts the appropriate effort.
This is an organic
movement upward, like a tree growing. Success won't just be dropped in your lap; you will have to put some energy behind
it, and push. We received this message without changing lines, so be prepared to continue this effort into the indefinite
future.
You may have to take your plan to someone in authority, but don't be afraid of that.
Setting the activity in motion - the departure toward the south - almost guarantees good fortune.
Anthony and Moog say, "Receiving this hexagram is counsel to make a decision between two paths.
. . .the path of his unique destiny that he alone can trod by following his inner truth, or the one laid out . . .that
has been trodden by others."
What two paths do you need to choose between?
9:37 am est
Friday, March 5, 2010
No. 8 Union / Holding Together:
"Holding together brings
good fortune.
Inquire of the oracle once again
Whether you possess sublimity, constancy, and perseverance;
Then there is no blame.
Those who are uncertain gradually join.
Whoever comes too late
Meets
with misfortune."
Your relationships with others are of
the utmost importance in the future. Remember, the main message advised healing the disagreements and divisions
by engaging in a "great general undertaking."
When the time
for that arrives, the Yi advises you to ask sincerely whether you are up to the tasks of leadership. If the answer
is yes, proceed to take charge.
But there's nothing wrong in being a
follower instead of a leader. This reading points out that common experience is what binds people together.
Those who have been together "from the beginning"
will always be closer. Don't wait too long to join in. You may be shut out.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Dispersion / Dissolution,
Line 6:
"He dissolves his blood.
Departing,
keeping at a distance, going out,
Is without blame."
Are you having trouble letting go of hard feelings or a rigid attitude, as the
Yi has advised? Line 6 is a final warning: If you insist on "bloody" thinking - keeping the
fight going - you only attach yourself more firmly to the problem.
The Yi advises that you disperse these feelings. Distance yourself from any continuing contention. There is no blame in that.
You are not, however, meant to separate yourself from the situation entirely. The
future reading makes that clear, and we'll look at that tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Dispersion / Dissolution, Line 2:
"At
the dissolution
He hurries to that which supports him.
Remorse disappears."
The main message advised you to Disperse hard feelings or rigid attitudes.
Letting go of this mindset is but the first step. Line 2 says that you must then reach out to others, and you should
do it quickly. Focus on the areas where you can agree with others, and build your bridges there, before attitudes reharden
into their old patterns.
If you can move forward in the "great general undertaking"
advised by main message, regrets about the past will disappear.
Line 6 will advise you
to "dissolve" your blood. We'll see what that means tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
No.
59, Dispersion / Dissolution:
"Dispersion. Success.
The king approaches his temple.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
Perseverance
furthers."
Something
is separating you from those with whom you should be joined. It is likely a rigid attitude - probably yours, but possibly
someone else's.
The Image produced by the combined trigrams of Wind
over Water is a warm spring breeze flowing over the ice of winter, dispersing it. Are you holding a rigid
attitude that is keeping you "frozen?" Are you part of a group where everyone has staked out their positions,
and no one will budge?
To
Disperse this attitude, the
Yi advises "cooperation in great general undertakings that set a high goal for the will of the people; in common concentration
on this goal, all barriers dissolve . . ." [Wilhelm]
What
"great general undertaking" can you join in?
We
received changing lines 2 and 6, which contain specific advice on how we should proceed. We'll look at Line 2 tomorrow.
Monday, March 1, 2010
No. 37, The Family / The Clan:
"The Family. The perseverance of the woman furthers."
"The perseverance of the woman" refers not to a specific
woman, but to the importance of nurturing and cooperation.
"Try to see all organizations, whether familial, social,
or political, as Family groups and then determine your most comfortable position within them. If you
hold to this natural aspect of your character and understand the ensuing duties and responsibilities, you can more easily
achieve your goals." [R.L. Wing]
Wing adds this important caveat, "Be certain, however, that you are not involved in carrying out a role for which you
are unsuited, or a role that has been cast upon you. This will rob your life of meaning."
We received this hexagram
without changing lines. This suggests that you have found a role within your organization, family or social group that you
can be comfortable with, long term. If you support others, they will continue to support you.
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