No. 14,  Possession in Great Measure

"Possession in Great Measure.
Supreme success."

      Possession in Great Measure and supreme success!   

       
      Wealth alone is not "supreme success" in Eastern philosophies.  "Supreme success" is being able to realize your true self, pursue your true goals, and develop harmonious relationships.  This reading says that the future is a favorable time for all aspects of your life.  
 
     The Image adds :  "Thus the superior man curbs evil and furthers good,  and thereby obeys the benevolent will of heaven."   
 
     So -  good things will not  just be handed to you.  You will have to behave appropriately.  Continue to be the wise Wanderer, as the main message and changing lines advised.  Use your power wisely, avoid  entanglements, and keep moving toward your supreme success.

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The Wanderer,  Line 1:

"If the wanderer busies himself with trivial things,
He draws down misfortune upon himself."

     You are moving through the present situation. 

      Don't get stopped by small, iinsignificant matters.  Don't get caught up in petty disagreements.

      Be queitly friendly, but reserved.  Most importantly, keep moving. You are destined for more important things.

      There will soon be a place for you to rest, as we will see tomorrow in Line 2.

No. 56, The Wanderer  /  Traveling:
 
“The Wanderer. Success through smallness.
Perseverance brings good fortune
To the wanderer."
 
     You are entering a state of transition.   One set of circumstances has reached its conclusion, and you are moving into a situation that new to you.  In such times, it is wise to take small steps until you understand more fully the forces that are at play.
 
      The Image adds:  "Thus the superior man Is clear-minded and cautious In imposing penalties and protracts no lawsuits."  As you move forward, remove yourself from any conflicts as soon as possible.
 
     The Joseph Legg translation describes The Wanderer as "carrying with him his means of livelihood and provided with good and trusty servants."  Meaning:  Your success is not dependent on any particular location or set of circumstances.  You have within you all that is necessary.  Let your inner truth be visible, and you will attract support, no matter where you are.

     Have you been "busying yourself with trivial things?"  The Yi has advice on that tomorrow, in Changing Line 1.

No. 59,  Dispersion  /  Dissolving:

"Dispersion.  Success.
The king approaches his temple.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
Perseverance furthers."

       An obstacle or difficulty has Restrained you, requiring that you use The Taming Power of the Small - the main message - to make any progress at all.  This future message signals a time when that obstacle will be Dissolved and Dispersed.

    
     Did the changing lines help you truly identify what's holding you back?   

   
     When you realize what's been stopping you, the gentle winds of change can begin their work, as warm winds blowing over ice in the spring dissolve and disperse it, opening the way to "cross the great water."

The Taming Power of the Small  / Restraint,  Line 3:

"The spokes burst out of the wagon wheels.
Man and wife roll their eyes."

     You will seem to be moving forward when - snap!  Something fundamental breaks.

     This will, of course, bring your progress to a halt.  "We do not yet heed this hint from fate, hence there are annoying arguments like those of a married couple."  [Wilhelm]

      The Yi warned yesterday of being tempted to leave your path because of an obstacle that has appeared.  Today it warns of the danger of placing blame on accidents of fate, or other people.

       Instead of focusing on what someone else should have done, or ought to do now, consider the possibility that these difficulties have appeared because you are pursuing the wrong path altogether.

        Might the way not be clearer if you moved in another direction, under your own power?

The Taming Power of the Small  / Restraint,  Line 1:

"Return to the way.
How could there be blame in this?
Good fortune."

     You have a definite destination in mind, but an obstruction has appeared in your path.   You are tempted to turn back, or branch off in a direction that looks easier.

    The Yi says:  Don't do it.  Get back on your own path, and keep taking small steps.

    This time of Restraint will eventually pass. When it does, you will be in the right spot to make rapid progress.

     Restraints of an interpersonal nature also await you. We'll look at that tomorrow.

No. 9, The Taming Power of the Small  /  Restraint:

No. 49,  Revolution  /  Renewal  /  Changing:

“Revolution. On your own day
You are believed.
Supreme success,
Furthering through perseverance
Remorse disappears."

    The future of After Completion will be nothing short of a Revolution.

     It appears  the situation you are completing was not a positive one:  this hexagram depicts the dark of winter being overcome by the light of spring.

     Whatever it was, it's over. Let it go.  It no longer has any power over your life.  Clear away your old, dead patterns, and allow the new, vigorous growth to appear. Regrets over the past will disappear.

     What's more, others will listen - and believe you! -  bringing about "supreme success."   

After Completion,  Line 4:

"The finest clothes turn to rags.
Be careful all day long."   

     After Completion of a situation, you may feel that you have "made it," and you can celebrate and relax.

      The Yi sends this line to remind you that indulging in luxuries, or slacking off after a success, is dangerous. 

        Continue to be consientious in all things.  Why?  Because the next stage of life won't be merely a change - it will be a Revolution. 

      We'll learn about that tomorrow in the future reading.

No. 58,  The Joyous:

“The joyous. Success.
Perseverance is favorable.”

     The Image is "Lakes resting one on the other:  The image of The Joyous.  Thus the superior man joins with his friends for discussion and practice."
    
      This future message signals a successful end to the Temptation, and the beginning of a time of peaceful and supportive collaboration with others.     
      
       Encourage others to find and pursue their individual goals, as you pursue yours.  This joining with others will not be "fun" in a self-indulgent, frivolous sense, but Joyous in a deeply sustaining way.

Coming To Meet  /  Temptation,  Line 6:

"He comes to meet with his horns.
Humiliation.  No blame."

     Do not engage in confrontation with the source of your Temptation.  A combative stance will only lead to humiliation.

     When inferior elements challenge you directly, it is better to withdraw.  Stay detached. 

      They will probably be unhappy that they can't keep making you dance their dance.  Too bad.

Coming to Meet  /  Temptation,   Line 3:

"There is no skin on his thighs,
and walking comes hard.
If one is mindful of the danger,
No great mistake is made."

    Temptation may be holding you in agonizing indecision, because you know that moving in any direction will be painful.

     The Yi is warning you again to be "mindful of the danger" this Temptation poses.  If you are realistic, and see things as they are, rather than as you want them to be, you can let this alluring - but illusory - possibility pass.

      Life may not be particularly pleasant for awhile, but it won't  be as bad as it would have been, had you taken the bait.

     Being realistic does not require you to be antagonistic toward this Temptation, however. The Yi has advice on that, tomorrow, in Line 6.

Coming to Meet  /  Temptation,  Line 1:

"It must be checked with a brake of bronze.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
If one lets it take its course, one experiences misfortune.
Even a lean pig has it in him to rage around."

     Weak or inferior elements, whether in ourselves or in others, must be stopped forcefully - and soon.

     Something - or someone - is not as it should be, but you are Tempted to let things slide, because, at the moment, it seems insignificant.  With Line 1, the Yi is saying, "Put a stop to this now."

     "This line refers to a situation in which a person sees himself as having failed, and is blaming himself.  The self-blame is blown out of proportion due to old memories of feeling insufficient or guilty, thus it 'rages around' like a lean pig. Such raging, if not checked, leads to the misfortune mentioned."  [Anthony and Moog]

     Don't waste another minute of psychological energy on what you could or should have done. There are other challenges to be met in this situation, and we'll look at the next one tomorrow in Line 3.

No. 44,   Coming to Meet  /  Temptation:

"Coming to meet.  The influence is powerful.
One should not join with such an influence."
 
    Something "seemingly harmless but potentially dangerous" [Wing] has entered your life.  Stop clicking through your emails right now and try to identify where this Temptation is coming from.

      Is it an internal Temptation - a "good reason" to cheat on your diet, skip a day of  exercising, have just one cigarette to calm your nerves?
      
      Is it business  -  a get-rich-quick scheme that seems to be too good, or too easy, to be true?

       Or is it a personal relationship  -  the lure of pleasure without responsibility?

      With this hexagram, the Yi is sending a message:  Don't go there.  The situation holds dangers you can't see now. 
 
      We received changing lines 1, 3 and 6.   We'll look at Line 1 tomorrow.

No. 60, Limitation:

"Limitation. Success.
Galling limitation must not be persevered in."

     As you progress past the Difficulty at the Beginning, you will have to live within your Limitations.

     As recent economic events have shown,  the idea that there are "no limits" is simply false.  Everything has a limit, and to ignore these natural limits results in disaster.

     As the Difficulties are overcome, this hexagram may come as a caution against letting yourself be overwhelmed by possibilities.  "In order to make genuine progress in any direction, we must first give some definition to our path."  [Marshall]

     But don't be too strict with yourself.  Limitations that are too limiting are just self-defeating

Difficulty at the Beginning,  Line 2:

"Difficulties pile up.
Horse and wagon turn about.
If the robber were not there,
The wooer would come.
The maiden is faithful, she does not pledge herself.
Ten years - then she pledges herself."

     Here we receive not just a "line" of advice, but a whole story! The message is:

     At the beginning of this phase of your life, difficulties will pile up, and you may be tempted to just turn around and go back to where you started.  In such times, any offer of help may seem like the answer.

    The Yi says:  The one that presents itself first - or most forcefully - is not the one for you. This "helper" will actually end up draining your resources. A more reliable "suitor" is being blocked out.

    If, however, you are faithful to your true path, in due time - and it may be a long time - you will progress toward the "supreme success" promised in the main message.

   Who - or what - is your "robber?"

No. 3,  Difficulty at the Beginning:

"Difficulty at the beginning works supreme success,
Furthering through perseverance.
Nothing should be undertaken.
It furthers one to appoint helpers."
      
     You are just at the very start of something that has the promise of supreme success.  You need to go slow for now, and allow things to work themselves out naturally.

     Times of growth are seldom easy.  "Accept and bear with the discomfort of chaos without attempting to push it away.  Allow it to clear of its own accord."  [Walker]    Look for friends who can help and support you.

     What are you "beginning?"  The Yi has some very specific cautionary advice tomorrow in Line 2.

Breakthrough / Resoluteness,  Line 4:

"There is no skin on his thighs,
And walking comes hard.
If a man were to let himself be led like a sheep,
Remorse would disappear.
But if these words are heard
They will not be believed."

       We have been receiving messages that tell of Possession in Great Measure and Breakthrough and a Revolution.  But  . . . you are not taking the Yi's message to heart:  "these words are heard" but not "believed."

     Even with the flow of the Universe at your back,  are you finding that every step is painful?  It's because you are insisting on following your own way, rather than the new path that has been opened up for you.

     An example from the realm of relationships would be insisting on an apology or an admission of "guilt" from someone, when the relationship is essentially already over.  Something new, and better, is waiting for you down the road. The Yi is practically shouting it. 

     Look carefully at your situation.   Consider the possibility that you are being pig-headed, not Resolute.  Move on, and let the good things happen.

No. 49,  Revolution  /  Renewal  /  Changing:

“Revolution. On your own day

You are believed.

Supreme success,

Furthering through perseverance

Remose disappears."

    .If you've been thinking that you're ready to make a change, the Yi is here to tell you:  You're right.

     What's more, others will listen - and believe you! -  bringing about "supreme success."   You will overcome the Obstacles of the main message, and regrets over the past will vanish.

      It's spring.  Use the positive flow of the Universe to clear away old, dead patterns of the past, and allow  new, vigorous growth to appear. 

     What area of your life is crying out for this kind of change?  Let it happen.

No. 39, Obstruction  Line 1:

“Going leads to obstructions,

Coming meets with praise.”

     Now is not the time to push forward.  Doing so will only create more Obstruction.

      Anthony and Moog suggest that "Coming meets with praise" describes the beneficial effects of opening your mind to recognize and let go of the attitudes that have caused you problems.

      I heard an analogy yesterday that I really liked:  You need new clothes. You go into a store, see a jacket that looks good, and try it on. If it doesn't fit, do you have to keep it? Of course not.  You keep trying things on until you find something that fits.

     Or, as Dr. Phil would say: If it's not working for you, stop doing it.

     Tomorrow, we'll see more of the beneficial effects of approaching difficulties by "coming" rather than "going." 

No. 39,   Obstruction:
 
“Obstruction. The southwest furthers.
The northeast does not further.
It furthers one to see the great man.
Perseverance beings good fortune.”

           In the I Ching system of metaphors, the southwest is the region of retreat, the northeast is the region of advance.   You have hit an Obstruction, and it is best - for now - to back away.
            
         The Image adds:  “Thus the superior man turns his attention to himself, and molds his character.”
 
         Meaning:  Your own thinking or attitude may be the biggest obstruction.  Or,  a change in your attitude may be necessary to overcome an external obstacle. You first need to correctly identify "what's stopping you."
 
       The Yi advises that you pause, seek help, and keep trying.

        Lines 1 and 4 will add some advice on how to persevere.

       Do not argue or defend your position.  This will only drain your energy in a direction that does not propel you forward.
  
      Proceed "calmly, cheerfully, and with authority" and with "inner truth and resolve that do not know defeat."  [Wing]

       What will your Breakthrough be?

Possession in Great Measure,  Line 6: 

"He is blessed by Heaven. 
Good fortune. 
Nothing that does not further." 
 
      Confucius explained  this line:  "To bless means to help.  Heaven helps the man who is devoted; men help the man who is true. " 
 
      Confucius, who was born in 551 B.C., reportedly said that if he had another 50 years to live, he would use it to study the I Ching.  Think of it:  We are sharing in wisdom so ancient that Confucius was a student of it! 
 
     Receiving this line means that if you continue to make your truth accessible - let your light shine - you will be assisted  by greater forces, and by those around you.  Thus you will receive Possession in Great Measure.

     Resoluteness will be required to carry this fortunate state of affairs into the future.  We'll look at that tomorrow.