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Friday, December 31, 2010
No. 20, Contemplation, Line 6:
"Contemplation of his life.
The superior man is without
blame."
Through Contemplation,
you will reach a stage where you "stand outside the affairs of the world." [Wilhelm]
However, "one's introspection
and self-examination should not cease." [Huang]
This detachment and self-awareness is the mark of the "superior man."
Tomorrow: We greet the New Year with . . . Enthusiasm.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
No. 20, Contemplation, Line 5:
"Watching one's own life. Superior person: No fault."
In the previous line, you were advised to Contemplate the big picture. Line 5 advises a inner focus,
too.
"You will gain an understanding
of what the future holds for you by Contemplating the effect of your life upon others. If your influence and
example are good, then you are without blame. This, you will find, is its own reward." [Wing]
"The message of this gua is that by watching another's response, one
can come to know oneself." [Huang]
Tomorrow: "
. . . one's introspection and self-examination should not cease."
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
No. 20, Contemplation, Line 4:
"Contemplation of the light of the kingdom.
It furthers
one to exert influence as the guest of a king."
Before you act, Contemplate the big picture. Focus on a higher, greater good.
This line may come to indicate that you will be singled out for attention
by someone higher up.
Maintain your
independence as you seek to "exert influence." It is not your destiny to be used for someone
else's purposes.
Tomorrow: "Watching one's own life."
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
No.
20. Contemplation:
"Contemplation. The ablution has been made,
But not yet the offering.
Full
of trust they look up to him."
You can
take time now to quietly and thoroughly assess your situation. This is a time 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 in your life - can
wait until you have deepened your understanding.
"A fundamental
fact of consciousness is that we take on the attributes and energy of that upon which we focus our attention."
[Walker] Allow yourself the time to Contemplate where you are going, and why.
The Yi sent three changing lines, 4, 5 and 6, to guide where our Contemplation should be focused.
Tomorrow: "Contemplation
of the light of the kingdom."
Monday, December 27, 2010
No. 27, Nourishing :
"The
Corners of the Mouth.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Pay heed to the providing of nourishment
And to what
a man seeks
To fill his own mouth with."
This time of Increase (the main message) will require attention to what you put in your mouth --- and in your mind.
The Yi, as the original binary system,* reminds you: GIGO --- Garbage In, Garbage Out.
To
evaluate the true nature of another, look to his interests. What does he "seek to fill his own mouth with?" Or his
mind. This will tell you more than listening to what he says.
..............................................................................
*From Wikipedia: "In his article Explication de l'Arithmétique Binaire (1703) Gottfried
Leibniz writes that he has found in the hexagrams a base for claiming the universality of the binary numeral system. He takes
the layout of the combinatorial exercise found in the hexagrams to represent binary sequences, so that ¦¦¦¦¦¦
would correspond to the binary sequence 000000 and ¦¦¦¦¦| would be 000001, and so forth."
There is a wealth of information on this concept on the web. Search "I Ching" and "binary" and prepare
to be overwhelmed.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
No. 42 Increase, Line 5:
"If in truth you have a kind heart, ask not.
Supreme
good fortune. Truly, kindness will be recognized as your virtue."
"Ask not"
what you are going to get out of this Increase.
This line is the Yi's one cautionary note about
the "auspicious times" that are coming your way.
Sharing this Increase without focusing on what
you could be - or think you should be - getting in return will lead to supreme good fortune.
Tomorrow: "Pay heed to the providing of nourishment."
Saturday, December 25, 2010
No. 42, Increase:
"Increase. It furthers one
To undertake something.
It furthers one to cross the great water."
If you have been waiting for a sign that
it's time to take the plunge on a new venture - here it is. Again.
Yesterday's hexagram
was Advance, without changing lines: an "absolutely auspicious" message. Today, it's followed
by Increase.
Your progress will
be relatively easy. You will be aided, especially if you aid others. "Our rewards are multiplied when
we Increase our conscientiousness in auspicious times, rather than decrease it." [Wilhelm]
Just keep in mind: "The time of Increase does not endure, therefore it must be utilized while it lasts." [Wilhelm]
Use it, or lose it.
Tomorrow:
"Pay heed to the providing of nourishment."
Friday, December 24, 2010
No. 19, Approach / Growth:
"Approach
has supreme success.
Perseverance furthers.
When the eighth month comes,
There will be misfortune."
"This gua (hexagram) is absolutely auspicious."
[Huang]
Approach came without changing
lines, indicating "an eternal spring in regard to the object of your inquiry. This is indeed auspicious . . ." [Wing]
"If you have been waiting for
an opportune moment to put forth a new idea or to maneuver yourself into a better position, the time
has come. " [Wing]
Approach is symbolic of the moment right after winter solstice, when light begins to ascend again. (Which happens
to coincide exactly with where we are in the natural cycle, at least in the northern hemisphere.) The Yi - being
the Book of Changes - feels compelled to remind you that no upswing lasts forever. But don't make that your focus.
"This hexagram signals the approach
of powerful beneficial influences." [Walker] Go with this flow.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
No. 39, Obstruction:
"Obstruction. The southwest
furthers.
The northeast does not further.
It furthers one to see the great man.
Perseverance brings good fortune."
The future holds an Obstruction.
It is not one that can be overcome by direct attack.
Rather, do
what flowing water - the eternal image of the tao - does when it meets an obstacle: Flow around it.
Do you feel that you are running into
obstacles at every turn? Consider the possibility that you may need to alter your course.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
No. 52 Keeping Still, Line 6:
"Noblehearted keeping still.
Good fortune. "
Receiving
this line confirms that by Keeping Still, you will reach a state of inner tranquility. You will come
to terms with the circumstances of your life.
This
is acceptance, not just of a current situation, but of life as a whole.
" . . . [T]his confers peace and good fortune in relation to every individual matter."
[Wilhelm]
Tomorrow:
"Obstacles that cannot be overcome directly."
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
No. 52 Keeping Still, Line 5:
"Keeping his jaws still.
The
words have order. Remorse disappears."
Let's bring this line into the 21st century and make it the Cell Phone line.
The Yi's advice: You don't have to talk all the time.
You don't have to give voice to every thought that comes into your head. Text if you must. The additional step
of entering the text will help your "words have order."
"Once you have centered yourself, your words will be chosen more carefully, and outspoken or unthinking comments
will be avoided. In this way you will no longer suffer shame or regret." [Wing]
Tomorrow: "Noblehearted keeping still."
Monday, December 20, 2010
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."
Are the obligations
and expectations of the Christmas and New Year's holidays overwhelming you?
The Yi says: Take a break.
Meditation
is specifically advised. Keep your back still, and shut out all external distractions.
"Meditation, in general, can renew both mind and body. . . The instincts that spring forth will be
in accordance with your real needs. Stop your thoughts now." [Wing]
Do not let worries about what is past, or anxiety over what will happen in the future, dominate your
thinking. Your task, as the Yi has been reminding you, is to bring your uniqueness, your Inner Truth,
into expression.
There is "no blame" in not paying
attention to other people's wants and needs every minute of the day.
Tomorrow: "Keeping his jaws still."
Sunday, December 19, 2010
No.
61, Inner Truth:
"Inner Truth. Pigs
and fishes.
Good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
Perseverance furthers."
You
are to greet The Unexpected with Innocence. The main message advised you to be flexible and open, but
the changing lines and this future message remind you: Be guided first by your Inner Truth.
Huang translates the name of
this hexagram as Innermost Sincerity. Blofeld named it Inward
Confidence.
Huang explains that "pigs and fishes" were considered small offerings in ancient Chinese rituals, offered only when
times were hard.
However, when you offer
your Inner Truth with Innermost Sincerity and Confidence, you will be rewarded with good fortune,
and your most ambitious endeavors will be successful.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
No. 25, Innocence / The Unexpected, Line 4:
"He who can be persevering
Remains
without blame."
You
are advised to meet new situations with openess, but . . . don't get taken in.
"Do not be influenced by the designs of those around you. It is
very important, at this time, that you trust your inner vision. Obey your instincts." [Wing]
"All that need concern us
is that we should remain true to our own nature and not listen to others." [Wilhelm]
How important is this? We will see tomorrow, in the future reading.
Tomorrow: "Inner Turth. Pigs and fishes."
Friday, December 17, 2010
Innocence / The Unexpected, Line 2:
"If one
does not count on the harvest while plowing,
Nor on the use of the ground while clearing it,
It furthers one
to undertake something."
You were advised
to meet this infusion of Creativity with Innocence. Line 2 adds: Don't demand to be sure of the outcome
before beginning in a new direction.
Too often we adopt the "vending
machine" view of life: We want to know exactly what the pay off is going to be before we put
something in. Line 2 reminds us: Life doesn't work like that.
As E. L. Doctorow said about the process of writing a novel: "It's like driving a car at night. You never see further
than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
Tomorrow: "He who can be persevering . . ."
Thursday, December 16, 2010
No. 25, Innocence / The Unexpected / Without Falsehood:
"Innocence. Supreme success.
Perseverance furthers.
If someone is not as he should be,
He has misfortune.
And it does not further him to undertake anything."
This hexagram is constructed of Thunder under Heaven
- creative nature at its very beginnings. In this fresh atmosphere, you need to move forward with complete Innocence,
and Without Falsehood.
If you try to impose your preconceived
notion of how things should be on this new situation, you will meet with misfortune. Likewise, don't attempt
to present yourself as someone you are not.
Let go of your desire to control how
the future will unfold. It just plain won't work, and you will have expended a lot of energy for no purpose. Let
your supreme success happen.
Tomorrow: "If one
does not count on the harvest while plowing . . ."
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
No. 1, The
Creative / Creative Power:
"The Creative
works sublime success,
Furthering through perseverance."
On Dec. 5 we received this hexagram, The Creative --- without
a single changing line. This was a deeply significant omen: "You may always trace back to the beginning,
but there will never be an end to what you are about to set into motion." [R.L. Wing]
Receiving
this hexagram again, as the future of Decrease, means that this Creative Power is still the controlling
factor in your life.
This was the message of the "ten pairs of tortoises"
in changing line 5: Your goal is divinely favored. If you had your fortune told
20 times, the true message would still be:
"Supreme good fortune."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
No. 41, Decrease, Line 5:
"Someone does indeed increase him.
Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune."
"Ten
pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it."
This is one of
my favorite phrases in all of the I Ching. In ancient China, tortoise shells were used for divination. The pattern
of marks on the tortoise's shell were "read" - like the entrails of a sacrificed animal in ancient Greece
and Rome. According to legend, Fu Xi found the original eight trigrams of the I Ching on
a tortoise's back.
It means that times of Decrease
cannot interfere with your plans - your goal is divinely favored. If you had your fortune told 20 times, the true message
would still be:
"Supreme good fortune."
Not convinced? See the future reading, tomorrow.
Tomorrow:
"The Creative works sublime success."
Monday, December 13, 2010
No. 4, Decrease, Line 3:
"When three people journey together,
Their number decreases
by one. When one man journeys alone, He finds a companion."
This
is one instance where Decrease is a good thing.
In truly close relationships, three's a crowd. If you are relying on more than one "other" for companionship,
you are holding yourself back.
This dynamic is easily observable at parties. If
you go with friends, your interaction tends to remain with those you know. If you enter by yourself, however, you are
more or less forced to seek out someone to connect with. The easiest people to connect with are those who
are not already "attached."
Tomorrow: Another instance where Decrease is a good thing: "If a man
decreases his faults . . ."
Sunday, December 12, 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."
"It is a fact of life that times
of decrease come upon us: our resources are limited, difficulty surrounds us, and our egos generate angry and unhappy
emotions. Nonetheless, such times are good for us." [Walker]
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."
Not enough
money to buy Christmas presents for everyone this year? There is "no blame" in this. Don't spend yourself
into a hole.
Living with the reality of now will bring about "supreme good fortune."
We received three
changing lines to guide us through this Decrease. Tomorrow: "When three people journey together . . ."
Saturday, December 11, 2010
No. 62, Preponderance of the Small / Conscientiousness:
"Preponderance of the Small.
Success.
Perseverance furthers.
Small things may be done; great things should
not be done.
The flying bird brings the message:
It is not well to strive upward,
It is well to remain below.
Great good fortune."
The situation brought about by
Enthusiasm will require a Future of attention to small details.
The energy available to you now may have you "flying high." You are impatient
to reach your goal, and feel that one last big push will put you over the top. The Yi advises against it.
This is your Icarus moment - trying to fly too high will cause you to crash and burn. The most
successful outcome will be obtained by making small, steady steps in the right direction.
What
small steps can you take, while remaining firmly grounded, in the direction of your "great good fortune?"
Friday, December 10, 2010
No. 62, Enthusiasm, Line 3:
"Enthusiasm
that looks upward creates remorse.
Hesitation brings remorse."
Looking to someone more powerful to direct your conduct is a mistake.
Energy is surrounding you. Are you are waiting for another person, or some higher power, to
give you your cue to act?
This isn't about them. It's about you. Seize
the moment yourself, or you'll regret it.
"You can still save
yourself. Move." [Wing]
Tomorrow:
Preponderance of the small. Success."
Thursday, December 9, 2010
No. 16, Enthusiasm:
"Enthusiasm. It furthers one to install helpers.
And to set armies marching."
We received this hexagram not long ago, on Dec. 3, as a "future"
message. Receiving it again, so soon, means that the time for Enthusiasm has arrived.
Did you "seek to analyze the essential
nature of the moment," as the R.L. Wing interpretation suggested? "If you can grasp the direction of the
tendencies around you, you can parallel them and accomplish great deeds."
Focus on the situation that concerns you the most. Can you plug it into the "current"
that Wilhelm describes? This will align you with the flow of the Universe.
Get ready to "set armies marching."
Tomorrow: "Enthusiasm that looks upward creates remorse."
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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."
The future of Duration/Long Lasting is The Well.
The
Well is the Yi's reminder that surface circumstances may change, but the truth of each life is there, unchanging.
To find what will last, you will have to lower your bucket all the way down. Don't
just skim the surface.
And take time and
care drawing the wisdom out. Grabbing for a quick-fix answer will bring misfortune.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
No. 32, Duration / Long Lasting, Line 5:
"Giving duration to one's character through
perseverance.
This is good fortune for a woman, misfortune for a
man."
The path that is right for one person is not necessarily
right for another.
The Yi advises you to find your path,
and let others find theirs.
Let your character,
your inner truth, be your guide.
(Ladies, if you feel the need
to elevate your blood pressure, read the traditional interpretations of this line, below.)
Tomorrow: " . . . but the well cannot be changed."
....................................................
Wilhelm: "Six in the fifth place means:
A woman should follow a man her whole life long, but a man should at all times hold to what is his duty at the given moment.
Should he persistently seek to conform to the woman, it would be a mistake for him. . . . "
Blofeld: "Making a virtue of (marital) constancy is a type of persistence which brings good fortune
to women, but it is harmful to men. Commentary: A woman follows one lord for the whole of her life, but men have
to hold to their public duties. For them to subordinate themselves to women would bring shame upon them."
Monday, December 6, 2010
No. 32, Duration / Long Lasting, Line
4:
"No game in the field."
The Long
Lasting Creative Power available to you now will be wasted if you use it in search of something that does not
exist.
Or, using
the "life as a journey" metaphor: "If you are going in the wrong direction, no matter how long you travel,
you will never get where you want to be." [Marshall]
Anthony and Moog suggest you view this message as a blessing in disguise. They give the example of a
job loss: At first it is devastating, but in truth, it may be a plus because it "gives you the opportunity to rid
yourself of the rigid ideas that have been preventing you from fulfilling your destiny."
Another example would be a relationship that has ended, or one that you live in hope for. The Yi is saying, "There's nothing there for you." Don't let an unrealistic
desire prevent you from fulfilling your destiny.
Tomorrow: " . . . good fortune for a woman, misfortune for a man."
Sunday, December 5, 2010
No. 32, Duration / Long Lasting:
"Duration. Success. No blame.
Perseverance furthers.
It furthers one to have somewhere to go."
Duration tells you that Creative Power --- the subject of yesterday's
"deeply significant omen" --- will be Long Lasting.
In this context, Duration does not
mean something that must be "endured." You will be moving ahead, in your own direction --- the direction of
your Creative Power. There is no blame in this.
"Heavenly
bodies exemplify duration." [Wilhelm] Clouds come and go, the earth turns and our perspective changes, but the
sun's light continues, unchanging.
Is this Long Lasting Creative
Power a sure thing? The Yi has two messages of caution for us: Lines 4 and 5.
Tomorrow: "No game in the field."
Saturday, December 4, 2010
No. 1, The
Creative / Creative Power:
"The
Creative works sublime success,
Furthering through perseverance."
Today we received the first hexagram, Heaven over
Heaven, The Creative --- without a single changing line. I'm letting R. L. Wing handle this one:
"Without
changing lines, Creative Power is a deeply significant omen. What you create now will
be the basis and inspiration for what you experience next.
"As
a result of any action you now take, your fate will be sealed.
"You may
always trace back to the beginning, but there will never be an end to what you are about to set into motion."
Wow.
Receiving this hexagram in its unchanging form means
that this atmosphere of Creativity will be the controlling factor for the foreseeable future. Keep that in
mind as you read future messages. They will be but twists and turns; the direction will remain The Creative.
......................
Friday, December 3, 2010
No. 16, Enthusiasm:
"Enthusiasm. It furthers one to install helpers
And to set armies marching."
The future of Shock is Enthusiasm. Learning
the right lesson from the Shock is the key.
Do you have a new idea or an innovative way of doing things? The Yi says: Share it with others.
Enthusiasm signals a time of consensus combined with energy.
"During this time you should seek to analyze the essential nature of the moment. If you can grasp the direction
of the tendencies around you, you can parallel them and accomplish great deeds." [Wing]
Recognizing "the essential nature of the moment" is what the I Ching is all about. Take time
to throw the coins yourself. This is the time to "plug yourself in" to the flow of the Universe.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
No. 51, The Arousing
/ Shock / Taking Action, Line 1:
"Shock comes --- oh, oh!
Then follows laughing
words --- ha, ha! Good fortune."
The Yi said it before (yesterday, in the main message) and it's saying it again: This shock will terrify you.
But "when the ordeal is over," you will experience relief, "and thus the very terror [you]
had to endure at the outset brings good fortune in the long run." [Wilhelm]
"Fear is often a good mentor; by causing us to change our ways, it leads to happiness." [Blofeld]
You are being given a great gift by the Universe: Advance knowledge that by learning the lesson this
Shock has come to teach you, you will be able to face the future with . . .
Tomorrow: Enthusiasm
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
No. 51, The Arousing / Shock / Taking Action:
“Shock
brings success.
Shock comes – oh, oh!
Laughing words – ha, ha!
The shock terrifies for a hundred miles,
And he does not let fall the sacrificial spoon and chalice.”
The Yi has been sending messages about obstructions, and making gradual
progress. That is about to change --- in a big way.
Shock comes to us in many forms – an accident,
an illness, loss of a job, a discovery of unfaithfulness, the death of a loved one. “If we resist the new circumstance,
either by rejecting its reality or by trying to find ‘away around it,’ we come to harm.” [Anthony]
This shock will not be minor. It will literally "rock your world." But if
you hold on, and remain steady in your purpose and resolve, it will soon be apparent that it's not the "end of the world."
We received one changing line with advice on how to deal with this Shock.
Tomorrow: "When the ordeal is over . . ."
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