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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
No. 31, Influence / Attraction:
"Influence. Success.
Perseverance furthers.
To take a maiden to wife brings
good fortune."
The future of The Family/The Clan: A major
Influence will be entering your life.
R.L.
Wing points out: "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.
That's yang and yin.
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.
Monday, May 30, 2011
No. 37, The Family / The Clan, Line 6:
"His work commands respect.
In the end good fortune comes."
When you find your natural role within your family, social, business or political
group --- the role you have chosen for yourself, not one that has been assigned to you by others --- your work will command
respect.
Remember, the changing lines talk about different stages of an on-going
situation. Line 1 was about finding your place at the start. Line 6 is about the conclusion.
"In the end . . ." tells you that "commanding respect"
is not going to happen overnight. But it will come, as we will see in tomorrow's future message . . .
Tomorrow: "Influence. Success."
Sunday, May 29, 2011
No. 37, The Family / The Clan, Line 4:
"She is the treasure of the house. Great good fortune."
"Well-being prevails when income
and expenditure are soundly balanced." [Wilhelm]
To keep any association of people functioning well on a continuing basis, there has to be balance.
If you can be the one who keeps everything on an even keel, you
will find great good fortune.
Tomorrow: "His work commands respect."
Saturday, May 28, 2011
No. 37, The Family / The Clan, Line 1:
"Firm seclusion within the family.
Remorse disappears." The Yi says: Get your own house in
order first.
Resist
pressures from outside authorities or traditions that try to define who you are and what you are supposed to do. Determine
your own role, and allow others to determine theirs.
When each person
is free to function in the manner that best suits them, regrets will disappear.
Tomorrow: "She is the treasure of the house."
Friday, May 27, 2011
No. 37, The Family / The Clan:
"The Family. The perseverance of the woman furthers."
"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]
"The perseverance of the woman"
refers not to a specific woman, but to the importance of nurturing and cooperation.
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."
Keep in mind that some relationships may be naturally Decreasing. (See
the last main message and changing line.)
Where
do you "fit in" - naturally? The Yi sent three changing lines to help.
Tomorrow: "Firm Seclusion."
Thursday, May 26, 2011
No. 4, Youthful Folly / Inexperience / Childhood:
"Youthful folly has success.
It is not I who
seek the young fool; The young fool seeks me. At first I inform him. If he asks two or three times, it is importunity. If he importunes, I give him no information. Perseverance furthers."
As the future
of Decrease evolves, you will move into an area in which you are Inexperienced --- as in Childhood.
Like Decrease, this is not necessarily a bad thing. As Blofeld translates it: "Immaturity.
Good fortune!"
Good
fortune, because you will be free to learn as a child would. Mistakes and falls are to be expected. Don't
expect to know it all.
Specifically:
Don't expect the Yi --- or any human teacher --- to provide you with all the answers you want, right now.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
No. 41, Decrease, Line 1:
"Going quickly when one's tasks are finished
Is without
blame. But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others."
You're facing a "helping"
dilemma.
To truly be of assistance to
another, you need to do enough, but not too much. Line 1 is asking you: Are you "helping?" Or
are you creating dependency?
"To give or take too much can result in an imbalanced situation. Think this through carefully . . ."
[Wing]
The Yi says: You've
done what you can do. Decrease your involvement in this situation, and don't worry about it. They'll
survive. You've got new possibilities to face . . .
Tomorrow:
"A well springs up . . . "
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
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."
"Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad." [Wilhelm]
On the contrary, Decrease
at this time --- combined with your sincerity --- brings about "supreme good fortune without blame."
Examine your life for an area
where things seem to be on a downturn. Is this really something you can remedy? Or is it part of the natural cycle
of increase and Decrease, yin flowing into yang, yang flowing back into yin?
This Decrease may
well be the gateway to something new and better. "Just as Alice had to shrink herself to enter Wonderland,
we must shrink our view of ourselves to gain partnership with the higher powers." [Anthony]
We received one changing line
of specific advice . . .
Tomorrow: "Going quickly when one's tasks are finished .
. ."
Monday, May 23, 2011
No. 45. Gathering Together / Bringing 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 future of Biting
Through favors Gathering Together, or as Huang translates it, Bringing Together --- implying a
purposeful togetherness.
"This assemblage can be a reunion of people with a common heritage, such as a family or religious congregation, or an
artificial structure such as society, business, or politics." [Wing]
Or it may be that you, personally and internally, need to "get it together."
"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." [Wing]
Huang
says, "Use big animals." Wilhelm says " . . . bring great offerings."
However you translate it, and whatever your goal, the Yi says: Now is the time to give it
everything you've got.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
No. 21, Biting Through, Line 6:
"His neck is fastened in the wooden cangue,
So that his
ears disappear. Misfortune."
The Yi says: You're not listening!
The "wooden cangue" is a type of stock. At Line 1, only your toes
were in the stock, and if you learned from that mild punishment, the outlook was good.
Line 5 told you that you must take action. Line 6 warns:
You are so locked in to this situation that your ability to hear the truth has disappeared.
"This obstinacy leads to misfortune." [Wilhelm] Pay
attention and makes changes while you still can.
Tomorrow:
"Gathering together. Success."
Saturday, May 21, 2011
No. 21, Biting Through, Line 5:
"Bites on dried lean meat. Receives yellow gold. Perseveringly aware of danger. No blame."
As the situation develops, there will be actions that must
be taken. Seeing clearly what must be done, and doing it, however, are two different things.
"Bites on dried lean meat" is an example of the
classic distinction between something that is "simple" and something that is "easy." How do you
get from New York to San Francisco? Take I-80 out of New York and drive until you reach the West Coast.
Simple, but in no way easy.
"Receives
yellow gold" is a Chinese idiom that means, roughly, "Follow the middle course" ---- don't overdo it,
or under do it.
The Yi has one more
piece of advice on how to Bite Through . . .
Tomorrow: "His
neck is fastened in the wooden cangue . . . "
Friday, May 20, 2011
No. 21, Biting Through, Line 1:
"His feet are fastened in the stocks,
So that his toes
disappear. No blame."
Learn from your first mistake, and the punishment will be mild.
"If one in this position is able to abandon bad behavior and adopt
good conduct, there will be no fault." [Huang]
You are in a situation that you need to Bite Through. Hesitation or avoidance won't work; you'll end up getting
pulled down the wrong road.
"It is a warning to halt in time on the path of evil." [Wilhelm]
Tomorrow: "Perseveringly aware of danger."
Thursday, May 19, 2011
No. 21, Biting Through:
“Biting Through has success.
It is favorable to let justice be administered." "There are times to avoid confrontations, to sublimate deep feelings, or to retreat and
await a more opportune moment for action. This is not one of those times."
[R.L. Wing]
An obstacle is blocking your path. Have you been avoiding
the advice the Yi is sending? The obstacle may be your own refusal to see things as they really are.
Whatever it is, there will be only one way
forward: Bite the bullet. Do what has to be done.
Not quite sure what that
is? The Yi sent three changing lines to help.
Tomorrow: "His feet are fastened in the stocks . . ."
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
No. 57, The Gentle
/ Penetrating Wind:
“The Gentle. Success
through what is small.
It furthers one to have somewhere to go.
It furthers one to see the great man."
The future of Contemplation
will be a slow, steady movement a challenging direction.
I call this the divi divi tree message. Divi divi
trees on the island of Aruba seem to be giant fingers, all pointing in the same direction, because the wind blows steadily,
from one side of the island to the other. Tour guides like to tell you that you can't get lost on Aruba: just
follow the divi divi trees, whose branches all point toward the more sheltered, populated shore.
Do you have clearly in mind the direction you want go? The Yi advises you to keep all your efforts moving
--- gently --- along that course.
" . . . for only when the penetrating influence works always
in the same direction can the object be attained." [Wilhelm]
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
No. 20, Contemplation, Line 3:
"Contemplation of my life
Decides the choice Between advance and retreat."
"This is the place of transition." [Wilhelm]
In this Contemplation, examining your inner life --- your deepest desires
and motivations --- will only take you so far. For true self-knowledge, you need also to make an honest assessment
of your effect on other people, and their influence on you. Huang says the message of this line "is that one should
not follow others blindly."
American poet Robert Frost [1874-1963] examined this "place of transition" in The
Road Not Taken:
Two roads diverged
in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as
far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having
perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn
them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh,
I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Advance or retreat? The time to choose has arrived.
Tomorrow: "It furthers one to have somewhere to go."
Monday, May 16, 2011
No. 20, Contemplation, Line 2:
"Contemplation through the crack of the door.
Furthering
the perseverance of a woman."
"Through
the crack of the door one has a limited outlook; one looks outward from within." [Wilhelm]
With this line, the Yi says: You are still at an early stage in
this process of Contemplating your life situation. You don't need to "come out" into the world
just yet.
Legg's translation of
this line, from 1874, says it ". . . shows a woman, living retired . . . But ignorance and retirement are
proper in a woman." (Feel free to ignore this interpretation!)
"A person may also receive this line when someone has accused
him of a narrow viewpoint . . . when he has actually reacted from his commonsense and inner feelings. This line
informs him that his response was correct." [Anthony and Moog]
Tomorrow: "Contemplation
of my life decides the choice . . ."
Sunday, May 15, 2011
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. (What has the Yi been saying? "Fall back upon your inner worth. Turn your attention
to yourself.")
This is the beginning - the ablution, or cleansing. Making the offering -
real changes - can wait until you have deepened your understanding. There's no rush.
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.
To guide us in this process, the Yi send two changing lines, 2 and 3.
Tomorrow: "Contemplation through the crack in the door."
Saturday, May 14, 2011
No. 23, Splitting Apart:
"Splitting Apart. It does not further
one
To go anywhere."
You will be separating from
some life circumstance or relationship. This is not a situation that you can - or should - try to
hold together.
Like Standstill/Stagnation, our main message, the future, Splitting Apart,
is "a time when inferior people are pushing forward." [Wilhelm] In broader terms, "There
exists now an abundance of incompetent persons in positions of authority . . ." [Wing]
"It is quite clear that
in some sphere of your life, a phase is coming to a close. All things have their rise and fall, and this is the time
when you must face the decline and the inevitable end. This is definitely not a good moment to undertake any new venture."
[Marshall]
What to do? The Image of the main message advised, "Thus the superior man falls back
upon his inner worth in order to escape the difficulties." The message before that said: “Thus
the superior man turns his attention to himself, and molds his character.”
Here the Yi says: "Your
best course is to wait out the difficult times and protect yourself . . . " [Wing]
Friday, May 13, 2011
No. 12, Stagnation / Standstill, Line 5:
"Standstill is giving way.
Good fortune for the great
man. "What if it should fail. what if it should fail?" In this way he ties it to a cluster of mulberry shoots."
"This line is received after a person has asked for help, to inform him that progress
is being made on the inner plane. It also informs him that he must not allow doubts to interfere . . . "
[Anthony and Moog]
Remember,
this situation is headed for a Splitting Apart from "evil people," or at the very least, an inferior influence.
Still, as that great sage of the early 60's, Neil Sedaka, said, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do."
Do not let your apprehension over the future keep you from
moving forward. "Mulberry shoots" are symbolic of security. "In ancient times, mulberry trees by
custom were planted next to one's house for protection against the wind and the rain, because their roots were deep, their
shade was wide, and they grew fast." [Huang]
Your "roots" are deep. Allow them to strengthen to carry you through the time of . . .
Tomorrow: "Splitting apart."
Thursday, May 12, 2011
No. 12, Stagnation
/ Standstill, Line 4:
"He who acts at the command of the highest
Remains without blame. Those of like mind partake of the blessing."
Sometimes it's
important to look at the future message --- where events are going --- so you can interpret the changing lines in the right
context. This is, I believe, one of those times.
This Standstill is headed toward the
future message Splitting Apart. You are going to need to separate yourself totally from the "evil
people" of the main message.
In heading toward this split, you will reach a point in the Standstill where
"the dawn is appearing, and the situation is improving." Still, you will "need the support of other people."
[Huang]
Humans experience almost any form of separation from others --- even "evil" others --- as painful. The
Yi assures you that joining with those who have a higher purpose will be your blessing.
Tomorrow: "Standstill is giving way."
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
No. 12, Stagnation / Standstill:
"Standstill. Evil people do not further
The perseverance of the superior man.
The great departs;
the small approaches."
Do you feel your progress is coming to
a Standstill?
This is probably the result of external factors that
are beyond your control. As Brian Browne Walker explains this hexagram, "It is an inescapable fact of life that
inferior influences sometimes prevail."
The Image advises,
"Thus the superior man falls back upon his inner worth in order to escape the difficulties." Yesterday's
message, Obstruction, said much the same: “Thus the superior man turns his attention to himself,
and molds his character.”
Focus on a purely personal interest, or perhaps a spiritual practice. This will be a time to "hide
[your] worth and withdraw into seclusion." [Wilhelm]
The Yi charts the way
through this Standstill with changing lines 4 and 5.
Tomorrow: "He who acts at the command of the highest . . ."
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
No. 39, Obstruction:
“Obstruction.
The southwest furthers.
The northeast does not further.
It furthers one to see the great man.
Perseverance
beings good fortune.”
The Image of Obstruction says: “Thus the superior man turns his attention to himself,
and molds his character.”
Huang quotes
Mencius on this point: "If one loves others, and they do not respond in the same way, one should turn inward and
examine one's own love. . . . When one does not realize what one desires, one must turn inward and examine oneself in
every point."
Meaning:
In the future of Pushing Upward, your own thinking or attitude may be your biggest Obstruction.
Or, a change in your attitude may be necessary to overcome an external obstacle.
You will first need to correctly identify "what's stopping
you."
Monday, May 9, 2011
No. 46, Pushing Upward, Line 5:
"Perseverance brings good fortune.
One pushes upward
by steps."
" . . . by steps." Where have we heard that before? The Yi reminds us, once again,
that true progress is achieved in slow, steady increments.
Receiving Line 5 indicates that things are going well ---
your perseverance has brought good fortune. Congratulations. It is at just such a time that "it is necessary
to remain sober and not to try to skip any stages . . ." [Wilhelm]
"Do not let the coming heights of achievement make you heedless or heady
with success." [Wing] You will need to maintain your focus and commitment to meet what lies
in the future . . .
Tomorrow: "Obstruction."
Saturday, May 7, 2011
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.
The Yi continues to caution against looking for a quick fix. The Image of
this hexagram says, "Thus the superior man of devoted character heaps up small things in order to achieve something high
and great."
You may have to consult someone in authority,
but don't be afraid. "It is essential to see a great man, so as to banish anxiety." [Blofeld] Setting
the activity in motion (the departure toward the south) almost guarantees good fortune.
The person "receiving this hexagram is counseled 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."
[Anthony and Moog}
What two paths do you need to choose
between?
Changing Lines 2 and 5 should help you clarify.
Tomorrow: " . . . it furthers one to bring even a small offering."
Friday, May 6, 2011
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."
In the future, you will need to go to The Well.
The main message and the changing lines advised Limitation and Restraint. A well is a perfect example.
If you turn a shovel-full of dirt here, and then a shovel-full over there, will you find water?
No. You must limit yourself to one spot, and dig down ---
deep --- to find the source.
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 sustain you, 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 brings misfortune.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
No. 60. Limitation / Restraint, Line 3:
"He who knows no limitation
Will have cause to lament. No blame."
Have you been mentally arguing with the main message - that it is not possible right
now to do what you want do, the way
you want to do it?
With Line 3, the Yi is reminding you: "There is no such thing as no limits."
If
you plunge ahead, you will regret it. When that happens, you "must not seek to lay the blame on others. Only
when we realize that our mistakes are of our own making will such disagreeable experiences free us of errors."
[Wilhelm]
More on the usefulness of Limitation and focus in the future message . . .
Tomorrow: " . .
. but the well cannot be changed."
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
No. 60, Limitation / Restraint, Line 1:
"Not going out of the door and the courtyard
Is without blame."
You want to "reach your goal" or at least "make some progress." But,
as the Yi informed us in yesterday's main message, it is a time of Restraint.
At such a time, there is no fault in staying in your current position of safety. It will allow you to gather and
store up energy. "If germinating things are not handled with discretion, the perfecting of them is impeded."
[Confucius]
Whatever it is that you want, focus now
on planning and preparing. Save the action steps of the process until later.
Now is not the time to venture out.
Tomorrow: "He who knows
no limitation will have cause to lament."
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
No. 60, Limitation / Restraint:
"Limitation. Success.
Galling limitation must not be persevered in."
"In order to make genuine progress
in any direction, we must first give some definition to our path." [Marshall]
Remember the "How to be
a No-Limit Person" and "You Can Have It All" self-help books? No so, says the Yi. The idea that there are "no limits" is
simply false.
"Unlimited possibilities are not
suited to man; if they existed, his life would only dissolve in the boundless." [Wilhelm] But
don't overdo setting limits for yourself. Too much restriction will cause you to rebel.
As the Cheshire Cat said in Alice in Wonderland: "If you don't know where you're going, any road will
get you there." You need to limit yourself to one path to reach your desired destination.
What should these Limitations be? The Yi sent two changing lines to guide us . . .
Tomorrow: "Not going out of the door and the courtyard . . ."
Monday, May 2, 2011
No. 52, Keeping Still / Mountain:
"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."
If you haven't tried yoga yet, the Yi is advising you: Now is the time
to learn. Calm and quiet are advised for the process of Repair (the main
message and changing line.)
The Image explains:
"Thus the superior man does not permit his thoughts to go beyond his situation."
That's
the key to Keeping Still: Let go of worrying about what has happened, or what may happen.
"The heart thinks constantly. This cannot be changed, but the movements of the heart
- that is, a man's thoughts - should restrict themselves to the immediate situation. All thinking that goes beyond this
only makes the heart sore." [Wilhelm]
Are
you surrounded by others, all clamoring for attention? There is "no blame" in not paying attention to
them right now.
Take a yoga break. The process of Repair requires it.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
No. 18, Work on What Has Been Spoiled / Decay / Repair, Line
2:
"Setting right what has been spoiled by the mother.
One must not
be too persevering."
Are you
holding on to beliefs, or trying to live by rules, that were instilled in you as a child?
The Yi is saying: "Mom meant well, but this isn't working for
you." Anthony and Moog suggest these are "fear-dominated" beliefs, those, "if you don't .
. . , then . . . . " That little voice inside your head can probably fill in the
blanks.
Wilhelm says it "refers
to mistakes that as a result of weakness have brought about decay."
Whatever this issue is, the Yi is giving you permission to let go of it, and move in your own direction,
regardless of what anybody else thinks.
But --- be gentle and considerate in separating yourself from this problem. "The message of this line is that in
remedying something that has happened, blaming the past is not helpful." [Huang]
Tomorrow: "Thus the superior man does not allow his thoughts to
go beyond his situation."
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