Hello everyone

Just a simple discussion on a daily reading. This is kind of my approach to it. All too often I don't follow through and take the time to really get the message, but I try. Just a little bit on what I came up with today, as an example of a possible daily personal reading.

Reading 01/26/04

1. #5 lines 2 and 5 leading to #36.
2. #45 lines 3, 4, 5 leading to #15
3. #34 lines 3 and 4, leading to #19
4. #44 lines 1, 2, 5 leading to #30
5. #27 line 2 leading to #41
6. #55 line 3 leading to 51.

In hexagram 5 one is faced with a danger that has to be overcome. The danger can be inner or outer. Here we will focus more on the inner. Often our thoughts and our attitudes do not lead us on the path that is for our higher good. This by necessity leads to danger. Waiting often is not in our nature. It is our nature and desire to want things right now. In waiting we tend to grow impatient, we tend to get frustrated and discouraged. All these things do not help, for the rain comes when it will. We cannot make it rain, we can only wait for it.

In this hexagram also, is the hidden danger of "misunderstanding," or "opposition," for the nuclear hexagram here is #38, Opposition. It is Li over Tui. Fire over reflective water. As a rule there are many misunderstandings in our lives. This is inevitable whenever people dwell in proximity to each other. Where misunderstandings crop up, there can be gossip and backbiting. (line 2). Fire is above, reflective water is below. They do not relate. There is the possibility inherent though, of a general reconciliation. The unification of people depends on a person who is "in sympathy with the spirit of the people." They stand in fellowship, "at the gate." As yet, no divergent aims have arisen.

Hexagram 5 also counsels us to be joyous. "If you are sincere, you have light and success." The lines tell us about various attitudes we may have that help us or hinder us in our general unification. Line 2 shows us that we have ideas and attitudes that are not based on a firm foundation. We need to go inside, and like the reflective water of the nuclear trigram, reflect on our attitudes, and see which attitudes are causing us to not reach the goal of "crossing the great water." Anything built on sand is likely to sink. Here general unrest can develop. We are not sure of ourselves. We become fearful, and tend to lay the blame on each other. We may even lay the blame on different parts of our inner selves, or even on the "higher self," or sage, if you will. Things do not appear to be going the way we want. We frantically look for a way out of the sand. We are sinking in despair...Like hexagram 38, the nuclear hexagram, we can have a conflict within ourselves...

Line 5 tells us of the proper attitude while waiting. It should be done in good cheer. When both lines change, we arrive at hexagram 36. 36 tells us about adversity, and how to deal with it. Sometimes we have to hide our inner light. But always inwardly we are cheerful. It is not outward circumstances that count, but how we deal with life inwardly that counts.

In the next reading, 45 lines 3, 4, and 5, some ideas about unification will be discussed.

Enough for now.

When lines 2 and 5 change, we receive hexagram #36. This shows that the backdrop to the scenario is a time of adversity. We "wait" in difficult times. It seems the inner light of certainty has been extinguished. Our path seems dim. We do not know the way. Yet, in adversity, we still must not lose sight of the inner goal. We must be persevering. We must remain true to ourselves even when it seems all around has has crumbled in the "sands" of time. Our world seems to be crashing around us. But the rain "comes when it will."

Hexagram 9 also has a nuclear hexagram of Li over Tui. #38. Here too, there is a form of waiting, for here it takes a long period of small accumulation before anything can be accomplished. In line 6 we read,"The rain comes, and there is rest." When line six changes, we are back to hexagram five. In hexagram 5 line 6 says, "Three uninvited guests arrive. Honor them and there will be good fortune." Often the thing we are waiting for comes in a guise or a form we do not expect. Sometimes it is already there and we do not see it. Especially if we are "sitting in a gloomy valley." (See the four of cups in Tarot cards.) At first we do not know what to think. We "see our companions as pigs covered with mud." We draw our bow, but then realize, "He is not a robber, he will woo when the time comes." We climb the high wall but realize we cannot attack. Mistrust is beginning to change into trust.

More later
Gene

Hexagram 45 gives us again a hint of the possibility of discord when people gather together. (See Carol Anthony's work in "A Guide to the I Ching) Hence it is said in the image..."renews his weapons in order to meet the unforeseen." As #4 counsels the teacher as well as the student, so hexagram 45 counsels the leader as well as the follower. In line 3 we see the attitude of the follower in relation to the leader. Since he feels himself to be outside the group, it is all the more important that he align himself with the leader. In that way he gains the respect of the other followers. (Remember Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer?) It is often in life that we feel that there is no place for us. We feel as if we are adrift out in a lonely sea. We do not know our part. We do not understand our place in the overall scheme of things. We have not found our niche, or the place to be a part of the whole. Often we would be aghast to find out that many if not all other people at least at times feel the same way. Sometimes we are forced to remain outside the group, to go it alone, as in hexagram 36. In this way we can carry out the work of self development unobstructed. In this case the leader can be our own higher self. Often there are elements within our own being that reject the part of us that wants self development, that wants spiritual growth, that wants to find our highest spiritual path. In this sense we have to become leaders over ourselves, of our own baser nature that desires only pleasure and immediate gratification. In order to understand leadership, it is necessary that we allow our own higher self to lead and teach us. That leading and that teaching is then passed on to the weaker elements within ourselves, so that, in exceptional times, "the standard is changing," and leader becomes follower, etc.

In 45 the "King approaches his Temple." We approach our Temple through meditation, or any other means we have of going within. As 18.6 says, "Does not serve Kings and Princes, sets himself higher goals." One higher goal is our own self development.

Our Temple can refer to our deepest beliefs, our inner core of belief systems. In going within, we "discover" ourselves, and learn who we truly are. We seek out our inner psychological complexes, like the "Priests and Magicians" of 57.2. These complexes are like night rats, who "progress" through our psyche, creating psychological poisons, and inner contamination, but they can not abide the light of day.

Gene

Line four is often a solution to the problem presented in line three. In hexagram forty five, line three cannot seem to break into the group. Line four solves this problem by unselfishly giving service to the leader. Line four, in this case, is strong in a weak place. Often a strong line four can be perceived as a danger to the ruler, usually line five. Here, however, his intentions are clear, he is serving his ruler in bringing about general unity. In hexagram eight, we have a ruler holding all the yin lines together. Here the ruler receives help from his minister, the fourth line. The gathering together, creating unity, is all the more stronger.

As a rule, the masses, the common folk can be held together only by force, as in hexagram seven. In the case of the nobles however, and those of high status, it is not so. To rule them we must also serve them. If there is nothing on the table for them they rebel.

On a personal level, when we are guided, and led by our higher self, we also, need to turn that guidance to our lower self. The higher self might be called our superconscious, the middle self our conscious, and the lower self our subconscious. There is the master, then the teacher, then the student. It is also said, "when the student is ready, the master will appear." And as a corrolary, when the master is ready, the student will appear.

Gene

For the most part, the goal of humanity is or should be unification with others. This does not mean we should be intimate with everyone around us, but we can maintain a "sociability without intimacy." Nevertheless, there should be a warm attachment to each other. In hexagram 13 this goal is never fully realized, albeit, there are improvements along the way. Line 4 shows that we are beginning to understand anothers point of view, and we lay down our weapons. The same happens in hexagram 38 at the end of the misunderstanding. We suddenly realize that our neighbor is not a robber.

There are forces in the world that wish to destabilize. There are wars and skirmishes that go on constantly. Rulers and people in positions of power maintain their power base by instilling fear in their subjects. It is also part of our own psyche that we are at war with ourselves.That war is projected out onto our neighbors. Since we are not always trustworthy ourselves, we suspect the same guile and deception by others. It is only when we come to be at peace with ourselves that we can be at peace with each other.

Hexagram 34 line three shows us that unification cannot take place by force, except of course, in abnormal situations such as military endeavors. And even then it is tense and dangerous. But day to day undertakings must be done by example and leadership, not by direct force. When this line changes, we have hexagram 54, which tells us that "undertakings bring misfortune." It is only by acting with dignity and reserve that we can rise from a lower to a higher position, and achieve our goals. In hexagram 54, unity is often brought out by accepting an ancilliary position gracefully. Hexagram 22 also teaches us that to be accepted we must offer our meager gifts with a good heart. And, back to 45 line 5, that it is only through unswerving devotion to duty that we can win the hearts of the people. If a goat butts against a hedge, it gets its horns entangled.

If we take an attitude of bullying, of demanding with others, even on a subtle level, we only incite resistance in the other. To accomplish unity, we must find the motivations and desires of others and appeal to those desires. People are less likely to help us unless we are willing to meet them halfway. (hexagram 44). By doing this, we progress to line 4, where "the hedge opens and there is no entanglement."

more later,
Gene

Line 4 is often a solution to liine 3. In line three the goat gets entangled. In line four the goat breaks free. Hexagram 34 is highly involved with the concept of breaking free. Often what we need to break free from is our own limiting attitudes, attitudes which entangle us in web of self deceit. Attitudes of superiority or inferiority can cause inner resistance from others, a subtle resistance which even they might not be consciously aware of. With wrong attitudes we create a barrier between ourself and others. We can also create a barrier between ourself and our higher self. If we do not approach the sage with the proper receptivity, we "only trap fish in the well." (hexagram 48 line 2). If we change our attitude, once we recognize it for what it is, we break free of the entanglements. Often we have complexes in the subconscious mind, belief systems and thoughts that run crisscross. (hexagram 30 line 1). Beliefs that contradict other beliefs result in a disordering of our lifes and confusion on the subconscious level. It keeps us from manifesting what we desire in our lives. In order to find these beliefs and eliminate them or reconcile them we must employ the "priests and magicians" of hexagram 57 line 2. In modern parlance these might be called psychotherapists, or theologians, spiritual counsellors, etc, etc, etc. In releasing these complexes we break through the restrictions they create inwardly. In breaking out of the boundaries created by complexes we free tremendous amounts of energy that previously held muscles in tension, feelings of anger and frustration, and so on. We stop the psychic poisoning that our mind creates when we have these tensions.

Hexagram 44 relates to meetings, or encounters. For encounters to be effective in the most positive sense must be free of ulterior motives. For people to come together in the most positive way, both must come halfway in a willing manner. It is also necessary that they willingly exchange equally. Their energies must blend into a whole greater than the halves. If we recognize ulterior motives in another then we must learn to retreat., not angrily, but with reserve, and in all due friendliness. (hexagram 33). When they correct their behavior and meet us in a spirit of cooperation, (hexagram 13 and 15), then we may once again make a joint approach. (hexagram 19).

Often thoughts or ideas come to us and present themselves in a very attractive form. They are not however, necessarily what they appear to be. Once must recognize them quickly for what they are. Do they appeal to our higher spiritual sense? Or do they appeal to baser desires? One must be careful what one fills his/her mouth/mind with. (hexagram 27) If our ideas are not based on fairness for all involved, they must be "checked with a brake of bronze." For if we allow the thoughts to take hold we eventually come to believe them and to act on them as if they are valid. In time they can come to conflict with other beliefs we hold within and create "complexes" within the subconscious mind.

When we approach the sage we need to do so with the proper decorum. To fail to do so will ensure a retreat, albeit friendly and voluntary, and not necessarily permanent, but a retreat nonetheless. The sage returns when we "meet him halfway."