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Interpreting hexagrams

Comments on whole hexagrams, individual lines and so on

46: Pushing Upward (step 1)

This entry is part 1 of 5 in the series Hexagram 46

Hexagram 46, Pushing Upward, has to do with step-by-step progress onward and upward, and the effort of the climb. It also has to do with offerings: Harmen, in his fascinating article on the hexagram, says, “Sheng was the name of a certain sacrifice, and because of the close resemblance between the… Read more »46: Pushing Upward (step 1)

Casting the Vessel – so…?

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Casting the Vessel

… what does it mean for readings? That’s what an aggravatingly clear-sighted friend asked when I started enthusing at her about the beautiful ‘casting’ structure between hexagrams 3 and 50. And I suppose it’s not an unreasonable question… 😉 Maybe one day it’ll mean I routinely consider the matching hexagram… Read more »Casting the Vessel – so…?

First instances

The lines of the first two hexagrams can be regarded as keys to understanding all the lines – all yang lines at the beginning being a little like the submerged dragon, all yin lines at the beginning being somehow akin to treading on hoarfrost. These lines are formative, models for… Read more »First instances

Hexagram 40 and forgiveness

Apologies if you had higher expectations from that portentous title, but this is just a quick note – the kind of meeting of patterns of ideas that I enjoy. Here’s an article from Bri Saussy about sin. Now I’ve learned that the original Greek, hamartia, means missing the mark, I… Read more »Hexagram 40 and forgiveness