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Interpreting hexagrams

Comments on whole hexagrams, individual lines and so on

Half-baked lunatic idea

I’ve been reading in Kindred Spirit magazine about the evidence (not sure if I need inverted commas there) for an inter-life experience. Lots of people under regression hypnosis (with different therapists) report very similar experiences of a place they go between lives. While there, they review their past life, rejoin… Read more »Half-baked lunatic idea

Release from the foxes

Hexagram 40 is Release: untying knots, removing artificial restraints and compulsions, and restoring complete, natural freedom of movement. Its moving lines talk about different kinds of captivity and release: simple ‘mistake’ at the first line, the release of a firm grip at the fourth, release from a looming, ominous presence… Read more »Release from the foxes

Advantage in the Southwest

Not for the first time, someone’s written to ask me what it means that there’s ‘advantage in the southwest’ for her. So here’s a summary of one thing it means, at least – ‘The southwest’ in Yijing-language doesn’t usually mean literally the southwest. There can be the occasional exception, of… Read more »Advantage in the Southwest

The noble one completes it?

The Judgement of Hexagram 15 says that, ‘Integrity creates success, The noble one completes things.’ What’s the significance of ‘completing things’ (literally, ‘having completion’), as against just ‘succeeding’? Wilhelm translates this as ‘carries things through’ and describes it as completing one’s work; he mentions how much simpler and more effective… Read more »The noble one completes it?

Hexagram 62, line 3

This is the line Wilhelm translates as, “If one is not extremely careful, Somebody may come up from behind and strike him. Misfortune.” So reading it this way, the line would mean that you should ‘overstep the mark’ in taking care – that you should be extraordinarily defensive, constantly on… Read more »Hexagram 62, line 3