Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
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“the work of 57-58, Subtly Penetrating and Opening, seems to be one of reintegrating and reconnecting – finding a place for individual identity and purpose. In Hexagram 58, that happens through explicit, lively interaction and exchange between separate entities; in 57, it’s ‘hidden away’, a matter of individual nature coming to expression and finding its place as part of the whole.”
‘Entering in and then rejoicing, and so Opening follows.’
‘The feature of topmost openness is important for ancient Chinese sacred experience. A shrine might have walls but not a roof; shrines of defeated dynasties were roofed over, cutting off communication with those on high.’
Scott David, The Classic of Changes in Cultural Context
‘Opening, creating success.
Constancy bears fruit.’
Hexagram 58, the Oracle
‘Creative Force.
From the source, creating success.
Constancy bears fruit.’
Hexagram 1, the Oracle
‘Lakes joined together. Opening.
A noble one joins with friends to speak and practise together.’
Hexagram 58, the Image
“A lake evaporates upwards and thus gradually dries up; but when two lakes are joined they do not dry up so readily, for one replenishes the other. It is the same in the field of knowledge. Knowledge should be a refreshing and vitalizing force. It becomes so only through stimulating intercourse with congenial friends with whom one holds discussion and practices application of the truths of life. In this way learning becomes many-sided and takes on a cheerful lightness, whereas there is always something ponderous and one-sided about the learning of the self-taught.”
Wilhelm/Baynes I Ching
‘Dui means “to give joy”. It is by being hard inside and yet soft outside that one manages to give Joy and still fittingly practice constancy. This is how one can be obedient to Heaven and yet responsive to mankind. If one leads the common folk with Joy, they will forget their toil, and if one has them risk danger and difficulty with Joy, they will forget about dying. Great is Joy, for it is the motivating force of the common folk!’
RJ Lynn, I Ching
True, this sounds a little like the offspring of ‘The I Ching For Populist Politicians’ and Mary Poppins’ ‘Spoonful of Sugar’. But beyond that, it’s also describing how the energy of the trigram works: the solid inner lines embodying enduring truth; the open line above allowing responsiveness and connection. It’s this combination that makes joy not just an emotional condition, but an active force that not only outweighs hardship and fear but can banish them from awareness.
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Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).