hex. 54 (Memorizing the I Ching)

[rosada]

Rather than the sovereign I being the ego creating a false image, I think he represents higher consciousness recognizing what is necessary to make all the parts work together. Rather than continuing the charade of 1st wife and youngest daughter, concubine and serving maid, the higher consciousness sees that in a true marriage it's not the outer appearance but the inner feeling that is important.

 

[my_key]

Rather than the sovereign I being the ego creating a false image, I think he represents higher consciousness recognizing what is necessary to make all the parts work together. Rather than continuing the charade of 1st wife and youngest daughter, concubine and serving maid, the higher consciousness sees that in a true marriage it's not the outer appearance but the inner feeling that is important.

Hmmmmm....that makes a bit more sense of the jigsaw.
Obviously a bit of self promotion going on somewhere. The man who would be king was having a tilt at the windmill.

Mike

 

[rosada]

I think you are really on to something here Mike. Higher Consciousness or Higher Ego?

The moon near full does not completely mirror the sun.
When the moon does progress to full it then can mirror the sun.
In fact the moon at full will be...."like the sun at mid-day." ! Exactly what we are heading to in hexagram 55.

 

[rosada]

54.6
# Six at the top means:
The woman holds the basket, but there are no fruits in it.
The man stabs the sheep, but no blood flows.
Nothing acts to further.

At the sacrifice to the ancestors, the woman had to present harvest offerings in a basket, while the man slaughtered the sacrificial animal with his own hand. Here the ritual is only superficially fulfilled; the woman takes an empty basket and the man stabs the sheep slaughtered beforehand - solely to preserve the forms. This impious, irreverent attitude bodes no good for a marriage.

The reason why the six at the top has no fruits is because it holds an empty basket.

The weak six at the top, at the height of movement (Chen) and without relationship to a strong line, no longer has a chance to marry. Hence the attempts at sacrifice are empty and unavailing - the upper trigram symbolizes an empty basket, and the lower trigram Tui has the sheep for its animal.
-Wilhelm

 

[frank_r]

54.6
# Six at the top means:
The woman holds the basket, but there are no fruits in it.
The man stabs the sheep, but no blood flows.
Nothing acts to further.

-Wilhelm

Here in this line the connection is ended. There is no connection to the wordly future. was the 5th line the ruler. The place where we saw that the ego was a part of the higher conciousness. Here we see that the ego cannot have connection with the offspring. There is understanding what earthly sterility is.
When something is dead there is no Qi in the blood. There is only an ethereal soul, the body the corpural soul already left this world.

Trigram thunder is changing in trigram fire. They both stand on the same spot in the East, Thunder in the King Wen and fire in the Fu Shi sequence. Fire is the power behind thunder it gives thunder the power to renew itself over and over again.
Here we see the death of the ego but the Higher consiousness knows that it will only be for the moment because life will renew itself over and over again.

Frank

 

[rosada]

Thank you for this, Frank, especially the insight that the "death' is not permanent.

Just signed up to join the Circle of Change. Wow, what a wealth of information you have given us, Hilary!

54.6 > 38
But before I got connected I had a bit of difficulty with my credit card. With my husband actually, who was standing at my elbow vibing fear about using a credit card. And so, sure enough, even though everything was in order still the connection didn't link up. Very 54.6.
Fortunately perseverance furthers - or as Frank points out, the death needn't be permanent - and even though Husband was
38. Opposed, still "in small matters, good fortune"
and indeed, a few emails to Hilary later, I'm in. Yippee!

 

[meng]

Higher Consciousness or Higher Ego?

Is there a difference? consciousness/higher consciousness - ego/super-ego? (spiritual ego) Some of the proudest individuals I've met consider themselves to be more spiritual than most.

I rather think that's the point of 54. Outward appearances really don't count for much in the end.

 

[meng]

..the cultivation of joy does.

 

[rosada]

Looking at 54.5 changing to 58. Joyousness
Interesting that the hexagram for Joyousness is made up of two lakes, two little sisters, equals exchanging ideas. 54 leads to 58 when the weak yin line in the fifth place is made strong. The Terrifying CHEN lightens up and becomes the Cheerful TUI. Thus when the highest no longer considers themselves more important than the lowest, then the 58.Joyous discussion and practice can begin.

 

[my_key]

Is there a difference? consciousness/higher consciousness - ego/super-ego? (spiritual ego) Some of the proudest individuals I've met consider themselves to be more spiritual than most.
I rather think that's the point of 54. Outward appearances really don't count for much in the end........the cultivation of joy does.

Hi Meng

I agree. It's what we have going on inside that is more important than what we show on the outside. The journey described in 54 is a real tough road to walk for many.

I offer here the Authors Note from "The I Ching Oracle" by Nigel Richmond for no other reasons than it touches me every time I read it and that the opening lines seem to give a 54.5 feel to the whole.
Also this shows a wonderful simplicity about how one can achieve joyfulness.

To think that by ones own efforts
One comes to God
Is part of the illusion
That one is separate

It is our nature to be separate, and it is in our nature to seek union or wholeness; although the use of the oracle is different on all occasions it is also the same in that we act out of need, that is the same whether we write an oracle book or read one. My own need has been to reconcile an outer vocation in technology and an inner intuitive knowing, both equally robust; these solved their differences by becoming an understanding of the logic of symbols, so my own joy is in understanding because it enables me to be more whole……………. It is my joy to understand in this way: I hope it will give you pleasure.

Mike

 

[my_key]

Here in this line the connection is ended. There is no connection to the wordly future. was the 5th line the ruler. The place where we saw that the ego was a part of the higher conciousness. Here we see that the ego cannot have connection with the offspring. There is understanding what earthly sterility is.
When something is dead there is no Qi in the blood. There is only an ethereal soul, the body the corpural soul already left this world.

Trigram thunder is changing in trigram fire. They both stand on the same spot in the East, Thunder in the King Wen and fire in the Fu Shi sequence. Fire is the power behind thunder it gives thunder the power to renew itself over and over again.
Here we see the death of the ego but the Higher consiousness knows that it will only be for the moment because life will renew itself over and over again.

Frank

Hi Frank

54.6 has been a bit of a stranger to me on occasions, but this post makes it a bit clearer.....
To try to paraphrase your post - In 54.5 there is a meeting of ego and higher consciousness and ego realises that whatever he creates he cannot remain attached to.
In 54.6 that powerlessness over what goes on in the world is manifested. Yin and yang are exhausted and shooting blanks and there is a realisation that the real firepower that makes things happen comes from a place beyond. (The relationship you explained between Fu Shi and King Wen sequence paints a great picture.)

Then 54.6 gives us Hex 38 where the collision of opposites, the inner and outer worlds, ego and higher consciousness brings about infinite nows of fertile creation.

I'm sure I'm in the right building, but are we singing from the same songsheet here?
Mike

 

[frank_r]

Hi Frank


Then 54.6 gives us Hex 38 where the collision of opposites, the inner and outer worlds, ego and higher consciousness brings about infinite nows of fertile creation.

I'm sure I'm in the right building, but are we singing from the same songsheet here?
Mike

Hello Mike, I think we do yes, and I just saw and realised that the same trigrams ,thunder and fire make the next hexagram 55. So the changing of the 6the line perfectly makes 55. What really is the start of something new.

Frank

 

[ravenstar]

Here in this line the connection is ended. There is no connection to the wordly future. was the 5th line the ruler. The place where we saw that the ego was a part of the higher conciousness. Here we see that the ego cannot have connection with the offspring. There is understanding what earthly sterility is.
When something is dead there is no Qi in the blood. There is only an ethereal soul, the body the corpural soul already left this world.

Trigram thunder is changing in trigram fire. They both stand on the same spot in the East, Thunder in the King Wen and fire in the Fu Shi sequence. Fire is the power behind thunder it gives thunder the power to renew itself over and over again.
Here we see the death of the ego but the Higher consiousness knows that it will only be for the moment because life will renew itself over and over again.

Frank

I found this interesting Frank, especially about the East. The Shamans believe life is conceived in the East, develops in the South, matures in the West, and achieves old age in the North.

Also in the Tarot, the sword is represented by Truth, is associated with East/Air which represents the start of a journey, higher awareness, conception, new beginnings, form from chaos, daybreak, spring, birth, etc.

Thunder (Shamanism) is said to guide us through the storms in our life and light the path ahead, expanding our own spiritual horizons, and guide us to Spirit as we cross from this world to the next. Thunder (energy in motion) is said not to help those who seek power to control, or those who need to feed their egos and inflate their perception of self

East /Air is believed to be the place where one first experiences a new idea or a recognition of something he/she hasn’t observed before. It can be a revelation from above, from the past or present, creating a light bulb effect within our mind/body/spirit. As we excitedly grab hold of this idea, it is said we enter the South the place of innocence, passion and fire (and sometimes even arrogance, egotism of this new found knowledge). We may act as if we know everything even when truly, we really are just exploring outwardly to find out more.

ravenstar

 

[rosada]

As there has been some discussion recently of 54.5 I thought it might be useful to bring up this thread for those who might wish to review what was said here on the subject.

Page 6 is where the discussion of 54.5 begins.

-Rosada

p.s
Added on later:
As Trojan points out below "page 6" is a bit confusing.
Page 8 post #72 is more accurate.

 

[Trojina]

As there has been some discussion recently of 54.5 I thought it might be useful to bring up this thread for those who might wish to review what was said here on the subject.

Page 6, #88 is where the discussion of 54.5 begins.

-Rosada

Page 6 of what thread ?

 

[pocossin]

Page 6 of what thread ?

Started here

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/friends/showthread.php?t=7617&page=8
message #72

but talk doesn't immediately catch up.

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/friends/showthread.php?t=7617&page=9
message #84

 

[Trojina]

As there has been some discussion recently of 54.5 I thought it might be useful to bring up this thread for those who might wish to review what was said here on the subject.

i see now she means page 6 of this thread re 54.5 for past discussion...but whats the current thread about 54.5 i don't see it

i give up


5 seconds later...i saw it..cunningly titled hex 54.5 to trick me....lol thought she was talking about page 6 of the new thread


but thats surreal its a thread started in 2004 ! not that current...only 6 years old. A 6 year old thread with one new comment tacked on to it..its like time travel http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/friends/showthread.php?t=77

 

[rosada]

Confusion, frustration, mayhem. My plan is working perfectly...

Anyway, I'm trying to encourage using and adding on to the memorization threads.
-rosada

 

[mmohan]

Thinking it might be helpful to know where we're coming from..
A list of all the paths that lead to The Marrying Maiden:

40.1 > 54.
40.1
"Without blame." therefore...
54.1"... Undertakings bring good fortune."

51.2 > 54.
51.2
"Shock brings danger.
A hundred thousand times you lose your treasures and must climb the nine hills.
Do not go in pursuit of them.
After seven days you will get them back." cause after all..
54.2 "...the perseverance of a solitary man furthers.

34.3 > 54.
34.3
"The inferior man works through power.
The superior man does not act thus.
To continue is dangerous.
A goat butts the hedge and gets his horns entangled." So no improvement if..
54.3 "The marrying maiden as a slave marries as a concubine."

19.4 > 54.
19.4
"Complete approach.
No blame." In other words it's all good if she
54.4 "..draws out the allotted time cause a late marriage comes in due course."

58.5 > 54.
58.5
"Sincerity towards disintegrating influences is dangerous." so best remember...
54.5 "..the moon that is nearly full brings good fortune."

38.6 > 54.
38.6
"Isolated through opposition, one see's one's companion as a pig covered with dirt, as a wagon full of devils.
First one draws a bow against him, then one lays the bow aside.
He is not a robber; he will woo when at the right time.
As one goes, rain falls; then good fortune comes."..therefore, be patient else..
54.6 "..nothing acts to further."

I just want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for breaking down Hex 54 in lay man's language. I understand it now. I'm going to try and do this too. Hopefully, with practice, I will be able to. Thank you so much.

PS: Thank you also IC Fam a/k/a everyone who put their input on this thread. Amazing. Excellent. TY. :bows:

 

[jenatl]

Couldn't the force it speaks of be the Universe? As though it was fated. It says in one translation that she follows him gladly. I choose to see a more optimistic reading in 54 (no lines). Maybe it's a partnership like any other where there can really only be one chief. Too many cooks in the kitchen doesn't bring harmony. Where the one in charge is happy and so are the ones taking on a role beneath him. For instance, I am in sales and have a manager...but I would never want time be in that role. I enjoy his direction and not having the responsibilities of a manager.

Just some thoughts.