Hexagram Opposites

[sooo]

chuckle.. Trojan, I count it a blessing that we can talk with no contingency to agree.

r.e. Maria's comment... hmmm, I don't know.. human laws as the means to what? Human order? Yes, I can see that.

 

[anemos]

human laws as the means to what? Human order? Yes, I can see that.

yeah, at least what the law makers say... ... lots of talks with lawyers those days. I'm not the best person to back up my own words uch:.. lawyers said for a particular case : " it's unfair but that's the law"

putting in a order affairs ( within and without) its a pattern I have seen re 21... can't connect it with 48 tho... replenish what ? or draw knowledge from something collective ?

 

[sooo]

I'm biting through dry Honey Bunches of Oats. They come from sort of a well, before they went into a box I mean. Some plants live off the dew at night, so their well is in the air.

A well's activity is demonstrated in a reed, or any living thing which pulls water up from the ground. Wood under water. A straw is also. The important thing is that the water is consumed.

 

[sooo]

So does 7 and 46 have those attributes, but they're not opposites. I see the pair thing sometimes, but I see that between any two hexagrams. That's why I feel I shouldn't even be in this conversation.

 

[anemos]

I have this image of a shaman getting water from the well. As an image makes sense but can't find the words to translate it to something meaningful.

21 could also pertain to natural law, or nature's laws, which can me brutally severe to delicate as a mayfly landing upon a grassy pond, as realistic as being eaten by a hungry trout.

I like that and especial the "brutally severe"- I can see it in 21 bite- bite -ouch ! . In 48 , on the other hand there is that feel of nourishment .

bottomless well each hex.... we just playing and drink some of the water .. if lucky

 

[rosada]

22. GRACE has success. In small matters it is favorable to undertake something. [Therefore] thus does the superior man proceed when clearing up current affairs. But he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
47. OPPRESSION (Exhaustion). Success. Perseverance.
The great man brings about good fortune. No blame. When one has something to say, it is not believed.
(Therefore) the superior man stakes his life on following his will.

Hmm..well, the first one, 22, seems to be about dealing with small problems in a polite sort of way where as 47 seems to be about dealing with huge problems that require staking one's very life to following one's true beliefs.

 

[rosada]

One of the tricks I use to get into a hexagram pair is to consider that the two are having a conversation. Thus with 48. the Well and 21. Biting Through:

48.1
Here I am, just an old well.
One does not drink the mud of the well.
No animals come to an old well.
Sigh..

21.1
Oh quit whining.
My goodness, with all the talent and opportunity you've wasted you should be ashamed of yourself!
You should have your toes fastened in stocks so all the town could come by and laugh at you!!!

48.2
Well I admit I am talented but I've never had the right tools.
Or to put it another way, I may have a few fish in me but the bucket is broken.

21.2
You are pathetic.
That is a ridiculous excuse.
You make me want to pull your nose.
Okay, maybe I got carried a way but geeze, you really deserved it.

48.3
Alright! Alright! It's true, I'm a genius, a source of joy and inspiration if only people realized.
But alas, I've never gotten the recognition I deserve.

21.3
Oh for God's sake, you are incorrigible!!
I really don't know what to do with you.
They should just lock you up like an old dried up piece of poisonous meat.
Stop blaming others! Get your act together!

48.4
I can't talk to you right now.
I'm getting my act together.

21.4
Good fortune to you!
There will be obstacles.
Watch out for difficulties. Be persevering.
Be hard as metal and straight as an arrow.
You'll make it!

48.5
I am a clear, cold spring.
A veritable fountain of wisdom from which one can drink.

21.5
You're golden!
Now you've taken on a lot of responsibility here.
You need to watch yourself, be aware of dangers.
It's the only way to avoid making mistakes - like thinking you're a god or something.

48.6
You can count on me.
I am the truth, the way and the light.
Who so ever comes to me shall have supreme good fortune.

21.6
You are hopeless.
Fasten that man's neck in a cangue.
He hasn't heard a word I've said.

 

[anemos]

48.6
You can count on me.
I am the truth, the way and the light.
Who so ever comes to me shall have supreme good fortune.

21.6
You are hopeless.
Fasten that man's neck in a cangue.
He hasn't heard a word I've said.

what i like about this pair is that the well is totally open while the ears are totally closed.

 

[rosada]

Wow Anemos - I think you've summed up why they are opposites perfectly!

 

[rosada]

Reading back through this thread I realize we have discussed 22. Grace - 47. Oppression earlier. To paraphrase Trojan, Grace is light, Oppression is heavy.

 

[rosada]

23. Splitting Apart - 43.Break-through

 

[Trojina]

Reading back through this thread I realize we have discussed 22. Grace - 47. Oppression earlier. To paraphrase Trojan, Grace is light, Oppression is heavy.

I was speculating that if 47 can refer to heavy heartedness then 22 might refer to light heartedness. Whether 22 ever does refer to light heartedness I don't know.

23 and 43 ? how might they be seen as complements.

23 has no place left to stand, 43 makes a stand ?

 

[sooo]

23 - cut the bull
43 - tell it like it is

 

[rosada]

23. SPLITTING APART from our current pair of hexagrams we bring you this 43. BREAKTHROUGH announcement:

24. Today is WINTER SOLSTICE {aka RETURN}!

 

[anemos]

24 : here comes the Sun
44 : here comes trouble

( half kidding )

 

[rosada]

Too funny!

 

[rosada]

25. Innocence - 46. Pushing Upward

Born into heaven - Working to get into heaven.

Or being helped by unseen forces ( the "kings of old" fostering and nourishing all beings) versus getting to work and doing things on ones own ("heaping up small things in order to achieve something high and great").

Playing around with this a bit:

25. Without facade.
No false fronts. Pure creation. Sublime success.
As life goes on, life goes on. What is becomes what is.
But if you are not you
problems will find you,
And no reward will come to you.

However, eventually all things attain the natural state of innocence
[for ultimately the real you stands out}.
Knowing this, the kings of old,
Rich in virtue,
and in harmony with the time,
fostered and nourished all beings.

On the other hand..

46. Pushing upwards. Supreme success.
One must see the great man. [The king of old?]
Nothing to fear, success is assured.
But one must get to work,
[For] a man of devoted character
heaps up small things
In order to achieve something high and great.

So while 25. Innocence sort of bumbles along doing whatever [with the back up support of a tolerant king who knows that ultimately the fool will be enlightened], 46. pushes upward with intention.

 

[anemos]

have been thinking the discussion re h29 & 30 at Unchanging threads. Still not happy with my understanding but here is my non-verbal offer.

 

[rosada]

Oops, better catch up...

Hexagram 27. - Hexagram 28.

27, Because perseverance brings good fortune one should pay heed to the providing of nourishment and to what a man seeks to fill his own mouth with. Thus the superior man is careful of his words and temperate in eating and drinking.

On the other hand...

28. When the ridgepole sags to the breaking point it furthers one to have somewhere to go. Thus the superior man, when he stands alone is unconcerned, and if he has to renounce the world he is undaunted.

 

[rosada]

In Hexagram 27. Providing Nourishment:
The energies are tranquil -
In and out, out and in.
A pleasant flow.

In Hexagram 28. Collapse:
The energies are, well, collapsing -
Fast!
----

How about:

27.Binging / 28.Purging.

 

[rosada]

Hexagram 29. The Abysmal WATER - Hexagram 30 - The Clinging FIRE

Water/ Fire

29. If you are sincere [it means] you have success in your heart, [so] whatever you do succeeds. Therefore, the superior man walks in lasting virtue and carries on the business of teaching.

On the other hand

30. Perseverance furthers and brings success.
"Care of the cow brings good fortune"
Therefore the great man, by perpetuating this brightness,
Illumines the four quarters of the world.
.....

29. Bringing one's inner wisdom to calm a troubled situation.
30. Using one's wisdom to maintain and nourish calm.

 

[rosada]

Rats, skipped 26.

26. The Taming Power of The Great. - 45. Gathering Together.

26. THE TAMING POWER OF THE GREAT.
It is good to develop one's abilities and keep them sharp and to
Go out in the world and use them.
So...
Study hard, learn what others have done,
You too can create something of yourself!
EXPECT THE BEST!

vs.

45. GATHERING TOGETHER.
Success.
The king approaches his temple.
It furthers one to see the great man.
This brings success. Perseverance furthers.
To bring great offerings creates good fortune.
It furthers one to undertake something.
[Therefore]
The superior man renews his weapons
In order to meet the unforeseen.
PREPARE FOR THE WORST!

 

[rosada]

31. Influence (Wooing) vs. 41. Decrease.

31. Influence. Success.
Perseverance furthers.
To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.

The superior man encourages people to approach him
By his readiness to receive them.

41. Decrease combined with sincerity
Brings about supreme good fortune
Without blame.
One may be persevering in this.
It furthers one to undertake something.
How is this to be carried out?
One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice.

The superior man controls his anger and restrains his instincts.

 

[rosada]

Looking at the image lines..

In 31 the superior man draws people to him because he is open and ready to receive them.

Is that like people will come for a visit when they know you are home and welcoming guests?

In 41 Is the superior man controls his anger and restrains his instincts.

Is that like saying in this instance the superior man is drawing people to him because he is able to keep from biting them? Like there's some frustrated wife saying, "Come along, Dear. I know you can't stand dinner with my parents but you can behave yourself for at least one evening can't you?"

so
31. Drawing people to you because you're open.
41. Drawing people to you because you're closed.

 

[anemos]

both are about giving and receiving and the capacity of doing it.
both have an emptiness/emptying aspect.

31. receive ( mainly but not only)
41 . give ( mainly but not only)

those two are complementary ( opposites) and reverse too. The way lake and mountain moves, its similar to hex 11; earth descends heaven ascents and they meet each other.

similarly with 41 and 12

that thread has helped me to see similarities I hadn't notice better. Pretty interesting !!!

 

[rosada]

Thanks anemos, you've summed it up neatly!
31. is open to receiving.
41. is open to giving.

Maybe the restraining instincts line in the image of 42 is in reference to man's natural inclination NOT to give especially in this case where the man does not have much and must be assured that his offering though small is worthy.

I was trying to imagine an example of drawing people to you "because you're closed" or because you are restraining your instincts. Just then a friend turned on a Lewis Black clip on youtube. Lewis Black is a popular comedian who's comic persona is that he is so mad at the crazies in politics he can barely control his anger. So the fun is him quoting something a politician has said - Like Bush's comment about evolution, "The jury is still out" - and then watching him - Lewis - struggle to keep from exploding over the stupidity of such a comment. So Lewis draws people to him by restraining his instincts.

 

[rosada]

32. Duration.
Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by hindrances.
-Wilhelm

42. Increase.
The time of Increase does not endure, therefore must be utilized while it lasts.
-Wilhelm

Duration lasts. Increase does not.

 

[rosada]

37. The Family - 40. Deliverance

37. THE FAMILY. The perseverance of the woman furthers.

So the superior man has substance in his words and duration in his way of life.

40. DELIVERANCE. The southwest furthers.
If there is no longer anything where one has to go,
Return brings good fortune.
If there is still something where one has to go,
Hastening brings good fortune.

So a superior man pardons mistakes and forgives misdeeds.

 

[rosada]

Hmmm...well let's see.
37. The Family seems to be about the wife staying at home while 40. seems to be about the husband who must go out into the world and do things.

37. Makes the plans. Speaks the words.
40. Makes them work (forgives the mistakes).

Your thoughts?

 

[rosada]

Interesting the similarities between 23. Return and 40. Deliverance. Both refer to coming back home.