Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).
This hexagram describes the real process of securely setting up a communal meal as a metaphor for establishing an integrated and stable social hierarchy in a group.
The lower trigram is time-sequential, and refers simultaneously to a communal sharing of food and the basic peace process that accompanies it- 1]the pot is cleaned, issues are put in the open, communality (we would say "for the children's sake") is established, in spite of frictions- between wives and "concubines" 2]the place and meal are prepared, the area secured. There must be enough for all- including guests and even erstwhile "enemies" with whom negotiations may be made; and both the self-sufficiency of the group and rules for discussing grievances are established 3] everyone is satisfied for the time being, the reserve is set aside (the handles changed), active enmity- "the fat of the pheasant" having here a double meaning- is avoided, and the healing "gentle rain" begins
The upper trigram in parallel to the lower considers political or leadership issues 4] plotters and pretenders are exposed "made to blush" just as in the lower trigram the cauldron is emptied 5] "golden" alliances are forged 6] the "jade" philosophy of a receptive leader takes effect. The handles of 5 &6 refer to rights of decision making for the group- the granting of rights to partake of or disburse common property and human resources, and refer as well to the disposition of alliances and the maintenance of boundaries, to relationship with rivals and enemies. In the latter case, the 5th line may refer to the group's counsel of war, and it's allies, its men of gold.
The lower trigram is time-sequential, and refers simultaneously to a communal sharing of food and the basic peace process that accompanies it- 1]the pot is cleaned, issues are put in the open, communality (we would say "for the children's sake") is established, in spite of frictions- between wives and "concubines" 2]the place and meal are prepared, the area secured. There must be enough for all- including guests and even erstwhile "enemies" with whom negotiations may be made; and both the self-sufficiency of the group and rules for discussing grievances are established 3] everyone is satisfied for the time being, the reserve is set aside (the handles changed), active enmity- "the fat of the pheasant" having here a double meaning- is avoided, and the healing "gentle rain" begins
The upper trigram in parallel to the lower considers political or leadership issues 4] plotters and pretenders are exposed "made to blush" just as in the lower trigram the cauldron is emptied 5] "golden" alliances are forged 6] the "jade" philosophy of a receptive leader takes effect. The handles of 5 &6 refer to rights of decision making for the group- the granting of rights to partake of or disburse common property and human resources, and refer as well to the disposition of alliances and the maintenance of boundaries, to relationship with rivals and enemies. In the latter case, the 5th line may refer to the group's counsel of war, and it's allies, its men of gold.