Your reading

what good news is nearing?

Your reading resulted in the following hexagrams:

	changing to
19		2

Hexagram 19, Nearing

Key Questions

How does this want to grow?
How can you take responsibility for its development?
What would your greater self do?

Oracle

'Nearing.
Creating success from the source, constancy bears fruit.
Reaching an end in the eighth month means a pitfall.'

'Nearing' means drawing closer and gazing down over what you approach. There are two strands of meaning here: the approach of a greater spirit or presence in an ongoing process of growth, and your approach as the one who pays attention and takes responsibility. Like the creative drive of Hexagram 1, this great, growing energy comes from the source, asks for your full participation, and seeks to reach fruition and be realized. But its surging growth can be disastrously interrupted by 'reaching an end in the eighth month'.

The eighth month is the month of harvest. If this comes round too soon for what Nears to reach full growth – if the situation demands that you produce a tangible result prematurely – then this means misfortune. Or if you focus exclusively on results instead of watching patiently over developments – if your expectations are out of touch with the pace of growth – then there is misfortune.

Having something to show for a process of growth doesn't mean you've arrived at its outcome: harvest is not the end. As each harvest is gathered in and stored, the seasonal cycle of growth continues; you need to stay present to its ongoing changes, wherever they might lead.

Image

'Above the lake is earth: Nearing.
A noble one teaches and reflects untiringly,
Accepts and protects the people without limit.'

Sequence

Nearing follows from Hexagram 18, Corruption:
'With work to do, greatness becomes possible, and so Nearing follows. Nearing means greatness.'

Pair

Nearing forms a pair with Hexagram 20, Seeing:
'What is right for Nearing and Seeing: someone reaches out, someone seeks.'

Changing Lines

Hexagram 2, Earth

Key Questions

How are you being guided?
How can you lend your strength?

Oracle

'Earth.
From the source, creating success.
The constancy of a mare bears fruit.
A noble one has a direction to go.
At first, confusion. Later, gains a master.
Fruitful in the southwest, gaining partners.
In the northeast, losing partners.
Peaceful constancy brings good fortune.'

Earth is first described in the same words as the Creative Force of Hexagram 1 because they are partners in the flow of creation. Creation unfolds from the original vital energy, creating success with an ongoing exchange between spirit and daily work, flowing through to fruition – in Earth, through the constancy of a mare.

The mare is strong, tireless and incomparably fast, and she is acutely sensitive to the subtlest cues. When you have a mare's constancy, you will be steadily loyal to the truth, and always alert and responsive to guidance.

The noble one has a direction to go: she is purposeful, she has a destination in mind, but this doesn't mean she has her route to it already mapped out. And so at first there is confusion: you set out like a pioneer, open to all the possibilities, and find them as many as scattered rice-grains. But later, since you have set yourself in motion, you can receive guidance – you 'gain a master'.

A master is someone who lights the way. You gain someone or something to be loyal to, where you can find fulfilment in service. Once you have this guiding principle (which may or may not be a person), you begin to follow signs as fluently as the mare.

The Zhou people sought out allies in the southwest before venturing into the northeast to face the Shang. There is a balance to be found between joining with like-minded people and following your own calling alone – but gaining allies comes first. Perhaps your individual sense of purpose emerges more strongly when you've learned to work responsively with others, like the mare running with the herd.

And when you can spread your senses out to roam southwest and northeast without limit, you will be peacefully at home in the whole earth.

Image

'Power of the land: Earth.
A noble one, with generous character, carries all the beings.'

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