tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15834380875984957512024-03-05T19:14:20.586-08:00I Ching GuidanceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-47225991617567126122014-04-08T21:33:00.000-07:002014-04-08T21:34:25.822-07:00Nelson author to speak on I-Ching<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKzqV8x6Zg25ZEypuDSphRAmIi_-zCiWF6jw-vqfq0huCou6Q9gBx7j9caRt_Z4C5tOTTlMVx3KjfiuAkEi1Tbb1-0f-3-JRKciWxknUJswiFpW8-ZmVIhVLBRQNXQg-iuTMvGNtT0j0/s1600/v9b+buiz+cards.jpg+***.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKzqV8x6Zg25ZEypuDSphRAmIi_-zCiWF6jw-vqfq0huCou6Q9gBx7j9caRt_Z4C5tOTTlMVx3KjfiuAkEi1Tbb1-0f-3-JRKciWxknUJswiFpW8-ZmVIhVLBRQNXQg-iuTMvGNtT0j0/s1600/v9b+buiz+cards.jpg+***.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/#!blogger-feed/cv77" target="_blank">{Book Your Question-Session HERE Today}</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How quick these past three years have gone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Multiple I-Ching Question-Sessions</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">with people from all walks in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, my first public lecture on I-Ching and</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">The Book of Gardens: A Lover's Manual for Planet Earth</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please see article for full story </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nelsonstar.com/community/254225601.html">http://www.nelsonstar.com/community/254225601.html</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-495310249543928042014-03-10T11:23:00.001-07:002014-03-10T21:13:20.084-07:00Roots Finding Water<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<i>You can progress at this time by following the sensations of increasing depth and calmness; an assurance that arises out of reflection and self-knowing. Increasingly open to more information from the world-at-large, and more outwardly decisive by your own sense of self, the recent sense of busied action you’ve had on the inside - surrounded and open to outside influences - now moves more into a time of cautious - wise - action.</i> </div>
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<i><i>At first this process could feel inwardly like ‘going backwards.’ Notably, when any pressures or sense of urgency is handed to you by the day-to-day, or the day-in-day-out. Rather than jumping into the fray and responding by habit, a quick tapping-in to a reflectiveness may well serve better. This could also feel like revisiting the past, or revisiting younger versions of your self. And it could feel like stagnation, until you cease any temptation toward procrastination, instead looking inwardly for a goodly length of time on the issue at hand. Stay with the emotions which are arising: they mask an important message. </i> </i></div>
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<i><i>Outwardly, how you take a renewed action in the world because of this reflection - this sensing for new depth, this digesting of arising information - will benefit you greatly. For each minute of successfully isolating the issue in your thoughts and feelings, you will find a double reserve to make choices outwardly. You will grow into a sense of ‘doing the right thing,’ from having taken the time to find the calm-courage to look back inwardly upon the </i><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>quality</i></span><i> by which you make your decisions. Here: depth and calmness are one and the same. It is to move forward from a unified place; your emotions congruent to your wishes.</i> </i></div>
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<i><i>Perhaps recently you have been very receptive outwardly. Casual. Perhaps even passive. This temporary habit has perhaps built up within you, feeling ‘scratchy,’ like you need to do something, or get something off your chest, or go exploring. There is an invitation toward new movement. The way of passage suggested in this reading is to listen ever more deeply to the influences coming at you from the outside, giving them a special attention rather than a habitual one, and by an ever-more-calm sensation - by the weight you bring to your own self acceptance - will you respond correctly to the outside. Stepping forward, is to first speak from the deep resonant placement of your truth.</i></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the case of this Question-Session, Hexagram #46 was moving into Hexagram #40. In studing the works of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cleary">Thomas Cleary</a>, I appreciate his titles of the hexagrams greatly. He names these two “Rising,” and “Solution.” So as an overall heading to begin our study here, lets call this “Rising Into Solution.” Poetically, I have also named this particular movement of Yin & Yang as <b style="text-decoration: underline;">“Roots Finding Water.”</b> As the roots go down, the solution rises up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first Hexagram study will pertain more to <i>where you are coming from</i>. And the second Hexagram study will relate to <i>where you are headed.</i> Somewhere between the two resides the energy you will want to cultivate in order to ‘answer’ your Question.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As this is your first I-Ching reading, there is a bit of technical information to be familiar with, so you can move more deeply into these themes on your own. This introductory information should also serve you quite well as you continue to learn about the I-Ching in general. The short segment which follows will move from the conceptual-and-general toward the specific, setting up the framework for you step-by-step. By the end of this Blog-Post you will be rather able to return to the above description with greater personal clarity toward how-and-why I reached these conclusions. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.stevepavlina.com/personal-development-for-smart-people/" target="_blank">{ Source }</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember: the I-Ching is a process-based way of doing things. It is an oracle - yes - but it finds success and benefit best through your own efforts of self-knowledge; an honest-seeking-insight. That is: the future is very much within your control, so far as you search for the truth within you.</span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Some I-Ching Basics</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yin & Yang are universal energies represented in the I-Ching by solid and broken lines: Yang is a solid line, and Yin is a ‘broken’ line, like two dashes. Yang, is The Active energy, and Yin, The receptive. A younger understanding of Yin and Yang can inadvertently land as dismissive or divisive toward each other: good/bad, black/white, male/female. I'm simply not a fan of this. Naming yin & yang as The Active & The Receptive, instead, allows an inroad for everyone’s curiosity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you were asking your Question, and going through the process of tossing the coins a total of six times, I drew out the hexagram from bottom to top, and the lines of yin/yang are numbered accordingly one through six. Every Hexagram in the I-Ching can then be broken down into two digestible chunks, called Trigrams. There are eight possible combinations, pictured here with their names:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LXvLBNmj0iAJTwOS2bVm8pcFtnSe2vMumYfZZjzttJj_38pkZNZhSeMUwdEPO8wk2uM_2tJyw-EZC4B-HN4zDsDpyVHy6tW0ChRwF6kePDEGK39fII-1P9fOdKOZqKJW085UA27-4Cg/s1600/Trigram+Names.jpg" height="47" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?contributorId=1206479" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Book of Gardens: A Lover's Manual for Planet Earth</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The bottom trigram within a Hexagram can be called <span style="text-decoration: underline;">‘The Inside,’</span> and the top trigram <span style="text-decoration: underline;">‘The Outisde.’</span> Each half, or Trigram, is associated to an Image, a Quality, and a Character, which we’ll consider in greater depth as we proceed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You will need to remember these terms of <i>Inside & Outside</i> for when we contemplate the two hexagrams in this Question-Session. And further to that, breaking-down a Hexagram into two parts, the Trigram can be broken down further into three separate areas of your contemplation: the personal, the interpersonal, and the societal-cultural. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not to worry: we will go through these items in detail as they pertain to this Question-Session. Step by step, this will strengthen your understanding of the story-like introduction of this blog when you return to it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So to review the process in brief: using the I-Ching involves moving your thinking awareness from the abstract, or grand and general, down into the specific. First, from the hexagram name, then into the trigrams - the images-qualities-and-characters - and then into the fine movements of thought by the personal, interpersonal, and societal amplitudes of your thought and decisions. Such a progression brings your decision-making toward a radiant and yet concentrated place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This methodical approach of looking upon your thoughts and feelings through an organized manner will no doubt appear very foreign at first, but once grasped, it becomes a powerful tool of discernment, seamlessly blending your own thought and action, while improving your perceptions of the thoughts and actions of others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let’s begin by looking upon the two Hexagrams by their Trigram halves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">46-Rising</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> has Wind in the lower/Inside, and Earth in the upper/Outside. This can be thought on as ‘Wind within the Earth.’ Wind in this instance is synonymous with wood: we know the wind is blowing by the sound it makes when moving through the trees. So in 46-Rising, it can alternately be regarded as ‘Wood within the Earth.’ There is a root energy, an action within, rising up through the receptive Earth - into the Outside. Like finding one's voice amongst the noise.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffU1dT70HqB_NJEbubcAhCnE0TyJ3gJv7JF939Fq3RjhU2loJArRvJUSBM08c7z_jht70gjOA0cyAAo2fPtaWoT5WeB-_ZN9C47Tqe__lgnFmDyaoC4YlHBXtQiKEwbNYCgRVmlZ8o9o/s1600/windy14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffU1dT70HqB_NJEbubcAhCnE0TyJ3gJv7JF939Fq3RjhU2loJArRvJUSBM08c7z_jht70gjOA0cyAAo2fPtaWoT5WeB-_ZN9C47Tqe__lgnFmDyaoC4YlHBXtQiKEwbNYCgRVmlZ8o9o/s1600/windy14.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.photographyblogger.net/18-windy-pictures-that-will-blow-you-away/" target="_blank">{ Source }</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To meditate on this, imagine this Inside located within your belly: I also associate The Inside to <i>the</i> <i>body</i> (connecting then The Outside as <i>mind), </i>and I place a hand there upon my belly to set my imagination on course. Imagine for a few moments that there is a Wind within your belly. And allow your imagination to let loose at this juncture: recall your experiences of wind, pictures of the wind, the feeling of the wind, and so on - whatever has been individual to you. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j_nzLJ2Yv_IyKoysnCMw4ldY65UYSaSndJQRHoV5SiJtMpoeBWaoBAZqiRY1DKf-tnYRinYFEEA_9GkQvho8PQS23aaXkBQFKFqXaLKwWbar7UbP7eND6QDnA053mpbdLhE0vLVLR2o/s1600/trigram+-+wind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j_nzLJ2Yv_IyKoysnCMw4ldY65UYSaSndJQRHoV5SiJtMpoeBWaoBAZqiRY1DKf-tnYRinYFEEA_9GkQvho8PQS23aaXkBQFKFqXaLKwWbar7UbP7eND6QDnA053mpbdLhE0vLVLR2o/s1600/trigram+-+wind.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When looking upon the Trigram of Wind, observe how there is one yin line below two yang lines. Indeed the base of the wind is flexible as it twists through the streets, hugging the buildings, holding your face and grasping at your hair, bringing out commotion, dust, excitement, mayhem, trickery, and even delight(!) Take the time to <i>allow your imagination </i><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>to exercise you,</i></span> and imagine this activity deep into your body - deep into your belly. The Inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next… and this cannot be rushed - truly - your own enjoyment is your best guide, and I would recommend proceeding once you have made a connection with that last step... Next, we look on the upper Trigram of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">46-Rising</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> where there are three yin lines, making this the trigram Earth. This is pure receptive energy. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTI4nCQfLUBOA2PvXM5OXog-oM3_4BEfx1awTh3fE2pFhqwbBqVu_ed8-MDMr1u4nEfpBvUATouEUIgSkCCkXA5EA8EzjAMr0KroWvXUBrw0AnPu1X3e_CW9mE8gIb0xMBqLnBUNJi4Y/s1600/trigram+-+earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTI4nCQfLUBOA2PvXM5OXog-oM3_4BEfx1awTh3fE2pFhqwbBqVu_ed8-MDMr1u4nEfpBvUATouEUIgSkCCkXA5EA8EzjAMr0KroWvXUBrw0AnPu1X3e_CW9mE8gIb0xMBqLnBUNJi4Y/s1600/trigram+-+earth.jpg" /></a>P<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">lace the upper/Outside in ‘the Mind’ up upon your forehead, your ‘third eye,’ and I place a hand there upon my forehead to set my imagination on course. Bring into your imagination all your experiences of Earth - large and small. Imagine the universe of activity underneath the forest floor; the finest of creatures who carry a very large influence upon the health of the soil, and so then our very health too(!) Recall these meek things which inherit everything, or invent them on your own... Imagine also the farmers field, the open dessert, the Earth as seen from outer space… Bring thoroughly to mind your own associations with “Earth,” and recall just how receptive the earth is to all our actions: we farm it, we dig it, water traces through it, accepting even of canyons into it; asteroids hit it, Men curse it, Lovers stay by it, and the history of every living thing depends upon it. Allow these associations - and others, as per your own individuality - to come to the mind. Imagine even that I write to you from the other side of this </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_sagan" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">‘pale blue dot.’</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Allow your imagination to ‘dig deeply’ and enjoy uncovering the qualities of receptivity by the images of Earth.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/understanding-ph" target="_blank">{ Source }</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally - for this first segment - bringing these two contemplations together we have <b>The Activity of Wind inside the Receptivity of Earth</b>:<b> “<i>Wind in the Belly; Earth in the Mind</i></b><i>.</i><b><i>”</i></b> Stated essentially: The Active inside the Receptive… unveiling a kind of restlessness on the Inside, and a host of influences on the Outside. Remember the central feelings which arise from this combination, and this contemplation: remember how they inhabit your body, feeding the mind. Remember this <i>sensation.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This sensation relates to <i>where you are coming from</i>. And the next hexagram contemplation relates to <i>where you are headed, </i>as I mentioned above<i>.</i> Somewhere between the two sensations resides the energy you will want to cultivate in order to ‘answer’ your Question.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In your own time, proceed onto the poem below. Consider this an intermission to the study, as you have been absorbing some new information, and a perhaps a new way of looking into a Question. The poems I’ll share with you here are the condensed versions of my own study, hexagram by hexagram, line by line, through the entirety of the I-Ching over a period of 18 years. It is my wish that these poems will enhance your contemplation. The poem is a direct copy from <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/CedarLaneLevine"><i>The Book of Gardens: A Lovers Manual for Planet Earth</i></a><i>. </i>And Enjoy(!) We are at the half-way point of your Question-session.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yin & Yang are not opposites. As #46 illustrates, the active can live inside the receptive in many ways - the sensation takes on a variety of forms. I am of the conviction that nothing is actually an opposite by following this knowledge. Yin & Yang are in relation to one another - in proportion - moving somewhat like two liquids, each in their own time and by their own qualities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think of yin and yang like a balancing mechanism, and they turn over and over by proportion, by nature, by your thoughts, by your feelings: they flow and turn and churn through everything. You could also think of them in chemistry terms, in that yin and yang <i>invert</i> into each other: a process in which nothing is lost, nor truly nothing gained. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yin and Yang reveal the cosmic dance; the cosmic dream.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://goamusic.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/the-cosmic-dance/" target="_blank">{ Source }</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The two trigrams contained in #40-Solution. are Water (on the Inside) and Thunder (on the Outside). As above: I'll start off your contemplation by bringing your imagination into your body/belly, with the image of Water, and then into the front of your forehead with the image of Thunder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Water is highly dynamic. It is mostly flexible (yin) in that it takes on many forms, yet its essential inner-nature does not change. There is only one water here on Earth, be it by rain or snow, lake or ocean, stream or river… What befalls the water befalls all the water, and inside that connectivity arises a quality of danger and/or a warning. A drop of water rejoins with every drop of water, hence: water is one yang surrounded by two yins. It is flexible on its outsides, yet united within. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Water has been called ‘the enemy of man…’ I don’t recall if this was Confucius or Lao Tzu, but by ‘enemy’ I believe the speaker refers to the fact that water will always behave by its own terms… As will ‘Man,’ as you are well aware… Hence the factor of Water being an ‘enemy’ as there is a competing Pride. So however you allow your imagination into Water, know that there is always a sense of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-decoration: underline;"><b>caution</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> present: ice, snow, rain, depth, entrapment, floods…. And yet without water, we do not stand a chance of survival, remaining its dependent. Water then, is a good teacher, whose depths are worth exploring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So imagine deeply then, discovering what mysteries you will: Water - now - is on the Inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Above, we have Thunder. It is characterized by one yang line below two yins. I found this very curious during my study, until… </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One day… I was walking in a forest. It was a pleasant, uninviting, uneventful day in the Canadian Fall. Suddenly - extremely suddenly - all the fallen leaves of the forest floor picked themselves up off of the ground by about one inch. Literally - a massive ripple of energy raced across the forest floor, under my feet, and BANG!… A massive hit of thunder struck immediately above me… It was one of the largest ‘shocks’ I’ve received from Nature, like a Giant had quietly passed, rubbing his feet on the carpet floor, stirring up the electricity. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Deep into my study, I recognized why the yang line of Thunder then lies below: the air is flexible, yet the current of energy which allows for thunder is connected to the ground. Imagine as you will - recall as you will - your experiences of Thunder(!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bringing these two trigrams together then, 40-Solution, is surmized by: <b><i>Danger inside Action.</i></b><i> Water inside Thunder. </i>Remember this feeling. Bring your study to a place where you can recall this <i>sensation.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once the feeling from this new hexagram is clear to you, contrast this back to the feelings you found by ‘#46, Rising.’ <b><i>The Action of Wind within the Receptivity of Earth. </i></b><i>Moves into:</i> <b><i>Danger inside Action/ Water inside Thunder.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Between the two experiences - this slight tipping of the scales - arises the emotional resiliency invited in by your Question. We'll step deeper into this, after a little poetic break:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To find a solution and enact upon it, one must move through ‘danger.’ More particular to this Question-Session, one must ‘Rise’ through it. So lets now step a little further again into this idea of ‘danger.’ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">'Danger' sounds ominous. Horrific. … And who needs that(!) Think on ‘danger’ truly as CAUTION. Wisdom, as we age, has us better adapted to ‘danger’ by way of caution. And as we look into the specifics of which lines of yin and yang are in movement (from old to young) you will come to know where to look in your own life - we learn where <b>exactly</b> to apply our caution. This last step in the process will make everything above much more clear, and bring you back to where we began this blog-post: you're study for this Question-session will be complete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This final segment of your Question-Session contains some very fine detail. AND… some “answers.” By which I mean <i><b>direction:</b></i> concrete ways to direct your energy upon your Question. The meditations on the four trigram/elements above are preparatory steps: contemplating the Trigrams steps your mind into your innate <a href="http://www.finerminds.com/mind-power/brain-waves/" target="_blank">Creative Intelligence</a>. This involves digesting another layer of technical information, yet, as above, it will later serve to organize your thinking-and-feeling around this Question, as well as for going forward with an interesting skill, and an increasing perceptiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To describe this constant balancing of yin and yang, the I-Ching uses the terms “<b>Old</b> Yin/Yang” and “<b>Young</b> Yin/Yang,” describing the freshness of their arrival, their arising. Everything has periods of rest and periods of activity, as sometimes you yourself are very active, and other times receptive. Learning, for example, contains both activity and receptivity. The degree of each is in proportion to how you experience any arising difficulty: sometimes a problem invites reflection, and at other times, the study involves some rather legitimate struggle. One state is not ‘better’ than the other, as each describe <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>what-is</i></span><i>; </i>and their mixture, in whatever arising proportion, also describes <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>what-is</i></span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Overall, the I-Ching will always reveal <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>What-Is</i></span><i> </i>within you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So in this particular Question-Session, there is one line of Old Yang, and one line of Old Yin. Numbering the lines from bottom to top, one through six: Yang in the third line inverts into a state of Young Yin, and just above it in the fourth line, Yin inverts into Young Yang. The ‘young’ quality depicts an arrival of energy in these areas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Within a Trigram - working form bottom to top - the areas we can focus on, are: the personal, the interpersonal, and the societal-cultural. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we look at the hexagram as a whole, we have two trigrams: one trigram on top of the other, and so the correlations of Inside and Outside weave together:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lines 1 & 3, relate; focusing on how your </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Personal energies</i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> move within the Inside and the Outside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lines 2 & 5, relate, focusing on how your </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Inter-personal energies</i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> move on the Inside and the Outside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lines 3 & 6, relate, focusing on how your </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Societal energies</i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> move on the Inside and the Outside.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Line One, houses your Personal thoughts on the Inside.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are your thoughts on You, and you alone. These are the thoughts you have about yourself which no one could ever know - <i>even if you speak on them until your voice runs out to your most absolute and best friend(!). </i>Your mind is the only place where such thoughts are expressed, and only you can know their subtlety.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Line Two, houses the Interpersonal thoughts on the Inside.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are your thoughts on your relationships, and on your ability of relationship. Again, no one can ever know these thoughts. This is where we make decisions about others.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Line Three, is the Societal-Cultural on the Inside.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are your private contemplations and feelings on the World.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Lines 4,5, and 6, pertain to how these areas of thinking <i>take action in the world:</i></b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Line 4 pertains to</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> how you are thinking about yourself as you are out-and-about in the world.</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Line 5 pertains to your relationship(s) </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as you are out-and-about in the world.</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Line 6 pertains to your sense of Society and Culture </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as you are out-and-about in the world.</i></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Returning to your Question-Session: here, where the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>‘Roots find Water,’</b></span> lines 1 & 2, and 5 & 6 are all in ‘Young’ energy moving consistently through your time: they have time yet before they become 'old.' These areas are Young: they are consistent, unchanging, reliable, solid, good-to-go, not-to-worry, established…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Where the lines are changing is of interest, and here, the third and fourth lines are changing. The changing lines of any Question-Session need be of particular attention. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In this Question-Session, these changes are rather significant for you in that these lines in particular form and intimate bridge between the Inside and the Outside. <b>They point upon the congruency of your own sense of character.</b> This juncture points upon that place in your mind which may have seemed like a Nest; a place where you might experience a pressure of some kind toward effective action; a hive, which includes how you think in private about the world </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(line 3)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and then, from how you feel about yourself while out-and-about in the day-to-day… </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(line 4).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>By these two shifts in yin/yang energy: your private and Inside thoughts-on-the-world move toward a more receptive time (line 3); new information comes in, you experience new attitudes toward things, people, and experiences; you become more flexible for learning about things in the world; you may be feeling less strict on-the-inside with your views… And twined to that, your sense-of-self as you move-through-the-world, outside in the company of others (line 4), moves into a more active time: you may be reflecting more upon what others are saying - but then in turn act upon it. You may be healing from old ideas or events - finally moving on with renewed vigour - or you may be experiencing your emotions in a larger, more accepting way… The sense of self relaxes and yet enlarges; a quiet yet steady reinvigoration.</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Briefly now - parallel to all of the above - is the <i>character</i> of these trigrams. We’ve reviewed together the Images and Qualities: the Image introduce a focus for your mind and study, and the Quality gives the study some colour. Here, briefly, the Character personalizes things just a little bit more…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wind, is like the eldest daughter within the family; Earth, is the mother; Water, is the middle daughter; and Thunder is the eldest son. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So on the Inside, we move from Wind to Water: from an Eldest Daughter energy, into the Middle Daughter energy. And on the Outside, we move from Earth to Thunder: from the Mother energy, to the energy of the Eldest Son.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmUrK4ismj406MPVWpI8H2B7k9Wl_gzQjj7iIvFG_ud3I5IiHkwkRL47L0CyqE3OjTDESm4hV6DIDn4Db-8cxfX-rG_QE9Q_gsTKyU2rGCKw8E3y1g9JP8ijURsG8iHQoxc5ltMt61Ow/s1600/sacred-masculine-and-feminine-520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmUrK4ismj406MPVWpI8H2B7k9Wl_gzQjj7iIvFG_ud3I5IiHkwkRL47L0CyqE3OjTDESm4hV6DIDn4Db-8cxfX-rG_QE9Q_gsTKyU2rGCKw8E3y1g9JP8ijURsG8iHQoxc5ltMt61Ow/s1600/sacred-masculine-and-feminine-520.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.awaken.com/2013/08/a-call-to-the-sacred-masculine-ten-daring-invitations-from-the-divine-feminine/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{ Source }</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If considered in terms of hierarchy both the Inside and Outside shifts here depict a qualitative demotion. Like I said, the 'answer' to your Question at this time might <i>feel</i> like going backwards, which speaks to the current difficulty; the 'danger' revealed in this Question-session. Doing so, brings out the <i>Solution.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Such a picture of familial relationships illustrates that you may be moving toward a more assertive time in the Outside world. Metaphorically, the eldest son inherits from the mother, and in time, he will lead the family. Underneath this aspect of your arising outward leadership, you move toward a more contemplative time on the Inside: the middle daughter (water) takes the focus out from behind the eldest daughter, Wind. Inwardly, this time feels somewhat like a demotion, a calming, a letting-go - contemplative - while rejuvenating and empowering. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So this combination of Outter and Inner is very dynamic, somewhat like moving in two emotional directions, whereby the </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">territory</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> you inhabit grows and matures, while stepping into a more radiant and congruent place.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These third and fourth lines mark the area of your thinking and your life where your question has lead you. This is the area where you will find your caution <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>and your wisdom</i></span>. This is the locus of attention from which you can guide your decisions which are moving within your Question.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These moving lines point toward the gems of wisdom within you. I placed the very beginning of this Blog-Post in italics,<i> </i>as it is <i>‘The Story’ </i>of your Question-Session. By my explanation which followed - though I confess it has been lengthy - I truly hope I have given you a few tools for consulting and exploring the I-Ching further, and I trust that the information herein is worth sitting with, and that I have given you much to digest over the time ahead as you make your decision. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd_XPcbuAhBrd48vPfq7Bnb0Z7dnlajHUdw6MvKf5Bqy6x93WbJGPjfhPOG5MtMoPnNZHPfIgDeyyVmHVuRoN8xcwwopr4JMuaD6EuRFpnpizBtViAuSw9XlsUuz3SYF8ws0Ew0pH2jM/s1600/TJI_Sipress_thinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd_XPcbuAhBrd48vPfq7Bnb0Z7dnlajHUdw6MvKf5Bqy6x93WbJGPjfhPOG5MtMoPnNZHPfIgDeyyVmHVuRoN8xcwwopr4JMuaD6EuRFpnpizBtViAuSw9XlsUuz3SYF8ws0Ew0pH2jM/s1600/TJI_Sipress_thinker.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://thephoenix.com/boston/life/92165-thinker/" target="_blank"> { Source }</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am of the conviction that every person alive today is facing a deep and heart-felt Question much like yours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I believe there is something at play in our human-story which has us all seeking a great reconciliation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Your attention to the central Question within you is admirable. And such attention-giving is also much needed in the world. It has been a gift in my time to share this knowledge with you, and I am very grateful for our time together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Continue meditating on the images. Continue crafting and carving this question out from the nest of thinking and emotion which brought you to me. Continue breathing into your situation, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and bring always your concentration back to this contemplation until this question finds its “Answer.” </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The I-Ching is a meta-process, in that all questions lead back to every-other-question. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like carving stone, inside your mind </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- inside you - </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">there resides a great object of beauty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is worth spending all-the-time-in-the-world with. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Book-of-Gardens-A-Lovers-Manual-for-Planet-Earth/777293785627756" target="_blank">The Book of Gardens: A Lover's Manual for Planet Earth</a></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-68018577961852220222013-12-10T16:33:00.001-08:002014-02-21T12:48:00.866-08:00Stepping off the treadmill. Exhaustion: A Beginning."Y" came in for an I Ching reading today, and we had a lovely discussion and contemplation. After an initial meditation and explaining the basics of the process (something I'll soon blog about for future reference), we hoped right into it, and this is what she threw:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bFSRos2_n5mVBjaHGMHpvj_hiQXw8qMjKG6lgwc549u1z0b-BUKPBC2V9k6U4uKixJcF_d00ROO5TxexgpFfv9jkPLgpLeKuVcb-A8MSOCOexxa0MpAv4M0KNgx3AHhu_-3dLlOergc/s1600/47.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bFSRos2_n5mVBjaHGMHpvj_hiQXw8qMjKG6lgwc549u1z0b-BUKPBC2V9k6U4uKixJcF_d00ROO5TxexgpFfv9jkPLgpLeKuVcb-A8MSOCOexxa0MpAv4M0KNgx3AHhu_-3dLlOergc/s1600/47.png" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsrj-ATEj1TSP7W1WFmD5fLyivU8HWjDIXC__UrTlo9w3_YLMWTuIQFHiSkerHXDfbpcnHqdThhaxkzSyCq6m7y9iYiHkRgcU4VR4HfpSWrOzzdPIQuLeoe2T1ANT9XzyqF62hpgl_9o/s1600/32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsrj-ATEj1TSP7W1WFmD5fLyivU8HWjDIXC__UrTlo9w3_YLMWTuIQFHiSkerHXDfbpcnHqdThhaxkzSyCq6m7y9iYiHkRgcU4VR4HfpSWrOzzdPIQuLeoe2T1ANT9XzyqF62hpgl_9o/s1600/32.png" /></a></div>
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As per the norm, we focused in on the images: water inside lake (on the left) and then wind inside thunder (on the right). The Image, focuses your mind onto the task at hand. Words like Lake, Thunder, Wind… these are broad enough in scope that your imaginative ability readily attach themselves to. The Qualities of water inside lake, are described as danger inside joy, and <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/The-Buddhist-Ching-Chih-Hsu-Ou-I/dp/0877734089" target="_blank">the title of the hexagram is Exhaustion</a>. "<span style="text-align: start;">Y</span>" is moving out of a time of exhaustion - indeed, a knee surgery(!) - and into a time of <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/The-Buddhist-Ching-Chih-Hsu-Ou-I/dp/0877734089" target="_blank">Constancy</a>.</div>
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Numbering the lines from bottom to top (one through six) there are natural correspondences between 1&4, 2&5, and 3&6. With Exhaustion, as we can see that by these correspondences, only one pair is in balance right now: lines 1&3. This pertains to "<span style="text-align: start;">Y</span>'s" Personal foundation - her own thoughts on herself - whereas the next two lines - indicative of the Inter-personal, and the Societal - are not balanced: there is a double yang in the interpersonal lines (2&4) and a double yin for the Societal (3&6). This can read as too much activity between herself and others, and too much passivity by herself with the world. Such is a picture of exhaustion: ones energies are withdrawn by the world out of necessity, and communicating with others can be taxing. The lesson of Exhaustion is to bring in the energies available onto oneself to avoid further calamity.</div>
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Here in this reading, as the time moves into Constancy (hexagram #32), there is a much more balanced picture taking place - each yin is paired to a yang. Lines 3 and 5 are changing lines… How <span style="text-align: start;">Y</span> understands the world is moving into a more active time, and how she incorporates others into her life is becoming more receptive. Indeed, <span style="text-align: start;">Y</span> mentioned how she has been branching out toward a variety of modalities over the past while, gathering new information, and how she is finding a finer and fuller sense of equilibrium with her children.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmr9_ILXUSo478nOWj5kDD7tofp2MZpXBXSm3lusW4akAd7Ev4bBVYU6O3W7s_JHRZhxtFyFyYtQgcQ8BHkbOV4eMUlPDz_0CKvX3ufg1lJKz15irncK-NCbinjby1HYcU2ARSfeCQZE/s1600/depression-is-a-lying-bastard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmr9_ILXUSo478nOWj5kDD7tofp2MZpXBXSm3lusW4akAd7Ev4bBVYU6O3W7s_JHRZhxtFyFyYtQgcQ8BHkbOV4eMUlPDz_0CKvX3ufg1lJKz15irncK-NCbinjby1HYcU2ARSfeCQZE/s320/depression-is-a-lying-bastard.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmr9_ILXUSo478nOWj5kDD7tofp2MZpXBXSm3lusW4akAd7Ev4bBVYU6O3W7s_JHRZhxtFyFyYtQgcQ8BHkbOV4eMUlPDz_0CKvX3ufg1lJKz15irncK-NCbinjby1HYcU2ARSfeCQZE/s1600/depression-is-a-lying-bastard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>Our discussion over the course of two hours was very rich, touching on a number of subjects, including Depression. The thing about any given emotion is that the sooner it becomes named, the sooner a person can move on into the next thing needed by our situation and our Life Force. Exhaustion is one such thing. We both regaled in stories where the exhaustion was so great, truly all one could do was laugh. So with the I Ching, anything whose 'skin' appears negative, also holds a large turn-around; an inversion of energy. Thus is Exhaustion the sign of a beginning. Unlike <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1583438087598495751#editor/target=post;postID=112357394636146568;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=postname" target="_blank">my last reading with Fi</a>, where she was grateful for the increase of the feminine coming back into her life, here, there is an arising 'masculine' presence in-coming by means of the action of Thunder in the second hexagram. Certainly being post-surgery requires a time for healing, and then a time for active recovery. <span style="text-align: start;">Y</span> has bee steadily moving into such a transition for several months. </div>
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Thunder is in the top half of Constancy, the Elder Brother, whereas the other three trigrams are all feminine: Water, the Middle Daughter; Lake, the Youngest Daughter, and Wind, the Eldest Daughter. It is interesting to note how exhaustion is characterized by the two younger girls, and Constancy is characterized by the two eldest children. Certainly there comes a time within all healing processes where a push from the bigger-brother-within, is a welcome thing.</div>
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By the time our discussion moved into Family Position, I had illustrated the method of how I Ching brings the mind closer and closer in to the qualitative focus one eventually brings onto the question. The Image begins the task (i.e.: water, thunder, lake, etc) - like opening a door - and the Quality focuses the mind and concentrates the energy (i.e.: danger, action, joy), and the Family Position concentrates things yet again. All of these focuses - layering them on one by one - bring out the hermeneutical feeling of what the original question of "<span style="text-align: start;">Y"</span> asked. Sitting with the feelings at each stage very much quiet the mind - at each stage - and the culmination of these stages allows for very rich thinking and decision making.</div>
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I confess here… this isn't one of my more eloquent blog posts… I've cut to the chase largely for "<span style="text-align: start;">Y</span>'s" benefit, because she got so much out of our discussion… and BECAUSE <u>I'M</u> EXHAUSTED. :) Which is of course all fine-and-good. I am looking forward to a Christmas break from things. I am very proud to have published my <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">Book of Gardens</a> this year, and am diligently building the website for it. When I work in-person, I definitely take my cues from the person in the room and can tell if I am speaking way above a person's understanding or not. My goal is to share such a rich method of self examination. What took me 18 years is certainly not going to land in a few hours, but the excitement for the basics <i>will!</i> </div>
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The urgent message of <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">my book</a> stands, that amid the decisions upon us all today, what direction will we take?.. "<span style="text-align: start;">Y</span>'s" exhaustion parallel's rather characteristically of our so-called 'trickle-down' economy, which seems to only trickle down an increasing amount of pressure for the 'little guy.' </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.endurancetrainingblog.com/endurance-training-blog/2010/2/14/treadmill-running.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{ photo credit }</span></a></td></tr>
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Much of the discussion in the back of <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/philip-w-sarsons/the-book-of-gardens-a-lovers-manual-for-planet-earth/paperback/product-21313467.html" target="_blank">the book</a> pertains to the many divides we build and sustain daily with our human actions - monetized by credit instruments. I illustrate the psychological mechanisms which has us rather bound to growth-economics (i.e.: scarcity thinking) and that from the cause of this being through the very 'money' supply we use to meet our needs, our human problems go very much mis-diagnosed as intrinsic, personal, and inter-personal - whereas in fact it is a cultural monetary policy which keeps us trapped on a treadmill. You can read more about iT <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, and purchase a copy - <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/philip-w-sarsons/the-book-of-gardens-a-lovers-manual-for-planet-earth/paperback/product-21313467.html">here.</a><br />
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Once I've introduced the basic lay-of-the-land with I Ching as I did for <span style="text-align: start;">Y</span> today, the discussion inevitably becomes rich and multi-directional. I'm also beginning to notice commonalities from one reading into the next, namely, the total surprised-recognition of the Questioner when I announce the titles of their hexagrams. This very much speaks to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cleary" target="_blank">Thomas Cleary's</a> work of translation, that his titles hit the bullseye each time with each hexagram study. His work is thorough, and his scholarship absolute tops. It took many years to digest his work, and I'm proud and lucky to say I have many more ahead.</div>
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It was a delight to sit with you today <span style="text-align: start;">Y</span>, and I hope to see you again for another Question.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-1123573946361465682013-12-09T19:21:00.000-08:002013-12-09T19:42:12.568-08:00Progression to Joy: Return of the Feminine.<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">
It’s approaching the two year mark since I began offering I Ching readings to people and I continue to marvel at the omnipresent sense of reinvention housed in this ancient avenue of study. I equally marvel at the degree of shared enjoyment which is generated by the study of the I Ching. </div>
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A new friend and colleague, Fi, is the first person to have two readings with me, one week apart. Each time, she cast a hexagram with some subtle change, and overall, a very interesting and highly sequential picture came clear. I found this extremely inspiring for how much the I Ching reveals always and quite simply <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>what-is:</i></span></div>
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There are two clear progressions taking place here, and one <i>inversion:</i> Yang shrinks in the upper half/trigram, and by the fourth hexagram yang increases within the bottom/lower half. There is a constant progression toward a greater yin presence, while steadily, from below, the constancy eventually births a second line of yang.</div>
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Fi, recently completed a major construction project and expressed feeling relieved as of late to ‘invite back in the feminine,’ after having been in such a rough-and-tumble environment working alongside nine men. <i>“42, Increase,”</i> is a picture of this time of action within action: Thunder below, and Wind above. Thunder is a ‘masculine’ action and stays constant on the inside/below for the first three hexagrams before changing into Lake (… Joy) … Wind, above, in the first hexagram, describes a feminine action. Together, Wind & Thunder make for a storm of activity - as indeed building a house must be…</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.gallery-sakura.com/japanesepainting.html" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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Though we did not discuss gender in any overt way during our discussion, there is a significant and steady tipping of the scales in the above sequence of hexagrams. Each trigram has a family position. Here, in the first hexagram, Wind, the Eldest Daughter, is above Thunder, the Eldest Son. Qualitatively these family positions suggest different levels of authority and ability, and the progression here is very interesting when parallel to Fi’s recent accomplishments. </div>
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Looking just at the top halves of this series of hexagrams, we have: Wind, the Eldest Daughter, moving into Mountain, the Youngest Son; moving into Earth, the Mother, the receptive in full, and remaining as such into the fourth and final hexagram.</div>
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Fi made mention of a sense of relief having got through such a major project, and expressed a sense of gratitude for the feminine flooding back into her day-to-day. And indeed the upper half of a hexagram is indeed how ones thoughts-and-actions are moving out in the world.</div>
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In the lower halves of this series of hexagrams a different pattern reinforces this development: Thunder, the Eldest Son stays steady and constant for the first three hexagrams until changing into Lake, the Youngest Daughter, Joy, in the fourth. Biologically, eldest children generally take on responsibilities at the arrival of younger children. <i>So overall</i>, in this progression of hexagrams, this kind of authority, or decisive quality is waning, making way for more youthful energy... The lower halves of a hexagram reflect back more ones thoughts-and-actions within one's sense of self, or ones interior and private world. So the overall picture then is one of Fi needing great strength, or perseverance, to get through to this new time of arising (and intrinsic) joy. </div>
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Lake, is indeed synonymous with Joy. Fi, is indeed strong, healthy, fiery, and with great will. This reflects back the image of Thunder being constant (and on the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1583438087598495751#editor/target=post;postID=7701618691986652404;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=11;src=postname" target="_blank">Inside</a>) for so long. Thunder is sudden and decisive. Wind, is forceful and flexible. </div>
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As we look again at the first two hexagrams, the change which takes place is a ‘loss’ of one yang line. Conversely, this is a ‘gain’ of one line of yin. That process repeats into the third hexagram in this series, leaving only one yang line left - her resources worn down, making way for qualitatively different resources to arise. When we look upon Thomas Cleary’s titles for these hexagrams, we move from “Increase,” to “Nourishment,” to “Return,” and then finally into “Overseeing.” If we were to ascribe a narrative to this progression, certainly a return to the mature (and happy) feminine is very present.</div>
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In her second reading (the third & fourth hexagrams pictured above), I spoke on hexagram <i>#23, Stripping Away.</i></div>
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As you look upon it, you can see it is ‘flipped’ in comparison to <i>#24, Return. </i>I prefer the word <b><i><u>inversion</u></i></b>, and the I Ching hosts several different kinds of inversions. Thomas Cleary is an exceptional scholar who illustrates fully how Yin/Yang are in constant motion, and at the ready to <i>invert into their other</i> at any given moment in time. Yin/Yang are dynamic energies, rather than fixed entities. Both <i>Return, </i>and <i>Stripping Away</i>, when side-by-side like this depict a kind of exhaustion, and I’d like to suggest that where in #23 the exhaustion comes along by surprise, <i>Return</i> illustrates a sense of complete acceptance. I'll illustrate this better at the end of the post, from an example within my <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">book</a>. </div>
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Through this particular sequence of four hexagrams the top trigrams inherently depict a kind of ‘stripping away’ … Yang is stripped back until there is only one left: activity and action head toward their natural rest, and the benefits of rest arise. Reflectiveness become present. This, is <i>Return.</i> … The <i>inversion</i> which very much catches my eye though is how the <u>top trigram in the first hexagram</u> <i>inverts</i> into the <u>lower trigram of the fourth</u>(!) Wind… inverts into Lake… That sense of age, responsibility and weariness, becomes spent and is replaced by an invigoration: Wind 'converts' into Lake; Action, inverts into Joy(!)</div>
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As I explain to everyone who comes to me for an I Ching reading - I am not a psychologist - so I do not want to know what your question is. I will speak to the movement of the energy of yin/yang at hand, only - as in the above - as I’d rather not be biased inside the reading. Doing so, the Questioner (you) becomes a very present partner to exploring what houses your underlying energies. NONETHELESS, a titbit in conversation always arises which becomes the jewel to shine a light through onto the reading. Clearly, Fi is headed into calm waters, away from the storm - the thunder and wind. She leaves the mountain pass and reclaims the joy of the mother earth around her.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.landscapehdwalls.com/calm-lake-at-night-108/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{ photo credit }</span></a></td></tr>
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It is clear to me now that after so many years of personal reflection through I Ching, that now I have moved with a good and happy certainty into the level of inter-personal reflection, bringing my study into the lives of others - an important change in and of itself for any endevour. And, no doubt it is my aim for <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">“The Book of Gardens”</a> to contribute to a broader, cultural, contribution…. All steps along the path. </div>
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I'll leave you with a selection, <i>#24 Return</i> - enjoy! And may you find time for a little wonder & relaxation today(!)</div>
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<a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">{ from: The Book of Gardens }</a></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theskeggsfamily.com/2008/12/13/some-of-jays-published-photos/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{ photo credit }</span></a></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-16490435441396082232013-08-13T12:51:00.001-07:002013-12-09T19:25:32.981-08:00The Meeting of Like Mindedness.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.peoplepolarity.com/the-road-less-traveled/" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></td></tr>
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I'm open to new paths, myself. I'm very much a <i>'road-less-traveled' </i>fellow. And this weekend I found myself with a lucky Friday night free to do as I please. I've only recently ventured out of my writer's cave having completed my <i><a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">Book of Gardens: A Lover's Manual for Planet Earth</a></i>, and so after a deep stretch yoga class I followed my feet to a local poetry reading with <a href="http://elephantmountain.org/2013/06/28/doug-wilton-%E2%89%88-the-living-end-of-the-mind/" target="_blank">Doug Wilton's Elephant Mountain</a> and Nelson's <a href="http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/British-Columbia/Nelson/Booksmyth/7716268.html" target="_blank">BookSmyth</a>.<br />
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It was nice to cross paths with the likes of Nelson's local poets. As it is a special culture, it's poets are a highly special bunch; the cream of a highly eccentric crop, where I have always felt myself amongst esteemed company (albeit secretly esteemed). Nelson is one of these places which either draws in our deeper thinkers, or it will draw deeper thinking out of a person. Either way, I'm deeply proud to be a part of this little town.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gluns.ca/p326925390/h1DCFAFCF#h1dcfafcf" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></td></tr>
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I made an offering to the group at the top of the evening: after each presenter, they would choose a number between one and sixty-four, and then I would lead in a brief meditation on the subsequent hexagram chosen, concluding with a reading of that <i>I Ching</i> poem from my <i><a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">Book of Gardens</a>.</i><br />
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Everyone thought that was rather lovely, and for me it was certainly a test... ever looking toward the underlying fabric of how <i>I Ching</i> will always reveal only <i><u><b>what-is</b></u>.</i><br />
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The readings began with <a href="http://lindacrosfield.com/" target="_blank">Linda Crossfield</a>, who was there with her grandson. Linda is well known in the literary community here and I enjoyed listening to her read in person at our recent<a href="http://emlfestival.com/" target="_blank"> Elephant Mountain Literary Festival</a>. Afterwards, she picked <i>#37 People in the Home. </i>The meditation centered upon <i>fire inside wind, </i>or,<i> illumination inside action.</i> This was naturally quite fitting to her work (copies of which can be obtained <a href="http://lindacrosfield.com/nibpublishing/" target="_blank">HERE.</a>) which seemingly effortlessly brings out a sense of wisdom tucked into the corners of the everyday. It was rather suiting that her grandson was present, as he - quickly! - memorized a piece of hers, and we were delighted to have this young voice at the podium. Indeed: illuminated... illuminating... and quite dynamic to have a multi-generational presentation of her work that night.<br />
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We moved next to Phil Madar, whose postcard stories are filled with chuckles. His story ended with the character searching for the Norwegian word for storm... and no doubt a little later Phil asked for <i>#51 ... Thunder. </i><br />
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The meditation is governed by <i>action inside action, one thunder inside another thunder, culminating in one larger and pervasive thunder.</i> The meditations I crafted were based on my usual <a href="http://i-ching-guidance.blogspot.ca/2012/03/inside-outside.html" target="_blank">Inside & Outside</a> couplings, placing each image in the belly and behind the forehead - localizing the imagination and concentration.<br />
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Next arrived one of Nelson's dear War Poets, Dennis Foley, whose appreciation of form and metaphysics is both curmudgeonly and formidable. Truly by no coincidence - <i>I Ching only reveals what-is -</i> Denis asked for <i>#21 ... Biting Through.</i> It astounds me that each time I cross this mans path he has another <i>'almost-got-shot-there'</i> story. And despite such a history, here thrives a Poet.<br />
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Lastly, our host, Douglas Wilton, whose blog need be on every Kootenay Poet's <i>"follow" </i>list - <a href="http://elephantmountain.org/" target="_blank">ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN</a> - shared a metaphysical musing from a recent walk in one of Nelson's many gorgeous pathways. Doug chose <i>#8 ... Accord</i>, a deeply metaphysical consideration, whose meditation is centered upon <i>receptivity inside pitfalls. </i>The study of Self is ripe with pitfalls of grandiosity as one peels away the postures of ego; followed with new feelings aside from overt feelings on the self, a new awareness naturally 'appears' to take up more space...<br />
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I look forward to bringing my <i><a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">Book of Gardens</a></i> to future poetry readings throughout the Kootenays, offering small hits of mindfulness, and generating further discussion on my favourite subject, the <i>I Ching.</i><br />
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Thank you Doug, for hosting an excellent evening. See you all again soon!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-60038687448275604472013-08-13T12:29:00.002-07:002013-08-13T12:29:24.506-07:00Full On WowD, came by for tea and <i>I Ching</i>. She cast <i>#3, Difficulty,</i> moving into <i>#8, Accord. </i>There is only one small movement in the first line, moving from yang to yin, which, though small or seemingly hidden, is significant.<br />
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The little personal shifts we make on any given day-to-day are like setting something into a spiral motion: as we travel further away from that shift, or decision, the eventual breadth and perspective we gain is significant. So too might every decision be, if we be granted our thoughts the attention they ask for.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://guru2.karakasa.com/Aerial%20screw/aerial-e_download.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">{ photo credit }</span></a></td></tr>
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The top trigram is consistent in both hexagrams: water, each line comprised of young or new energy, is constant and unchanging here. Water, synonymous with <i>mastering pitfalls, </i>or danger, and contains a hidden - yet definite - invitation to use every ounce of wisdom one has. Water, in <i>I Ching</i>, is an invitation to uncover its compliment, Fire, or, Illumination.<br />
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D & I meditated on the images and qualities here of Water, Thunder, and Earth, finding that the internal (lower trigram) shift from Thunder into the receptivity of Earth was a very significant energistic shift - affecting the quality of the <i>mastering pitfalls</i> in the above, the outside upper trigram.<br />
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That the water stays consistent in both hexagrams holds this invitation toward wisdom at the forefront for any keen observer. Water (mastering pitfalls) is a constant element at all moments in the <i>I Ching,</i> and here indeed we see an immediate example of that, and the coin toss in this particular instance invites the solution of <i>Accord.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sikasi.com/images/3d/handshake.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">{ photo credit }</span></a></td></tr>
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The line in the fifth position of any given hexagram is significant, and generally is seen as a boon if it is yang energy. Here, with <i>Accord,</i> being surrounded by yin, the ready caution is of passivity, though certainly after a time of <i>Difficulty,</i> rest is necessary. Yet the double invitation here is to absorb one's learning. That is, to not loose sight of the recent difficulty, but to mine it for its true, directional value.<br />
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The quality of accord is of <i>receptivity inside the 'danger'</i> of water. Danger here can also depict mystery, like any still body of water, what lies beneath the surface generates much emotion.<br />
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Amid that feeling, if one injects into the absolute centre of it this idea of <i>receptivity,</i> the magic of Accord comes into view.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2012/05/math-fun-kids-mathematics-spirals/" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></td></tr>
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The Earth element is key. Our Earth receives everything we give: bulldozers, toxic spills, shovels, projectiles, trash, urine, rain, lightning... the Earth simply gives way. It is the ultimate embodiment of the Receptive principle. Coupled this to the water element in <i>Accord,</i> and the illumination carried within a prior time of difficulty rises to the surface..<br />
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The fifth position is like 'upper management.' Or your most trusted advisor: close to the leadership, holding much knowledge and influence. That this 'advisor' is surrounded by the Receptive brings forward the image of riding that edge in meditation where you are close to falling asleep(!) yet one has to stay alert just enough to take in the full breadth of information at hand. Amongst the Receptive, the wealth of information it receives is truly limitless. Accord is the method by which one relaxes ever more deeply into the practical value of wonder, allowing the neural-chemical process to unveil, out from the shroud of daily stresses and battles we are habituated to. Its invitation reaches as deep as you are willing to travel. Thus moving from Difficulty to Accord is a time for being the sponge, for soaking up the lessons one has weathered; a true time of gratitude and appreciation for having arrived at this moment.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-85118772864005810532013-07-31T13:11:00.004-07:002013-12-09T19:27:47.237-08:00Different Parts of the BeingIt was a great pleasure this evening to offer <i>I Ching Guidance</i> to someone ten years my senior. Though in matters such as mindfulness - or to use the words of my new friend, M, <i>soul -</i> age is just a number, and how one puts learning into <i>practice</i> is everything. On that front, the evening was rich with conversation.<br />
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Being new to <i>I Ching, </i>M, asked all kinds of questions about the process and about my soon-to-be-available-publicly <i>The Book of Gardens; </i>and it was a true joy to have ready and practical answers. We chatted on the various narratives we are all susceptible to - notably the religious and economic ones - getting swept away to a story, tied to its ending, often having to overlook the means by which we may arrive there... Certainly the narrative of constant-growth economics ties us to an end which never finds fruition... And as I argue in the <i>Book of Gardens,</i> such a narrative has us believing and acting in a way that keeps us feeling very separate and isolated from everything around us - especially each other...<br />
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I went through the questioning process of honing in onto a question, which is both the most fun and the most difficult of part working with <i>I Ching: </i>"Different parts of the being," said M, "are asking the question."<br />
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And he's quite right.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelg%C3%A4nger" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">{ Rossetti: How They Met Themselves watercolour, 1864 }</span></a></td></tr>
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We all have a question present to us. We all have various things occurring in our lives which present <i>themes</i>. If you are alive you are probably learning. The degree to which you are conscious to your learning may vary from person to person, but in the heart of all your thinking - always - always there resides a <i>question... </i>Part of the process - just as M described - was to ask first, well: "How do we listen?" How do we listen for the question..?<br />
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We each have roles to play on behalf of each other, and we each have a sense of duty to ourselves, and balancing these competing sets of needs make for many questions - many voices - inside of our thinking. Taking the opportunity to sift through this, and get to the central theme of ones life is what <i>I Ching</i> is all about, and why it will remain a timeless classic for our species. Using the question - something truly unique to You - brings out your innate concentration, and leads you toward generating your own insight to what is best to your own life. The only 'trick' to the process is to make time for it. Using <i>I Ching Guidance, </i>is one such opportunity that I offer to you, and greatly enjoy sharing.<br />
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These two sets of voices then - the outward responsibilities, and the inward - reminded me of the Doppleganger myth. According to German legend, the moment of your death arrives when you face your twin as if in a mirror. It is as if the other version of you - living out his or her days autonomous to yours - wanders equally on this planet, going about stuff, confused yet searching, and then BAM! meets his or her twin...You! The myth then describes the dying process as one hyper-quick flashback through your time seen through the eyes of the others who encountered you moment-to-moment-to-moment... You literally see your life 'flash before you.'<br />
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As I mention in <i><a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">The Book of Gardens</a></i>, such a myth only raises a foreboding second head if one has something to hide.<br />
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Which I suppose is where Mindfulness and the <i>I Ching </i>comes in. <i>I Ching </i>makes physical various loci of attention otherwise buried in the day-to-day maelstrom of your thinking. As usual, I was taken aback by the relevance of what the coin-toss brought out:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>#17, Following.</i></td></tr>
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Just as one must follow through to find a question, so too does one follow the events and energies which insulate ones thinking from even asking the question. One follows - either consciously or unconsciously - the predominant set of thoughts which 'speak' the loudest. Underneath it all though - <i>when we look</i> - resides always our truest, most deepest wish. This process I call <i>The Practical Value of Wonder.</i><br />
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It's like a vitamin for your neurology, creating space and uncovering the vitality for your best thinking.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.saagara.com/apps/pranayama-app" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Saagara.com</span></a></td></tr>
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At this time, all of M's coin tosses revealed yin & yang in their 'young' states. That is, the energies in each line are just establishing: the time is new, and none of the energy is moving away from their given state.<br />
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<i>Following,</i> is characterized by the image of <i>Thunder inside the Lake; </i>the quality of <i>Action inside Joy; </i>as well as the characters<i> The Eldest Son and The Youngest Daughter.</i> These are various contemplations to concentrate ones focus on the question at hand.<br />
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To envision this, place your concentration of the 'Inside' at your navel, or the belly. Bring to mind there the image of Thunder as you have experienced thunder in your time thus far. From there, move to the idea of having <i>action</i> generating there from the Inside. Thunder, containing a masculine quality, or suddenness, or sudden strength, can also be imaged there inside your belly. Take some time to sift through this - the image, quality, and character - and make them personal to you. Personalize their energies, and feel them as they reside in your body - here, in the belly. The action of thunder, says much about M currently on the <i>Inside.</i><br />
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On the outside, or just behind your forehead, imagine the image of <i>Lake,</i>which is synonymous to the quality of Joy. As I write this five blocks away from the beach here on this hot July afternoon, it does not take too great a leap to pair Lake with Joy...<br />
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<i>#17, Following.</i></div>
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When we look here upon the correspondences between the bottom and top trigrams, lines 1 & 4 are both yang. This may illustrate a congruency for M at this time, in that his sense of self-hood is well established. The potential caution is of excessive yang which burns itself up more readily: but here both lines of yang are young yang, which speaks to me of having crossed through a time of transition, positioned well in what is fresh and new.<br />
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Lines 2 & 5 have yin inside yang. This is the area of interpersonal relations, and having yang in the fifth position (close to the 'leadership' of the sixth line) is generally a good thing. Every good leader needs excellent managers and supportive workers. Balanced and supported by the line below, this shows that M is in a place where he is flexible toward others while being active socially. Again, both lines are young and establishing, so the potential for growth and simultaneous renewal is present and balanced.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://neuroresearch.net/" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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And in the last set of correspondences, lines 3 & 6, both are yin... which returns us again to the idea of being open and flexible to M's place in society, and how M is thinking on society. M is quite ready for new information and experiences.<br />
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So... what with all this seeming random <i>positive-ness, </i>what else is M to do other than to follow his own understanding of truth and benefit? Each step brings us closer toward seeing ourselves in our fulness. What - or rather, how - would you like to greet such a person?...<br />
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I am of the conviction that taking regular time to listen in for ones truest Question - to be present with your immediate sense of longing - is of immense health-giving benefit. It allows for our best decisions, personally, interpersonally, and how we may then become global citizens.<br />
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Thanks M. Looking forward to a round of Chess!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-42136178769522458012013-07-30T23:04:00.000-07:002013-07-31T14:27:55.766-07:00Observing Opportunity.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/miscellaneous-yummy-meow-cats-dressed-up-as-sushi-to-brighten-your-monday" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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Human curiosity is a lovely timeless thing. No matter what life hands us, curiosity truly just waits under the surface.<br />
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To that end, I met with a curious new friend for a hike and <i>I Ching Guidance</i> the other week. No, I'm not giving guidance to cats just yet - we'll save that for our later years - but curiosity and cats do pair together so well, and the site of <i><a href="http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/miscellaneous-yummy-meow-cats-dressed-up-as-sushi-to-brighten-your-monday" target="_blank">'dressing cats up as sushi'</a> </i>seemed too good to pass over. 'Hell' may be fashioned for the inquisitive, but I'd rather ask, than have a hell sneak up on me.<br />
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My friend S cast the following combination of hexagrams, with one minor movement of old yin into young yang in the top, sixth, line. This is in the area of how S moves, acts, and thinks on society as she is out-and-about in the world. Such an area for change is something which I think many of us will relate to today: how we are perceived, our life satisfaction, our vulnerabilities, our habits, and what is available to us to answer the questions and callings within...<br />
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My <a href="http://i-ching-guidance.blogspot.ca/2013/07/illumination-into-action.html" target="_blank">last post</a> illustrated decently the areas of image, quality, and character contained by a hexagram study, so rather than explain these fresh again here, I'll dive into the deep end.<br />
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On the left, hexagram <i>#8 Accord,</i> is characterized by the image of <i>Earth inside Water.</i> The qualities of which are <i>receptivity inside danger,</i> or, <i>receptivity inside mastering pitfalls.</i><br />
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Hexagram <i>#20 Observing,</i> on the right, is characterized by the image of <i>Earth inside Wind.</i> The qualities of which are <i>receptivity inside action.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.fubiz.net/2012/06/21/dirt-is-good-campaign/" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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Briefly meditate on these images/qualities for a moment. The inside (the body, or the belly) is filled with <i>the receptive, the Earth.</i> Imagine how readily the Earth bends to our will. It accepts whatever is given: storms, fires, excavations, industry, grumpy humans throwing things at it... The Earth makes way and accepts all the forces that move above and through it.<br />
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Breathe deep into your belly and torso this notion of <i>receptivity, </i>or <i>the receptive.</i> Breathe with this for several large breaths until you begin to relax and the imaging becomes more subtle... Underneath the surface of our Earth, thrive millions and millions of its subjects, churning out a rather serious cosmic compost, giving and taking lives, ashes to ashes, dust to dust... Breathe this sense of <i>Earth</i> into your belly.<br />
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When life hands us a big challenge it is surprising just how long it can take to move beyond it - to digest it - and usually a person begins to do so after some time of rest and reflection. Hibernation almost; or withdrawing into <a href="http://www.lyricsmania.com/the_cave_lyrics_mumford_and_sons.html" target="_blank">the cave.</a> That yin (the receptive) is so very present here in this casting of <i>I Ching</i>, and that S is now several years into co-parenting, it seems natural that an accord has been largely developed, and S moves now toward an active change for how S is perceived in the world. Certainly the readiness to jump into an <i>I Ching </i>reading speaks toward that readiness - <a href="http://www.toseekoutnewlife.com/" target="_blank">to seek out new information</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.zmescience.com/research/studies/new-insight-on-waters-strange-properties/" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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On the outside then, or just behind the forehead, meditate briefly on the image of water. There are all kinds of water: rain, streams, oceans, lakes, rivers... Continue with observing your breath through your torso while imagining the qualities of water inside your head. Water amends - like Earth - to anything we give to it - boats, rocks, debris, sunken ships... and it is not something we can survive inside for any length of time without coming up for air. So there is a constant sense of 'alert' when water is present - despite its engaging beauty.<br />
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This water, this 'mastering pitfalls,' is in transition, moving in this case into Wind. Shift your meditation now to this image of Wind - moving from Water to Wind. It is a slight, yet dynamic shift. The air envelopes everything - as does Earth and Water - and Wind, covers a tremendous amount of ground quickly. Here, S's perception is growing - expanding. From a time of mystery perhaps, S moves into a time of Perspective...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://classicwatersolutions.com/" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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S, spoke of a quality kind of like craving in our ensuing conversation. The lower three lines of each hexagram speak to this, in that the levels of personal, interpersonal, and societal are consistently receptive (yin). Being mid life (though S argues to be 1/3 through life!) S has available all the tools to do as is pleasing: sense of self - check - established relationships - check - and professional experience to draw upon to craft further a career...<br />
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... Yet at this time, S, awaits upon word of work in the fall, and is quite ready to make the move.<br />
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The movement in the top trigrams also speaks to this shift: water is the <i>middle daughter,</i> and wind is the <i>eldest daughter.</i> The movement in character alone depicts a kind of graduation, or a growing in authority. Given the underlying consistency of yin in the lower trigrams, S, has all the personal authority at the ready to claim this next move. She is consistently receptive on the inside trigram; that is, within her inner life and perceptions.<br />
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So all may appear well, in that a decision - or by a piece of new information - all may fall into place, and <i>presto!</i> all may be well. And right at that point bubbled up a sense of caution for me...<br />
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That this is a time of slight and gradual transition, the level of consistency here gives rise to becoming too passive in awaiting the change. The change is taking place <i>out in the world, </i>so there are factors at play that if one doesn't <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seize_the_Day" target="_blank">seize the day</a>, </i>certainly the day will unfold as it may... There is excitement to be found so long as there is no <i>panic</i> to do so.<br />
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Looking twice upon this caution, the idea of 'complacency' came to mind, yet only toward how S wants to be known in the world. That is, in having the life experience to draw upon, now is truly a time for not conforming to outside ideas. Rather, today is the day for capitalizing on the inward learning that has taken place in recent years, and moving actively into a sense of Decision based upon life's little lessons it must hand us. Such qualitatively-based decision making is like making the layers of inward looking decidedly active - seeking fulfillment or Satisfaction, perhaps uncovering something forgotten or delayed, starting that <i>thing</i> that has yet to be tried...<br />
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After a time of great change, or even upheaval, certainly a time of exhaustion and rest are probably the best thing to be doing: <i>rest IS the action in such times.</i> But once any 'craving' or unsettledness stirs, it is a time to consider taking concrete action, seeking out opportunity.<br />
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<a data-reactid=".r[44y0c]" href="https://www.facebook.com/phil.sarsons" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-58880293202815870492013-07-16T21:27:00.001-07:002013-12-09T19:31:05.539-08:00Bright Leo Gazing.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've had a couple of <i>I Ching</i> sessions over the last few months, but have been far too busy to blog about them. The good news contained in that is that I've readied my <i><a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">Book of Gardens</a> </i>for self-publication now<i>,</i> and am going to make a few more adjustments to it before releasing it publicly. An excerpt from the book came to mind while crafting this post, and is pasted below...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~</span></div>
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My new friend K met with me today, and I had the good fortune of exchanging with her a review of my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natal_chart" target="_blank">astrological birth-chart</a>. I also had the privilege of being the first person she's offered this to(!) </div>
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K, is not the only astrologer in her family, and sharing her process with others has been something she has been considering for some time. Similar to my <a href="http://i-ching-guidance.blogspot.ca/2012/03/i-went-to-edmonton-indigo-drinks-last.html" target="_blank">first post from a year-and-a-half ago</a>, once a person knows their source of wisdom well, much benefit and learning can be generated by sharing it with others. The exchange of insight produces more insight...<br />
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<u><i>Illumination into Action</i></u></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TVEvJJXCwiNylbdmELPgWQexdtX-A4xniaqYIOuW1XH8E0e6fzerl6n6T0nWIO9tAFhPgpPQMZMsfDeLDC76vwq_qlxQy5AKNL9cIz7nOKOZuR2rXKyQOVgK6lREh44tpd1cCkShHqQ/s1600/30.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TVEvJJXCwiNylbdmELPgWQexdtX-A4xniaqYIOuW1XH8E0e6fzerl6n6T0nWIO9tAFhPgpPQMZMsfDeLDC76vwq_qlxQy5AKNL9cIz7nOKOZuR2rXKyQOVgK6lREh44tpd1cCkShHqQ/s1600/30.tiff" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx0XodpHG43rXSq_Xul4T5A5hTWAbz9xc7xMYF23mFilJbOFqwW9lHAaFL_E5B5NezxoFk9tMWp_oYJxFAzfHr0uD0aEA3Uq4H3WjSWv0L7K8eKXmaX1p0aMLPE3A5Ro1tIGzPgr9XjY/s1600/37.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx0XodpHG43rXSq_Xul4T5A5hTWAbz9xc7xMYF23mFilJbOFqwW9lHAaFL_E5B5NezxoFk9tMWp_oYJxFAzfHr0uD0aEA3Uq4H3WjSWv0L7K8eKXmaX1p0aMLPE3A5Ro1tIGzPgr9XjY/s1600/37.tiff" /></a></div>
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K's question drew one of the "timeless" hexagrams, <i>#30 - Fire,</i> moving into<i> #37 People in the Home</i> (Hexagram Titles are in accord with Professor Thomas Cleary's <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/The-Buddhist-Ching-Chih-Hsu-Ou-I/dp/0877734089" target="_blank">Buddhist I Ching</a>). My own practice for describing I Ching to another has come along well in the past eighteen months, but nevertheless, describing the movement of energy demands a fair amount of attention to uncover the best words.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOWWer0XVXPJ1Pu9lfgtSEa-Ie3c_dqc6yjnAZsH_O1c9-HuDSCpBXXGGT9qySW5kSsXnWb05Amrc_5Rju_QJduIiSwSBaCaNkQFkVypYOzPHdxEoqjVTWjVwgTRqhSJt7AZYKFRbe2I/s1600/687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOWWer0XVXPJ1Pu9lfgtSEa-Ie3c_dqc6yjnAZsH_O1c9-HuDSCpBXXGGT9qySW5kSsXnWb05Amrc_5Rju_QJduIiSwSBaCaNkQFkVypYOzPHdxEoqjVTWjVwgTRqhSJt7AZYKFRbe2I/s320/687.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://allpoetry.com/contest/2559687-Many_Tibetan_Monks_Have_Set_Themselves_On_F" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></td></tr>
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What remains constant between these two hexagrams is the element of fire - or illumination - on the inside, lower half. Fire is characterized by a single yin line in the centre of two yang lines. </div>
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As usual, I made sure I did not know K's question(s), as I look only to speak on the movements of yin & yang, ensuring that my listener works alongside me to apply <i><u>the image, the quality,</u></i> and <i><u>the character</u></i> to their own question process. I would otherwise probably fall into the pitfall of advising; and though I love the study of psychology, a psychologist I am not.</div>
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Following this pattern of considering image, quality, and character, the hexagrams arising here depict one major shift when we look at them in terms of their four component trigrams. 75% of this time for K is characterized by Fire - by <i><u><b>illumination</b></u>.</i> At first there is fire within fire: illumination within illumination. This hexagram, along with <i>#1 Heaven, #2 Earth, and #30 Mastering Pitfalls (Water) </i>are considered universal, or timeless, in that they have a presence at all times. That K was introducing herself to <i>I Ching</i> may well be contributing to one of these timeless hexagrams rising into play, pairing her own self-study of psyche via astrology to an introductory exploration of <i>I Ching.</i></div>
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Simultaneously though, the pure Fire of this first hexagram is moving toward fire-within-<i>wind, </i>or, illumination-within-action. Meditating on this alone brings about a certain quality: imagine that fire-on-the-inside takes place within your belly, and fire-on-the-outside takes place within your mind, or the front of your head. Use this contemplation of image to concentrate your mind, and really centre your mental focus on these areas in your body. Though this may prove best to have someone talk you through it, if you truly place an image of a warm hearth at your belly - and stay with that for a few deep belly breaths - it cannot help but calm and focus you. From there then, imagine a second hearth just behind the front of your forehead... After a moment of focusing in this way, shift then the outer image (the one in your head) from fire, to that of wind, and note the arising qualitative difference. </div>
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This small exercise in concentration and imagination brings your thinking and feeling onto task. Contemplating <i>image,</i> and <i>quality, </i>generally pair together like this. Much of <i>I Ching</i> begins with this kind of familiarity.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://wallpapers.free-review.net/12__Wind_Serenity.htm" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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Having made this exchange of Astrology for I Ching, and knowing that I was K's inaugural client, it struck me readily that her own source of wisdom has been something of a long time source of inspiration - a reliable self-study. A person cannot really offer these practices to others unless the information and wisdom has been absorbed fully. Knowing the map, one enters the territory...</div>
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The movement between this pairing of hexagrams takes place in the fourth and fifth lines - the heart & throat <a href="http://threeheartscompany.com/chakra.html" target="_blank">chakras</a>. I draw a correlation between looking to Serve, or fulfill-a-purpose, with the movement here in the fourth and fifth lines. The heart line here becomes more receptive, while the voice/fifth line becomes more active.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TVEvJJXCwiNylbdmELPgWQexdtX-A4xniaqYIOuW1XH8E0e6fzerl6n6T0nWIO9tAFhPgpPQMZMsfDeLDC76vwq_qlxQy5AKNL9cIz7nOKOZuR2rXKyQOVgK6lREh44tpd1cCkShHqQ/s1600/30.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TVEvJJXCwiNylbdmELPgWQexdtX-A4xniaqYIOuW1XH8E0e6fzerl6n6T0nWIO9tAFhPgpPQMZMsfDeLDC76vwq_qlxQy5AKNL9cIz7nOKOZuR2rXKyQOVgK6lREh44tpd1cCkShHqQ/s1600/30.tiff" style="cursor: move;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx0XodpHG43rXSq_Xul4T5A5hTWAbz9xc7xMYF23mFilJbOFqwW9lHAaFL_E5B5NezxoFk9tMWp_oYJxFAzfHr0uD0aEA3Uq4H3WjSWv0L7K8eKXmaX1p0aMLPE3A5Ro1tIGzPgr9XjY/s1600/37.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx0XodpHG43rXSq_Xul4T5A5hTWAbz9xc7xMYF23mFilJbOFqwW9lHAaFL_E5B5NezxoFk9tMWp_oYJxFAzfHr0uD0aEA3Uq4H3WjSWv0L7K8eKXmaX1p0aMLPE3A5Ro1tIGzPgr9XjY/s1600/37.tiff" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUCyzSrVez76R9lIgo9nkLPS1qnrC5eXupKsjNGFNz9t5rRzJ1yCRoajcuV6v12DRk47wB5cx0z3WewDphEtIBQ25gVnVr5MmZ3XNGFgSsoQ_T_WXfnsM1qy7hM-7ObjIPsCJiv-2hmo/s1600/vortex-of-flame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUCyzSrVez76R9lIgo9nkLPS1qnrC5eXupKsjNGFNz9t5rRzJ1yCRoajcuV6v12DRk47wB5cx0z3WewDphEtIBQ25gVnVr5MmZ3XNGFgSsoQ_T_WXfnsM1qy7hM-7ObjIPsCJiv-2hmo/s320/vortex-of-flame.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://footage.shutterstock.com/video.html?id=77443" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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Whether her deepening involvement with Astology has anything to do with her question, I of course have no idea and nor do I want to for fear of advising falsely. However: the correlation is quite strong. Her decision to move into this avenue of work and service most likely took a great deal of reflection, consideration and decision making. No doubt she followed something much like a guiding "light" to do so.</div>
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After describing these movements taking place in the outside (top trigram), we looked briefly on the levels of <i>personal</i> (lines 1 & 4), the <i>interpersonal</i> (lines 2 & 5), and the <i>societal</i> (lines 3 & 6). </div>
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I may have written in earlier posts that the lines of a hexagram are numbered from bottom to top, but I suppose it is worth repeating just that. The first three lines then, look at the personal, interpersonal, and societal <i>as she experiences and thinks on them in private; </i>or, the Inside. And the top lines (4,5,6) direct our considerations of the personal, interpersonal, and societal <i>as we experience them in real-time out in the world.</i> The Outside.<i> </i><a href="http://i-ching-guidance.blogspot.ca/2012/03/inside-outside.html">More on the contemplation of "Inside & Outside" appear here in the blog.</a></div>
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Looking upon the changes here in this way, there is movement on the personal and interpersonal levels <i>- as she experiences them in the world at large (the Outside) -</i> which, regardless of her question, correlate strongly to this move to serve others with astrology. Stated briefly: how she views herself in the world and her relations with others is here in movement. Out busy in the day-to-day, personally for her it is a time of increasing <i>receptivity </i>(the change taking place in the fourth line);<i> </i>and interpersonally it is a time of increasing <i>activity </i>(the change taking place in the fifth line)<i>. </i><br />
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Sounds like career change?? </div>
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From the astrological reading she gave me, I happen to have an interesting configuration of planets in the house relating to career and work (ie: Mercury & Venus; with Jupiter! in higher learning & long distance travel) - so in the above description, you may well be witnessing my own bias upon career and roles coming into view, and yet<i> I Ching</i> hides nothing(!) It can only reveal <i>what-is.</i></div>
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The third correlation I drew was that Fire can also be considered as a middle male child, while the Wind (contained in the upper part of the second hexagram in this pair) can be considered as the eldest daughter. So the aspect of maturation, or family rank, also corresponds to the enlargement into serving others with her now well-studied wisdom.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TVEvJJXCwiNylbdmELPgWQexdtX-A4xniaqYIOuW1XH8E0e6fzerl6n6T0nWIO9tAFhPgpPQMZMsfDeLDC76vwq_qlxQy5AKNL9cIz7nOKOZuR2rXKyQOVgK6lREh44tpd1cCkShHqQ/s1600/30.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TVEvJJXCwiNylbdmELPgWQexdtX-A4xniaqYIOuW1XH8E0e6fzerl6n6T0nWIO9tAFhPgpPQMZMsfDeLDC76vwq_qlxQy5AKNL9cIz7nOKOZuR2rXKyQOVgK6lREh44tpd1cCkShHqQ/s1600/30.tiff" style="cursor: move;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx0XodpHG43rXSq_Xul4T5A5hTWAbz9xc7xMYF23mFilJbOFqwW9lHAaFL_E5B5NezxoFk9tMWp_oYJxFAzfHr0uD0aEA3Uq4H3WjSWv0L7K8eKXmaX1p0aMLPE3A5Ro1tIGzPgr9XjY/s1600/37.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx0XodpHG43rXSq_Xul4T5A5hTWAbz9xc7xMYF23mFilJbOFqwW9lHAaFL_E5B5NezxoFk9tMWp_oYJxFAzfHr0uD0aEA3Uq4H3WjSWv0L7K8eKXmaX1p0aMLPE3A5Ro1tIGzPgr9XjY/s1600/37.tiff" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></div>
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Looking a little more deeply into this idea of rank, or progress and progression, here is an excerpt from <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">my upcoming book</a> which looks at <i>character</i> as a matter of degree:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVlfGlN3cr4F02KPz0rZOxGI-EsT2ZvHiZBq4h7rEvDurxSYOnbGNIur07h6DYnl22MW4ddAq86eSj2He3b4YS-yfmc-n9RYX6yCyG7jE7e_XU3Yh6FuuCa9KrXw93YJnABuZ6WPddeU/s1600/Family+position.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVlfGlN3cr4F02KPz0rZOxGI-EsT2ZvHiZBq4h7rEvDurxSYOnbGNIur07h6DYnl22MW4ddAq86eSj2He3b4YS-yfmc-n9RYX6yCyG7jE7e_XU3Yh6FuuCa9KrXw93YJnABuZ6WPddeU/s640/Family+position.tiff" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i>Introduction: <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Book of Gardens: A Lover's Manual for Planet Earth</b></span></a><br />by Philip W. Sarsons<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/bc/photos/2743/" style="font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">(20% of proceeds being donated to Johnson's Landing )</a></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~</span></div>
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Lastly, we meditated together on the images: fire/illumination inside the belly, with fire moving to wind in the mind. The sensation of ensuing breadth which I experienced was rather interesting. Naturally, wind fans flames; the fire removes the excess, and the wind carries insight over a greater territory. One's vision covers more ground.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9VqLHaCYcCmxIqRokkaT34UR-Sp-yJYC3T8Uq98YHNdZlngOd_olonH1vKY1bbQ5t4wa9M76tYKcAJiHilE9xNQG5OXI6HszhKPXAQGH_rLStUk20pv5oj01Wn96XRjMsXhrMY6OotM/s1600/andle-flame-being-blown-by-the-wind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9VqLHaCYcCmxIqRokkaT34UR-Sp-yJYC3T8Uq98YHNdZlngOd_olonH1vKY1bbQ5t4wa9M76tYKcAJiHilE9xNQG5OXI6HszhKPXAQGH_rLStUk20pv5oj01Wn96XRjMsXhrMY6OotM/s200/andle-flame-being-blown-by-the-wind.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://footage.shutterstock.com/clip-3021883-stock-footage-closeup-of-a-candle-flame-being-blown-to-the-left-by-the-wind-there-are-other-clips-that-have-it.html" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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I truly look forward to future exchanges with K, because similar to myself, K looks at any one movement of our cosmos as a movement of mind and psyche. She began her examination of my birth-chart with a review of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kybalion" target="_blank">Kybalion</a> <a href="http://www.kybalion.org/kybalion.php?chapter=II" target="_blank">main principles</a>, as well as gazing upon a selection of tarot cards - selected in accord with the numerology associated with my birth date. As with<i> I Ching,</i> there are few coincidences, and the primary card associated to my birth is... <a href="http://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/major-arcana/hermit/" target="_blank">The Hermit</a>!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/major-arcana/hermit/" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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Indeed: living alone on a mountainside has been one of the highlights in my life. Yet, like the Heirophant, I aim currently toward a rounder social experience which includes the mystical.</div>
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Bravo K! A world of increased Joy stands before you, and I look forward to sharing future readings greatly! There can be no greater pleasure than shining each our light onto how we understand <i>Our Psyche, </i>seeing our selves-as-nature<i>.</i> </div>
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In time, should you develop a web presence, I'll greatly look forward to supporting you. It's a powerful thing to share sincerely from a place of well studied and integrated wisdom. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ERpGdd4KQ3IMUGZ-W0KswQ2F70QyJkPlhcNNh_UgDPy_ZfsCMPyhYPCO0_7rim06Z8YunVdIM_G3WpKXRFQaQ-iJim7obMsb5bCFZpQ7zdITVZ56le-lWjL-Uw1qrkDg5N-Nwd4phqQ/s1600/lion_of_flame_by_spartanz27-d3fiefj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ERpGdd4KQ3IMUGZ-W0KswQ2F70QyJkPlhcNNh_UgDPy_ZfsCMPyhYPCO0_7rim06Z8YunVdIM_G3WpKXRFQaQ-iJim7obMsb5bCFZpQ7zdITVZ56le-lWjL-Uw1qrkDg5N-Nwd4phqQ/s400/lion_of_flame_by_spartanz27-d3fiefj.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/205938912?view_mode=2" target="_blank">{ photo credit }</a></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-65225637555643416512012-11-21T15:53:00.003-08:002013-12-09T19:32:02.447-08:00How does the Warrior, forgive?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHUlJEqzbRjImgcT-zhjAjHq2e5wgVI6mDESthPoL4vvtqF265dOMWmPMDI7Jb09ufs0mqtmO2yKeMaOVVOMl4seOsNgD7bwhxalalea34ZHzrNKiQiS8Dp25rXQXuAM9TDUgQE5CCvY/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHUlJEqzbRjImgcT-zhjAjHq2e5wgVI6mDESthPoL4vvtqF265dOMWmPMDI7Jb09ufs0mqtmO2yKeMaOVVOMl4seOsNgD7bwhxalalea34ZHzrNKiQiS8Dp25rXQXuAM9TDUgQE5CCvY/s320/images.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-92429134/stock-photo-painting-face-of-ancient-asian-warrior-on-a-door-in-wat-pho-is-the-important-temple-in-bangkok.html" target="_blank">photo credit</a></td></tr>
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Only a few days prior, I had asked a question myself of the I Ching. I had the pleasure of casting I Ching with yet two other friends in the weeks before, and, having a bit of a difficult time, I thought it was time for a question.<br />
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It's strange though... I RARELY ask!! I have long striven to be where I am at today, and I have been concentrating on my <i>study </i>of I Ching. I think this will change soon, as the regular use of I Ching is simply so pleasurable.<br />
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My questions tend to be metaphysical in nature, even though they pertain directly to things in my day-to-day.<br />
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I cast, <i>#45, Gathering,</i> moving into <i>#25, Fidelity.</i></div>
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Fidelity, is also called "no error." And indeed, after one 'gathers,' it is best to make no error, lest what is gathered, gets dropped.<br />
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<i>Gathering</i> is marked by<i> 'receptivity within joy,'</i> and <i>Fidelity</i>, by<i> 'the action of thunder within heaven.' </i>Outwardly, the quality of pure yang is pervading my life. Indeed! This has been a most remarkable year of fast paced change, making all aspects of my living congruent with my intuition and best wishing. Externally, I am indeed living my <i>heaven.</i><br />
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Inwardly, I am moving from the yin/receptivity of <i>Earth</i>, to the action of <i>Thunder</i>. This, I find especially interesting....<br />
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For my (SOON TO BE PUBLISHED) <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">Book of Gardens</a>,<span id="goog_437632843"></span><span id="goog_437632844"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a> I prostrated to Kuan Yin, the bodhissatva of compassion for the duration the four years of writing it. She is also considered to be the feminine reincarnation of <a href="http://www.google.ca/search?q=Avalokiteshvara&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=u&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=bXKtUN3zDsr3iwKVlIG4Aw&ved=0CDsQsAQ&biw=1202&bih=648" target="_blank">Avalokiteshvara</a>, Buddha of Compassion. Currently, I have been studying the masculine archetypes of Carl Jung... and ... <i>Earth</i>, is yin receptivity, and <i>Thunder</i> is masculine action. ... I have also been thinking of purchasing soon a Buddha for my home space.<br />
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What was more poignant to me - and this is probably closer to why I do not consult the I Ching so much - is that I could tell the direction for me to be taking with each formulation of my question: It was difficult to just land on <i>How does a Warrior forgive?</i> I knew on the inside that I just needed to contain, fully, a sense of power and concentration for the things I'm experiencing currently. So I went ahead with the best version of my inside-questioning, knowing I would be given the avenue of study needed.<br />
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<i>Gathering</i> is marked by "drawing" - a method of attracting, or cultivating, the correct focus within oneself. Thomas Cleary, in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Organization-Dynamics-Shambhala-Editions/dp/1570620865" target="_blank">Tao of Organization</a>, defines it as such: <i>"...when people seek each other they draw each other in; when they are dependent on each other they part.." </i><br />
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Which addressed perfectly the issue I was experiencing. A coworker of mine was behaving rather inappropriately - repeatedly - and despite giving all the social cues in the world, as well as direct requests, my personal boundary was being continually challenged. Coming to this question alone took great concentration, to rid me of the sense of violation. Indeed, I <i><u>gathered</u></i> myself, to be rid of the arising (gross) co-dependency.<br />
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And of course, a Warrior never needs to forgive if he is of the highest caliber in his class. He makes no error to begin with: the warrior is correct to his own decisions and the warrior code of ethics. I certainly do not see myself apologizing for defending a personal space: what I need "forgive," that is, to <i>let go of,</i> is any opportunity for future coercion - even if it be the mere potential for coercion. Hence, the <i>Gathering</i> need continue, allowing for a disciplined presence.<br />
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So the warrior "forgives," by gathering himself to make no error.<br />
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It has been a time of excellent growth to actually have this 'problem' enter my life. It asks so much of me, as I pay attention to it. Mostly, to get on with the better things in life, and allow invasiveness to fall upon its own sword.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-35895638698871456552012-11-20T20:43:00.001-08:002012-11-20T20:46:28.380-08:00Change moving to SettledI had a chance opportunity to cast I Ching with someone today. We both recently moved to a small mountain town, and had crossed paths in one of the local hostels months ago. I believe one evening I challenged H to a game of chess, and we ended up in intense conversation on ... was it feminist theory? I don't remember 100%. I'm sure I said many things which were MALE though. Nevertheless, we have been crossing paths ever since.<br />
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H, clearly had something on her mind, and so I briefly described I Ching and suggested we could toss coins sometime. She invited me to stay for a bit and do so right away and I had the time, and, in fact, was having a horrible day; so, casing I Ching - being my favourite thing on Earth(!) - turned this day around in no time.<br />
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She cast <i>#49, Change,</i> with the fourth line moving from yang into yin, making for <i>#63, Settled. </i><br />
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Certainly H possesses<i> 'illumination on the inside.' </i>Our first conversation proved this. And, by both these hexagrams, does this quality remain constant. <i>Change</i>, is characterized by<i> fire inside the lake;</i> and <i>Settled,</i> by, <i>fire under water.</i><br />
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The upper movement - going from the joy of lake, to the 'danger' in water - makes this a time of enriched consideration for H. After some discussion, we agreed that the fourth line, synonymous with the heart chakra, by way of moving into yin/receptivity, means answers will be found at this time by being softer - more gentle - with herself.<br />
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Which is not to say she was being hard on herself. Moving to a new place is never easy. It is adventurous, and a lot can be asked of oneself. Indeed, by <i>Change</i>, the first and fourth lines both being yang, reflect this tipping of the balance into a hard/old yang quality (within the heart chakra). With this moving into the balanced yin/yang relationship in <i>Settled</i>, H, will be able to ask "less" of herself, and by such become more grounded, deepening her way of relating to the things around her.<br />
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Which seems quite natural, given the locale is now becoming familiar.<br />
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In <i>Settled,</i> the image is <i>first under water.</i> If the fire is stoked to much, the water boils over and puts out the fire. If the fire is not attended to, the water will not be as useful. One needs to keep the "fire within" burning steadily, so as to avoid any "danger."<br />
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Danger, can mean simply past habituation, as well as up to and including galactic events we simply do not have control over. A person casting I Ching who receives the water image in their hexagram (one yang line surrounded by two yins) need best discern the amplitude of "danger" based on their question.<br />
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H, was a complete newcomer to this process. I enjoy introducing I Ching to people, because I find it to make spirituality very practical, immediate, and observable right within ones body, without lessening any of the poetry to life.<br />
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Bless ya, H. I hope to help with many, many more questions. Do call for tea :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-88701861524113568322012-07-30T22:33:00.000-07:002013-12-09T19:33:46.091-08:00Old & New. Part II<br />
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I met with another fine spirit this week, someone comparatively new to my life, who may well be in a similar 'family' of personhood as SG in my last post below:<a href="http://i-ching-guidance.blogspot.ca/2012/07/old-and-new-part-i.html" target="_blank"> Old & New Part I. </a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuan Yin <a href="http://www.janzaremba.com/Sumi-e/GH/index.html" target="_blank">(by Jan Zaremba)</a></td></tr>
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MR, had a question pertaining to career direction, and at the time of casting, threw only young yin and young yang in the combination of "61, Sincerity in the Centre."</div>
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"Young" yin or yang, means that they are new. If they were "old," this only would denote that those lines (or, times) within the hexagram were upon a time of change, about to invert into their Other. I prefer to avoid the dualistic term 'opposite,' as I have found that when we pair things in such a way, the arising dependency intensifies: that each 'opposing' pair increases its need to be defined by the other within the pairing. I find such a mindset to be unhealthy, as it is ever ready to unwittingly create conflict. When things are defined communally, such territorial/philosophical cock-fighting can be avoided. So, in the example of SG prior, moving from 'Joy,' to 'Sameness,' there were two 'young' lines, and four 'old' lines. THIS IS NOT A COMMENT UPON A PERSON'S AGE: It is only to suggest the energy of the moment and the item being considered by the person casting I Ching has greater or lesser elements of transition present. Here, MR, cast all 'young' lines, and therefore is experiencing less "transition" in her qualitative day-to-day. Old and young denote the time of the event, where the action lies, and what decisions may lay ahead for best consideration: hence, the I Ching also being commonly known as 'the book of changes.' This is the study of Change. SG, is in a time of growth and the enhancement of acceptance. MR, here, is in a time of consideration. </div>
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Change, is democratic of age and aging.</div>
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"61, Sincerity in the Centre," is described by lake on the inside - the lower trigram - and wind, on the outside/upper trigram. Lake, is synonymous with joy, and wind, with action. Thus may 'Sincerity' abbreviate into "Joy within Action." The overall judgement of this time points to "the centre," and though career decisions have an inherent confusion, the only successful road onto making a decision, is to look within.<br />
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MR is of such character inherently, and in a good place to be making this decision: MR is immeasurably conscientious, and if the feeling of each career option were to be sussed out first hand, the resultant decision will arise quite naturally. That is, if MR were to take a course or brief workshop pertaining to each field, by sampling each field and having an impression to work from, the impression which sticks most will be the career path best chosen. That at this time the 'Sincerity' is unmoving - that is, young - it is a good time for reflection, capitalizing upon the constancy at hand. If enough time passes and the decision has not been made and acted upon, MR would naturally become restless, regardless of an ensuing choice. So enjoy this time, MR. You have a great wealth at your disposal for making a true examination of your options at hand, and finding the career path which will give you a great sense of congruency in your life. Stay true and tuned to yourself.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuan Yin <a href="http://people.tribe.net/ezraita/photos/a710166d-92cc-48d9-a732-c4a6e09ae2bf" target="_blank">(photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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If... IF... we look at the yin moments of this hexagram (lines 3 and 4) under the idea of (and I loathe say this) "weakness," then there is a couple of gentle cautions to consider. As above, contrasting yin/yang as "weak/strong" creates a less considered frame of reference for the intrinsic considerations of I Ching and internal alchemy. However, it is not without its degree of merit: When we are <i><u>excessively</u></i> receptive, then yes, this can be dangerous. Yet even under that light, I'd rather consider yin moments as invitations. Even conflict, when you really look back upon one, was - and is - an opportunity to create something worthwhile for all involved. Yin, then, as much as Yang, is inspiratory. When receptivity culminates, it cannot do otherwise BUT to invert into action; thus, are incidents of yin worthy of <b><u><i>extra</i></u></b> consideration under this light - not avoidance! </div>
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Conversely, Yang, in excess, would be an invitation to question if one is being <i>compelled, </i>and moving headlong into danger.... a much different qualitative measure. Imagine if you will: the biggest video game couch potato addict... at some point, said potato gets restless and goes out to grab some more chips! The receptive grows into action, and the active grow into the receptive... <b>Truly: "the opposite" resides within.</b> </div>
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So... again using the idea of chakras: the third and fourth pertain to stomach and heart. (This is where our reading took an interesting turn... And if you're asking - <i>but there's 7 chakras no?!</i> Consider please that the TOTALITY of the hexagram to be synonymous with a total understanding, an arising unity which is often depicted by the 7th chakra. As a person steps through the six considerations given by any hexagram, the arising hermeneutics grant the reverie.) </div>
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MR, coincidentally (or not, depending on how you may view things) is on a cleanse currently(!) I always recommend having fresh burdock root kicking about - detox or 're-tox' - as it is a powerful and delightful "re-set" for the digestive track. After developing some rather fearsome anxiety during my career in live-performance, the ensuing digestive troubles were indeed re-set by incorporating this into my diet. (I'm sure my fellow thespians would be much "relieved" to read this!!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGRsVIAECCqJkbv9Dgazqz_562QhOR7hZis_uhQgpNmZG0N8hPUyQFlNfSt-02S05SKu3Hz4ayRwj6m2lolWvbdGiKH-7wJbbKlkN_csjieMtAt4l8aYLM105kX710ONq4wFIV4Dz3Ns/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"></span>Now... pertaining once again to <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">the Book of Gardens... </a>#61 was a true pleasure to uncover in its writing, as it represents a culmination of several "voices" throughout the book... The I Ching is a thorough dissection of CHANGE...The I Ching is the anatomy of CHANGE, and its anatomy has many parts, components, and so then "voices." Looking to comprehend Change in an all-at-once glimpse is a monumental task for anybody. I think this is why we have such admiration for those who have done it so well, like Jesus, Buddha, and Lao-Tzu. Religion aside: those individuals are true exceptions, and whatever words they've left behind for the rest of us to read, are, in my opinion, worth reading. It feels good - at the very least - to be a part of such a dialogue.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuan Yin <a href="http://mykuanyin.blogspot.ca/2011/05/no-judgement.html" target="_blank">(photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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In my rendition of "Sincerity in the Centre" I found a way to have both the masculine voice and the feminine voice speak simultaneously - for "opposites" to speak together. And further to my hesitancy over the mindset of opposites, I go so far as to claim Yin and Yang to be Lovers. Mother Earth is a Lover: Heaven, embraces: The Way, is a beautiful thin line of Love... And so, as an experiment, MR & I read the poem together: first, like a script (my line, your line), and then as music: as two instruments contributing to one piece of music. MUCH FUN!! ... As it is probably one of my favourite pieces in the book... I will not be putting it to print here.... Sorry. </div>
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BUT! I am going to be publishing <a href="http://www.thebookofgardens.com/" target="_blank">the Book of Gardens</a> in book form very soon through <a href="http://www.lulu.com/" target="_blank">Lulu self publishing.</a> STAY TUNED! :)</div>
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Thanks so much MR! It was a beautiful day. Much to consider. Deliciously, and deeply so. Keep your aim true, as per your own personal rulebook. Only you can know if a "rule" has been broken: <b><u>Sincere to oneself, you betray no other.</u></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-8931464369134766552012-07-30T22:30:00.001-07:002012-07-30T23:16:24.799-07:00Old and New. Part I.<br />
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I had again the pleasure to cast I Ching this week - twice, graciously! - for two friends, one old, one new. </div>
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SG, cast "16, Joy," moving into "13, Sameness with People." </div>
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"Joy," interestingly is where I began writing <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/sta-sis-arts.com/the-book-of-gardens/" target="_blank">the Book of Gardens:</a> it was the first poem upon which I discovered so many 'rules' which would hold the Book together, as an artwork, and, as a contribution to the lineage of I Ching interpretation. That SG cast 16, brought about this memory for me: that Joy, is a great place to begin something.</div>
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Hexagram 16 is characterized by the image of Earth inside the image of Thunder. Earth is characterized by three lines of yin - broken lines - and whose nature, then, is flexible and of pure receptivity. When I was once lost to anger, I was advised to go and 'pound the earth,' or plow it, or hit it with a stick, as, "she could take it." Indeed, the Earth's embrace of our treatment is Great: met with an individual, she subdues, soothes, and loves. Though pure yin is often characterized as 'female,' I prefer to use 'The Feminine,' or better, 'the receptive.' Gender is often referred to in the I Ching, under several contexts, but if taken too literally, like,<i> 'women are this way, and men are that way,'</i> I find that what I Ching can offer a person begins to sound antiquated, or even silly.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes. Silly. <a href="http://iasos.com/artists/penny/" target="_blank">(Click this!)</a></td></tr>
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SG, is receptive quite naturally, and currently works in children's programming, a field which inherently asks for patience and fortitude. He also recently took on greater levels of responsibility within his organization. Between these two facts I found his casting of coins to be quite exciting. Comparing hexagrams 16 and 13 (in that order), the lower trigrams (bottom three lines) are moving from pure receptivity (earth) into illumination (fire), and the top trigram is moving from the action of thunder into the fuller action of heaven (pure yang). This suggests to me that if he continues along the active ground of being receptive - being actively receptive - this natural open welcome he possesses will allow him continued success toward the instruction and guidance of others - namely the young. Put another way, in all his actions, journeying from the inside and into the outward action of the work place, SG can travel quite literally from Earth to Heaven, from full and pure receptivity into full and pure action.<br />
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Presence, brings about Greatness.</div>
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If we look solely at the bottom lines of each trigram in this pair of hexagrams - that is, lines one and four in each body - there is a goodly amount of balance and constancy. The first (bottom) line of a trigram generally describes what takes place in a person's own self knowing. The fourth line of a hexagram depicts how they move this self awareness into the world. In 'Joy,' yin and yang are paired in the first and fourth lines, balancing each other. And SG here, is coming into a situation where he is rather balanced: he is self aware, receptive and humble to new information, and un-afeared to put his person into the world at large. At this time of change, of enhancement lets say, SG is moving into a time of greater action, as seen in the yang line in the first position of 'Sameness with People.' The yang lines in positions one and four of 'Sameness' can be interpreted here as mutually supporting one another, and there is also the potential of going to far, or being excessive. This is a mild caution in this case, as, moving from 'Joy' to 'Sameness,' the fourth line remains constant, and is supported by the other yangs of 'Sameness,' depicting a good/solid/supported outcome.</div>
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'Sameness,' first requires self-knowing, which SG practices in abundance. The bottom trigram of 'Sameness with People' is fire, or, illumination. Illumination inside, followed with heaven outside - fire into heaven. By pairing 'Joy' and 'Sameness with People,' we can see that flexible knowing, well rooted, is leading SG toward illuminated knowing: his personhood is growing, or, ascending. As indeed it should...</div>
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SG happens to be in his fifties. As the Chinese saying goes: "<i>when you are 30, you are ready to walk; when you are 40, no one can fool you."</i> And though I do not remember exactly what follows at 50, or 60, and onward... I would hazard to say that <i>'when you are 50, you can no longer fool <u>yourself!</u>' </i> Certainly, if there is grace in this life, SG reflects such by his general pleasant and optimistic demeanor. That he is in the position to guide children is in my opinion a beautiful thing, as his strategy of self awareness and self knowing appears to be moving toward being shared prolifically, shared well, and with grace, all by virtue of his inner life being flexible, receptive, and constant. When we look at the fourth lines of 'Joy' and 'Sameness,' both are yang, and again, this is the position of how ones self knowing moves through the world. There is a slight caution here of over-compensation for perhaps once being too passive (ie: the lower three yin lines in 'Joy'). On the flip side of that, lies the interpretation of constancy; that, things just get better as they age.</div>
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The other transition of note here is that in 'Joy,' there is only one line of yang; and in 'Sameness,' there is only one line of yin. The line of yin in 'Sameness' is in the second position - a lower chakra - and so I recommended that SG perhaps incorporate some more ginger into his diet (I like using ginger for tea myself: keep fresh roots in the freezer and grate the desired quantity into a tea cup for a spicy and pleasing drink). I wanted him to be certain that in this time of natural growth and expansion that his foundation (his kidneys) were well supported with routine care. Ginger tea, is easily something to look forward to, and so this caution is really a very light one. </div>
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SG and I have crossed paths in a variety of circles over the years, and it was a true pleasure (honour!) to connect with him through my beloved study of I Ching. SG is clearly the person I had always sensed: a positive spirit, receptive and trustworthy, and a gentle leader. Thank you SG!! You are a fine example for us :) </div>
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If anyone would like me to expound further on the pairing here of the second and fifth lines, or the third and six, do let me know. Each pairing reflects a different area of our life, and the pairing of hexagrams details how we are changing at this time; what we can work toward, hope for, and be cautiously aware of. A total appreciation of the Change at hand often brings about increased self awareness, acceptance, conscientiousness and tranquility. </div>
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Thank you SG!! :)</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-77016186919866524042012-03-10T10:43:00.002-08:002012-03-10T12:32:57.108-08:00Inside & Outside<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=8392360&matches=30&cm_sp=works*listing*title" target="_blank">Find a copy at Alibris.</a></div>
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I came across something important in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cleary" target="_blank">Thomas Cleary's</a> "<a href="http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=8392360&matches=30&cm_sp=works*listing*title" target="_blank">Toaist Meditation</a>," which is worth mentioning in regard to several posts below - and certainly for the posts to come - on the nature of 'inside and outside.'<br />
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Much of my interpretation of the images in the hexagrams and trigrams uses these terms, and I need be clear that they do not exclude each other. That is, one is not of greater importance, and in fact, they are not separate entities. I think that this is readily understood with popular phrases like <i>"we are all one"</i> but is a far more intricate process to <u style="font-style: italic;">embody.</u> As described in my other blog & post, <a href="http://theequilibriate.blogspot.com/2012/03/indigo-washing.html" target="_blank"><i>"Indigo Washing,"</i></a> is well worth keeping an eye on. Professor Cleary says it like this, in his musing on "Stability:"<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=11171483531&qwork=8392360&qsort=&page=1" target="_blank">"Rather than approving inwardness and denying the external, it is best to forget about inside and outside."</a></i><br />
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Inside and Outside are simply tools to orient the mind and distill its liveliness. This distillation is simply a redirection of mental energy which is otherwise scattered; a ping-pong ball bouncing between two courts, <i>"...what should I do... what should I do..." </i>So the instruction here has three parts: recognize what is 'inside,' by which I also use the term "body;" recognize what is 'outside,' by which I also use "mind;" and recognize the habit of mind which would otherwise keep them appearing as separate.<br />
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For example!!:)<br />
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How often have you come across a moment where a person is saying one thing, and doing another? Even though thought takes place silently, I find them quite terribly visible through the body. How often have you been<i> 'holding your ace card'</i> in conversation? And does not that feel like tension? Certainly it is necessary to navigate our human world with some essential protections as<i> <a href="http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~gongsu/desiderata_textonly.html" target="_blank">"the world is full of trickery"</a> </i>(Desiderata). However, I do not think one's emotional state need be held hostage on account of this.<br />
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I find that worry is often a wedge for me between inside and outside: <i>how will I be perceived if I say/do such and such,</i> for example. The worry - the emotionality - however necessary, creates a false perception of separateness. If held to a state of worry, isolation follows; and ones actions may not be congruent with ones words or best wishes. As a stage actor, one learns to pro<i>ject</i> - not only ones voice - but also ones thinking. I believe that is what the audience enjoys most, actually: those silent exchanges when a penny drops. It confirms and strengthens for us the tool of intuition, which I think always feels so pleasurable regardless of its actual instruction. Intuition is honest through and through. Thus Hamlet's advice to the players is strong advice for anyone: <i>suite the action to the word, the word to the action...</i><br />
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So: when I speak of <i>'Inside & Outside,' </i>please step through their <i><u>three</u></i> components: breath deep into your body with the description of the 'inner' image upon your thought (ie: illumination, or stillness, or joy, etc) which will generate a feeling 'inside' the <u><i>body</i></u>; then, imagine the description of the 'outer' image (ie: illumination, joy, etc) as something by which one is surrounded, which generates a feeling of <u><i>mind</i></u>. Continue focusing on your breath, and: Holding these two objects in place - inside the body, and surrounded by mind - bring the two feelings together into one unified feeling: "illumination inside joy," or "action-inside-danger," or "heaven-inside-action," etc, as per any one hexagram of the I Ching.<br />
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As I hope you are coming to see, becoming familiar with the eight trigrams alone goes a long - long - distance toward the <u><i>embodiment</i></u> of I Ching principles: heaven, earth, water, fire, mountain, thunder, lake, joy. Perhaps some day I will have the opportunity to learn the Chinese language, as I imagine the pictorial aspect of the language to be much more efficient than in the English.<br />
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<a href="http://rhythm-iching.com/i-ching" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">{Image found at Rythm I Ching}</span></a></div>
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Aside from inside & outside referring to the top and bottom of a hexagram, inside & outside also point one more layer deeper to the inner and outer layers of yin/yang of the trigram. For example, the inside of water is yang while its outside is yin; fire, conversely, is yin on the inside and yang on the outside. If you bring your mind entirely to each of these elements, imagining each angle of their 'person,' inner and outer, you'll find that this is an accurate and eloquent way to express their natures.<br />
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Which brings us closer to the essential character of yin and yang... but we'll save that for later :)<br />
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Please leave a comment or question below. I would be most happy to clarify further, and I wish for you a truly wonderous day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-63964629535171847702012-03-06T10:51:00.001-08:002012-03-08T20:56:10.540-08:00Change: Post III... Entering ChangeLast, but certainly not least, I met "AG" at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/111175545665588/" target="_blank">Edmonton Indigo Drinks</a> last night.<br />
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This really iced the cake on my evening.<br />
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AG, is a writer, editor, and an all-round asset for anyone going into business. Simply look at <a href="http://noorish.ca/" target="_blank">Noorish Cafe and Yoga Studio</a> for the proof. We spoke briefly on her international travels, and I quickly learned of her connection to the great <a href="http://store.innertraditions.com/Contributor.jmdx?action=displayDetail&id=395" target="_blank">Master Alfred Huang</a>.<br />
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Though it is certain that adversity will come our way in this life, it is equally certain that the best response to that adversity is to simply listen... and then follow that listening...<br />
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Connections then follow you.<br />
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AG has had the good and permanent fortune of assisting Master Huang in getting his great books to market. And now, only a few weeks into the STA-sis Arts revamp and revitalization, it is my good fortune to see the six-degrees-of-separation principle welcoming me with open arms. As we can see in the case of M1, two posts below: a simple step into your joy keeps ones illumination burning at a right and steady pace. But is this easier for the young?...<br />
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Allow me now to say 'no.' ... Which brings me back to Change.<br />
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Amid adversity, we <i>do</i> have our best learning. We hear things like this all the time now: All kinds of platitudes and maxims are spurting out their inner wisdom all over billboards and board-rooms, and it is quite possible we are green-washing and even <i><a href="http://findingequillibrium.blogspot.com/2012/03/indigo-washing.html" target="_blank">indigo-washing</a></i> ourselves into a big blob of grey... EVEN THEN, I can now argue, if one keeps close to oneself but a small modicum of hope... a little morsel of faith in oneself... even just a grain of belief of knowing that Life itself sustains you.... your learning... never... rests.<br />
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Not for a moment. Not in your sleep. Not in your dreams. Not in hours of media-based stimulation; in spending all your money, expelling all your friendships, <i>whatever</i> it is that you do... <b>Learning cannot stop when there is faith from underneath it.</b> Upon surfacing - and it does come up for air - illumination cannot help itself but want to burst forward into joy; and adversity becomes merely a future power to draw upon.<br />
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Adversity bolsters ones reserve.<br />
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So whatever barrier we face - or think we are facing - stick with it. Enter your own debate. Enter Change. And I would say: stick with adversity, <i><u><b>gently</b></u></i>, otherwise you may fall into the pitfall of "being right." That is to say, do not allow suffering to become rigged to identity, as that is truly thee Labyrinth.<br />
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And yet, along these lines of listening and observing, the Labyrinth itself, inevitably, becomes its own gift.<br />
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<b>Practically speaking now</b>, there is nothing - truly nothing - that a cup of tea cannot solve. (And I do recommend Jasmine!) Eyes closed, deep breathing into the back and belly (in that order), is the best medicine.<br />
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Lastly...<br />
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Faith, meditation... hope... <b>these things are physical experiences for me.</b> I do not find them in the mind. I do not find them outside myself. I find them in my low back: my ankles, my fingers, my lungs, my eyes.... I find them inside my skin.<br />
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They do shine.<br />
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They do tingle.<br />
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Listen for them :)<br />
Phil.<br />
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<a href="https://sites.google.com/a/sta-sis-arts.com/the-book-of-gardens/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">{Please visit my "Book of Gardens"}</span></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-47490412283077672372012-03-06T10:00:00.003-08:002012-03-06T21:34:40.422-08:00Change: Post II... sudden voyBom!I had several other interesting conversations last night at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/111175545665588/" target="_blank">Edmonton Indigo Drinks.</a><br />
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M (a third M!) is in a rather enviable spot with Athabasca University, whose perks include free tuition! Talk about a dream job. And a busy time! M's spirited nature is seen clearly in his practice of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsYHU2wOxRA" target="_blank">voyBom</a>. This practice takes me back to my conservatory acting training, and I'd like to say simply that M's findings are true. The psychological and physical resonance which a person has after a session of this work is truly amazing. For those skeptical still on the nature of chakras and physical energy fields... give it a go! Truly, the worst thing that could happen is that you'll make a bunch of friends and have a great laugh!<br />
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M3, introduced me briefly to his visual artwork, steeped in the precision and beauty of fractals and sacred geometry. He spoke of the four seasons inherent to the I Ching (and M3, if you are reading this, please feel free to post the four qualitative words you have for them, and link freely to your work). Beat Poets use the 'cut up' to assemble incredible synchronicities, and it sounds as if M3 has discovered a way of finding patterns in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_space" target="_blank">negative space</a> by cutting up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logarithmic_spiral" target="_blank">fractals</a>.<br />
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We were also joined by S, of <a href="http://www.balancingspaces.com/" target="_blank">Balancing Spaces Inc.</a>, whose long standing fascination and practice of <a href="http://www.google.ca/search?q=feng+shui&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=VE1WT8X_J4iViAKc9tW5Bw&ved=0CHYQsAQ&biw=1118&bih=680" target="_blank">Feng Shui</a> has taken her deeply into these systemic and arguably divine patternings. M3 realized as we were speaking that there is a kind of sign-wave which moves through the rising and falling of yin and yang (young yin to old yin and over to young yang and onward to old, and so on)... to which I postulated that the S-curve inherent to the <a href="http://www.google.ca/search?q=yin+yang+symbol&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=lWxWT8miEYPmiAKy4YzrBw&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1118&bih=680" target="_blank">Tao symbol</a> may also be a sign wave(!)<br />
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Well... this stopped M3, S & I in our tracks, moving directly into a spontaneous voyBom! (No: that was NOT an Orwellian sentence!) I have long (loonngggoonngggongongongong) been looking for the exact TERM of that s-curve, as I am truly tired of saying ... "s-curve." I came across this term once, and it got buried in a flurry of wonderment I'm sure. If anyone knows this term, or finds it, I'd drop everything to give you an immediate consultation, <i><b>and</b></i> buy the tea!!<br />
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Truly: enough of "s-curve." ;)<br />
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... Returning for a moment to my earlier post on last evening (posted immediately below)... I knew full well that I was not in a position to give a full reading to M, and certainly a networking event is designed around 'introductions' primarily... I have been thinking on hexagram 49, Change, throughout the evening and into this morning... and certainly these latter conversations were in themselves like following a broader and broader spiral...<br />
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It is a true pleasure to grow into this position of offering guidance through the I Ching. Naturally, I intend to bolster this practice into professional practice, but for now I am in the learning seat: my research has been thorough, and the next leg of the journey is getting my understanding into the world. Every opportunity that now comes my way to consult I Ching with others is a gift. A TRUE GIFT. Thank you L, S-S, O, N, T and M. It is an incredible <i>exchange.</i><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://sta-sis-mindfulness.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-offer-two-modalities-of-personal.html?spref=tw" target="_blank">{Please visit my Mindfulness page}</a></span></b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-53976450941559649552012-03-06T09:08:00.005-08:002012-03-07T23:24:23.867-08:00Change: Post I...I went to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/111175545665588/" target="_blank">Edmonton Indigo Drinks</a> last night. This networking event has a similar theme as the Green Drinks which have popped up in Alberta over the last few years, where environmentally conscious people and eco-focused businesses can come together, socialize, and develop their networks further. Indigo, being a latter colour in the rainbow, is a place for holistic practitioners to do likewise within their field, and gain traction with this growing sense of culture.<br />
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Naturally, I made sure I had three dimes in my pocket and some STA-sis business cards, and indeed met many an extraordinary individual, including M, who is finishing her piercings apprenticeship while simultaneously practicing her RMT. After our jump-into-the-deep-end icebreaker on the nature of <i>Perfectionism</i>, she graciously allowed me to speak on I Ching, and it wasn't too long before we found a table and asked a question...<br />
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This was my first casting 'unarmed.' I did not bring my <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/sta-sis-arts.com/the-book-of-gardens/" target="_blank">Book of Gardens</a>, nor any <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Buddhist-I-Ching-Chih-Hsu-Ou-I/dp/0877734089" target="_blank">Thomas Cleary</a> to rely upon, but went strictly "with the flow," as M had aptly named it. Her hexagram brought about, 49 Change: fire inside the lake. A brief description of Fire, is that it is flexible on the inside and bright on the outside; Lake, is flexible on the outside, and consistent on the inside. Indeed M, carries herself through the world with a very grounded openness, a sensible and balanced curiosity.<br />
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Knowing only a few things about her, namely that she is in her schooling currently, and that her consultation was not in flux (no lines were in a state of transition, but rather, one of arrival) it follows logically that M will be in this state of 'fire inside the lake' for some time to come. I expect that she is a very bright student, with much 'illumination inside joy!'<br />
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Later we were joined by one of her closest friends, also M (so let's say M2 for now), and I shared my findings. M2 blushed and confirmed readily of M's steady and 'illuminated' nature, her reliability, and the joy she simply brings to others.<br />
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As M had asked, <i>'What do I need to do to progress?' </i>... clearly the answer comes: NOT MUCH. You, M, are in the earlier part of the life span as you know, and that you travel through the world with a ready supply of stability, all you need do is truly to continue nurturing that inner light, and continue to pursue your joy. Change and evolution, as we agreed upon at meeting, are the currencies of Life. Your youth gives you a natural advantage to capitalize upon this. But if there is any caution in saying that, it would only be to not put all the wood on the fire at once, thinking that a bigger/brighter flame will bring greater illumination. You'll simply burn through your fuel supply that way, seeing the horizon before you've actually travelled there: so don't get greedy, lest you burn up and leave yourself in the dark(!)<br />
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I know you won't do that though. You're in a great spot in life, are much loved by your close friends; there is flexibility in the centre of the inside, and flexibility at the outer reaches of the outside... The remainder of the body of this hexagram is young/unchanging yang. You have many resources to rely upon.<br />
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It was a pleasure to be in your company... "M & M" ... I look forward to your next questions. You've both inspired me more than words allow.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://sta-sis-mindfulness.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-offer-two-modalities-of-personal.html?spref=tw" target="_blank">{Please visit my Mindfulness page here.}</a></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-18688753424121035132012-03-05T08:49:00.002-08:002012-03-08T10:59:36.436-08:00Fire below the Mountain: bookend transition with reflection.My new friend Tomasz came by for dinner at the Edmonton house. We had a lively discussion all evening centering on the state of the world, global powers and elites, the economy, and the like. Our mutual friend, S (a philosopher with his own practice called ASK, Assisted Self Knowledge) took us to the test on any statements of potential conjecture. Though that can be uncomfortable, on important topics it is all the more important to do so, as conjecture is a very limiting force, being a pervasive yet subtle power.<br />
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I did not ask for Tomasz's question until after he had thrown the coins and I spoke about the images. There was some foundational movement at this time in the lower part of the hexagram. He threw, 22 Adornment, and 18 Degeneration: the stillness of Mountain in the outside (the mind) and moving from Fire (illumination) to Wind (action) on the inside (the body). ... Stillness on the outside, illumination on the inside, moving into action...<br />
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Tomasz is well traveled in life. He has lived in many countries, is approaching the grand man's time of fifty years old, and has a multitude of experiences to draw upon. Indeed in the position of mind there is stillness here, and fewer questions on self-hood at this juncture. <a href="http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=836046&matches=26&cm_sp=works*listing*title" target="_blank">"Mountian, is where you loose the self"</a> says <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cleary" target="_blank">Thomas Cleary</a> (much more on him to follow:). What caught my attention, naturally, was this inversion in the lower trigram. The bottom two lines are changing. The expression of the bottom two lines on their own could be read as moving from Spring to Fall, and I spoke much on this first image.<br />
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Adornment, is described by Fire below the Mountain, illumination inside stillness. I always imagine sitting nestled into the mountain at lakeside on a calm evening when Adornment arises. It is a time of something even more still, more radiant, than simple reflection; but is rather a deepening appreciation of one's physical body, the miracle of one's blood and neurons, emotions, and that this body is a filter for Life... All these things coming to a point of radiant calm confidence and observation... an inner sparkling darkness... the night sky within ones own skin. ... The image of illumination inside stillness alone is worth contemplating.<br />
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The first sages who (possibly unbeknownst to them) set out on developing I Ching, sat around fires, asking questions to the stars, the cosmos, and threw bones into the fire to be cracked by the drying heat. Imagine now the pictorial quality of the Chinese language... In asking these questions, and allowing the divining powers of nature to bring back their 'answer' for examination, these early sages developed in time a cataloging system of these bones and their cracks, discovering patterns within the questions themselves - and even the questioning - like a 'primitive' quantum physics. Over several millennia, the patterns coalesced into what we now know to be the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching. It is truly a most remarkable accomplishment, brought together through observable and natural elements.<br />
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So I think of Adornment as a time of great beauty, in fact. It has such a bulk of history and genuine inquiry contained within it.<br />
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<b><a href="https://sites.google.com/a/sta-sis-arts.com/the-book-of-gardens/" target="_blank">"Relax into the kidneys: doubt is simply time feeling like regret."</a></b> Is my interpretation of the mountain under which the fire of Adornment nestles... "Relax into the kidneys: <i>doubt is simply time feeling like regret</i>." I brought T toward this image, and this feeling in his body, a place of pervasive security and nurturance. I explained briefly the history and use of fire in I Ching, as well as my own time sitting below a very specific mountain... deep into my own research and writing. When we truly still ourselves, there is always a great bounty within. Tomasz, is about ten years further into his time than I am, so there is much treasure here.<br />
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All along this time with Tomasz, I was offering a caution, as the action of Wind is approaching. Indeed, Degeneration, offers many forewarnings on the nature of corruption, and how at the heights of strength the prior seeds of weakness are often revealed. Do not hide them! Be ruthlessly honest, and scrape away any inconsistency. It is the way through to success... I was somewhat insistent that Tomasz use this feeling of reflection from Adornment - like wearing a crown - as a REMINDER for going forward. It is easy to alienate others, or alienate oneself from others by way of knowledge. By staying still to the beauty of our experiences though, we become so very inviting, and put ourselves in a position of sharing our innate wisdom; our most mature selves.<br />
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If one is 'newly minted' with a peak spiritual experience, it is a time of caution. Of tending the fire gently. As, if one claims enlightenment (illumination) to soon into the world... some form or other akin to corruption gains traction within ourselves. Beauty itself the intoxicant, my friends(!) Enjoy, but do not linger :)<br />
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Of course we all want to feel AWE. And, more keenly, to speak of this experience articulately. What is of great importance is the timing within ourselves for the quality to arise by which we share this awe. Too soon... and others may not follow. Too late? ...don't worry about it.<br />
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So: as we move into action, notably after a period of great discovery, this is indeed like "crossing a great river" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cleary" target="_blank">(TC)</a>. And to be in such a position, is a great honour(!) I am happy for you, Tomasz!<br />
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Jung says that our second half of life is far more interesting than the first, to which I must concur (I am just at its starting gate, and am loving it!) And yes, it is like crossing a great river: one must prepare "Three days prior. Three days after" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cleary" target="_blank">(TC)</a>. We must bookend our transitions with preparation and reflection.<br />
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The complete gorgeousness of Adornment cannot be underestimated in its usefulness. It follows on 21, Biting Through, which is a powerful and turbulent time. Thus Adornment is in itself a form of 'success.' Personally, I define success as contentment. That deep long exhale which happens upon the heels of an achievement. By focusing on the words, <i>"illumination inside stillness," </i> this gorgeous feeling will be an important anchor for Tomasz.<br />
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Tomasz now steps into what I hope and trust will be a time of quality-based action. Qualitative Action. This is not the action of a young man who has things to figure out, nor the action of youth which rails at others from inside their unknowing. This is the action of learning how best to proceed, with all the wisdom of the first half of life to inform, as we share our best knowing.<br />
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Much love Tomasz. May you always have long life, radiant good spirits, and excellent health. Remember the Zen saying, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flesh-Bones-Shambhala-Pocket-Classics/dp/1570620636" target="_blank">"your poverty, is your treasure"</a> and return to that deep breath, <i>deep into the kidneys.</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Please see my <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/sta-sis-arts.com/the-book-of-gardens/" target="_blank">"Book of Gardens"</a> for my complete interpretation of Thomas Cleary's 'Budhist I Ching.'</b></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-2383597504918150912012-03-03T15:20:00.000-08:002012-03-06T21:25:17.250-08:00Ahh... True love. Do you exist?!A few days prior, another long time pal, S-S, asked a question of the I Ching, and 48 The Well, and 5 Waiting, came back in response. S-S was wondering <i>When will I find true Love?</i><br />
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A good and timeless question.<br />
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That said, I thought: <i>By what <u>method</u> will I find true love? </i>might offer a pleasing thoroughness, to which S-S agreed.<br />
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Clearly spring approaches, and the ground stirs. The Well, has an element of community, and ones awareness of community, or communal-ness. Also, there is the aspect of 'bringing up water.' The inner activity of The Well, is of the trigram Wind - action - and this activity was moving toward the Heaven aspect inside Waiting: pure yang.<br />
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The Well, holds water - some in stasis, some in motion - and so too does Waiting. But there is nothing passive going on here: Nor is there any focus on the past! Waiting can be <b>radiant</b>, present, and the 'heaven' of love's waters reflect such. At risk of breaching the content filter of this site, I'd have to say... lush.<br />
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I figured, then, that S-S knows exactly what she needs and wants. Outwardly, the water/danger element stays in the outside position - in mind - in both hexagrams, unchanging. That there was one small movement in her casting - from the action of Wind to the action of Heaven - that very first/bottom line in the hexagram - the foundation - suggested to me that this is another time of gentle and loving introspection, and attending greatly to physical health. Every person knows their own feelings regardless of the time or credence paid to them, and certainly by adulthood, we know what makes our feelings 'tick.' ... Take many hot baths, and lather with quality (organic) oils afterward, know your mind, and then... well... wait. Wait with all the radiance of simply being alive.<br />
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So the only caution here, is, of course, in the mind: in thought. The classic 'robber barren!' I recommend lots of deep belly breathing, especially when you 'think' you are close, at the edge of success. The eagerness, spoils, and the readiness... is indeed all.<br />
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May much love come to everyone.<br />
Stay in touch S-S: you are always loved.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(Please see my <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/sta-sis-arts.com/the-book-of-gardens/" target="_blank">"Book of Gardens"</a> for further detail.)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245398273238431318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583438087598495751.post-48888482672341451182012-03-03T14:49:00.000-08:002012-03-06T21:30:36.019-08:00Wind and Water. Feeling through to thoroughness.My long time pal, O, asked a question today. Using thc coin method, 57 Wind, and 47 Exhaustion came back in response. O, was wondering about <i>where to live and how to live,</i> as she often travels. After some discussion, it seemed clear that a decision is forthcoming, due to the caution offered by Exhaustion, to not have any energy drain: Exhaustion is described by Water inside the Lake, so there is a separateness between two bodies of water, a sense of 'draining.' After more discussion, we thought that <i>"What is the best way to be healthy and sustainable?"</i> would offer more of a <i>process</i>, and perhaps a future consultation.<br />
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Wind, is flexible on the underside, covers vast area quickly, yet is decisive, active, and quite free in its upper portions: one third flexible, two thirds decisive. :) Wind moves around all objects quickly, leaving no surface untouched.<br />
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Exhaustion, has a joy being pursued, though with a slow and steady leakage making the joy unsustainable, and potentially unreachable. This is only a caution though, as much of this energy had already passed in this particular instance. So this is a very creative and active time for O, where she is in a lead position in her life: the invitation is clear, she has done all the research she needs to have done, and the decision awaits. Furthermore, the flexibility of wind also speaks to an abundance... Perhaps the gypsy, flying inside the wind, may grant the truest music...<br />
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Given the options on O's plate, I recommended an imaginative exercise/meditation: that in sitting quietly into each scenario, she imagine deeply and in great detail each choice - as if she were living it - allowing a central feeling to arise as a result. So, not to concentrate on <u>one</u> imagined/perhaps-habitually-preferred outcome - either/or - but to seriously commit to one's mind <u>each choice</u>, individually, allowing the feelings to follow in accord. Each feeling will arise naturally, spontaneously, without any force, and the most beneficial outcome will become known - happily so... <i>Do I live in one place, or another... Or do I live by a completely different set of rules?...</i> each choice to be played out in her mind's eye. It would be otherwise easy to make choices based in fear and be blown-about by 'the wind'... This is a time of clearing away clutter - not ruthlessly - but spaciously, encouraging the clear vision for her future, and holding true to the feelings which bring about a sense of vitality.<br />
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Thank you so much O! (Here's to another 20!) Stay in touch and let me know how I can assist further :)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(Soon to be in published form: <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/sta-sis-arts.com/the-book-of-gardens/" target="_blank">"The Book of Gardens: I Ching inspired Eco-Theology"</a>)</span><br />
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