Jun 27 23
Seven of Pentacles (reversed)
10. Treading [Conduct]
38. Opposition
These first few lines are the general aphoristic returns for the week. They are raw and uninterpreted; there to use how you’d like. (The specific readings follow.)
From “M.S.”: Does the web reveal existing negative behavior (like racism or corruption) or, to a significant degree, does it create it? And if it is found that, in a very substantial way, it does generate dark behavior, is part of the “solution” for reorienting, un-powering, or quieting such detestable conduct, lie in the very understanding that it is being coerced by the host medium (that is “naturally” occurring and somewhat inevitable — like the detritus of an atypically strong ocean current or the chaos resulting from a tornado)?
It is likely beyond debate that the conditions of a medium make the object/result — certainly something like the medium of early childhood circumstance imprints lifelong templates of behavior (as-in/similar-to, the waves are the ocean, the cactus is the desert, etc., etc.). Also, there are, of course, system dynamics invariably hidden from humanity’s primarily short term (and small surfaced) perceptive abilities.
So, the web/internet would be no exception here.
The web/internet (and its gigantic, social sub-platforms) is so vast that its implementation could only be described as careless.
Perhaps like a socially-minded, democratic government, the web should be under constant, striving-to-be-better-than-one’s-self reevaluation. Like transcendental reevaluation, the aim being the elimination of nepotism and arbitrariness. As well as predicting/pre-adjusting (oversight) for the inevitable bias and misunderstandings that will continually occur (like a sea wall or sand dunes) — not simply rewarding trickery and allowing for dumb surprise at metaphorically rising waters.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Seven of Pentacles/Coins (reversed). When upright, the card indicates a scenario where one’s efforts are paying off — real growth is visible (think early fruit on the vine — though unripe, with proper care, there will be a good yield). However, when reversed, as the card is here, there is evidence of rot or lack of care, regarding intended profit. Take time this week to reevaluate important situations where you may have been careless.
Our first hexagram this week is #10, Treading (Conduct). Here we have some musings on rank or social order — sensitive subjects to be sure. The wisdom centers around “inner worth” which here means something like natural talents/abilities; the idea is that societies should strive for skill to match rank — arbitrariness in such matters leads to “envy and class struggle.” It is further suggested that since imbalances and poor appointments are likely to occur, the superlative person should always conduct themself with “decorum.” Further: “pleasant manners succeed even with irritable people.” There was one change this week, of which the specific note is: a leader must be resolute, but always aware of the dangers of such force of intent.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #38, Opposition. “When people live in opposition and estrangement they cannot carry out a great undertaking in common; their points of view diverge too widely. In such circumstances one should above all not proceed brusquely, for that would only increase the existing opposition; instead, one should limit oneself to producing gradual effects in small matters. Here success can still be expected, because the situation is such that the opposition does not preclude all agreement… In general, opposition appears as an obstruction, but when it represents polarity within a comprehensive whole, it has also its useful and important functions…” It is our understanding that human perception is based in the formulation of differences. However no human distinction is stable from all points of view. So, we add to the above notion that opposition is often only so from a single angle — change the angle of perception, and the obstruction becomes the most important opportunity for growth. Though this is often a difficult or painful process.
- reevaluate situations of possible carelessness
- if one must be resolute, one must also be aware of the dangers of such commitment(s)
- skill (value to the whole), not nepotism or arbitrariness, should determine rank
- moments of opposition are opportunities for growth (albeit, often difficult ones)
From “M.S.”: Does the web reveal existing negative behavior (like racism or corruption) or, to a significant degree, does it create it? And if it is found that, in a very substantial way, it does generate dark behavior, is part of the “solution” for reorienting, un-powering, or quieting such detestable conduct, lie in the very understanding that it is being coerced by the host medium (that is “naturally” occurring and somewhat inevitable — like the detritus of an atypically strong ocean current or the chaos resulting from a tornado)?
It is likely beyond debate that the conditions of a medium make the object/result — certainly something like the medium of early childhood circumstance imprints lifelong templates of behavior (as-in/similar-to, the waves are the ocean, the cactus is the desert, etc., etc.). Also, there are, of course, system dynamics invariably hidden from humanity’s primarily short term (and small surfaced) perceptive abilities.
So, the web/internet would be no exception here.
The web/internet (and its gigantic, social sub-platforms) is so vast that its implementation could only be described as careless.
Perhaps like a socially-minded, democratic government, the web should be under constant, striving-to-be-better-than-one’s-self reevaluation. Like transcendental reevaluation, the aim being the elimination of nepotism and arbitrariness. As well as predicting/pre-adjusting (oversight) for the inevitable bias and misunderstandings that will continually occur (like a sea wall or sand dunes) — not simply rewarding trickery and allowing for dumb surprise at metaphorically rising waters.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Seven of Pentacles/Coins (reversed). When upright, the card indicates a scenario where one’s efforts are paying off — real growth is visible (think early fruit on the vine — though unripe, with proper care, there will be a good yield). However, when reversed, as the card is here, there is evidence of rot or lack of care, regarding intended profit. Take time this week to reevaluate important situations where you may have been careless.
Our first hexagram this week is #10, Treading (Conduct). Here we have some musings on rank or social order — sensitive subjects to be sure. The wisdom centers around “inner worth” which here means something like natural talents/abilities; the idea is that societies should strive for skill to match rank — arbitrariness in such matters leads to “envy and class struggle.” It is further suggested that since imbalances and poor appointments are likely to occur, the superlative person should always conduct themself with “decorum.” Further: “pleasant manners succeed even with irritable people.” There was one change this week, of which the specific note is: a leader must be resolute, but always aware of the dangers of such force of intent.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #38, Opposition. “When people live in opposition and estrangement they cannot carry out a great undertaking in common; their points of view diverge too widely. In such circumstances one should above all not proceed brusquely, for that would only increase the existing opposition; instead, one should limit oneself to producing gradual effects in small matters. Here success can still be expected, because the situation is such that the opposition does not preclude all agreement… In general, opposition appears as an obstruction, but when it represents polarity within a comprehensive whole, it has also its useful and important functions…” It is our understanding that human perception is based in the formulation of differences. However no human distinction is stable from all points of view. So, we add to the above notion that opposition is often only so from a single angle — change the angle of perception, and the obstruction becomes the most important opportunity for growth. Though this is often a difficult or painful process.