Sep 17 24
Five of Cups (reversed)
62. Preponderance of the Small
56. The Wanderer
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 “J.P.”: How do I escape without losing my edge/place (in the job world/marketplace)? I find the popping out from instagram and urban areas into the people-less environments (“nature”) to be kind of backwards (dishonest) and rather ostentatiously extreme — like pretending to go from “impurity” to “purity” and back again (it’s all nature after all right? — no matter what fart’eryx, etc. implies). But I need a change from all of it. I know meditation is often cited here as key, but is there nothing else?
You are not the only one who has these feelings (so, thanks for your query). It is also not the only time that individuals have been faced with this type of quandary, not hardly. Artists, “prophets”, scientists, etc. throughout the millennia, have found their contemporary worlds to be horribly wrong/grotesque in their “ostentatious” and vapid ideas of purity vs. impurity (among many, many other notions).
So, consult these past iconoclastic kin (your artist, scientist, prophet forebearers) — read, read and read them some more. You will see that so much interest and beauty and struggle has built the best parts of the world around you — you are definitely not alone in history (though in your immediate surroundings, you might be).
It is easiest to profit off of fear and negativity — these methods often suppress anything that complicates their offering — but homogenization (left as is) ultimately has very little utility when it comes to complex problem solving. But alas, the world would be mega-horrible, rather than merely terrible 😅 if individuals, who often had to go against the grain, didn’t persevere for us in the contemporary world.
(But don’t ever let yourself get arrogant; struggle for a kind outlook. You ultimately want to be of use to others and yourself.)
As well, and as an aside, don’t let people who see the unpeopled places as stylish gyms prevent you from enjoying a good walk out of doors.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Five of Cups (reversed). All is not lost and you are beginning to see that. It’s like yes there has been waste in your “Project” (writ large) but maturing might actually be best defined as ingeniously utilizing what is there and actual — the fumes of dreams will not power anything. To paraphrase the poets: it is the difficulty of limitation (not freedom) that shapes the best work.
Our first hexagram this week is #62, Preponderance of the Small. “Thus the superior person… must always fix their eyes more closely and more directly on duty than the ordinary person, even though this might make their behavior seem petty to the outside world. The superior person is exceptionally conscientious of their actions… In all their personal expenditures they are extremely simple and unpretentious. In comparison with the person of the masses, all this makes them stand out as exceptional. But the essential significance of their attitude lies in the fact that in external matters they are always on the side of modesty.” But this is the only path of a superlative human. To be superlative is the most difficult thing. (“Superlative” here, meaning being admirable to oneself and useful to the greater good.) The world of people is largely one of the short term, only interested in topicality. Since being an excellent person means fixing to a long-term goal — you’ll have to risk not always making sense or not being integrated into society; some may even try to hurt you (or worse) for your outsiderness. But this is the only dignified path (utility for humankind/yourself by economic/thrifty means).
There was one change this week of which the specific note is: when trying to force change, consider “all” existing paths (precedents of great forebearers) before trying something wildly new.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #56, The Wanderer. “When a person is a wanderer and stranger, they should not be gruff nor overbearing. They have no large circle of acquaintances, therefore they should not give themself airs. They must be cautious and reserved; in this way they protect themself from evil.” The advice is literal but there is also a general behavioral admonition: when you search, persevere intently, but don’t get caught up. Don’t dramatically grow roots (with an idea, object or person) until some time has passed and larger contexts are seen. Keep it light and be modest in relation with others.
- It is limitation (not freedom) that shapes the best work.
- The fumes of a dream will not power anything, such things will likely just make you sick.
- In particularly difficult situations employ thrift.
- When pushing for change consult the experienced first (your forebearers) — don’t seek them only when you need help cleaning up.
- Read, a lot, and diversely.
- Keep it light and be modest in relation with others.
- Try not to “grow roots” prematurely.
From “J.P.”: How do I escape without losing my edge/place (in the job world/marketplace)? I find the popping out from instagram and urban areas into the people-less environments (“nature”) to be kind of backwards (dishonest) and rather ostentatiously extreme — like pretending to go from “impurity” to “purity” and back again (it’s all nature after all right? — no matter what fart’eryx, etc. implies). But I need a change from all of it. I know meditation is often cited here as key, but is there nothing else?
You are not the only one who has these feelings (so, thanks for your query). It is also not the only time that individuals have been faced with this type of quandary, not hardly. Artists, “prophets”, scientists, etc. throughout the millennia, have found their contemporary worlds to be horribly wrong/grotesque in their “ostentatious” and vapid ideas of purity vs. impurity (among many, many other notions).
So, consult these past iconoclastic kin (your artist, scientist, prophet forebearers) — read, read and read them some more. You will see that so much interest and beauty and struggle has built the best parts of the world around you — you are definitely not alone in history (though in your immediate surroundings, you might be).
It is easiest to profit off of fear and negativity — these methods often suppress anything that complicates their offering — but homogenization (left as is) ultimately has very little utility when it comes to complex problem solving. But alas, the world would be mega-horrible, rather than merely terrible 😅 if individuals, who often had to go against the grain, didn’t persevere for us in the contemporary world.
(But don’t ever let yourself get arrogant; struggle for a kind outlook. You ultimately want to be of use to others and yourself.)
As well, and as an aside, don’t let people who see the unpeopled places as stylish gyms prevent you from enjoying a good walk out of doors.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Five of Cups (reversed). All is not lost and you are beginning to see that. It’s like yes there has been waste in your “Project” (writ large) but maturing might actually be best defined as ingeniously utilizing what is there and actual — the fumes of dreams will not power anything. To paraphrase the poets: it is the difficulty of limitation (not freedom) that shapes the best work.
Our first hexagram this week is #62, Preponderance of the Small. “Thus the superior person… must always fix their eyes more closely and more directly on duty than the ordinary person, even though this might make their behavior seem petty to the outside world. The superior person is exceptionally conscientious of their actions… In all their personal expenditures they are extremely simple and unpretentious. In comparison with the person of the masses, all this makes them stand out as exceptional. But the essential significance of their attitude lies in the fact that in external matters they are always on the side of modesty.” But this is the only path of a superlative human. To be superlative is the most difficult thing. (“Superlative” here, meaning being admirable to oneself and useful to the greater good.) The world of people is largely one of the short term, only interested in topicality. Since being an excellent person means fixing to a long-term goal — you’ll have to risk not always making sense or not being integrated into society; some may even try to hurt you (or worse) for your outsiderness. But this is the only dignified path (utility for humankind/yourself by economic/thrifty means).
There was one change this week of which the specific note is: when trying to force change, consider “all” existing paths (precedents of great forebearers) before trying something wildly new.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #56, The Wanderer. “When a person is a wanderer and stranger, they should not be gruff nor overbearing. They have no large circle of acquaintances, therefore they should not give themself airs. They must be cautious and reserved; in this way they protect themself from evil.” The advice is literal but there is also a general behavioral admonition: when you search, persevere intently, but don’t get caught up. Don’t dramatically grow roots (with an idea, object or person) until some time has passed and larger contexts are seen. Keep it light and be modest in relation with others.