Jul 08 25
Two of Pentacles
29. The Abysmal (Water)
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.)
Question from “X.L.R.”: It seems that there are pop ideas and there are nuanced ideas. It also seems, that these ideas are mutually exclusive (that is, they are mostly at odds when responding to the same situation). It could be said that pop ideas are fast to be adopted because they are simplistic, whereas nuanced ideas are generally slower to be understood, as they need focus/time and constant refamiliarization. It is our experience that the powerful, and their lazy and/or tired and/or angry followers (whether collegiate and/or governmental and/or corporate and/or those that bully generally) love pop ideas. We, however, are very aware of the difference and so prefer nuanced ideas — this is not a self compliment, as the exploration and adoption of nuanced ideas does not make life easier — it may actually be a very, very dumb way of life.
In any case, we believe that it is important to participate in the world(s) outside of ourself but find it difficult because of the oppressing and intimidating nature of pop ideas and those that wield them (these be the difficulties). Pop ideas are very much THE world now (and maybe always have been?). How best to participate in a meaningful way?
Oracle reply: A lot of the oracle’s answers bring to light the presuppositions of the questions asked. In a serious way, questions generally, presuppose answering — the truth is, some questions are not questions at all. That is, questions themselves can be a kind of one-sided catharsis or venting, only pretending to want answers (unconsciously or consciously). Some questions are really statements that no answer can satisfy; and some are simply impossible to answer.
There is always another way to frame a question, or set up a problem, or construct a viewpoint, or arrange elements so that they rationalize a particular emotion or side or what have you (depressive, ecstatic, conservative, liberal) — reality is either elsewhere or infinite or fixed in a way we couldn’t begin to understand. But fare forward we must and hopefully farewell.
Your question is simply too rigid. Constant rigidity brings disappointment.
The thought here is that since life is always changing (full of novelty) AND one’s personality (self) is a limited and very specific tool set (specific to the individual even) — it is important not to live in a fantasy about the way things are (rigidity is a fantasy of control, for example) — the best move is to look at life as attentiveness within forces we cannot control. A reaction here could be that fear (stressful worry) and fantasy (hyperbolic hope or escapism) are what make the animal survive — but perhaps try a more positive version: buoyant juggling while going with “THE” Flow.
Complete Reading:
This week we pulled the Two of Pentacles. The idea, here, is that equilibrium is achieved by juggling (not by mere two point symmetry). That is, stability requires endless attention and alertness — as there are no permanent scenarios.
Our first and only hexagram this week is #29, The Abysmal (Water). “Water sets the example for the right conduct... It flows on and on, and merely fills up all the places through which it flows; it does not shrink from any dangerous spot nor from any plunge, and nothing can make it lose its own essential nature. It remains true to itself under all conditions. Thus likewise, if one is sincere when confronted with difficulties, the heart can penetrate the meaning of the situation. And once we have gained inner mastery of a problem, it will come about naturally that the action we take will succeed.” Living in fantasy is a mistake; one must surrender (know) their idiosyncrasies and tendencies and surrender (know) that the world is also idiosyncratic and full of novelties. If one pretends otherwise there will be great strife.
- Equilibrium is not achieved by symmetry, but by juggling; buoyant juggling while going with The Flow (writ large).
- “If one is sincere when confronted with difficulties, the heart can penetrate the meaning of the situation.”
- We must strive to be honest with ourselves about what little control we have AND take advantage when we do have some bit of agency (perhaps: don’t live in fantasy and go with the flow).
Question from “X.L.R.”: It seems that there are pop ideas and there are nuanced ideas. It also seems, that these ideas are mutually exclusive (that is, they are mostly at odds when responding to the same situation). It could be said that pop ideas are fast to be adopted because they are simplistic, whereas nuanced ideas are generally slower to be understood, as they need focus/time and constant refamiliarization. It is our experience that the powerful, and their lazy and/or tired and/or angry followers (whether collegiate and/or governmental and/or corporate and/or those that bully generally) love pop ideas. We, however, are very aware of the difference and so prefer nuanced ideas — this is not a self compliment, as the exploration and adoption of nuanced ideas does not make life easier — it may actually be a very, very dumb way of life.
In any case, we believe that it is important to participate in the world(s) outside of ourself but find it difficult because of the oppressing and intimidating nature of pop ideas and those that wield them (these be the difficulties). Pop ideas are very much THE world now (and maybe always have been?). How best to participate in a meaningful way?
Oracle reply: A lot of the oracle’s answers bring to light the presuppositions of the questions asked. In a serious way, questions generally, presuppose answering — the truth is, some questions are not questions at all. That is, questions themselves can be a kind of one-sided catharsis or venting, only pretending to want answers (unconsciously or consciously). Some questions are really statements that no answer can satisfy; and some are simply impossible to answer.
There is always another way to frame a question, or set up a problem, or construct a viewpoint, or arrange elements so that they rationalize a particular emotion or side or what have you (depressive, ecstatic, conservative, liberal) — reality is either elsewhere or infinite or fixed in a way we couldn’t begin to understand. But fare forward we must and hopefully farewell.
Your question is simply too rigid. Constant rigidity brings disappointment.
The thought here is that since life is always changing (full of novelty) AND one’s personality (self) is a limited and very specific tool set (specific to the individual even) — it is important not to live in a fantasy about the way things are (rigidity is a fantasy of control, for example) — the best move is to look at life as attentiveness within forces we cannot control. A reaction here could be that fear (stressful worry) and fantasy (hyperbolic hope or escapism) are what make the animal survive — but perhaps try a more positive version: buoyant juggling while going with “THE” Flow.
Complete Reading:
This week we pulled the Two of Pentacles. The idea, here, is that equilibrium is achieved by juggling (not by mere two point symmetry). That is, stability requires endless attention and alertness — as there are no permanent scenarios.
Our first and only hexagram this week is #29, The Abysmal (Water). “Water sets the example for the right conduct... It flows on and on, and merely fills up all the places through which it flows; it does not shrink from any dangerous spot nor from any plunge, and nothing can make it lose its own essential nature. It remains true to itself under all conditions. Thus likewise, if one is sincere when confronted with difficulties, the heart can penetrate the meaning of the situation. And once we have gained inner mastery of a problem, it will come about naturally that the action we take will succeed.” Living in fantasy is a mistake; one must surrender (know) their idiosyncrasies and tendencies and surrender (know) that the world is also idiosyncratic and full of novelties. If one pretends otherwise there will be great strife.