May 26 26
Nine of Cups (reversed)
28. Preponderance of the Great
46. Pushing Upward
46. Pushing Upward
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 “I.R.A.”: If a leader says they want a universal (good) thing for all people, but obviously consider themselves to be an exception, as the leader of that universal (good) thing, that is, they don’t really have to follow the rules that they say the masses have to follow (the proverbial: do what I say not what I do) — yet — explicitly position themselves as common and not special (just like you and me). It seems that, right from the start, a cloaked exception to equality is a horribly shaky foundation for equality (the inherent inequality of special status whilst saying that humans can have no special status) — “once I get off this stage, they’ll be no more stages!” Is it better to have a leader that doesn’t hide hierarchy (doesn’t pretend that they don’t have exceptional status) so that people can make peace with the imbalance from the start? (There’s levity in this question.)
Oracle reply: Quite simply you see the problem; as it is not hidden to you. Perhaps this is a calling; whatever the case, it is likely time to put your dreams and material aspirations to rest. Maybe you should lead. Perhaps the development of your character should be made public, as a kind of leadership. “...without haste and without rest... the superior person is devoted in character and never pauses in their progress...”
Complete Reading:
This week we pulled Nine of Cups (reversed). Here we have the “Lord of Material Happiness” reversed. Here, forewarnings against self-indulgence and dissatisfaction due to a weak reliance on attractive dreams (or the emotions). Also, the negative reverse of satisfaction.
Our first hexagram this week is #28, Preponderance of the Great. With this hexagram comes a direct warning, something is too heavy for the support it’s being given. Swiftness to correct the situation is strongly advised; contemplative planning will lead to disaster. The problem is not hidden!
There were two changes this week, of which the combined note is: to lead is to serve.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #46, Pushing Upward. “Adapting itself to obstacles and bending around them, wood in the earth grows upward without haste and without rest. Thus too the superior person is devoted in character and never pauses in their progress.” Yes, that is the only way — devote yourself to improving, do this without stopping, without over (or under) doing. This looks different for everyone, but it is nevertheless true. Should you devote yourself to ruining yourself? No. Should you devote yourself to satisfying stranger’s mysterious desires? No. Should you behave recklessly? No. You should always be trying to improve yourself without haste and without rest.
- Do not rely on dreams or emotions.
- The problem is not hidden!
- To lead is to serve.
- No haste, no rest.
Question from “I.R.A.”: If a leader says they want a universal (good) thing for all people, but obviously consider themselves to be an exception, as the leader of that universal (good) thing, that is, they don’t really have to follow the rules that they say the masses have to follow (the proverbial: do what I say not what I do) — yet — explicitly position themselves as common and not special (just like you and me). It seems that, right from the start, a cloaked exception to equality is a horribly shaky foundation for equality (the inherent inequality of special status whilst saying that humans can have no special status) — “once I get off this stage, they’ll be no more stages!” Is it better to have a leader that doesn’t hide hierarchy (doesn’t pretend that they don’t have exceptional status) so that people can make peace with the imbalance from the start? (There’s levity in this question.)
Oracle reply: Quite simply you see the problem; as it is not hidden to you. Perhaps this is a calling; whatever the case, it is likely time to put your dreams and material aspirations to rest. Maybe you should lead. Perhaps the development of your character should be made public, as a kind of leadership. “...without haste and without rest... the superior person is devoted in character and never pauses in their progress...”
Complete Reading:
This week we pulled Nine of Cups (reversed). Here we have the “Lord of Material Happiness” reversed. Here, forewarnings against self-indulgence and dissatisfaction due to a weak reliance on attractive dreams (or the emotions). Also, the negative reverse of satisfaction.
Our first hexagram this week is #28, Preponderance of the Great. With this hexagram comes a direct warning, something is too heavy for the support it’s being given. Swiftness to correct the situation is strongly advised; contemplative planning will lead to disaster. The problem is not hidden!
There were two changes this week, of which the combined note is: to lead is to serve.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #46, Pushing Upward. “Adapting itself to obstacles and bending around them, wood in the earth grows upward without haste and without rest. Thus too the superior person is devoted in character and never pauses in their progress.” Yes, that is the only way — devote yourself to improving, do this without stopping, without over (or under) doing. This looks different for everyone, but it is nevertheless true. Should you devote yourself to ruining yourself? No. Should you devote yourself to satisfying stranger’s mysterious desires? No. Should you behave recklessly? No. You should always be trying to improve yourself without haste and without rest.