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.)

• Wealth can be a trap; the more you have the more you have to protect (if not careful, this can lead to sadism and paranoia). So, it’s good to have money, but definitely share it, though, share wisely.
• Excitement and clarity is necessary for getting through obstacles.
• To be in accord with Nature (to be attuned to all that is happening around you — not just like trees and mountains or whatever but like ALL of it), one must redevelop innocence. 

Question from “R.E.I.”: We don’t believe ANYTHING anyone says, unless they somehow communicate very clearly, and very kindly (with ambitious dignity) the difficulty they have with understanding things (generally) — to us, not professing deep uncertainty, in some way, is grotesque. It needn’t be a grand declaration either.

(Side Note: The high order bit for the internet is pretend confidence — which is the grist of greed.)

If someone says, “I think communism is a good idea” or “I think Christianity is best for society” or “I really care about the homeless” or “I love being alone” or “my girlfriend is good for me” or “I had a great trip” or “I believe no one is free until we are all free” or “my country is the best country” or “I think it’s all bullshit” — basically anything said with confident momentum, with no sincere qualifiers about how and why they arrived at such claims (a process which would INVARIABLY show that they don’t actually believe but simply WANT to believe) — they are horrible, common, petty tyrants (to borrow a phrase).

“Knowing” for us seems (simply) more like an empty attempt at overcoming deep insecurities that one won't admit (or obviously, “knowing” is a manipulative veneer hiding cunning).

It is not to say that nothing can be known or that nothing can be done, just that we believe that unbridled confidence, in general, is not healthy. Saying you that you know (absolutely) is transcendentally confusing to others (unless perhaps you are weaning a young child). 

That’s our point — CONFIDENCE IS TRANSCENDENTALLY CONFUSING TO OTHER PEOPLE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT NO ONE KNOWS. 

What does the oracle have to say about our disgust and annoyance with all the endless people who are endlessly lying about what they know and believe (those that pretend to help/care but merely confuse) those that sit preening their smugness, hiding the dispeptic, prideful torpor of their transcendental insecurity? And to what end with these people? Always the eventual violent/murderous phase to defend some half believed, quarter-baked morality?

Oracle reply: Abundance and security have become a danger — boredom and overstimulation, due to over-supply, is leading to sadism, narcissism and paranoia. To break this obstacle there must be excitement and clarity about rekindling a kind of innocence — to break through the corruption of one’s heart and mind.

An example: one should not allow themselves to be defined by their (perceived) enemies, that is a corruption, a kind of con.


Complete Reading:

This week we pulled Ace of Pentacles (reversed). Aces embody the latent and potential qualities of a particular suite. Pentacles represent tangible realities (finances, opportunities). When combined, the implication is of great prosperity, contentment even. However when reversed, as it is here, the representation points to the shadow side of power and wealth (miserliness, paranoia, sadism, etc.).

Our first hexagram this week is #21, Biting Through.  Here we have advice concerning the correct way to neutralize obstacles (of the human type). “When an obstacle arises, energetic biting through brings success. This is true in all situations.” However(!) the manner, measure and pressure applied is extremely important to get right: “unqualified hardness and excitement would be too violent… unqualified clarity and gentleness would be too weak… the two together create the just measure.”

Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #25, Innocence (The Unexpected). To be in accord with Nature (that is, what is actually happening all around you, near and far) requires a kind of innocent; or preserve a certain innocence. It is helpful therefore, to understand the difference between innocence and corruption (its antithesis). Innocence is a state where one isn’t hardened by expectations; corruption, is to be cynical (and confident) of expectation. An example, many of us, because of the painful blows of childhood involuntarily walk through life in a position of self protection (hardened expectation); it is impossible to accept love when you are guarding (expecting the opposite of love). Even death may be love. 

Also, “Those who depart from innocence, what do they come to? Heaven’s will and blessing do not go with their deeds.”