Oct 27 20
Four of Wands
3. Difficulty at the Beginning
27. Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment)
This week we pulled the “Four of Wands.” This card is a symbol of positive connection — think harvest and harmony — family, friends, nature, town, market, as a whole. Specifically the imagery points to the structural aspect of this symbolism; perhaps expressing that the underlying anatomy of your system of production is sound — or at least that you should pay particular attention to its soundness this period.
Our first hexagram, which we partner with our tarot to describe (or further detail) the current situation, is #3, “Difficulty at the Beginning.” Here it is intimated that this period is a time of growth; growth of the demanding kind, involving much that is unknown. It is advised that when “everything is still unformed, dark… hold back, because any premature move might bring disaster.” “In order to find one’s place in the infinity of being, one must be able both to separate and to unite.” That is, it is a struggle to be smart and not lazy during change. It is best to strain the threshold of your consciousness to be aware of as much as you can, as things morph (don’t just let it happen). Our changes have some very specific augmentations to the above: Good intentions are apt to be misinterpreted this period, so it is wise to be remember that “it is only through faithful and conscientious work, unobtrusively carried on, that the situation gradually clears up and the hindrance disappears.” And rather darkly it states “The difficulties at the beginning are too great for some persons. They get stuck and never find their way out.” We interpret this as, no person is successful at all things; painful defeat is part of the life.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #27, “Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment).” This hexagram has very straightforward things to say about the building of one’s character. It needs little interpretation: “Those that cultivate the inferior parts of their nature are inferior people. Those who cultivate the superior parts of their nature are superior people.” If put off by a word like “superior” perhaps consider artists like Baudelaire or Sylvia Plath; the superior aspects of their natures were certainly dark and quite wonderful.
Our extraction: When considering the goal of our lives there probably exists some sort of underlying structure similar to the agrarian sequence of planting, harvest and consumption/exchange. Our tarot this week points to the underlying configuration of the harvest/exchange part. There may be difficulty in exchange of long cultivated endeavors, now ready for consumption. The difficulty may prove too much (start over or make a different plan). But if you can get through this birthing don’t put too much pressure on the ultimate destination of your yield. Instead put the emphasis on mechanics of the actual exchanging — like make sure it’s with honorable and worthy people — do not be lazy or foolhardy about this.
Our first hexagram, which we partner with our tarot to describe (or further detail) the current situation, is #3, “Difficulty at the Beginning.” Here it is intimated that this period is a time of growth; growth of the demanding kind, involving much that is unknown. It is advised that when “everything is still unformed, dark… hold back, because any premature move might bring disaster.” “In order to find one’s place in the infinity of being, one must be able both to separate and to unite.” That is, it is a struggle to be smart and not lazy during change. It is best to strain the threshold of your consciousness to be aware of as much as you can, as things morph (don’t just let it happen). Our changes have some very specific augmentations to the above: Good intentions are apt to be misinterpreted this period, so it is wise to be remember that “it is only through faithful and conscientious work, unobtrusively carried on, that the situation gradually clears up and the hindrance disappears.” And rather darkly it states “The difficulties at the beginning are too great for some persons. They get stuck and never find their way out.” We interpret this as, no person is successful at all things; painful defeat is part of the life.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #27, “Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment).” This hexagram has very straightforward things to say about the building of one’s character. It needs little interpretation: “Those that cultivate the inferior parts of their nature are inferior people. Those who cultivate the superior parts of their nature are superior people.” If put off by a word like “superior” perhaps consider artists like Baudelaire or Sylvia Plath; the superior aspects of their natures were certainly dark and quite wonderful.
Our extraction: When considering the goal of our lives there probably exists some sort of underlying structure similar to the agrarian sequence of planting, harvest and consumption/exchange. Our tarot this week points to the underlying configuration of the harvest/exchange part. There may be difficulty in exchange of long cultivated endeavors, now ready for consumption. The difficulty may prove too much (start over or make a different plan). But if you can get through this birthing don’t put too much pressure on the ultimate destination of your yield. Instead put the emphasis on mechanics of the actual exchanging — like make sure it’s with honorable and worthy people — do not be lazy or foolhardy about this.