Mar 02 21
The Lovers
9. The Taming Power of the Small
41. Decrease
Petite Reading
All personalities are made of attributes both visible and hidden — dominant and lesser. It seems there is a negligent attitude toward the lesser and hidden; a kind of allowed narcissism of the main cast toward the supporting players. It is a good week to consider being a better director (of self and selves, and of people) — one that works hard to provide due attention to all aspects of the production.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Lovers card. Here we have the intimation to muse upon the harmony of opposing forces. What major contrasting forces and powers are dominating your life? How is their interaction effecting you and what should you do about it? Should you bring the differing parts together with true intention or cauterize them and define anew?
Our first hexagram this week is #9, The Taming Power of the Small. Something is holding us back, but it is not an energy that is in the open; it is in the dark and resides in the weaker part of things. “The force of the small—the power of the shadowy... restrains, tames, impedes…. a configuration of circumstances in which a strong element is temporarily held in leash by a weak element.” “To carry out our purpose we need firm determination within and gentleness and adaptability in external relations.” We had two changes this week and the specific notes are quite pertinent: “Here an attempt is made to press forward forcibly, in the consciousness that the obstructing power is slight. But since, under the circumstances, power actually lies with the weak, this sudden offensive is doomed to failure. External conditions hinder the advance, just as loss of the wheel spokes stops the progress of a wagon… though the situation may enable the weaker side to hold its ground, the difficulties are too numerous to permit of a happy result. In consequence even the strong person cannot so use their power as to exert the right influence on those around them. They experiences a rebuff where they expected an easy victory, and thus they compromise their dignity.” “Loyalty leads to firm ties because it means that each partner complements the other. In the weaker person loyalty consists in devotion, in the stronger it consists in trustworthiness. This relation of mutual reinforcement leads to a true wealth that is all the more apparent because it is not selfishly hoarded but is shared with friends. Pleasure shared is pleasure doubled.”
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #41, Decrease. Here we have the discussion of the lessoning of attention (or wealth) in one area so as to distribute more evenly throughout the whole — with the intention of an overarching and balanced solidity. “If the foundations of a building are decreased in strength and the upper walls are strengthened, the whole structure loses its stability.” “Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad. Increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretense.”
All personalities are made of attributes both visible and hidden — dominant and lesser. It seems there is a negligent attitude toward the lesser and hidden; a kind of allowed narcissism of the main cast toward the supporting players. It is a good week to consider being a better director (of self and selves, and of people) — one that works hard to provide due attention to all aspects of the production.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Lovers card. Here we have the intimation to muse upon the harmony of opposing forces. What major contrasting forces and powers are dominating your life? How is their interaction effecting you and what should you do about it? Should you bring the differing parts together with true intention or cauterize them and define anew?
Our first hexagram this week is #9, The Taming Power of the Small. Something is holding us back, but it is not an energy that is in the open; it is in the dark and resides in the weaker part of things. “The force of the small—the power of the shadowy... restrains, tames, impedes…. a configuration of circumstances in which a strong element is temporarily held in leash by a weak element.” “To carry out our purpose we need firm determination within and gentleness and adaptability in external relations.” We had two changes this week and the specific notes are quite pertinent: “Here an attempt is made to press forward forcibly, in the consciousness that the obstructing power is slight. But since, under the circumstances, power actually lies with the weak, this sudden offensive is doomed to failure. External conditions hinder the advance, just as loss of the wheel spokes stops the progress of a wagon… though the situation may enable the weaker side to hold its ground, the difficulties are too numerous to permit of a happy result. In consequence even the strong person cannot so use their power as to exert the right influence on those around them. They experiences a rebuff where they expected an easy victory, and thus they compromise their dignity.” “Loyalty leads to firm ties because it means that each partner complements the other. In the weaker person loyalty consists in devotion, in the stronger it consists in trustworthiness. This relation of mutual reinforcement leads to a true wealth that is all the more apparent because it is not selfishly hoarded but is shared with friends. Pleasure shared is pleasure doubled.”
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #41, Decrease. Here we have the discussion of the lessoning of attention (or wealth) in one area so as to distribute more evenly throughout the whole — with the intention of an overarching and balanced solidity. “If the foundations of a building are decreased in strength and the upper walls are strengthened, the whole structure loses its stability.” “Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad. Increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretense.”