May 07 24
The High Priestess
33. Retreat
37. The Family [The Clan]
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.)
From “M.S.”: Need some advice regarding how to live in a time that seems dominated by masses of corporately manipulated/generated, messianic, unsubtle, sophomoric people (left, right or otherwise). All we encounter seem either like some sort of no-blinking-too-much-whites-of-their-eyes cult followers or full on steel-plate-behind-their-face-sociopath bullies (“bullies” being those that despise sensitivity, subtly, and curiosity — wanting to replace them with controlled chaos). Also, not necessarily saying that this is the worst of times or that this is unique to our times, just that it is occurring and that it makes it difficult to connect with the beautiful side/facet(s) of humanity/life.
You are a subsidiary element amidst unimaginable processes. You are over focussed on the veils and the surfaces at your scale. It is both a dangerous and beautiful world — and it is not stable. You must accept this truth. You must connect with the indifference of the process and your own will within it.
Make a temple in your interior. Your conscious mind would be something like the surface area of the temple’s holy mantle. On this small plane see the patterns of past tears, fixations, angry blows, laughter, indifference, objectivities, subjectivities, unconsciousness and idleness. If you do so, you will see these patterns and idiosyncrasies everywhere. You will be better for yourself and the world with this type of perception — though it is not easy.
It is not a process of letting go, but of engaging. Get busy.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the High Priestess. This is the querent’s answer to all questions. This card symbolizes the right connection to the mystery that is everything. It is in accordance with this card that the confused querent becomes devoted aspirant. It is an intimation to relinquish oneself to the notion that they are a smaller process in a larger process (this is not a giving up, but ultimate engagement).
Our first hexagram this week is #33, Retreat. If success is not an option, persisting would be a loss. In this case it is wise to take oneself out of the equation — to wait for a more favorable time, to recalibrate, to train or to prepare oneself for another attempt. Appropriately retreating is strength. Also, “the superior person shows strength in that they bring the inferior person to a standstill, by dignified reserve.”
There were two changes this week, of which the specific notes are: if one is very close to the party they are retreating from, it is a very sensitive situation, do not be dramatic or even very visible with this type of retreat. Also, appropriate retreat should, like all actions, have some light heartedness to it (because you see the bigger picture).
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #37, The Family (The Clan). The metaphor here is the health and order of the family. That is, a sound basis for any project is order within, radiating outwards. Without inner, loving organization, exterior is almost impossible. As well: “...the influence on others must proceed from one’s own person. In order to be capable of producing such an influence, one’s words must have power, and this they can have only if they are based on something real, just as flame depends on its fuel. Words have influence only when they are pertinent and clearly related to definite circumstances. General discourses and admonitions have no effect whatsoever. Furthermore, the words must be supported by one’s entire conduct... if words and conduct are not in accord and not consistent, they will have no effect.”
- You are a smaller process in a universe of inconceivably larger processes.
- When appropriate retreat is strength.
- Without inner, loving organization, exterior organization is almost impossible (thus, order within, radiating outwards).
- One’s words must be supported by one’s entire conduct. If words and conduct are not in accord and not consistent, they will have no effect.
From “M.S.”: Need some advice regarding how to live in a time that seems dominated by masses of corporately manipulated/generated, messianic, unsubtle, sophomoric people (left, right or otherwise). All we encounter seem either like some sort of no-blinking-too-much-whites-of-their-eyes cult followers or full on steel-plate-behind-their-face-sociopath bullies (“bullies” being those that despise sensitivity, subtly, and curiosity — wanting to replace them with controlled chaos). Also, not necessarily saying that this is the worst of times or that this is unique to our times, just that it is occurring and that it makes it difficult to connect with the beautiful side/facet(s) of humanity/life.
You are a subsidiary element amidst unimaginable processes. You are over focussed on the veils and the surfaces at your scale. It is both a dangerous and beautiful world — and it is not stable. You must accept this truth. You must connect with the indifference of the process and your own will within it.
Make a temple in your interior. Your conscious mind would be something like the surface area of the temple’s holy mantle. On this small plane see the patterns of past tears, fixations, angry blows, laughter, indifference, objectivities, subjectivities, unconsciousness and idleness. If you do so, you will see these patterns and idiosyncrasies everywhere. You will be better for yourself and the world with this type of perception — though it is not easy.
It is not a process of letting go, but of engaging. Get busy.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the High Priestess. This is the querent’s answer to all questions. This card symbolizes the right connection to the mystery that is everything. It is in accordance with this card that the confused querent becomes devoted aspirant. It is an intimation to relinquish oneself to the notion that they are a smaller process in a larger process (this is not a giving up, but ultimate engagement).
Our first hexagram this week is #33, Retreat. If success is not an option, persisting would be a loss. In this case it is wise to take oneself out of the equation — to wait for a more favorable time, to recalibrate, to train or to prepare oneself for another attempt. Appropriately retreating is strength. Also, “the superior person shows strength in that they bring the inferior person to a standstill, by dignified reserve.”
There were two changes this week, of which the specific notes are: if one is very close to the party they are retreating from, it is a very sensitive situation, do not be dramatic or even very visible with this type of retreat. Also, appropriate retreat should, like all actions, have some light heartedness to it (because you see the bigger picture).
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #37, The Family (The Clan). The metaphor here is the health and order of the family. That is, a sound basis for any project is order within, radiating outwards. Without inner, loving organization, exterior is almost impossible. As well: “...the influence on others must proceed from one’s own person. In order to be capable of producing such an influence, one’s words must have power, and this they can have only if they are based on something real, just as flame depends on its fuel. Words have influence only when they are pertinent and clearly related to definite circumstances. General discourses and admonitions have no effect whatsoever. Furthermore, the words must be supported by one’s entire conduct... if words and conduct are not in accord and not consistent, they will have no effect.”