Jan 25 22
The Lovers
24. Return (The Turning Point)
63. After Completion
For all of us, there are certain people (whether individuals or groups) that we just can’t seem to get along with. These people are often inextricably part of our lives — part of our family, on our team, within our circle of friends, even whole portions of one’s city or country. There must be some wisdom regarding how to fare forward with such difficult relations. Firstly, it is wise to want union; the power that results from the trust and support of others is truly great. Next, consider that the opportunity for the strained relation simply hasn’t presented itself; since ALL is flux the right conditions for mutuality of purpose may yet arise. Lastly, if the relation is one of genuine effect on your life (and can’t simply be removed) make patient long-term work of it — remember to give is to get and to lead is to serve… Most strain comes from falsely believing that life should be easier; life is rarely easy.
This week we pulled the Lovers. Here we have the card of union. The symbolism points to the power that results from beings coming together. Trust and support are other articulations of this power. With the support of trust so much can be accomplished.
Our first hexagram this week is #24, Return (The Turning Point). Here we have the idea that all is cyclical and happens in stages — specifically hexagram 24 describes the time when, after the darkest or coldest stage is reached, a fresh light and power starts to return. The I Ching always stresses that everything happens naturally or at the appointed time and can’t be coerced into being. “There is movement, but it is not brought about by force… thus the movement is natural, arising spontaneously. For this reason the transformation of the old becomes easy. The old is discarded and the new is introduced… it is not necessary to hasten anything artificially. Everything comes of itself at the appointed time. This is the meaning of heaven and earth… everything must be treated tenderly and with care at the beginning, so that the return may lead to a flowering.” There were two changes this week, of which the specific notes are: nobly confess your faults.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #63, After Completion. Order and balance plus restfulness is the desired state of most endeavors, but sustaining order and balance is never restful. This can be confusing and unexpected. When something is in balance it can’t become more balanced, so there are only two options: balance/order degrading into disorder or the preservation of balance. This is why the I Ching puts such a fine and constant emphasis on the notion of without haste and without rest. The pursuance of order and balance isn’t an arrival but a way of life.
This week we pulled the Lovers. Here we have the card of union. The symbolism points to the power that results from beings coming together. Trust and support are other articulations of this power. With the support of trust so much can be accomplished.
Our first hexagram this week is #24, Return (The Turning Point). Here we have the idea that all is cyclical and happens in stages — specifically hexagram 24 describes the time when, after the darkest or coldest stage is reached, a fresh light and power starts to return. The I Ching always stresses that everything happens naturally or at the appointed time and can’t be coerced into being. “There is movement, but it is not brought about by force… thus the movement is natural, arising spontaneously. For this reason the transformation of the old becomes easy. The old is discarded and the new is introduced… it is not necessary to hasten anything artificially. Everything comes of itself at the appointed time. This is the meaning of heaven and earth… everything must be treated tenderly and with care at the beginning, so that the return may lead to a flowering.” There were two changes this week, of which the specific notes are: nobly confess your faults.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #63, After Completion. Order and balance plus restfulness is the desired state of most endeavors, but sustaining order and balance is never restful. This can be confusing and unexpected. When something is in balance it can’t become more balanced, so there are only two options: balance/order degrading into disorder or the preservation of balance. This is why the I Ching puts such a fine and constant emphasis on the notion of without haste and without rest. The pursuance of order and balance isn’t an arrival but a way of life.