May 03 22
Five of Swords
15. Modesty
52. Keeping Still, Mountain
Death is a container into which life is poured; that is, life is insolubly defined by its end — this we perceive as fairly self evident. We humans “understand” a bit about actual life, but of actual death we know very little. Much majesty is attributed to the subject by religious types — and practical, flat answers usually issue from scientists and the like. Since we find this oracle to have answers somewhere betwixt the two perspectives (or at least productively parallel) — this week we ask the oracle: what is death?
Short answer: Death is a partner one has yet to understand.
Death is a modest state. But it is difficult to perceive it as such. Modesty is certainly not something to be feared but death is unknown — and what is unknown is often feared. Here we have a difficult loop. When something is confusingly tangled, stressful pulling only tightens and frustrates — one must be calm to face the knot.
Another way; “death” is a word, we are multiplicity. A multiplicity facing an unknown state should do so with calm.
Death is the same as everything else.
This week we pulled the Five of Swords. With this card we have an indication to consider the costs of winning by vanquishing. Fierce ambition is only significantly in phase with itself — but since we live in a world wholly interdependent, cold self-interest will eventually bring harm to itself. Consider your foe to be an ally of the long term, thus hidden.
Our first hexagram this week is #15, Modesty. Here, simplicity and a lack of pretension is said to be the mode to which all humans should aspire. “The destinies of humans are subject to immutable laws that must fulfill themselves. But individuals have it in their power to shape their fate, according as their behavior expose them to the influence of benevolent or of destructive forces. When a person holds a high position and is nevertheless modest, they shine with the light of wisdom; if they are in a lower position and are modest, they will not be passed by. Thus the superior person carries out their work to the end without boasting of what they have achieved. There was one change this week, of which the specific note is: “only through having the courage to marshal one’s armies against oneself, will something forceful really be achieved.”
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #52, Keeping Still, Mountain. “True quiet means keeping still when the time has come to keep still, and going forward when the time has come to go forward. In this way rest and movement are in agreement with the demands of the time, and thus there is light in life.” But wait! “When a person has thus become calm, they may turn to the outside world. They no longer see in it the struggle and tumult of individual beings, and therefore they have that true peace of mind which is needed for understanding the great laws of the universe and for acting in harmony with them. Whoever acts from these deep levels makes no mistakes.” Jeez; yes.
Short answer: Death is a partner one has yet to understand.
Death is a modest state. But it is difficult to perceive it as such. Modesty is certainly not something to be feared but death is unknown — and what is unknown is often feared. Here we have a difficult loop. When something is confusingly tangled, stressful pulling only tightens and frustrates — one must be calm to face the knot.
Another way; “death” is a word, we are multiplicity. A multiplicity facing an unknown state should do so with calm.
Death is the same as everything else.
This week we pulled the Five of Swords. With this card we have an indication to consider the costs of winning by vanquishing. Fierce ambition is only significantly in phase with itself — but since we live in a world wholly interdependent, cold self-interest will eventually bring harm to itself. Consider your foe to be an ally of the long term, thus hidden.
Our first hexagram this week is #15, Modesty. Here, simplicity and a lack of pretension is said to be the mode to which all humans should aspire. “The destinies of humans are subject to immutable laws that must fulfill themselves. But individuals have it in their power to shape their fate, according as their behavior expose them to the influence of benevolent or of destructive forces. When a person holds a high position and is nevertheless modest, they shine with the light of wisdom; if they are in a lower position and are modest, they will not be passed by. Thus the superior person carries out their work to the end without boasting of what they have achieved. There was one change this week, of which the specific note is: “only through having the courage to marshal one’s armies against oneself, will something forceful really be achieved.”
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #52, Keeping Still, Mountain. “True quiet means keeping still when the time has come to keep still, and going forward when the time has come to go forward. In this way rest and movement are in agreement with the demands of the time, and thus there is light in life.” But wait! “When a person has thus become calm, they may turn to the outside world. They no longer see in it the struggle and tumult of individual beings, and therefore they have that true peace of mind which is needed for understanding the great laws of the universe and for acting in harmony with them. Whoever acts from these deep levels makes no mistakes.” Jeez; yes.