Jan 31 23
Knight of Swords (reversed)
2. The Receptive
36. Darkening of the light
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 “K”: My question is regarding this week’s reading (from January 17) on reason and purpose, the cardinal virtues, and working them to have a fulfilled life. I tend to wander from thing to place to purpose to reason to thing to place to purpose to reason, and it is never ending, creating only a weak foundation towards accomplishing nada.
With all my likes, curiosities and interests, how to choose and dedicate to one? I am a puzzle all over the place; can you assist with helping me get my chips together?
There is a ruthlessness of self reproach to your flitting from interest to interest — it is not without danger; over time it will erode important powers. However, this unfocused circumstance can’t be met head on or aggressively; that is, you can’t just take a deep breath and try to forcefully narrow your interests. For the time being, you are simply going to flutter from attraction to attraction, and from diversion to diversion; try to just let it be. But let it be whilst thinking about receptivity — specifically receptivity vs. pursuance.
Often we are told to pursue a career — unfortunately this is not wise for many of us — some of us need THE RIGHT SITUATION. That’s how it was for the person writing this; we chased after many vocations, but eventually realized we weren’t needing a profession per se, just the right circumstance.
So, work on being receptive to a circumstance that works for you — liking lots of stuff is great; you’ll have a lot of knowledge to apply to that lovely situation when it arrives.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Knight of Swords (reversed). When in upright position the association is all that would be attributed to a knight: charging into danger, bravery, skill, destruction, being in the moment. When it is in reversed aspect, as it is here, the implication is conceit, hubris, cruelty, exasperation. To overcome such characteristics, either in the self or from the outside, efforts should be aimed at calming, regrouping and returning to a source motivation.
Our first hexagram this week is #36, Darkening of the Light. Most of the time, positivity and light are to be encouraged when encountering dark times or people; but this is not always wise. In certain periods of darkness “it is essential to be cautious and reserved.” One should not needlessly awaken overwhelming enmity by inconsiderate behavior. In such times one ought not to fall in with the practices of others; neither should one drag them censoriously into the light. In social intercourse one should not try to be all–knowing. One should let many things pass, without being duped. There were two changes this week, of which the specific notes are: when you discover the source of an undesirable situation don’t be too hasty in its removal as it has likely taken root, therefore it’s excision needs time and a delicate/knowledgeable hand.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #2, The Receptive. This hexagram is the complement to the first hexagram, The Creative. The Creative and the Receptive are the yang to the other’s yin (respectively). A balance and openness is to be considered when encountering this hexagram: “…the superior person gives to their character breadth, purity, and sustaining power, so that they are able to both support and bear people and things.”
- develop calmness, regroup and return to a source motivation
- be cautious and let many things pass
- work on receptivity, don’t only pursue
From “K”: My question is regarding this week’s reading (from January 17) on reason and purpose, the cardinal virtues, and working them to have a fulfilled life. I tend to wander from thing to place to purpose to reason to thing to place to purpose to reason, and it is never ending, creating only a weak foundation towards accomplishing nada.
With all my likes, curiosities and interests, how to choose and dedicate to one? I am a puzzle all over the place; can you assist with helping me get my chips together?
There is a ruthlessness of self reproach to your flitting from interest to interest — it is not without danger; over time it will erode important powers. However, this unfocused circumstance can’t be met head on or aggressively; that is, you can’t just take a deep breath and try to forcefully narrow your interests. For the time being, you are simply going to flutter from attraction to attraction, and from diversion to diversion; try to just let it be. But let it be whilst thinking about receptivity — specifically receptivity vs. pursuance.
Often we are told to pursue a career — unfortunately this is not wise for many of us — some of us need THE RIGHT SITUATION. That’s how it was for the person writing this; we chased after many vocations, but eventually realized we weren’t needing a profession per se, just the right circumstance.
So, work on being receptive to a circumstance that works for you — liking lots of stuff is great; you’ll have a lot of knowledge to apply to that lovely situation when it arrives.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Knight of Swords (reversed). When in upright position the association is all that would be attributed to a knight: charging into danger, bravery, skill, destruction, being in the moment. When it is in reversed aspect, as it is here, the implication is conceit, hubris, cruelty, exasperation. To overcome such characteristics, either in the self or from the outside, efforts should be aimed at calming, regrouping and returning to a source motivation.
Our first hexagram this week is #36, Darkening of the Light. Most of the time, positivity and light are to be encouraged when encountering dark times or people; but this is not always wise. In certain periods of darkness “it is essential to be cautious and reserved.” One should not needlessly awaken overwhelming enmity by inconsiderate behavior. In such times one ought not to fall in with the practices of others; neither should one drag them censoriously into the light. In social intercourse one should not try to be all–knowing. One should let many things pass, without being duped. There were two changes this week, of which the specific notes are: when you discover the source of an undesirable situation don’t be too hasty in its removal as it has likely taken root, therefore it’s excision needs time and a delicate/knowledgeable hand.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #2, The Receptive. This hexagram is the complement to the first hexagram, The Creative. The Creative and the Receptive are the yang to the other’s yin (respectively). A balance and openness is to be considered when encountering this hexagram: “…the superior person gives to their character breadth, purity, and sustaining power, so that they are able to both support and bear people and things.”