Mar 14 23
Four of Pentacles
29. The Abysmal (Water)
64. Before Completion
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 “I.L.”: Can the oracle please expand on “as artists we are responsible for making it not for the consequences of what we make”.
It is tricky. Art is simultaneously a public and a private activity — like a thought made visible (which of course, when externalized, has a life of its own for both artist and viewer). Getting the right measure is important — maybe that is the art — a material reckoning of the public and the private.
A few questions:
Is an artist in possession of all the opinions and experiences of the onlookers of their art (as well as the reverse)? Is it even possible for the artist to share or know all of the opinions/preoccupations/experiences of a viewing public? Can there be a single piece of art that transcends all opinions/preoccupations/experiences of all people/viewers? Is it better to have artists that hide their opinions/preoccupations/experiences? Or is it better to see those opinions/preoccupations/experiences? What is the timescale of art or an art piece? Do the opinions/preoccupations/experiences of the artist and the viewers stay the same over the years? Is art decoration or _____? Are beauty and ugliness the same for all people? If it turns out that the opinions/preoccupations/experiences of all viewers is widely different how would it even be possible to make an art that pleases them? Shouldn’t an art then be some sort of process of self “truth”?
The oracle seems to be saying that there are two main aspects for the sincere art practice: be transcendentally self critical first, then to be true to yourself in all conditions.
If art isn’t courageous — mightn’t the art of this world only be corporate manipulation? Of whose goal can only be like the equivalent of a cartoon smiley face or what have you?
Perhaps: “pourest thy full heart in profuse strains of unpremeditated art... hail to thee blythe spirit” and all that…
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Four of Coins. The implication here is both surety in one’s holdings but also fear of losing ownership. This week pay careful attention to the differences between purposeful collecting and compulsive hoarding (or miserliness).
Our first hexagram this week is #29, The Abysmal (Water). At all times we are surrounded by danger; avoidance is mainly due to involuntary evolutionary responses. But since Life (writ large) is always changing it will inherently create novel hazards. For such situations hexagram #29 carries specific advice: remain true to yourself “under all conditions…if one is sincere when confronted with difficulties, the heart can penetrate the meaning of the situation.” If difficulties persist, familiarity is key: “once we have gained inner mastery of a problem, it will come about naturally that the action we take will succeed. In danger all that counts is really carrying out all that has to be done —thoroughness…” There were three changes this week, of which the specific notes are: sincerity over ceremony, danger often comes from being overly ambitious, and you must stick to the right path or else you will be trapped/lost.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #64, Before Completion. This hexagram relates a kind of difficult reckoning of change. “If we wish to achieve an effect, we must first investigate the nature of the forces in question and ascertain their proper place. If we can bring these forces to bear in the right place, they will have the desired effect and completion will be achieved. But in order to handle external forces properly, we must above all arrive at the correct standpoint ourselves, for only from this vantage can we work correctly… Accordingly, in times before completion, deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.” “The conditions are difficult. The task is great and full of responsibility… it is nothing less than that of leading the world out of confusion back to order… deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.” This hexagram points to success or an arrival that has been in progress for a long time — a process that is almost inevitable. It is not wholly in the bag but needs to be carefully carried through to the final realization — clarity of vision is of utmost importance.
- when in difficult times, give up ceremony for sincerity
- pay careful attention to the differences between purposeful collecting and compulsive hoarding (or miserliness).
- avoid danger by not being overly ambitious
- stick to the right path or eventually be trapped/lost
- the only foundation for action is self assurance, but a self assurance that is based on being thoroughly self critical
- this is your guide: remain true to yourself under all conditions
From “I.L.”: Can the oracle please expand on “as artists we are responsible for making it not for the consequences of what we make”.
It is tricky. Art is simultaneously a public and a private activity — like a thought made visible (which of course, when externalized, has a life of its own for both artist and viewer). Getting the right measure is important — maybe that is the art — a material reckoning of the public and the private.
A few questions:
Is an artist in possession of all the opinions and experiences of the onlookers of their art (as well as the reverse)? Is it even possible for the artist to share or know all of the opinions/preoccupations/experiences of a viewing public? Can there be a single piece of art that transcends all opinions/preoccupations/experiences of all people/viewers? Is it better to have artists that hide their opinions/preoccupations/experiences? Or is it better to see those opinions/preoccupations/experiences? What is the timescale of art or an art piece? Do the opinions/preoccupations/experiences of the artist and the viewers stay the same over the years? Is art decoration or _____? Are beauty and ugliness the same for all people? If it turns out that the opinions/preoccupations/experiences of all viewers is widely different how would it even be possible to make an art that pleases them? Shouldn’t an art then be some sort of process of self “truth”?
The oracle seems to be saying that there are two main aspects for the sincere art practice: be transcendentally self critical first, then to be true to yourself in all conditions.
If art isn’t courageous — mightn’t the art of this world only be corporate manipulation? Of whose goal can only be like the equivalent of a cartoon smiley face or what have you?
Perhaps: “pourest thy full heart in profuse strains of unpremeditated art... hail to thee blythe spirit” and all that…
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Four of Coins. The implication here is both surety in one’s holdings but also fear of losing ownership. This week pay careful attention to the differences between purposeful collecting and compulsive hoarding (or miserliness).
Our first hexagram this week is #29, The Abysmal (Water). At all times we are surrounded by danger; avoidance is mainly due to involuntary evolutionary responses. But since Life (writ large) is always changing it will inherently create novel hazards. For such situations hexagram #29 carries specific advice: remain true to yourself “under all conditions…if one is sincere when confronted with difficulties, the heart can penetrate the meaning of the situation.” If difficulties persist, familiarity is key: “once we have gained inner mastery of a problem, it will come about naturally that the action we take will succeed. In danger all that counts is really carrying out all that has to be done —thoroughness…” There were three changes this week, of which the specific notes are: sincerity over ceremony, danger often comes from being overly ambitious, and you must stick to the right path or else you will be trapped/lost.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #64, Before Completion. This hexagram relates a kind of difficult reckoning of change. “If we wish to achieve an effect, we must first investigate the nature of the forces in question and ascertain their proper place. If we can bring these forces to bear in the right place, they will have the desired effect and completion will be achieved. But in order to handle external forces properly, we must above all arrive at the correct standpoint ourselves, for only from this vantage can we work correctly… Accordingly, in times before completion, deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.” “The conditions are difficult. The task is great and full of responsibility… it is nothing less than that of leading the world out of confusion back to order… deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.” This hexagram points to success or an arrival that has been in progress for a long time — a process that is almost inevitable. It is not wholly in the bag but needs to be carefully carried through to the final realization — clarity of vision is of utmost importance.