Deliverance Then Consider The Advice Of Others

Deliverance 40 indicates movement away from danger. Movement is the upper trigram and Danger is the lower trigram. This hexagram says that this is a time when burdens are eased. Circumstances improve. We should forgive the mistakes and misdeeds of others. It is also a time to finish our tasks quickly, go home and rest. The second line says that we should look closely at the nature of the evil doers we encounter to use just the right amount and kind of force to eliminate them. These evil ones are said to use flattery to corrupt the ruler (sounds like lobbyists or congress critters). The third line says that if we come into comfortable circumstances we need to disguise our wealth to prevent robbers from stealing what we have gained. Basically, keeping up your old appearances from a humbler time will prevent robbers from noticing you. Finally, the fifth line says to be a strong person and bring deliverance for yourself if others are weak around you and do not seek deliverance for themselves. Don't let the weakness of others keep you from taking the right action. This is an instance of a kind of deliverance.

The resulting hexagram is Influence 31. It is the opposite of Duration 32. Where Duration refers to long-standing relationships, Influence refers to casual encounters and seduction. It also says to be humble and free to accept good advice. It recommends letting others approach us and to receive them with joy. Hmm....

Toyah Wilcox was one of my favorites in the early '80s. I first heard this in 1981 on Urgh! A Music War. I think it expresses in music some of what is meant by Deliverance and Influence. (I used it also a long time ago as having watery and fiery characters in the two parts of the song -- it can mean more than one thing; the I Ching does.)

An Unexpected Gift Comes -- Conduct Yourself Well To Keep It

Have you noticed any recurring themes? I mean for you to and by putting as many labels as I can I hope to make it easy for you to search for particular trigrams and hexagrams and decide for yourself what these patterns mean. Increase 42 and Decrease 41 have recurred numerous times (as they did before I began this blog) and so has Conduct 10.

Anyway, today Increase 42 has the second and fourth lines changing. The second line says that a gift comes from on high, we are presented to God by the King, and '10 pairs of tortoise shells cannot oppose it.' The tortoise shells were used in divination before the I Ching was written -- the idea here that this divination is very strong and numerous contrary ones cannot undermine it. We have received the fourth line before -- it suggests that we are in a position to serve the prince and to do so best we need to communicate the needs of the people to him because he has to give generously to the people below to meet the challenges of this time. The image says that penetration (Thunder, eldest son) under the earth (lower nuclear trigram) leads to abundance for everyone. Also, the fourth light line is 'dropped' to the bottom first line like a seed being sown. This is all part of the image of tilling the soil with a metal plow that allowed for the development of agriculture -- this occurred about 10 to 12 thousand years ago.

The resulting hexagram is Conduct 10. It means also 'treading,' as in treading on the tail of the tiger. It means to behave oneself and have good manners to prevent misunderstandings and injury. Here I think it means that if we receive a great gift we should not go crazy wild but should behave ourselves in order to keep it and make best use of it. I would say winning a presidential election is a 'gift' of the people; how that presidency is conducted determines the success of that president. Can Obama correct himself? Or is this who Obama is?

A Door Closes Only For A Better Door To Open

I will start with the meaning and instruction I believe this divination indicates. Today something that appears disastrous will change suddenly and completely so that it transforms into the best answer to our problems. It would be like losing a job (disaster) or even our home (bigger disaster) only to find that the old company was closing or some natural disaster was to strike our old home and that we are now free to have a completely different, better life closer to what we wanted in the first place. A door closes, we fear it is the end, but another door opens, onto a better place. Still, the turbulence and drama could be upsetting. The resulting changes tell us to think of our ancestors and honor them -- light a candle, give them some flowers, a glass of water or share a meal with them. They are ready to help with whatever transition needs to occur.

Splitting Apart 23 with 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th lines changing to Preponderance of the Great 28. (An aside: I was watching a documentary about the end of the Stone Age in Europe when about 43 minutes into it my mind was blown. They show a four thousand year-old burial with a coffin constructed from a whole oak tree trunk that was hollowed out with tools. This is exactly what is described in the text to Hexagram 28 - 4 long coffins (yang lines) between two lines representing the earth (yin lines). Further, Hexagram 28 shows that Wood is below. The I Ching was written in parts that are found together in modern edition - some parts are claimed to be five thousand years old, the bulk was written about 3160 years ago, and Confucius (Kung Fu-Tze) added parts around 2500 years ago. This documentary gives an account of civilizations in the Middle East and Europe roughly contemporary with the earliest written accounts of what became the I Ching.)

Watery Abyss - Again!

On the surface, the Abysmal 29 sounds terrible - abyss on abyss; danger on danger. In the contrary world of the I Ching, often times the negative divinations actually mean the end of a difficult time just as positive divinations mean the end of good times. And even though the abyss sounds terrible it seems to say we need to think about teaching and learning -- these activities will lead out of the abyss. A secondary meaning of K'an, danger and the abyss, is 'heart.' This also tells us how to overcome the abyss: taking good character to heart lets us encounter danger without losing our way. Finally, the quality of water that allows it to go everywhere and not lose its watery nature should be meditated on to guide us past any danger. And just as water flows on not accumulating anywhere, we will flow past any danger we encounter.

The Strong Turn Resolutely Against The Weak Leading To An Encounter

Resoluteness or Breakthrough 43 is composed of 5 strong, yang lines with a weak, yin line in the 6th position. It indicates that the strong rise up to push out the weak. The image is of the Lake, Tui, risen up above Heaven, Ch'ien. This indicates a lake bursting through a dam or a cloud burst of heavy rain. This hexagram is said to represent the discovery of writing and the transition from using knotted string to record government activity to the use of writing. Thus the image describes someone speaking before the ruler.

The first line says that 'When one goes forward without being equal to the task, it is a mistake.' The third line says that despite the appearance of evil, due to the correspondence between this line and the evil 6th line at the top, we are strong enough to endure the misunderstanding of others. This brings misfortune but is not a mistake.

Oppression 47 results. It has as an image an abyss, K'an, Water and Danger, opening up below the Lake, Tui and Joy. It means an encounter. The upper trigram, Tui, the Lake and Joy, is set upon by the other three trigrams: Wind and Fire, the nuclear trigrams, and the Abyss, the lower trigram, oppress Tui. They drain the joy right out. Maybe today's dreary divination is a comment on this sad week. The internet itself was not up to the task -- many sites 'broke' due to heavy traffic related to Michael Jackson's death.

The Strong Push Forward Expecting Easy Victory But Are Rebuffed; Inner Truth Results

Taming Power of the Small 9 has one yin line in position four; the rest are strong yang lines. It has Ch'ien, heaven and creative, inside and Sun, wind and gentle penetration, outside. The wind has only a slight power to push the clouds together -- it cannot bring rain. Thus we are told only small efforts should be made -- strenuous efforts by the strong lines are mostly going to fail. The third line changing says 'The spokes fall out of the wagon wheel; man and wife roll their eyes." This means that the strong line in this position decides to force matters ahead thinking the opposing force is weak. The unexpected occurs and he is rebuffed and humiliated by circumstances. Arguments ensue like those between man and wife. Wall Street is the enemy of affordable health care for the people: we need to break their wagon or they will surely break us. (What is their 'wagon?' The death grip they have on our Federal and State governments and our financial lives. This was gifted to them by our own representatives in government! C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N!!!) Declare Independence from corporate rule!

The resulting hexagram is Inner Truth, 61. That has come up several times lately. It has Sun, wind and gentle penetration, above of Tui, lake and joy, below. It says we can influence 'pigs and fishes' with the power of inner truth to move the instinctual natures of others. It also says to discuss criminal cases to delay executions. In the I Ching, 'executions' can mean forming set ideas about people or circumstances that are wrong and that prevent us from dealing with these circumstances in a creative way. In this context I think it means that the battle for health care reform will be delayed by more discussion in congress. If the congress critters bother to show up.

Clearing Up Misunderstandings Leads to Growth and Improvements

Opposition 38 is composed of Tui, Joy, the Lake and youngest daughter below, and Li, Fire, Clarity and the middle daughter above. This hexagram means misunderstandings. The fourth and fifth lines changing indicate that we need to take an active role in clearing up misunderstanding. The fourth line says that we have a companion of like mind who is distant and needs to be brought closer so that we can accomplish our task. The fifth line says that we have misunderstandings with a superior, accomplished person that we have to

'bite through the wrappings' with so he can help us. He knows he is important and will not help us without vigorous action on our part. The resulting hexagram is Decrease 41, which has Tui below, as in Opposition, and Ken, the Mountain, keeping still and the youngest son, above. Decrease indicates the beginning of a period of flowering, of growth and improvement. It is vital to clear up misunderstandings so we can improve our circumstances.

The Army Brings Peace -- Seems Unlikely Doesn't It?

Somehow, the Army leads to Peace today: The Army 7 is composed of K'an, Water and Danger, inside and K'un, the Earth and Devotion, outside. There is only one light line in position 2, all the rest are dark, yin lines. The Army is said to be like water underground. It is not visible until called forth by the ruler. This is the model for Armies in ancient times. There were no standing Armies as we have today only citizen-soldiers who performed their regular work in the fields or elsewhere and were invisible as an Army until called upon. Here the first line changing indicates that attention must be given to the good order of the Army if it is to be effective. Disorder at the beginning will lead to misfortune. The third line changing I have chosen the alternate meaning of 'Everyone rides in the wagon, misfortune.' It means that too many people are trying to take charge which also leads to misfortune. Only the leader of the Army was permitted to ride in the wagon. These changes result in hexagram 11 Peace, where Ch'ien, heaven and the creative force, are inside and K'un, the earth and the devoted, are outside. Heaven is on earth, as it were. This all seems unlikely to me as Armies bring War not Peace. It is an Orwellian slight-of-hand to think Armies bring Peace. The ancient Chinese must have known of 1984. Or it could be because the Army cannot fight due to the above unfortunate circumstances that there can be no War and that means Peace by default. Maybe the Army is needed to sort out nerds and jocks. Here is a real way to head towards peace starting with the Army that might just save the planet (for us).

The Abysmal Water to Gathering Together: Small Efforts Lead The Way

Again a recent hexagram, the Abysmal or Water 29, occurs. It says 'if you are sincere you have success in your heart and everything you do succeeds.' It also means teaching and pausing. Just as water that encounters an abyss will fill it up before flowing on, we are meant to pause in this time.

The second line warns that the abyss is dangerous and we should take only small steps now. This simple warning is sufficient for this line is central. It is not correct -- a strong line in a weak place -- so a warning is given to avoid taking major action. The fourth line indicates that food and drink are passed in through the window. This might indicate humiliation but it is not necessary that it does. What is meant is that in times of simplicity it is permissible to forego customary behavior that can no longer be afforded. Sincerity is more important than outside display. It also means that to teach someone who has turned from the light simple and limited actions are best so as not to overwhelm the person we are teaching.

Gathering Together 45, composed of Joy or the Lake above and Earth or the Devoted below, follows these changes. It is the result of the action of water over time that has accumulated and filled up the abyss on earth. This hexagram says to renew our weapons to ward against the unexpected.

Choosing Companions Wisely Brings Power and Light

Inner Truth 61 and its inverse Preponderance of the Small 62 have come up several times in recent weeks. Today it is Inner Truth or the Great Li, Fire, Clarity. (Just as Preponderance of the Small is the Great K'an made of the doubling of each line of the trigram K'an, the Great Li is formed by the doubling of each line of Li: two strong Yang lines, two weak Yin lines and then two strong Yang lines) The image of this hexagram is the wind blowing over the lake. It generally means dependability. To possess the power of Inner Truth is amazing: it gives the power to influence 'even pigs and fishes.' The idea here is that if you can communicate this inner truth you can persuade the lowest creatures to follow you -- even the instinctual natures of our selves or others.

The third line indicates an emotional roller coaster: laughing and crying with each change in circumstances. It also indicates beating on a drum, an indication of advance in battle. The difficulty is this line wants the fourth as a comrade but it is not possible hence the unstable emotions. The fourth line leaves its mate, the third line, and turns upward to the fifth line, the ruler of the hexagram.

These changes lead to the formation of hexagram 1, the Creative, made of six light lines. It is the most powerful hexagram and represents heaven or the father. It means having the inner strength to work without tiring. Like the Energizer bunny. I guess that makes it appropriate for Father's Day.

Maybe this whole divination means 'choose your parents carefully.' If you are reading this, chances are you already chose, and I wish you every happiness. If you are not that happy with your parents maybe when you choose next time you will be more careful. Of course that does sound ridiculous: no one chooses their parents, do they? If we imagined that we did choose them maybe we could see what about them was right for us.

It is natural to feel sad when your talents are not recognized -- just don't let it cause you to fall over the edge.

The Well 48 has as one set of meanings how one becomes of service to others and finds sustenance from our relationships. It is also a 'progressive' hexagram in that each line relates to a sequence in activity from a time when the Well is unusable to a time when it is ready for use but neglected to a time when it is freely used.  Today the third line changes.  This line refers to the time after the Well has been repaired but before anyone notices it.  This brings sadness to the one it pertains to because they know they are ready for use but no one recognizes it.  This leads to hexagram 29 the Abysmal.  It is the counterpart of  30 Clinging Fire.  The Abysmal represents danger upon danger, abyss upon abyss, and night upon night.  I believe it is similar to the Tower Tarot Trump XVII -- the hexagram the Abysmal has nuclear trigrams Chen the arousing below and Ken the mountain and keeping still above which form Hexagram 27, Nourishment, whose symbol is the mouth.  Tarot Trump XVII, the Tower, is associated with the letter Pe, which means mouth, and depicts people falling into the abyss.  So I think you can guess it does not have a particularly positive meaning except that destruction can be creative, too.  Think Shiva.

Polite Speech Leads to Restful Invitation Indoors

Treading or Conduct 10 has the picturesque image of a child walking on the tail of a tiger. One would expect the tiger to bite the child but it does not. How? Good Manners! So say 'Excuse me' or something and maybe you won't get bitten. 

The second line indicates that walking in the middle one avoids extremes and thus displays good conduct. (The second and fifth line are in the middle of their respective lower and upper trigrams) The sixth line is curious -- it indicates that whatever delicate situation that caused us to 'bite our tongue' or display good manners has passed and we can look back on our conduct to see how we affected situations. It is said to come with 'supreme good fortune' to have passed this difficulty. If you ask me we are suffering as a people because too many are well behaved when confronted with violence done on them and their community.

Following, the resulting hexagram, is composed of energetic movement inside and joy outside. It suggests going indoors to rest when the day is over. 

Avoid the Fate of the Presidential Fly: Keep Down Low

Preponderance of the Small 62 was received in the recent past.  It has the image of thunder on the mountain.  Its main message is to be conscientious in small things: don't spend money, live humbly, shun arrogance and pretension. It looks like the trigram K'an, Water, Danger and the Abyss, with each line doubled: two yin lines, two yang lines and then two yin lines.  It indicates a transition.  The image suggests a bird and most of the lines refer to birds. This hexagram says the main danger is from flying too high, becoming arrogant, and losing touch with the earth. It recommends keeping in your place or devotion as opposed to rebellion or 'flying high.'  

Here the sixth line changes.  As you might suspect, the top line has flown too high, and due to arrogance lost its connection to earth.  Since the I Ching is intended to guide us it is hoped we can turn back in time to avoid misfortune and injury.  It could also mean the time for turning back has passed. Or maybe the president will swat us down like a fly.

The resulting hexagram is The Wanderer, Fire on the Mountain.  It could mean that as a result of flying too high we lose our home or place. Or more hopefully we will take a journey this summer.

A Difficult Birth -- Confronting Danger With Action

Difficulty at the Beginning 3 suggests the image of a thunder storm. The air is filled with thunder and swirling rain.  Heaven and Earth first combine in this hexagram. What is born from their union is visible as a blade of grass just emerging from the earth is visible. That grass has not yet left its first home, the Earth.  It is a difficult situation to be confronted by danger and to be ready for action but not yet capable of confronting and defeating the danger. Thus the hexagram recommends preparing oneself and finding helpers to overcome the danger. These preparations are all that should be accomplished now. 

"...The twenty-first century, which also arrived heralding peace and justice, is following in its predecessors footsteps. In my childhood, I was convinced that everything that went astray on earth ended up on the moon. But the astronauts found no sign of dangerous dreams or broken promises or hopes betrayed.

"If not on the moon, where might they be? Perhaps they were never misplaced. Perhaps they are in hiding here on earth. Waiting." -- Eduardo Galeano, Mirrors, Stories of Almost Everyone

Contemplation to Temptation

Hexagram 20, Contemplation, gives a step-wise view of how we relate to the universe depending on the breadth of our view.  The lowest lines are bound in egotism and can only see confused images bound up in their own self-regard.  As you go higher and higher up toward the sixth line, the view becomes clearer and self-regard gradually vanishes.  This hexagram also symbolizes a traditional Chinese arch -- it stood tall and the people around could get their bearings from it and know where the center of the village was. 

Here, the second, third and fourth lines change.  The second line says our view is only through a crack in the door because of limits our self-regard gives to our view -- this is OK for some people. The third line says that we have been able to clear up our egotism by contemplating our selves -- we have reached a transition leading to a truer, more complete view of life. The fourth line indicates that having completed the transition, our ability to see makes us fit to work for the ruler. Perspective can be gained from methodical observation conducted over many years.

These changes lead to hexagram 44 Temptation or Coming to Meet.  It indicates that evil, here a tiny seed at the bottom first line, enters the situation and can completely take over things if we indulge it.  What we gained from contemplation or meditation and self-examination can be lost through carelessness.

Limitation leads to Joy

Limitation 60 demonstrates facing danger with inner joy.  Limitation also means the division of time into discreet periods -- the making of the calendar and other time divisions. Time is what is limited by division into measurable units like seconds, hours, days and months. This was considered very important for government to do so that the times for planting, growing and harvesting could be predicted.  The inner trigram Tui indicates speech and communication. The outer trigram Kan here indicates the creative above its other meanings.

Here, the fourth line changes.  It indicates that limitation is accepted in the service of another -- a willing limitation that leads to good fortune.  Like agreeing to take a job which does, after all, limit our time.

This change leads to the Joyous 58 composed of Joy within and without or double Joy.

A Tree Grows on a Mountain: Gradual Progress

Gradual Progress 53 is composed of Sun, tree, wind and gently penetrating, resting on Ken, mountain, keeping still.  It can be formed by interchanging the 3rd and 4th lines of Standstill 12 and thus indicates a step from chaos to order.  It also symbolizes marriage and comes with good fortune -- unlike in the next hexagram Marrying Maiden where marriage is also indicated but comes without societies blessings.  Gradual Progress discusses the means by which we find our place in the world. Without changing lines it asks us to examine our actions in light of the stability they bring to our lives. I believe it also means to be very conscientious and cautious -- move as slowly as a tree grows -- there will be progress but it might be almost imperceptible.  

Day follows Day as We Strengthen Our Character

Clinging or Fire 30 is one of my favorite hexagrams.  I gave it the title 'Day follows Day' because it also is part of this hexagram's meaning that seems more clear to me. It also contains a suggestion in the belief of reincarnation: Life follows Life as Day follows Day. This hexagram is composed of the trigram Li, the clinging or fire, doubled.  Its nuclear trigrams are Sun, wood and penetration, below and Tui, lake and joy, above, which form hexagram 28, Preponderance of the Great. This hexagram has as part of its image coffins buried in the ground. 

Anyway, here the hexagram has the second and fourth lines changing. The second line says we have gained the yellow light of the middle way: a supreme bit of good fortune and a remarkable attainment.  The fourth line suggests a flame that flashes upward and is extinguished. Together these indicate varied experiences:  while we have a greater vision of our course in life and made real attainment doesn't mean we have to forego fleeting pleasures we may encounter. As the resulting hexagram Taming Power of the Great 26 indicates, the key is how we renew our character daily, combining keeping still with strength and nourishing our inner self.

Misfortune Comes to an End; Better Times Return

Today we received Splitting Apart 23 with the sixth line changing forming the Earth or Natural Response 2.  Splitting Apart is one of the least pleasant of all hexagrams.  The image is of an arrogant ruler who tries to take everything below up with him but is undermined from below.  It is also of a too narrow mountain that is likely to fall over. When it comes up, especially if repeated, it is a good indication that things are off track. However, the fifth and sixth lines are favorable.  A few weeks ago we had this hexagram with the fourth line changing.  Here it is the sixth which indicates that the Splitting Apart is over, that misfortune has spent itself and better times return.  'There is a fruit uneaten.'  'The superior man is given a carriage, the inferior man is destroyed.' By our actions, we can determine whether we are inferior of superior -- generally, those who consult the I Ching are superior.  The result is the Earth or Natural Response 2 -- it suggests a passive, accepting state is best. Let the world in so Fate can work through us.

After the End to Peace

After the End is the next to last hexagram in the traditionally presented I Ching.  In some ways, both Before and After the End look kind of grey.  It is more important whether the twilight they represent is leading to the darkness of night or the brightness of day.  After the End superficially looks more promising: Li, fire and clarity, flames up from below and K'an, water and danger, heats up like a kettle on a flame.  In the contrary world of the I Ching, this is on the way to disorder and disunity.

The second line of After the End tells us that we have blown our cover, come out into the open, subjecting ourselves to possible attack.  We are in the right and if we wait -- the book suggests a week -- we regain the protection the veil afforded us.  This line is said to have good fortune. The fifth line contains a story similar to one from the Bible.  Here, we are told that the gifts we have to share with others, even though they appear small, are better received by God and our fellow beings than a more lavish gift given by a rich neighbor.

(Added 18h15 PST:  Maybe the 'veil being removed' is the Progressive Democratic Caucus coming out into the open on their demand for health care reform. Hmm.....

Peace results from these changes: Heaven is on Earth.

Inner Truth to Dispersion: Avoid Secret Relationships

Inner Truth instructs us to discuss criminal cases to delay executions.  The meaning is more general, of course, and varied.  The basic message is that conversation with those with whom we have disagreement or conflict can resolve disputes.  So go out and have a bang-up blow-out argument with someone!  Just kidding.  The meaning of lawsuits in the I Ching extends to inner decisions we make about ourselves, our circumstances, or other people that prevent us from seeing and acting on things the way they really are.  When we can correct such errors with the right word, nothing could be easier to set things right.  Inner Truth suggests also that we are seeing more clearly at the present.  

The first line changing warns that a time of Inner Truth is one of openness and it is not a time for secret relationships with those above.  In other words, we will be happiest and avoid conflict by being open about our relationships.

Dispersion results and has the image of the Wind, above, blowing on the Water, abysmal, danger, below. It can mean taking a journey by sea on a boat. In this hexagram it is said that the boat was invented to facilitate communication between distant peoples.  Expect an important long distance call? (Or maybe ride a bike from Los Angeles to San Francisco....)

Deliverance from Obstacles

Deliverance with no changing lines.  Deliverance is composed of the trigrams for danger and water within, K'an, and thunder and arousing and movement outside, Chen.  It means the removal of an obstacle.  With no changing lines it suggests several possible meanings.  One, the obstacle to be removed is of long standing.  Two, the obstacle that needs to be removed is related to our internal environment -- thoughts and beliefs that prevent us from achievement.  With no changing lines, it suggests self-examination because we may not have even identified the obstacle. Deliverance with no changing lines asks us to examine ourselves and environment to find whatever obstacles are hindering us so we can remove them. It could also mean that the obstacle represents a fundamental challenge that cannot be changed but needs to be accepted. The I Ching often suggests that the Tao operates in non-linear ways; we could be too stubborn to see that we are heading into obstacles that cannot be overcome, that we need to change our approach, perhaps by taking an indirect tack. 

The Time for Revoultion Not Yet Come, Go About Activities As Before

Revolution 49 is composed of Li, Fire, Clarity, below, and Tui, Lake, Joy, above.  Fire, Li, flames up and evaporates water; Tui, Lake, sinks down and puts out the fire. Li and Tui represent the middle and youngest daughters - they are here together and because they are not able to understand each other, Revolution is necessary.  Revolution means getting rid of the antiquated. In today's situation, the first line changes.  The first and second lines are not connected to the ruler in the upper trigram and thus indicate times before Revolution can occur.  So, in essence, this situation indicates that a Revolution is needed but that the time is too soon for action.  

(Added 1422 PST: Please click this link to New York Times editorial on the economic crisis.  The last paragraph is especially spooky as it uses language similar to that found in this divination.)

The resulting hexagram is Influence or Wooing 31 composed of Ken, the mountain, keeping still and the youngest son, below Tui, the lake, joy, and youngest daughter.  Influence indicates the scope of all social relationships from parent and child to husband and wife to ruler and citizen. It represents an influence that is unconscious and unwilled, not one we desired, and the relationships it refers to are objective conditions not personal or intimate.  

Thus, the overall significance is that when Revolution is necessary, but the time has not yet come, we are best to go about our daily life, attending to our affairs and relationships with an objective awareness that change is necessary and will come in time.

Increase 42 to Nourishing 27

Increase means that the ruler gives to those below, bringing increase to them.  This brings increase to all because it is in accordance with the time.  The fifth line changing tells us that we are a good, trustworthy intermediary and advisor to the ruler, that we know the needs of the people and we can accomplish the task of Increase.  This change leads to Nourishing, 27, composed of Chen, Thunder and Rising, and Ken, Mountain and Keeping Still (like meditating). As a result of our efforts, we bring nourishment to the people. 

I think this reading should be examined with others in the last week or two that mention Nourishing.  I think it indicates that the needs of the time require that the elite, who appear to have stolen everything in sight, bringing ruin to our nation, need to organize society to bring sustenance to the people.

If we don't stop Wall Street now, where will we be in a year?

Duration to Pushing Upward

Duration 32 addresses the topic of lasting marriage and how relationships can endure despite everyday turmoil.  Duration is formed by Sun, Wind, eldest daughter, and Chen, Thunder, eldest son.  Here the fourth line changes - it indicates that we have the power to bring duration to our affairs but have the wrong attitude.  It is a little like deciding to go to visit a friend and heading in the wrong direction.  No matter how fast or long you drive you can't get there heading in that direction.  It is also like a movie with a poor script -- the attention lavished on production, casting or other areas cannot correct that defect -- click for a link to Land of the Lost.  

The result is Pushing Upward which is composed of Sun, Trees and Wind, under Kun, the Earth. The image of wood pushing upward through the ground is indicated, a time when what is willed is done.

Youthful Folly: Fun Today, Danger Tomorrow

(Click the headline for link to LA Times review of 9 Doughnut Shops worth driving to. I comment below on visit to Rockenwagner Bakery for a Berliner to celebrate National Doughnut Day and Obama's visit to Germany.)

A playful, child-like mood would appear to cause no harm.  You are still guided by a firm but not harsh discipline so that things do not get out of hand.  Today would be good to do something youthful: after all, it is National Doughnut Day.  Perhaps a fresh doughnut would be a good place to start. 

Youthful Folly is not generally considered a positive hexagram.  It implies a youthful misunderstanding of the way the world works.  It can come when we do not have a serious attitude with those whose help we seek.  The worst of it is that the danger lurks within our own natures which makes it especially hard to overcome. 

The 5th and 6th lines change here: they are the most positive in this hexagram.  They suggest, on the one hand, success from the playful attitude of the child, to the disciplinarian, who teaches the child but does not punish excessively.  These changes lead to 29, the Abysmal, and point to Abyss upon Abyss and Danger upon Danger.  I think the Danger is likely to be eating too many doughnuts:  the Abysmal contains nuclear trigrams Chen, Thunder and Energetic Upward Movement and Ken, Mountain and Keeping Still: these trigrams form Nourishing 27, about eating.

Fate Overcome by Powerful Upward Movement

It may seem that a difficult fate is in store for us.  However there is a good chance that this fate can be overcome.  We need to initiate an energetic, upward motion and even if a bad fate seemed imminent, it can be overcome.  This is a time when things can become great.  Maybe buy a lottery ticket.  Or go see 'Up!'  It leads to a time when a period of darkness ends and light re-enters our lives.  

This time also refers to the second month of the year in our calendar from about the middle of March to the middle of April, when in the year light triumphs over darkness, and continues to expand through to summer.  In the eighth month, marking the beginning of fall in late September, the light exhausts itself, and darkness regains the upper hand.  This is to say, that we must remember that periods of expansion are followed by periods of contraction, so we should plan accordingly.

Approach 19 with the second line changing yielding Return 24.

Carelessness can lead to loss then only small efforts help

Here the image is that of the bird that flies too high, losing its foundation on earth.  It is like the story of Icarus -- he flew too high, his wings, held together with wax, melted, and he crashed into the sea.  This situation suggests that arrogance will keep us from listening to the good advice of others and acting in time to prevent misfortune.  It is hoped we take the opportunity to act correctly in time before it is too late.  When this change occurs a time comes when small, unimportant things predominate and there is little to be accomplished until the time changes. 'A flying bird brings the message.'  Overall this situation seems to be about missing or not taking heed of messages received.

The Wanderer 56 with 6th line changing to Preponderance of the Small 62.

Go where others fear to tread

Treading 10 tells us to discriminate between high and low to strengthen our character.  It suggests taking a chance to tread where we feared to go before.  In Treading the weak approaches and encounters the strong.  Yet the strong does not injure the weak anymore than a parent would injure a child.  In this particular instance, we remain central to the situation and can progress without encountering danger.  We have resisted the danger that improper relationships can bring.  

The result is Biting Through 21, which suggests a busy market place, the removal of obstacles and the imposition of punishment for crimes.  Our journey leads us to make some definite decisions about matters important to us.

When we care for others they are there to care for us

Today could be unusual -- like a time of flood.  Because we cared for those of lower rank in the past, they are there to support us when we need it.  We may have to stand alone.  Gentleness is the only requirement to successfully pass through this time.  We need to seek out what is timeless and enduring to find the right foundation for the future and eliminate the superficial.  

Preponderance of the Great 28 indicates a time when the lake rises over the trees -- a time of flood. It also indicates that the ancestors act during these extraordinary times.  Taking care of ancestors can help us through this time.  The fourth line tells us that we have good fortune and support because we helped others in the past.  The result is the Well 48 which concerns with the bases and fundaments of life that never change.  'The city and king may change but the Well stays in place unchanging.'