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.