Preponderance Of The Small: Extreme Caution Today

Preponderance Of The Small 62 shows Thunder, Chen, on the Mountain, Ken. It recommends generally reverence, bereavement and thrift, as appropriate, in one's dealings with the world. It is a time when only small things can be done -- no big matters should be begun. At this time humility is rewarded. Kind of like in Slum Dog Millionaire.

The fourth line changing says to use extreme caution to avoid difficulties.

Modesty or Humility 16 is the resulting hexagram. It shows the Mountain hidden under the Earth.

Increase: Love Of The Good Brings Others To Help; Withdrawal Leads To Misfotune

Increase shows how someone with a lot of possessions can increase others by sharing them. This is a meritorious thing to do.

The second line says that one is possessed of such strength of character that no number of divinations can oppose the assistance you receive. The sixth line show someone who has withdrawn from the world and does not try to increase others. This behavior is contrary to the character of the time and leads to attack and misfortune. It is very important to do what you can to help others.

Limitation 60 results, showing the limits that seasons and other cyclical phenomenon place on time and also has the image of fences that define and limit space.

Holding Together Again! What Is The Message? Combo Of Listening To Inner, Higher Guidance and Humility?

Holding Together 8 was obtained again today. See the two recent readings below. When the same hexagram comes up repeatedly, there is an important message that I haven't gotten yet. When I do, I will certainly share it. The general meaning of this hexagram is that the strong fifth line is able to hold the other lines with it -- the weak lines can obtain what they need from this strong line. Due to their nature and relationships with the fifth line, only the first, second and fourth lines are able to benefit.

The first line, also obtained recently, indicates that despite its lack of relationship to the fifth line, it receives help nonetheless because of its humility and good character. The second line has the relationship of correspondence to the fifth line. Thus it receives help directly and openly. The line says that the nature of this help is a kind of inner guidance from a higher authority. You need to stay true to this inner light or guide to achieve the most good.

The resulting hexagram is Limitation 60 indicating the limitation of the seasons and calendar on time. It counsels not to persevere in galling limitation. That means if you are in an untenable situation where severe limitations cause shame or humiliation, you need to take action to leave that situation. The trigrams show joyfulness in passing through danger, which is a guide to the nature of the time and how to pass through it.

Innocence: Misfortune Comes From Pushing Ahead When Timing Is Off

Innocence 25 shows Chen, the eldest son and movement, within and Ch'ien, the father and Heaven, without. It indicates a time when sincerity is important to have good fortune. If someone is false, they will have misfortune. So examine your attitude if you are able.

The sixth line indicates misfortune that comes because we try to force matters -- we are at a time when progress can no longer be made and we need to wait quietly for times to change to avoid misfortune. This line indicates that it may be hard to prevent oneself from acting inappropriately.

Following 17 results indicating joy in movement. It says to stay indoors and rest at nightfall. It also says that to have others follow you requires that you be adaptable and capable of following others.

Holding Together Again! This Time Leading To Duration

Holding Together 8 was received yesterday, too! That must mean it is of extra importance. Holding Together, like all hexagrams, has many meanings, which is part of what makes the I Ching confusing at first glance. Take the sword and slice away until something fits, I say. That is also why even though I am doing this small act in West Hollywood, it could apply to most anyone in any situation. At least that is my intention. Anyway, this hexagram speaks generally of knowing and holding on to those social connections that give richness and meaning to life. It also speaks of problems that arise from holding on to relationships that are wrong for us, forgoing the good fortune of better society, and of missing our opportunity to hold together.

The first line only is changing today. Without looking it up, I would surmise it is not fortunate like the second, fourth and fifth lines. It is weak in a strong place which would give it some moderation. But it comes too soon and is not connected to the fifth line that is the only one capable of bestowing the necessary resources. Well I looked it up and I am not too far off the mark -- however, the predominant meaning comes from the moderation spoken of above. This line represents truth, loyalty and sincerity that in its humble, lowly position has the strength to attract good fortune from without. Moderation and humility allow this line to attract good fortune even when there are no inner ties to one so disposed to help as the second and fourth lines suggest.

The resulting hexagram is Duration 32. It shows a solid, long lasting relationship, like a marriage, that endures stormy weather. Bad weather is suggested by Thunder below and Water above.

Holding Together Leads To Temptation

Holding Together 8 shows one strong line in the fifth position with five other weak lines around it. It is compared to a comb that when used hold the hairs together. The five weak lines have different qualities of holding together with the strong person in the fifth position. This hexagram speaks of the importance of holding together at the right time. If one waits past the time for holding together misfortune comes.

Today the second, third, fourth and sixth lines change. The second and fourth line have inner ties to the fifth line and receive the help and good fortune the fifth line is able to give. The third line has misfortune because it holds to another weak line instead of the fifth line that has the power to give it what it wants. The sixth line has missed the time for holding together with the fifth line and receives the misfortune mentioned in the judgment.

Temptation or Coming To Meet is the result. It shows a weak evil line entering from below that takes power over everything if indulged.

Today's hexagram seems to mirror the news regarding the health care plan in Congress. AHIP is not holding together, for whatever reason, while others like Jane at firedoglake indicate marshaling together, holding together, of progressives.

Fire or The Clinging: Rebirth Leads To Supreme Good Fortune

Fire or The Clinging 30 shows Li, the sun, fire and clarity, doubled. It refers to day succeeding day and I believe refers to reincarnation. The judgement says that 'the bright rises twice.' The hexagram also speaks of caring for cows. Cows are a symbol of docility and the meaning here is that be following the guidance of nature we are able to find our place in the world.

The second line indicates the supreme good fortune of yellow light. This line refers to the noonday sun. Yellow is the Chinese color symbol for adhering to the mean. Following the mean was considered the highest good. The ancient Greeks also highly praised following a life of moderation. It indicates that a period of the highest in culture.

Possession in Great Measure 14 is the resulting hexagram. It shows the sun high in the sky. It indicates financial good fortune. Perhaps buy a lottery ticket today? Or perhaps financial matters take a turn for great improvement. On SNL last night, Barack Obama won the Powerball lottery after buying his first

ticket! Coincidence?

Following: Keep Inner Firmness, Give Up Immature Ways

Following shows Chen, movement, under Tui, joyousness. These trigrams refer to the sunset and sunrise with nighttime in between. It also refers to the dark time of the year, the period of time between the fall and spring equinoxes -- where we have been since the third week of September. It recommends rest and following natural impulses. It also refers to the invention of the wheeled cart which when yoked to an ox allowed for distant travel and communication. It says we could attract a following among our social circle and to do that requires we follow natural rules appropriate to us.

The third line says that to secure the allegiance of a strong man it is necessary to let go of the boy. What is meant is that we have a choice to follow a path towards maturity and strength or that of childish immaturity. I think most people would want to get on with life. The strong one ahead of us has the power to give us what we seek. Letting go of the boy below is necessary to obtain what we seek. What is essential is to stay on our path and not deviate from it.

Revolution results. This hexagram refers to the revolution of the seasons and other cyclic changes as well as political revolution. This is a time when what is worn out, useless or outmoded can be discarded. Maybe clean out a closet?

Temptations Kept In Check Lead To The Creative

Temptation or Coming to Meet 44 shows Ch'ien, heaven, strength and the creative, above and Sun, wind, gentleness and wood, below. There is one weak line at the first place with five strong lines above it. The strong lines see this small weak line below and are tempted not to take it seriously and indulge it. If they do this, the weak line can take their power from them.

The first weak line indicates the source of the temptation. Because it is at the beginning, its true nature is more clearly seen, and there is an opportunity to take the necessary action thereby preventing the empowerment of evil. By taking corrective action right away, the evil power is starved. It is not destroyed, however, and if fed will become strong and cause harm.

The Creative 1 is the resulting hexagram. It shows Ch'ien, heaven, doubled and is composed of six strong lines. It is a time of great strength when much can be accomplished. Dispense with distractions. You may find yourself at the center of attention or the leader of your peers.

It is easy to indulge desires for war and conquest and hard to find peace. Indulging in baser instincts leads to evil, without doubt. Maybe this line refers to President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize win. He has kept evil in check and may liberate a time of great creativity. Not only that, the prize comes near the beginning of his presidency just as today's line is at the beginning of Temptation.

Conflict: Winning At All Cost Leads To Regret; Letting Go Of Impossible Conflict Brings Peace

Conflict 6 shows cunning (K'an, water and danger) within and strength (Ch'ien, heaven) without. When cunning and strength combine, there is sure to be conflict. Conflict also describes a lawyer well.

This hexagram is organized around the fifth line that acts as the judge in the cases brought by the other five lines. The fourth line has the strength and will to engage in conflict with the judge but after some time realizes that he has no legitimate argument with anyone and so lets go of conflict and attains peace. The sixth line exceeds the mean by carrying on conflict until the bitter end. Its win comes with a price that may be difficult to bear.

These changes result in Danger 29 and usually indicates a new opportunity approaches.

Difficulty At The Beginning: Accept Help Only From The Right Source To Remain True To Yourself

Difficulty At The Beginning 3 indicates birth. It shows the eldest son, Chen, Movement, below and the middle son, K'an, Water and Danger, above. It is a fairly straightforward hexagram indicating how to deal with new situations and circumstances. At the beginning, it is important to be cautious. The hexagram not undertaking anything at this time but to find helpers to deal with any difficulties encountered.

The second line changing is difficult to understand. As best as I can tell, it indicates that we will be offered help from an unexpected and ultimately inappropriate source. We may be tempted to accept any help we find in difficulty but if we cannot wait we will do harm to our inner being. We must wait for a complete cycle of time to transpire, the hexagram calls this a period of ten years, when our right and true companion will be able to help us.

The resulting hexagram is Limitation 60. If we stay true to our path we will continue in difficulty, forgoing the easy comfort offered us. That is a limitation, without doubt.

Darkening Of The Light to Nourishing

Darkening of the Light 36 shows Li, the sun, sunken into the earth. It correlates with the Western idea of the dark night of the soul. Here an evil tyrant in the sixth place injures all who are on the side of good and light.

The third line shows that the tyrant is captured. The abuses that occurred during the tyrant's reign were of long standing and it would be unwise to act too swiftly in their removal. Careful consideration is recommended in making reforms. The sixth line shows the tyrant at the height of power, injuring the followers of the good, below. Once the tyrant appears to triumph over the good and light his reign naturally ends as his power derived from those he opposed.

Nourishing 27 is the resulting hexagram. After winning the battle over the evil tyrant, it is time for a great meal. Also, to continue in the way of good, examine one's thoughts as they indicate the nourishment provided the soul.

The Cauldron: God Secures Fate; The Sage Imparts Wisdom We Can Hear

The Cauldron 50 shows Li, fire, above Sun, wood. It indicates the earliest iron vessels created by the Chinese in which food was cooked. Cooking was considered the essential activity that led to civilization. Attached to this hexagram is the advice that great good fortune comes from the consolidation of one's fate.

The sixth line changing indicates that the ting, the sacred iron cooking vessel described in this hexagram, bears rings of jade. The Chinese valued jade more than gold, at least according to this hexagram. It indicates that the sage acts with the will of God to impart information and guidance to us that we are capable of understanding and using to help ourselves. Jade symbolizes this wisdom as it is hard but has a soft luster suggesting that we are able to receive this help in the best way we can. This is opposed to the possibility that the sage speaks to us from such a high enlightenment that we are unable to understand him.

Duration 32 is the resulting hexagram. It indicates an enduring, productive relationship between us and the sage, capable of weathering the storms and trials of fate.

Gradual Progress Becomes Wanderer

Gradual Progress shows a tree, Sun, growing on a mountain, Chen. Trees growing on mountains grow slowly due to poor soil conditions; however, they can be seen far and wide. The trigrams also mean Keeping Still within and Gentle Penetration above, thus suggesting a phase of meditation where thoughts can penetrate external matters with understanding.

A second meaning of Gradual Progress concerns the steps and protocols by which a woman is introduced to a man, leading to marriage. It has the more generalized meaning related to the way societal norms are preserved and how gradual, step-wise development is required in these situations. Related to this meaning, all the lines refer to the behavior of the wild goose, as this bird symbolized marital fidelity in Chinese culture because it was believed to be monogamous and did not take another mate when its first mate died.

The fourth line refers to a goose that settles into a tree branch. The goose is not designed to live in a tree and thus the tree is not its natural resting place. But sometimes necessity arises and the discerning goose can find a flat branch that allows it a foothold. The general meaning is that there are times when we have to make do with difficult situations but that we may have the good fortune to find a temporary situation that allows us to continue on. The fifth line shows the goose approaching the summit of a mountain. It also refers to a woman who is not able to bear children for three years. Near the summit, it is possible we become isolated. This is due to someone near us whose lies spoken to someone we are dependent on poisons our relations with them. In time the lies are revealed and we are able to renew our connection to the important persons in our lives. Thus good fortune results in the end.

The Wanderer is the resulting hexagram and shows the action of Fire on the Mountain. Such a fire burns the fuel available to it and moves on not settling anywhere. The judgment admonishes us to make lawsuits and punishments brief and quickly decided matters whenever possible. It also recommends careful and thoughtful interactions with those we encounter on our wandering because we are in danger and vulnerable during a time when we have no home.

No One Drinks From A Muddy Well

The Well 48 refers to those fundamental and unchanging social structures developed by mankind since the dawn of time that provide sustenance to the community and individual. This hexagram grows gradually more positive as the lines mount from the first to the sixth. In the first line, the well is unusable and bereft of water; in the middle lines the well is being repaired; in the top line the well is repaired and free for the community to use.

The first line changing indicates that no one drinks from a muddy well. This indicates that the well has no water. The text further reflects that a man who dwells in swampy lowlands becomes muddy. No one seeks out such a person and in time he is forgotten. In part this refers to an abandonment of inner development.

Waiting 5 shows Ch'ien, heaven, strength below and K'an, Water and danger above. It indicates a time when eating and drinking are suitable pastimes while awaiting the moment for activity. In reference to the Well and first changing line, it suggests that someone who has given up self-development can nonetheless enjoy the physical pleasures of life. That is fortunate as other doors have been closed.

There Are Times When Withdrawing From The World Is The Best Course Of Action

Work On What Has Been Spoiled (by the Father) or Decay 18 sounds kind of unpleasant but it isn't. The image for this hexagram is a bowl with worms in it. However, the meaning intended is that when things have been ruined, we have a chance to correct them, setting ourselves and the world right. All that is required is work. It is a favorable circumstance when fate gives us problems that can be solved with our own labor.

The sixth line shows the action of the sage during the time of Decay. The sixth line has a few standard meanings: when favorable, it indicates the action of the sage, who has risen above the action indicated by the hexagram. A less favorable common meaning is that one has missed the time to act, one is too late. Here is one of the best, if kind of sad, meanings for a sixth line. The time of Decay is one where the world can be saved through effort. The sage, however, is beyond doing anything actual in the world. The sage retreats from the world where he is obligated to help humanity through his activity in the spirit world.

This change leads to Preponderance of the Great 28. On the one hand it indicates an exceptional time of disaster, like a flood. It also indicates that taking care of the dead, symbolized by the four great lines surrounded by two weak lines, like four coffins in the earth, is the best way to answer the demands of such a time. Here is a sad but relevant Huffpost article: "Cities Across The Nation Too Poor To Bury Their Dead."