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Posts tagged ‘challenge.’

Coming Together

A spirit teacher shares His understanding of timeless wisdom
encoded within I Ching hexagrams. These sixty-four interconnected
symbolic forms represent a continuous development of awakening
within each of us. Our lives have meaning, both individual and
collective. Events and situations are never without meaning, and
none stands alone. They develop from previous causes and, in turn,
contribute to the development of whatever is to come.

I Ching 44 – Meeting, presents with the trigram Heaven above Wind.
Heaven represents Life and Life is all that there is, and yet,
Wind – the winds of change – moves within (since even under is
within, in this instance) Life, both our individual and more or less
collective life.

Meeting follows Removal (43) and develops into Gathering (45).

Meeting suggests coming together with someone or something, or
facing an event or situation that requires a response.

Removal expresses separation from; perhaps not willingly. To stay
or go, when we know we must go; We must move on. However, wherever
we go, we bring our past experience with us, through lessons learned,
among other things.

Meeting suggests a new beginning. There will always be situations and
challenges that must be faced, sooner or later, These will serve us
in developing our self-confidence and expanding our awareness of Life.

Is there a personal meaning for me?

Yes, and for everyone else.

Category:

A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, enlightenment, Power comes from within, Understanding life's struggles

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Awareness Inspires Us

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom
expressed within the I Ching Hexagram 21 – Biting Through.

Fire is above and Thunder is below, suggesting a problematic
situation requiring intention to respond to whatever
challenge presents itself.

Biting Through develops out of Observing (20) and becomes
the foundation of Adornment (22).

Wow! Each of these three situations or conditions seems
totally unrelated to the other two. How can there be any
sense of progression?

There isn’t any.

Then, how are they connected to each other?

When we observe whatever, we focus our attention, and that
in itself is a necessary step in learning anything. But, as
important as it is, it is never enough. We must then attempt
to understand what it is that we observe, and why it has
attracted our attention. This requires a mental form of
biting through.

Where does Adornment fit into this interpretation?

It’s more than an interpretation. It’s as it is.

Then, please explain where or how Adornment fits.

We adorn ourselves with what appeals to us and the sense
of satisfaction that comes from this awareness is
appealing.

Unless we’re aware of something that suggests danger.

Even then.

How?

Then our awareness of impending danger inspires us.

To respond to the danger?

Yes.

Category:

A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, higher education, spirituality without intelligence is not intelligent spirituali5y

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Rewards Relate To The Past

A Spirit Teacher shares His understanding of
I Ching 22 – Adornment.

Mountain is above and Fire is below.

Adornment develops out of Biting Through (21)
and will transform itself, or be transformed
into Stripping Away (23).

Adornment expresses excess that will reach
a limit and then be reduced, one way or another.

No situation in life begins or ends on its own.
Each is interconnected with what came before
and with whatever will follow or develop
out of what now is, or seems to be.

Biting Through suggests successful struggle.
Perhaps adornment was or is a reward?

Yes.

Then, how and why would a well-earned
(if it was) reward be reduced?

Everything is relevant to everything else.
We may reward ourselves for past battles
fought and won, but, the future
is not the past, and past success
does not guarantee future success.

Then struggle is forever?

Challenge is forever.

What is the difference?

How we perceive the situation.

Please explain.

To struggle is to seek to control
outcome, whereas a challenge is
seen as an opportunity to test
our own ability to meet whatever
difficulty we face, regardless
of the possibility of failure.

To do our best; win, lose, or draw?

Yes.

Category:

A spirit teacher shares His I Ching Wisdom, applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, I Ching as a path to enlightenment

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Going Nowhere is an Illusion

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s message relates to Travel, hexagram 57.
Life experiences develop out of previous life
experiences and lead to future life experiences,
within an endless loop that expands.

We never return to an earlier experience,
even when we do, if we do. Something has
changed and so have we.

Our understanding of ourselves grows, as does
our understanding of the world we live in,
and everyone and everything within that world,
within our world.

The problem arises or, rather, problems arise
when we resist our own awareness of the changes
in our relationship to the changing world
we call our way of life.

We stumble when we fail to notice detour signs.
Things are never as they never were.

We see with an inner eye, while safe travel
requires looking ahead with an outer focus
of attention.

Illusion is created, self-created. It does not
exist in itself in any form.

Like the song, “A man sees what he wants to see
and disregards the rest?”

Yes, but the rest is still there, whether we
focus on it or not.

You’re getting close to home.

Yes. Perhaps our travels in the physical world
are or can be used as a diversion; an excuse
to avoid inner challenges to inward travel.

Wow! And the message?

Travel is a necessity of life, whether we go
anywhere, and we cannot go nowhere. That is
an illusion.

Even to imagine that we are or might be going
nowhere is an illusion?

Yes.

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A wide (33%) middle way., applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, destiny, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Universal laws apply even today

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We Need Help to Overcome

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

I Ching 13 – Association With Others follows
Obstruction and leads to Great Possession.

Obstruction suggests that something is blocking
our way.

Or someone?

It is never someone unless that someone is
our self, and it usually is.

We need help in overcoming whatever seems to
prevent us from following our spiritual path.

What if the community we now associate with
is itself the means of obstructing
our spiritual development.

Isolation is not the answer.

Isn’t meditation a form of isolation?

No.

How is it not?

Meditation is time out to reflect on
the situation and seek higher guidance
to develop awareness.

Develop awareness of what?

Of how to best contribute to our own
spiritual development without
unnecessarily obstructing the
development of others.

Looking at it from that perspective …

That is the only perspective.

Then, we could be obstructing those
who seem to be …

Yes.

Then how to overcome obstruction in a way
that leads to community?

Meditation.

And then?

Follow your heart.

And mind?

No, not in this instance.

Why?

Mind will overwhelm you with reasons
to stay.

To stay where?

Not where, what.

Then what?

Obstructed.

But, if obstruction is the problem …

Obstruction is a challenge. It doesn’t
exist in a material or physical form.
Not everyone would see the same
situation as an obstruction. We need
to change the way we see.

How?

By looking within for the answers
to life’s challenges.

What about community?

For that, too.

Category:

higher education, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, mystery schools, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Understanding life's struggles

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Double Pitfall is not facing problems

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom of the  ancient I Ching style of thought to explain life, in which all situations are seen to develop out of and into other situations, in a more or less foreseeable pattern. Spirit seems to dismiss the trendy thought of living in the now. The now, He tells me, developed out of the past and will strongly impact on the future.

Today’s focus is on the life situation expressed in Hexagram 29 – Double Pitfall. Problems cannot be faced, dealt with, or overcome until they are recognized, identified, and studied.

Water is over Water; yin is over yin, and as water suggests danger, then Double Pitfall suggests great danger; but  possibly preventable danger, as a result of self-defeating thinking, avoidance, or lack of wisdom or courage to face and challenge difficulties before they develop into situations beyond our control.

How can this reading possibly relate to me?

It possibly relates to every one of us.

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applied philosophy to live by, enlightenment, Inspirational reading

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Stress as Exercise

Spirit shares His understanding of Hexagram 53 – Gradual Progress,.

“Gradual Progress follows Mountain (52) in the continuous progression of the hexagrams, and leads to Marrying a Young Woman (54). Wind is over Mountain; yang is over yin, and lines  two and five are in perfect harmony with each other. Yang is on the fifth line of leadership and yin is on the second line, in a centered and balanced support position.

An easy path to follow is no challenge to our physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual potential capacities for growth. Physical muscles require exercise in order to expand. Emotional and/or mental stress is a similar process to exercise, and can contribute to emotional, intellectual, and spiritual expansion. Of course, as with physical exercise, too much stress defeats its purpose. A mountain can express an end-of-the-line kind of obstruction, or no more than a challenge to our progress.”

“Is there a personal message for me?”

“Yes. Stop complaining, and keep moving forward and upward. Gradual progress is still progress.”

…………….

Category:

enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading, Understanding life's struggles

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Spirit explains I Ching 42 – Gradual Progress

Gradual Progress follows Mountain

 

Spirit explains:

 

Why do people climb mountains? Because they’re there.

Anything that blocks our way can be considered as a challenge

Or as inspiration to discover whatever might be beyond

A seemingly suggested limit.

 

Something is often blocking our way; our way to wherever, or

Whatever we might be if we refused to be stopped by

Challenges to our progress; physical, intellectual, emotional,

Or spiritual.

 

We each have a calling; a voice within us, within every cell of

Our being, that calls us to move or not to move, and when.

 

We have been socially conditioned to listen to outer voices.

Perhaps the time has come to listen to our own, inner one.

 

Could you be my inner voice?

 

Yes.

 

Are you?

 

No.

 

Category:

A wide (33%) middle way., enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading, Understanding life's struggles

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I Ching 41 – Reduction

Today’s I Ching – 41 – Reduction

Mountain above. Lake below.

Reduction follows Solution.

 

Spirit explains:

Solution suggests successful resolution of a challenge.

Reduction is less, and less of anything requires

That there be more of something else.

 

Less stress and more rest?

 

No.

 

Then what?

 

Less creation of stress allows for more focus on

Our way of life.

 

Category:

A wide (33%) middle way., enlightenment, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading, Understanding life's struggles

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I Ching 53 – Gradual Progress

Today’s I Ching – 53 – Gradual Progress

Wind above, Mountain below.

Gradual Progress follows Mountain

 

Spirit explains:  Sometime it seems

As if a mountain of difficulties

Looms ahead of us, preventing,

Or attempting to prevent us

From moving forward. But,

Spirit tells me, if we are

Dedicated enough, then

Any difficulty will be no

More than a challenge, and

We will move around or

Through it, whatever it takes.

 

The message for me?

 

Yes, keep moving. Slow

Progress is still progress.

 

 

Category:

I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Inspirational reading

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