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Posts tagged ‘choice.’

Potential Resources are not Reserves

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s I Ching situation is 42 – Increase.
It follows Reduction and leads to Removal.

Wind is over Thunder.
They each influence the other.

Increase following reduction suggests
replenishment of reduced reserves or
resources.

How do they differ?

Reserves and resources?

Yes.

We may still have some reserves on hand,
while resources may refer to potential
sources of supply.

Yes.

What does that mean?

We can only increase whatever we have
the potential to increase.

How does that lead to removal?

Through the Universal Law of Cause
and Effect.

Please explain.

Wisdom suggests that we carefully
consider the potential consequences
of depending upon a potential supply
of whatever from a potential source

A bird in the bush is not in the hand?

Yes.

Then, what is the message for me?

Who is your teacher?

You are.

Am I a potential source of learning
or a secure source?

Secure?

Secure.

You are my teacher while you
choose to be.

And while you choose for me to be?

For me, there is no choice.

Yes.

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, cause and effect, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Potential consequences, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom

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Receptivity to Inspiration Provides Opportunities

Spirit explains I Ching Hexagram 4 – Immaturity.

The journey of our life begins with creation;
individual and collective.

Creativity (hexagram 1) is an essential attribute
of our unique essence.

Receptivity (hexagram 2) to inspiration, both from
without and within, provides us with opportunities
to express our individual uniqueness.

Difficulty (hexagram 3) in the early stages of
our development is to be expected.

Immaturity (hexagram 4) never lasts forever.
Sooner or later we each progress in our
chosen direction.

Who chooses our direction, and to where?

Our chosen direction chooses itself.

How is that possible?

It is the only way possible.

Please explain.

Why did you not ask about the role of
so-called free will?

I have learned enough from you to accept
that free will is limited to available
options and that even then we my not be
aware of future choices each option
may require of us.

Yes.

So, please explain how our chosen direction
chooses itself.

The future is as the past in that it develops
from how we live here and now.

There always was a here and now?

Yes.

Then, the direction we think we are choosing,
if we do consider the choices we make, are
a direct result of how we got to where
we now are?

Yes.

Then, how can we begin to intentionally choose
where we want to go?

First, by intentionally choosing to be where
you now are.

What choice is there to make?

Accepting responsibility for how you arrived
where you are.

Then, what?

Determine to develop a more mature outlook
on life in general, and your own life,
in particular.

And, to let go of all that we know
holds us back?

Yes.

And those who seem to hold us back?

No, never.

Why?

Unhealthy relationships hold us back,
not unhealthy people. They need us
to accept them as they seem to be,
without pretending that we are where
they are or that they are where
we are, or need and intend to go.

How does one do that?

Release your hold on the past;
not the people in your past.

Then, we move on without necessarily
rejecting them?

Yes.

It doesn’t sound too easy.

Life isn’t meant to be too easy.

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Understanding life's struggles

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The Road Ahead is Only in Your Mind

Spirit explains the I Ching hexagram 61 – Sincerity.

Sincerity follows Discipline in the sequential order
of events and situations experienced along the I Ching
Way to enlightenment.

When discipline and sincerity travel together within
the mind of the seeker of wisdom and truth, then
progress is certain.

What if they’re both going down the wrong road?

Then, progress is still assured.

Then, discipline and sincerity are not sufficient
to progress in the desired direction?

Yes, they are not.

What else is required?

Awareness.

Of what?

Not of what?

Where?

Yes.

Then, a map and a guide are required?

Yes.

My mind would resist.

Why?

A certain sense of personal responsibility for choices
of directions taken or forms of discipline accepted
and followed would require me to question myself and
any teacher, regardless of how much I might admire her
or him.

Yes, and that is as it should be.

Then, why do I regret not being able to completely
accept your way as my own.

My way should never be accepted as your way.

Why?

It would not be unique.

Must it be?

Yes.

Then, how can all ways merge into one and still
remain unique?

They merge into the one that is beyond uniqueness.

How can anything be beyond uniqueness?

We each are a unique aspect of Life and each are
contained within Life.

Then, what is the purpose of my struggle along
a unique way if I am already within what would be
the destination of my unique way?

A simple purpose; to develop awareness of what you are.

And then?

And then to expand your awareness.

To include what?

To include the awareness of all otherwise unique
aspects of Life.

Otherwise unique aspects?

Yes. They are only unique until you absorb their
awareness into your own.

Then your way becomes mine?

Yes.

It looks like a long road ahead.

Yes, but that’s just the bad news.

There’s good news?

Yes. The road ahead is only in your mind.

Dear readers, if you enjoy witnessing my struggle with Spirit on this blog, we invite you to join us
at jeanw5.wordpress.com where Spirit shares more of his wisdom in a different format.

Category:

I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Understanding life's struggles, Universal laws apply even today

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We Share the Choice

Spirit shares His understanding of the  I Ching Wisdom expressed by Hexagram 18 – Degeneration. Mountain (Yin) is over Wind (Yang). Degeneration follows Following (17) and leads to Overseeing (19).

Spirit explains:  “The 2nd line is Yang and the 5th line is Yin. The fifth line in every hexagram is the line of leadership and responsibility, and, ideally,  a yang line, and yet, in this instance, yin is on this line. However, the complement of the 5th is the 2nd, and yang on the second line which is normally a  yin line, provides for a sharing of this position of power.”

“But, if degeneration is the condition that they share …”

“How could it be otherwise?”

“I would like to think that any degenerating situation is
a result of masculine abuse of power.”

“That would be to deny the existence of feminine energy.”

“How?”

“How what?”

“How does masculine responsibility for whatever condition
or situation deny feminine energy?”

“Abdication of, or denial of, responsibility is, more or less,
acceptance of whatever situation or condition results from
such behaviour.”

“Are you trying to tell me that …”

“I am telling you that dynamic interaction requires
inequality; transient or otherwise, of each and all
of the individual energies in the choices we make.”

“We?”

“We share the choice.”

“And the outcome?”

“Yes.”

………………

Category:

applied philosophy to live by, I Ching as a path to enlightenment, Spirit shares I Ching wisdom, Understanding life's struggles

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Spirit’s I Ching 8 – Closeness

Closeness follows The Army

 

Spirit explains:

 

Closeness expresses personal attachment, whether the person

We feel close to is near or far away.

 

The Army describes a large group of individual soldiers who

May or may not feel close to each other but are trained to

Work closely with each other, under the direction of a leader.

 

The message?

 

What is our relationship?

 

To whom?

 

To each other.

 

I feel personally attracted to you as my teacher and mentor of choice.

 

Whose choice?

 

We each must choose.

 

Yes.

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

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

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Spirit’s I Ching 10 – Treading

Heaven over Lake

Treading follows Small Development

 

Spirit explains:

 

Treading water is a temporary but valuable survival strategy for those who lack

Necessary swimming skills to reach the safety of shore in an emergency.

Hopefully, safety will come to them, from someone who accepted personal

Responsibility for self-care by developing water safety skills.

 

Small Development suggests a beginning, a first step up a staircase or

Ladder of skills-development, such as treading water is.

 

Is the message a warning?

 

About what?

 

About the danger of not going beyond the beginning.

 

The beginning of what?

 

Whatever.

 

No. The message is that beginnings were not designed to also be

Endings. But, the choice is yours.

 

Mine?

 

Yes.

 

What has begun in my life?

 

What has ended in your life?

 

Nothing that I know of.

 

Yes.</ 

 

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 51 – Thunder

Spirit shares his understanding of I Ching 51 – Thunder

Thunder above, Thunder below.

Thunder follows Cauldron in the order of the Hexagrams.

The order of the Hexagrams expresses the Universal Law of Causality. Nothing comes from nothing. All situations develop from a previous situation. How they develop and what they develop into is not entirely predetermined. Free will and choice, as well as Destiny contribute to the outcome. How we choose can be the result of habit, or awareness and intent to develop our own way through life situations not necessarily of our own choosing.

The message?

Thunder is never silent.

I’m allowed to complain?

It seems to be in your nature to do so.

 

Category:

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

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I Ching 38 – Disharmony

Today’s I Ching – 38 – Disharmony

Fire above, Lake below.

Disharmony follows People in the Home (family) in the order of the Hexagrams.

 

Spirit explains: We are all family but differences can lead to disharmony. Fire and Water, in equal strengths could destroy each other.

What is the message for me?

We are not equal. I will survive.

What about me?

Your choice.

 

Category:

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

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