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Posts tagged ‘Hexagrams’

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.

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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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A third option

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom

Hexagram 7 – The Army

The Army follows Contention and is followed by Closeness.

When enough people are discontented about whatever
social conditions exist, then they develop closeness
with each other and protest, hoping to pressure the
authorities to listen to their concerns.

When this happens, and it does, then authorities
may feel threatened; perhaps not personally, but
their vested interests in power and wealth may
seem to be at risk.

To appease the protesting masses or to suppress them?
This is a traditional either-or simplistic solution
that never really works to solve the problems that
caused the discontent.

A third option is needed?

Yes.

But, what?

A willingness by both sides to compromise and try
to understand the causes of the situation that
developed into general discontent, and to develop
ways and means to develop harmony.

This sounds more like group therapy than a personal
message.

There is no difference.

So, then, what does it say to me, today?

Are you at peace with everyone in your life?

Only on the surface.

Yes.

What does “yes” mean?

It means, in this instance, that I agree you are
in serious need of …

Mediation?

No. Meditation.

Category:

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

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Tomorrow’s Illusion of Yesterday

Spirit shares His understanding of Hexagram 42 – Increase

“Wind is over Thunder; strong Yang over loud Yin. Increase necessarily follows Reduction in the order of the hexagrams. The order of the hexagrams expresses both continuity and change in situations, conditions, and individuals, and in their relationships with, and how they each respond to and influence each other..

Reduction implies that something is less than it once was.Increase speaks for itself. Low and high tides follow each other in a continuous pattern that expresses both change and continuity. As with tides, so with all relationships. There is both change and continuity. People come into our lives and then move out, or are moved out. We need to learn to let them go. The reality of tomorrow cannot come until we release the illusion of yesterday.”

“Why is yesterday an illusion while tomorrow is…?”

“A reality?”

“Tomorrow is not a reality in itself, only a potential one, in our mind, as a hope for another, and possibly better, today.”

“But, before that can happen, we must let today become yesterday.”

“Then, today becomes tomorrow’s illusion of yesterday?”

“Yes.”

…………..

Category:

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

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A Fool’s Game

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom expressed within Hexagram 32 – Constancy.

“Thunder is over Wind – loud sound and moving air. Yin is over yang, but in this instance, Wind can move the sound of Thunder, but Thunder cannot move Wind, but is carried by the wind.  Constancy follows Sensing(31) in the progressive order of the hexagrams, and leads to Withdrawal (33)..

Sensing is a form of intuition that isn’t clearly seen but, nevertheless, cannot be denied. When there are signs of Spring in March, we seem to know that cold weather has not left us. Winter isn’t over, yet, even though mild weather and Spring flowers delight us. Trusing Winter’s signs of leaving is a fool’s game.”

“Where is constancy?”

“Winter is constant. It may offer signs of leaving, but these signs may be no more than tests of our willingness to accept as true what an inner knowing tells us is not.”

“Is there a personal message for me?”

“Yes, and for everyone else.”

“What is the message?”

“What do you think the message might be?”

“To trust our personal experience of patterns of past situations more than present situations that would seem to offer a more positive outcome?”

“Yes, not to fooled by short-term pleasures, into believing they will last.”

………………

Category:

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

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Meeting is never random

Spirit shares His understanding of Hexagram 45 -Gathering. Lake is over Earth; yang over yin, with lines two and five in harmonious correlation with each other; yang in the leadership position on line five, and yin in the balanced and centered support position of line two. Gathering follows Meeting (44) in the order of the hexagrams, and is followed by Rising (46).

Spirit explains:  “A meeting is more than a gathering. It is a gathering with a purpose, a shared purpose.”

“Why does meeting come before gathering?”

“We cannot gather without first meeting.”

“Whether we know the people we are meting, or not?”

“Meeting is never random.”

“Even if we have never met before?”

“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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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’s I Ching 55 – Abundance

Spirit explains:

 

Abundance follows Marriage in the order of the Hexagrams.

 

Marriage is a special ceremony wherein two people declare their

Intentions to share with and care for each other, and accept

Responsibility to develop a long-term, mutually beneficial

Relationship.

 

It sounds good, so far. Where does abundance fit?

 

Two or more people working together can usually accomplish or

Create more of whatever, than any one person, alone. Working

Together also creates community. We were not designed to live

Completely independently.

 

Back to abundance. Couldn’t two or more, working together without

Harmony, and without too much effort, create an abundance of

Sorrow, as easily as, or as well as an abundance of pleasure

For each other?

 

That’s a chance we choose or choose not to take.

 

 

 

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 36 – Damage to Illumination

Today’s I Ching – 36 – Damage to Illumination

Earth above, Fire below.

Damage follows Advance in the Order of the Hexagrams.

 

Spirit explains:

Advance expresses progress. Fire is above the earth and can move freely.

This is not the case with Damage to Illumination, where Fire is below the earth, with it’s light and heat constrained, contained. This can appear to damage our sense of freedom.

 

What now?

 

To everything there is a season – the ancient wise people knew this truth.

Accept what is but prepare to move forward when opportunity permits.

Category:

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

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I Ching 46 – Rising

Today’s I Ching – 46 – Rising

Earth above, Wind below.

Rising follows Gathering in the order of the Hexagrams.

 

Spirit explains: Whenever people gather together

To share ideas and experiences,

Both individually and collectively,

Their knowledge and awareness

Rises, both in quantity and quality.

 

Mutual support is both

A blessing and

A sacred responsibility.

 

I ask Spirit what His reading

Says to me.

 

Yes.

 

 

Category:

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

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