Hilary Barrett, I Ching

I’ve been lucky enough to meet up with Dr Margaret Pearson, and she has very kindly promised to be the ‘guest speaker’ at our next webinar. As you’ll know if you came to the last one with Stephen Karcher, this means we get to ask her questions! The subject is ‘Women and the I Ching’, and there is some discussion going on at the I Ching Community about potential questions to ask. (Or you’re very welcome to add your suggestions as ‘comments’ to this post.)

In the first place, seeing an great person means finding a role model or guide. Find someone who can advise, ideally someone who’s been there and done that. Or go to the person who has more influence, make an important connection with someone who can make a difference. Richard Rutt suggests that in Zhou times it could mean ‘taking counsel, preparing for battle, parleying with enemy leaders, or consulting high soothsayers.’

Sketchy, impressionistic ideas, these, butI think there’s something behind them…

Looking at the mythical and legendary figures that walk the pages of the Yijing, I can’t help noticing how many pairs of fathers and sons there are. And the overarching theme seems to be the responsibility of the sons to take over their fathers’ work and either complete what they began, or redeem their failures.