Hilary Barrett, I Ching

Here is a good, blunt article that explains why You Cannot Have It All: because choice you make for something is by implication a choice against something else.

I linked to this article because it’s a clear statement of something we need to be aware of whenever Hexagram 43 shows up. (OK, it’s a clear and repetitive statement – but some things bear repetition.) It is Decision: the moment when you know what belongs in your life and what doesn’t. The kinetic feel of the hexagram structure is of pushing out the yin top line – what doesn’t belong.

Yi has good things to say about the moment of decision – first, how it must start by hearing the message clearly at the executive centre, despite the risks of declaring yourself so unambiguously. The Judgement says ‘with truth, calling out, there is danger’ – which might or might not be danger brought about by truthfulness. But if you receive the third line changing, you can be pretty sure that your very public individuality is making you a target for some kind of mud-slinging.

And Yi also makes a crucial distinction between what does and does not bear fruit in this kind of resolution. Taking up arms doesn’t work – concentrating your energies on the people who would oppose your decision, working out the irrefutable argument… all a tremendous waste of energy. Having a strong ‘direction to go’ – knowing where you’re going with this – brings harvest.

‘Deciding, tell it in the king’s chambers.
With truth, cry out, there is danger.
Notify your own city.
No harvest in taking up arms;
Harvest in having a direction to go.’

(Of course, just because you Decide that certain things do not belong, that doesn’t mean they’ll stay Decided. See Hexagram 44…)

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