thanks for the pointer to the article on 54; it reinforced what I already understood, and gave me a little lift — I got a cnaging fifth line. Gotta love that yi.

Thanks again.

Ann

In our discussions here, there is a wonderful emphasis on the more daily concerns. We are concerned about our relationships, we are concerned about careers, etc. etc. etc. Those things are important, but in doing so we miss the more esoteric part of the I Ching. In fact, it is necessary to miss the more esoteric part until we get a grasp of how real spiritual realities are.

It is more natural for me personally to perceive the more esoteric meanings of the I Ching as I have had years of spiritual teaching. I am not really involved in relationships or careers, etc. I see things from a different persective than most. That does not make anyone else’s interpretation of the I Ching less valuable or less perfect, it is just different,and we need it all. Part of my spiritual practice though, even though I am not all that good at it, is keeping things tidy on the physical level.

Gene

Gene, I can see how what you write connects with 18.6, and its ‘push upward’ beyond the inner or outer politics of mundane existence. But is ‘honouring what is highest’ always necessarily going to mean striving? Or taking our awareness away from daily chores?

Just wondering…

From a Daoist perspective, this hexagram relates problems within both the body and/or the spiritual/emotional life, in the sense that yin and yang are not in balance. Spiritually, there is an imbalance in the flow of chi in either the yang or yin level, or perhaps kan versus li. This is important because an improper balance of chi can cause stagnation in flow of chi in the human body, and organs will not function to full capacity. Where it says “work on what has been spoiled by the father,” there is stagnation in a yang channel. Where it says “work on what has been spoiled by the mother,” there is stagnation in a yin channel.

In our day to day lives, it is most likely that as time goes by, we are going to forget important parts of our lives, that which we strive for, and are trying to attain. The world is “too much with us,” so that the cares of the world choke out the daily effort toward spiritual progress. The only solution is to remind ourselves of the need to “practice chariot driving daily,” and be consistent in our approach to our spiritual goals. Only when we are consistent can we truly gain progress in anything that we want to do. It is imperative to have a direction for which we strive, and not get sidetracked by daily chores.

Gene

I’d love to hear your thoughts on 54 sometime…