New article on Hexagram 22
The title says it all, really. Someone emailed me to ask about this hexagram and self-image, and I wrote an article on Hexagram 22. I may be a little (or a lot) slow at times, but I do take requests. (Maybe the next one should be in the Lower Canon?)
January 26th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Hi Hilary,
Good article. Since you mentioned that you wouldn’t mind taking requests, perhaps you might expand on the idea of marriage (if you haven’t written about it already) as it occurs throughout the various hexagram texts. Also, it seems that a lot of attention is given to marriage, but what about other close relationships?
Thanks.
Eric
January 27th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Odd coincidence…
- I’ve just been thinking about this recently. What does it mean for a woman consulting the I Ching when she’s asked to ‘take a woman’? (Or for a man to cultivate a ‘woman’s constancy’, come to that.)
Marriage is used as an image for all kinds of lasting, committed relationship. Not just those between two people, either: sometimes you see readings about ‘marrying’ a job or an idea, or even marrying into life itself.
February 8th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Hilary that was an excelent article.I agree -very much so that Hexagram 22 is not simply about external thing or form.because indeed–the form can be what the item or perosn *is* in essence, or, as you apty described–once you do the work (as in #21( and bite thorugh all the difficulties–h9w will you explain it/
As we know language as accustomed as we all are to speaking and sometimes writing –is still not who we are, nor are words exactly what they describe–they are in essence–symbols of the real thing.But would we ever say words are nothing, that language–how we commiunicate with one another is empty form.
No–unless it is empty form.We’re all familiar with listening to a seductive lover or hearing a cold hearted attempt to win us over–whether to buy the car,hand over a “loan” close the deal, or have sex.
Those compliments and entreaties are “empty words without substance.”
But most would also agree, I believe, that not all expressions of love, desire and reasons to decide to buy a particular item are false and seductive.
Hence the reminder that the form, the beauty is important but without the substance–not necessarily worth anything.
And as you said–how can the form of the wildflower its beauty and fragrance be separated from its substance?
February 9th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Thank you, Proserpine! I like what you said about language… and that makes me think of names, too, as another example of 22-ing - especially the choice of a screen name. ‘Proserpine’ says a great deal!
Eric - I just wrote a post on the sequence into Hexagram 31 that’s inspired by your question about marriage.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:31 am
I recently received this hexagram in response to a question about a co-worker. I was asking what my attitude towards this person should be. I had a changing line in the fist position. I don’t know what to make of it. Hmmmm…any ideas?