The translation is adapted from the Eranos edition, Ritsema/Karcher. ‘Harvest’ is their word for li – quite a literal translation, and one that ties in well with English metaphors about things ‘yielding a harvest’ or ‘bearing fruit’. Wilhelm translates it as ‘furthering’.

I am curious as to whose translation of the Duan from hexagram 26 you quote in your New Year’s posting. I find ‘Harvest’ especially challenging. Here is the Tuan:

‘Great taming,
Harvest in constancy.
Not eating at home, good fortune.
Harvest in crossing the great river.’

Even a reference would be welcome, and any remarks you might feel useful even more so.

Best,

Paul Hansen
laopaul@hotmail.com

Let me know what you think … I”m “thinking this out” as I write it, so if I sound like a total doofus, forgive me

… I see H9 (in part) as a place wherein we rein in the mind and consider things before we act on them; I think of qualities like caution, discernment, and patience … and there is also be a call to restrain the mind — but gently (as in H57, The Gentle … I love that influence…)

H9 seems to say *Pay attention* — in a focused, look-around-you-and-inside-you kind of way. *Look at the world around you and your place in it [which is comprehended through the principle of H8, Union] … and consider how you will conduct yourself [as in H10, Conduct].* H9 looks like a firm first nudge into the consideration of an ethic (doesn’t that often start to happen when a child is about nine years of age?…) and the impact that our choices and actions have on others.

H26 seems to be a maturing of H9; also a coalescing of mindfulness, energy, and power … a further honing of intention, and a gathering of the will to act. (In the Gestalt cycle of awareness, it’s a time of “mobilization of energy”.) Developmentally (as when a person’s around 26 years of age), we’re heavily into “making something of ourselves” and we’re more or less aware of how our actions impact on others. Our bodily strength, developmentally, is at its peak. We have a great deal to give of ourselves during early adulthood … and we do it by making huge changes in our lives — leaving home; attending college and / or starting a career; mating and creating a family; travelling and exploring places, possibilities, and people … Doing these things mindfully demands great concentration, discernment, and considerations of responsibility … and there’s a need to “greatly tame” the side of us that wants to run screaming into the night at any whiff of committment … ;-D

H26 seems to say, “You’ve got energy to burn, baby … Use it well …”

… And what you say about self-cultivation, Hilary — yes, that’s it I had to say it all over again in my roundabout way after thinking it through and reading your words a second time.

Jaliya’s last blog post..Musings on love in the *I Ching*

Actually, I think they have themes in common: joining with others (in 9.5 and in 2), being of service (2, 26). Enough that it makes sense to me for 9.5 to 26 to be one way of 2-ing, if you see what I mean.

A couple of days ago you said

“My guiding hexagram for the coming year is 2, the Earth. So this post is my ‘direction to go’, my idea of where I want to be. In the spirit of hexagram 2, it (naturally) doesn’t follow that I know exactly how to get there: rather, I’m out looking for guidance and ways to be of service.”

This post talks of your guiding principle and two different hexagrams. What is the difference between a ‘guiding hexagram’ and a ‘guiding principle’? Because of the difference between an unequivocal 2 and 9=> 26, there seems to be quite a profound difference.

Thank you