Earth reading

After a week of ‘Nearing Earth’ (19.1.2 to 2, my personal reading for the week), I’m very happy to find this Samhain full moon reading from Peter at Fireraven tarot. He asked,

‘At this time, what is the most appropriate action that we as individuals – but within the context of our own communities, societies, and cultures – can take in order to make a difference to the health of the planet?’

– and has written beautifully about the first part of Yi’s reply, which was Hexagram 13. It makes a great deal of sense to me that the first thing we need to do is to relax and broaden our notions of ‘our people’.

Not wanting to intimidate his readers with Yi-overload, Peter stops here – but he does mention that 13 was changing to hexagram 22. That gives a fascinating background to our endeavours to create harmony between people: it’s all about fostering a true image of ourselves that makes it possible for others to relate to us. That’s as true on a cultural level as it is for an individual: relationships can’t be created just by coming together and ‘biting through’; they need some attention, some visible signs to express their truth.

Between hexagrams 13 and 22, lines 4 and 5 will be moving.

‘Bestriding your city walls,
No-one is capable of attack.
Good fortune.’

This reminds me that Hexagram 13 isn’t just about the presence of harmony between people, but about the conditions and work that go into creating it. I think this line implies that when we are confident in our own boundaries, that sense of security prevents aggression all round. Whereas, I suppose, when we’re perpetually scared some raider might snatch away our affluence, or our economic supremacy (especially if we think this is who we are), we’re incapable of fellowship. The paired line with this one, 14.3, uses the same word, ‘capable’, to describe a difference in resourcefulness:

‘A prince makes the summer offering to the son of heaven.
Small people are in no way capable of this.’

The small people can’t think bigger, can’t make the altruistic gesture, can’t dedicate what they do to something higher. A moral failing, a matter of status, or just a question of resources available?

Then 13.5:

‘People in harmony first cry out and weep, then afterwards they laugh.
Great leaders direct their coming together.’

Against all plausibility, through emotional common ground, it can be done.