Comments on whole hexagrams, individual lines and so on
There seem to be two distinct streams of ideas flowing in Hexagram 49, Radical Change. First, it’s arguably the apex, along with Hexagram 50, of the great historical narrative of the Zhou conquest. ‘Radical Change puts away the old; the Vessel grasps renewal.’ The old regime is overthrown here; the… Read more »The nature of Radical Change
Hexagram 18, line 5: ‘Ancestral father’s corruption. Use praise.’ So how is praise in any way helpful in dealing with corruption? Hexagram 18 is one of those whose lines seem to have a reasonably clear progression, starting with taking on responsibility for and ‘ownership of’ the inherited corruption, and moving… Read more »Using praise
When I cast a reading for the week, sometimes I find the reading tells me about the week; sometimes I find the week tells me about the reading. And usually it’s some mix of the two. This last week Yi suggested I look out simply for Hexagram 10 – no… Read more »Hexagram 10 and the experience of divination
The Judgement of Hexagram 62 reads: ‘Small overstepping, creating success. Harvest in constancy. Allows small works, does not allow great works. Flying bird calls as it leaves: The above is not right, below is right. Great good fortune.’ The flying bird brings a message; this is something that birds do,… Read more »What is the bird’s message?
Yesterday some Change Circle members went on a remarkable inner journey, visiting a Lake and a Mountain, receiving some unexpected gifts. (Thank you, Kevin, who guided the guided imagery.) Change Circle members can access the recording from our home page; if you’d like to join us for future explorations, you… Read more »Lake reflections
I didn’t learn to swim until I was ten. I’m told that when I was first put into a pool, at age 4 or so, I screamed at the top of my lungs until I could get out again. The teacher would grab other children by the hands and whirl… Read more »Hexagram 29 and learning to swim
One of the things we Westerners need to learn when divining with the Yijing is a certain flexibility about gender. Women need to be able to identify with a series of male kings and heroes (Kings Wen and Wu, Yu the Great, King Hai…), to say nothing of finding a… Read more »Constancy of the woman
