Category Archives: I Ching

Double Pitfall is not facing problems

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Spirit’s daily advice, using the ancient I Ching style of thought to explain life, in which all situations are seen to develop out of and into other situations, in a more or less foreseeable pattern. Spirit seems to dismiss the trendy thought of living in the now. The now, He tells me, developed out of the past and will strongly impact on the future.

Today’s focus is on the concept of I Ching 29 – Double Pitfall. Problems cannot be faced, dealt with, or overcome until they are recognized, identified, and studied.

Double Pitfall suggests danger; possibly preventable danger, as a result of self-defeating thinking, avoidance, or lack of wisdom or courage to face and challenge difficulties before they develop into situations beyond our control.

How can this reading possibly relate to me?

It possibly relates to every one of us.

Ultimate Reality – Spirit’s I Ching 1 – The Creative

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Spirit explains I Ching – 1 – The Creative.

 

Heaven over Heaven, the ultimate reality, or, as it has been described,

As above, so below.

 

Nothing creates itself alone. Nothing sustains itself, alone. And, nothing

Destroys itself, alone.

 

What about Life?

 

What about it?

 

Who or what creates, sustains, or destroys …

 

Life is self-creating.

 

But, you said ..

 

Life is not a who or what.

 

Then what?

 

Ultimate reality.

I Ching Wisdom – Respect the visions of the timeless past

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Spirit explains I Ching 52 – Mountain.

 

Mountain follows Thunder and will be followed by Gradual Progress.

 

As the seasons of our life each follow the one that came before it,

So it is with each new generation of Seekers of the Way. We cannot

Be, see, or do as any other previous one.

 

We each see and understand as no-one else, if we dare to see from

Where we alone are, while respecting the visions of the elders,

Mentors, and teachers from the timeless past.

 

Wow! And the message for me?

 

Yes.

Discipline requires intent, purpose, and awareness.

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Today’s I Ching reading by Spirit.

 

I Ching 60 – Discipline, develops out of Dispersal (59) and moves

Toward Sincerity (61).

 

Spirit explains:  Discipline requires intent, purpose, and awareness of

The price of scattered energy. Those who do not develop self-discipline

Endanger themselves and their society.

 

Not everyone has intent and purpose, or more than limited awareness.

 

You are not everyone.

 

There are also those who would discipline others and organize them as

Followers of their leader’s purpose.

 

I am one of those.

 

Then, where is sincerity?

 

In my dedication to a purpose.

 

Which is?

 

Devotion to Life.

 

 

 

Awareness of Reality is Progress

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Spirit reads I Ching 53 – Gradual Progress.

 

Gradual Progress develops from Mountain (53) and moves toward

Marrying (54).

 

Spirit explains:  Mountains can seem to be as barriers, challenges,

Or as just part of the environment. They can be as beauty, in the eye

Of the beholder, and a pleasure to climb, or as an obstruction

To ignore, if possible.

 

How we see anything or anyone determines, or at least influences,

To some extent, our relationship with it or with them.

 

Awareness of this reality is progress along the way of enlightenment.

 

Where does Marrying fit into this picture?

 

We commit ourselves to Life, or we do not. It’s as simple as that.

 

If that is simple.

 

Yes.

 

Immaturity waits for Contention

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Today’s I Ching reading, for me, by Spirit. And, don’t ask me

What I did to deserve it. I don’t know.

 

Spirit explains: I Ching 5 – Waiting, develops from Immaturity,

And leads to Contention. Waiting suggests expectation of a future.

 

A future what?

 

Is the future a what?

 

Can we pretend that I didn’t ask?

 

It’s too late for that option.

 

Why?

 

Life moves forward and expands. It neither stops nor undoes

What has been done.

 

Then what or whom are we waiting for?

 

We are waiting for immaturity to meet contention and,

In the process, mature.

 

My immaturity?

 

Yes.

 

 

Immaturity waits for Contention

Posted on by under developing awareness, grass-roots ethics, I Ching, Uncategorized

Today’s I Ching reading, for me, by Spirit. And, don’t ask me what

I did to deserve it. I don’t know.

 

Spirit explains: I Ching 5 – Waiting, develops from Immaturity and

Leads to Contention. Waiting suggests expectation of a future.

 

A future what?

 

Is the future a what?

 

Can we pretend that I didn’t ask;?

 

It’s too late for that option.

 

Why?

 

Life moves forward and expands. It neither stops nor undoes

What has been done.

 

Then what or whom are we waiting for?

 

We are waiting for immaturity to meet contention and,

In the process, mature.

 

My immaturity?

 

Yes.

 

 

 

Stay Young in Your Thinking

Posted on by under developing awareness, grass-roots ethics, I Ching, Uncategorized

Today’s I Ching is Difficulty (3), developing out of The Receptive (2) and

Moving toward Immaturity (4).

 

Spirit explains: Water is above Thunder in the situation represented by

Hexagram 3, Difficulty. Water is unstable, while thunder consistently

Follows lightning.

 

Also, water must find its own level.  This is not a matter of thought or

Emotion. It is a law of nature, or water’s destiny.  Only in the forms of

Ice or snow can water remain above anything. Outside forces, such as

Sun, wind, or gravity move water where they will to.

 

Where does Immaturity fit into this picture?

 

Immaturity is a blessing.

 

How? And why?

 

Immature forms of life have more potential for growth than do

Older ones. Mature forms are less receptive to development.

 

The message?

 

Stay young in your thinking.

 

 

 

Trust in a Guiding Light

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Today’s I Ching hexagram 40 – Solution develops out of Halting (39), and

Leads to Reduction (41).

 

Spirit explains: Unless we stop and think about what we are doing, we risk

Mindless activity. We wander from the path, our path.

 

We need to reconnect, recommit, and redirect our focus and energy.

 

How?

 

Awareness of our goal and trust in a guiding light.

 

A metaphor for?

 

Me.

 

 

 

Endings change into beginnings.

Posted on by under developing awareness, grass-roots ethics, I Ching, Uncategorized

Spirit explains I Ching 64 – Unsettled.

 

Fire over Water represents an unsettled situation, both in nature and

In human relationships. This unstable condition is represented in the

Hexagrams with active and forceful Fire being a yin trigram, but

Emotional Water being a yang trigram.

 

How is it possible for Water to be yang, and Fire to be yin?

 

All forms of life contain a blend of the same energies contained in

All other life forms, to a greater or lesser degree. Yang represents

Creative and forceful, if necessary, energy, while yin represents

Receptive and nurturing energy, but also contains assertive power.

 

Neither yang nor yin is subservient to the other. They constantly

Interact to develop a harmonious relationship without either denying

Their own or the other’s individuality. Sometimes they necessarily

Seem to oppose each other and, at other times they blend

Harmoniously as one, or as close to oneness as they each feel

Comfortable with.

 

So, even though Fire and Water could cancel each other out, they are

Aware that doing so would be self-destructive?

 

Yes. This awareness is a very appropriate setting for Unsettled, the 64th

And ending Hexagram. It sets the stage for the interactive cycle of life

To begin again, without ever having actually ended, with Hexagram 1,

The Creative.