A simple but sincere seeker of a higher level of
personal spiritual development somehow came under
the influence of a spirit guru whose understanding
of life seemed to be …

What do you mean by “seemed to be”?

Perhaps I don’t yet know what the limits of my own
understanding of life really are.

How is it possible not to know your own limits?

Perhaps I’ve been socially conditioned to accept less
of myself and my capacity for thought than possibly
exists.

Why would that have happened?

Not necessarily through the failure of anyone’s intent
to teach me, unless …

Unless what?

Parents and early educators usually seek to serve the best
interests of the community when teaching children what
to think and how to relate to their world.

Wouldn’t it be in the best interests of the community
for children to be taught as much about life as they

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom
expressed within the I Ching Hexagram 33 – Withdrawal.

Heaven is above and Mountain is below. Both express
yang energy.

Withdrawal develops out of Constancy (32) in the order
of the hexagrams, and forms the foundation for
Great Power (34).

Withdrawal from battle is not necessarily to retreat.
A proven and respected martial arts strategy requires
knowing when to resist the temptation to advance when
such advance seems unwise, at this time. To withdraw,
re-group, and prepare to move forward when opportunity
presents itself, requires wisdom.

A need for time out?

Who is teaching whom?

You are, I hope.

And who seems to need time out?

You?

No.

Our simple seeker was enjoying the privacy of her secluded
garden, while meditating on the mystery of Tarot.

How did you manage to move your focus from The Hermit, as a
solitary seeker of enlightenment to comparing Aces?

The Major Arcana, which includes The Hermit, relates to
general personality characteristics, while …

Did I ask…?

The Aces introduce each of the four suits of the Minor Arcana,
and offer a sacred gift – a promise, almost.

How could a gift or promise be sacred and still be no more
than an almost?

It’s not for sale; at least it can’t be purchased.

Then, how does one receive a gift that isn’t free and yet
can’t be purchased?

It’s a promise of reward if effort is made to follow one’s
dream or path, and is meant to inspire self-confidence.

How does Taro differ from I Ching?

You’re asking me?

Yes.

From…

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom
expressed within the I Ching Hexagram 21 – Biting Through.

Fire is above and Thunder is below, suggesting a problematic
situation requiring intention to respond to whatever
challenge presents itself.

Biting Through develops out of Observing (20) and becomes
the foundation of Adornment (22).

Wow! Each of these three situations or conditions seems
totally unrelated to the other two. How can there be any
sense of progression?

There isn’t any.

Then, how are they connected to each other?

When we observe whatever, we focus our attention, and that
in itself is a necessary step in learning anything. But, as
important as it is, it is never enough. We must then attempt
to understand what it is that we observe, and why it has
attracted our attention. This requires a mental form of
biting through.

Where does Adornment fit into this interpretation?

It’s…

Our simple seeker was meditating on possible differences
between the concepts of initiation and transformation, and,
if in fact …

If there were differences, then what would they be?

I’ve been asking myself that question.

Sometimes it helps when an outside …

You’re hardly an outside voice.

How do you know?

I can feel your thought.

Singular?

A single energy.

Perhaps we’re each and all part of a single energy.

Perhaps, but …

Perhaps but what?

How does that relate to, if it does, the differences,
if there are any, between initiation and transformation?

Even as you ask, I sense awareness developing within you.

You might have pulled a curtain back.

From within you or from within your mind?

Is there a difference?

No, none at all.

Our simple seeker was meditating on her Spirit teacher’s explanation
Of their relationship. He didn’t need physical existence or human form,
He told her.

Why?

I use you as ballast, to connect to your particular world of illusion.

If my world is one of illusion and I can, reluctantly accept that it is,for it often seems to be, then others, or at least some others
must also be living in a personal world of illusion.

Yes. The soundless answer moved into her mind as her inkless
communicating pen moved as His energy, not hers, directed it,
in unison across the page. We each seem to intuitively know that
our so-called individual world is intricately connected to everyone
else’s world, even though surface appearances deny this reality.

Only on the surface do our individual worlds of illusion appear
to be separate. Beneath this illusion there is a common root
that holds…

Spirit shares His understanding of the timeless wisdom
expressed within the I Ching Hexagram 18 – Degeneration.

Degeneration follows Following (17) and develops into
Overseeing (19).

Mountain (yang) is over Wind (yin).

Isn’t that curious?

That yang is above yin? or that Wind is below Mountain?

Neither.

Then, what is curious.

The construction of the hexagram.

What about the construction of the hexagram?

Mountain contains one yang holding down two yin
while Wind contains one yin holding up two yang.

It doesn’t work that way.

Then, how does it work?

Life works at its finest when we learn to care for
others; even those who seem to oppress us.

Where does Degeneration fit into this concept
of life.

The second line is yang and the fifth line is yin.
The fifth line is the line of leadership and having
a complement on the second line provides for a sharing
of…

Our simple seeker has returned home. It was time out.
Even Spirit seemed to approve of family time.

She was worried that she might; no, she new she didn’t
have the power or will to totally disconnect from Spirit.
And she knew that He knew it, too.

Another thought seemed to suggest itself; that the very
close relationship – could it be described as intimate?
Whatever …

Spirit closed off her train of thought, as if it had been
as pouring from a kitchen tap. Our simple seeker was,
as always, impressed by Spirit’s power to control, at least
to some extent, her thinking. But, she complained to herself,
my mind is not as a water tank.

What were you thinking about.

I can’t remember, exactly. Yes, now I do, about our
relationship.

Yes. You were not considering it as of high value.

She was suddenly shaken. Somehow she must…