Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s focus is on I Ching 1 – The Creative.
Heaven is over Heaven. Each alone represents
the sum total, and the source, of all power.
Together they can each be no more, or less.

The essence of all life expresses itself
in countless forms and non-forms. All energy
is creative, and energy is the essence of
all forms of life.

Aspects of creativity include origination,
development, perfection, and consummation.

Consummation refers to the creative act of
dissolving whatever has been created. A cycle
has been completed and now the energy or essence
of whatever was created will be used for some
other purpose. A new cycle begins. We move on.
We move on, but not necessarily forward.

What does that say to me, now that I have
left a stressful chapter in my life?
Where do I go from here?

You turn the page…

Our simple seeker was meditating on, or was she
just thinking about, her next year’s garden.

Why not just call it planning?

Planning has to develop out of …

Out of what?

Awareness of what is, and what it is that is
pleasing about what is, and what is not, and,
given the limits of a small garden area, what
might be even more pleasing than was pleasing
this past season.

Also, there is a yearly chore of restricting
the space that existing plants can expand
into.

And attacking those who have spread beyond
their allotted area?

Attacking sounds violent.

Is there a gentle way to cut them back?

I have tried restricting their spread
by placing patio stones between them, but …

Their roots find a way to reach under and ..

Yes. Then I cut them back. But it doesn’t
work.

What does?

Digging up the whole clump…

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

The situation that we now must cope with on our
journey through life is represented by
Hexagram 19 – Overseeing.

Overseeing follows Degeneration and moves into
Observation. This may seem to suggest
a more-or-less orderly sequence of situations
through the sixty-four hexagrams, but life
was never designed to move seamlessly, or
smoothly for long periods of time.
Seasons progress in a predetermined order
but each Spring is in some way unique, as
is each of the yearly seasons.

And so it is with our individual lives.
We may encounter a regular progression of
situations but we must be alert to their
potential for uniqueness.

Since nothing can happen without preconditions
for its happening, nature always provides us with
early warning signs of imminent danger, if we
would listen. But, we grow complacent when life
is moving smoothly, forgetting that nothing
is without limits, or potential…

Our simple seeker was meditating on the concept of
reverse transcendence.

How did that idea get into your mind?

I don’t know. Perhaps you put it there.

For what purpose?

Perhaps to inform me of the topic of today’s lesson.

How would you explain reverse transcendence?

In traditional yoga practice the mind of the student
and that of her teacher become interconnected.

Where does reverse transcendence fit into such
a situation.

As the student absorbs more and more of her teacher’s
understanding …

Understanding and not wisdom?

Are they not the same?

Yes. Go on.

Then her own wisdom or awareness expands, as she
absorbs some of his.

Does she transcend her own mind?

No. An overlap, as in the process of paradigm shifts,
develops between the student’s mind and that of
her teacher’s.

Duality becomes one?

Not totally.

So, she absorbs his energy without losing her own?

Perhaps our…

Spirit shares I Ching Wisdom.

Today, the situation that we encounter
along our journey through Life is
expressed by Hexagram 33- Withdrawal.

Withdrawal follows Constancy, and
moves toward or into Great Power.

How can withdrawal lead to any power,
let alone great power?

What does it mean to withdraw and,
from what?

Constancy suggests steadiness;
not easily moved.

It can also suggest patience; waiting
until opportunity presents itself.

Then, opportunity comes from without?

Yes.

But, awareness of it comes from within.

Yes. WE can plan and prepare to execute
our plans, even during times unfavorable
to acting on them.

A farmer plans what he will plant before
the season of planting arrives. Then,
weather conditions being favorable,
he puts into action plans that needed
only an opportunity to carry through.

Where does Great Power enter into
the picture?

The power comes from within; self-control,
patience, planning, and the courage
to…

Our simple seeker was meditating on The Ace of Swords,
the Tarot card she had randomly selected to direct
her focus on relationship issues of today.

The Ace of Swords represents the full range of
intellectual capacities and potentials.

Then, simple common sense would be a form of, or
a prerequisite to higher levels of intellectual
development.

What would connect them to each other?

Perhaps different levels of awareness.

Are they related as you and I are?

If common sense is a prerequisite of intelligence …

And it both is and is not.

How is that possible?

What is common sense?

An instinctive or intuitive knowing.

Are they the same?

What?

Instinct and intuition.

Is one more primitive?

Primitive?

More basic in that it developed prior
to the other.

As in emotion and intellect?

Instinct and intuition may be more closely
connected to each other.

In what way?

Perhaps intuition…

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s experience through our journey of human existence
is described by hexagram 28 – Great Surpassing.

A Bodhisattva vows to walk the path of enlightenment
again and again, to serve as a guide and companion
to those who would, and could, with a little help,
follow the middle way through life.

Why is this experience called Great Surpassing?

Great rivers can be crossed without great effort
if one is aware, patient and willing to proceed,
one step at a time, when circumstances are
favorable for doing so.

There are seasons when rivers rise, and other seasons
when rivers flow more slowly and the channel narrows.
Also, there are times of calm between storms,
when travel is easier and the journey more pleasant.

Then, Great Surpassing can refer to a stress-free way
to walk The Path of Enlightenment?

Yes. There is no reward for speed. In…

Our simple seeker had randomly chosen and was now studying
her daily personal relationship card, The King of Wands.
This authority figure presented as having a firm grip on power.

Is it possible?

Is what possible?

To possess a firm grip on authority?

He seems ready to do battle to maintain it, and beneath his
royal robes he wears a body suit of armour.

Then he rules with an iron grip?

Wands are wood, but he does seem prepared, and yet ..

And yet?

Something in his posture and facial expression suggests
a willingness to listen to reason.

Does he remind you of me?

Not at all.

Why?

Wands express action.

And teachers do not?

Not in a physical sense.

Intellectual development has physical results.

How?

Everything you do, say, or think is an expression of
intellectual development.

Wow!

Does that mean you agree?

No.

Then what?

It means that…

Spirit shares I Ching wisdom.

Today’s experience along the way is expressed by
Hexagram 50 – The Cauldron. Fire is above Wind.

Wind would certainly agitate Fire. But, why is
the situation referred to as a cauldron?

The sixth or top line is yang, and is as a lid,
while the first, or bottom line is yin, and is
as a pair of legs that form the base of the body
of the pot.

So yang keeps a lid on yin?

Yes. Intellect must rule over emotion.

Another Universal Law?

Yes.

But, it doesn’t make sense.

In what way?

How could yang do anything without yin?

It cannot.

Then, why must intellect rule emotion?

Intellect rules emotion only in the sense
that …

It has more sense?

That, too.

So, if intellect rules and yet can do nothing
of value …

It can do nothing, period, without yin;
of value…

Spirit explains the I Ching hexagram 61 – Sincerity.

Sincerity follows Discipline in the sequential order
of events and situations experienced along the I Ching
Way to enlightenment.

When discipline and sincerity travel together within
the mind of the seeker of wisdom and truth, then
progress is certain.

What if they’re both going down the wrong road?

Then, progress is still assured.

Then, discipline and sincerity are not sufficient
to progress in the desired direction?

Yes, they are not.

What else is required?

Awareness.

Of what?

Not of what?

Where?

Yes.

Then, a map and a guide are required?

Yes.

My mind would resist.

Why?

A certain sense of personal responsibility for choices
of directions taken or forms of discipline accepted
and followed would require me to question myself and
any teacher, regardless of how much I might admire her
or him.

Yes, and that is as it should be.