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Acceptance of an imperfect world

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Today’s I Ching – 50 – The Cauldron

Fire over Wind. The Cauldron follows Revolution.

 

Spirit explains: Revolutions are never an end of problems. War does not cause peace.

 

But, the most violent…?

 

If they lose…

 

So, what is the answer?

 

Life goes on.

 

But, surely that is not enough.

 

What more do you want?

 

A good life.

 

What is a good life?

 

Where people help each other.

 

People have always helped each other.

But, not everyone. So, what is the answer?

 

Life goes on.

 

What inspirational message can come from such a picture of life?

 

A personal one.

 

What?

 

Acceptance of an imperfect world.

 

 

 

 

 

Today could not exist without yesterday.

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I Ching 18 – Degeneration, follows Following in the order of

Life experiences represented by the hexagrams.

 

Spirit explains: Degeneration suggests loss of quality or value,

Whether due to neglect, obsolescence, change in fashion, or

Whatever. Society seems almost eager to discard what is not

Shiny and new.

 

Following expresses faithfulness to traditional lifestyles. This

Preservation of past traditions can create difficulties in

Adjusting to change.

 

How do we blend progress and tradition? Or, must we choose?

 

There can be no future without a past. When a branch becomes

Disconnected from its tree then it must be rooted or grafted

Onto another tree that has its roots firmly planted in the earth.

 

To completely disconnect from our past, if it was possible,

Would endanger our future. The past is the foundation of the

Present and the present is the foundation of the future. Today

Could not exist without yesterday. It’s as simple as that.

 

A dysfunctional relationship with Spirit

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Spirit tells me that He is aware of my mixed feelings concerning our

Relationship. He seems to be able to read my mind so there is

Nothing to be gained by my pretending that our relationship is a

Normal one when, in fact, it seems to border on dysfunctional.

Any psychologist worth her or his salt would surely agree with

My assessment.

 

But, for some strange reason I seem to be addicted to my ‘invisible

Friend’, as some have called Him. Why? God only knows how our

Separate energy systems became interconnected. I don’t know.

 

Perhaps someday He will tire of my simple mind and look for a more

Challenging one, or one more accepting of His claim to superiority in

All things.

 

It’s the ‘all things’ that I seem to need to challenge, not His teachings,

Which I highly respect. But, should a Spirit Teacher possess such an ego?

 

He counters my complaint with a deceivingly simple remark. If I allow myself

To have an ego then He will have one, too.

 

Might isn’t necessarily right

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My spirit teacher asks me what is the difference between us.

 

I am physical and you are not.

 

What does it mean to be physical?

 

It means I am trapped in a physical body.

 

Is that all?

 

No. You seem to know and understand much more than I do, but

That might be due to the heavy energy of my physical existence

Limiting my awareness.

 

Awareness of what?

 

Awareness of all the information that would help me understand

What life is, what my destiny is, what my role, if any, is, and what

I have done to be stuck in the mud of human society.

 

Can you accept me as a teacher and guide?

 

Yes. I do.

 

Then why do you seem to struggle with accepting my teachings?

 

I respect you and your teachings, but if your opinions don’t seem

To make sense to me then I suspect that you are testing my

Intelligence.

 

So, you accept my teaching as superior, only when it seems so to you?

 

How else?

 

Yes.

 

 

 

 

 

More or less is more than not at all.

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Spirit tells me, and I guess it’s true, that I seem to resist accepting

That some relationships may represent no win or win-lose situations.

 

But, He claims, no-win, or win-lose relationships are usually easier to

Slip out of than are win-win ones.

 

Why would anyone want to slip out of a win-win relationship?

 

Win-win relationships, at least on the surface, seem to serve

Everyone, more or less.

 

And, He adds, more or less may be preferable to not at all.

 

That’s it?

 

Yes, for now.

Obedience is not co-operation

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A spirit wisdom teacher explains I Ching 12 – Obstruction.

 

Obstruction follows Tranquility, or might, if might rules.

 

The construction of the hexagrams for Obstruction and Tranquility

Both present yang and yin energies as concentrated and opposed.

 

Tranquility expresses followers as being seemingly held in a high status.

But, the power remains concentrated in the leadership. Obstruction shows

A more or less reversed order. Leadership is on top, but only by suppression,

Which invites resistance.

 

Obedience is not co-operation. There is no sense of trust and each side feels

Alienated from the other. There must be a blending of energies for each to feel

Part of the solution.

 

Is this a political situation or one of relationship?

 

Yes, and an attitude one.

 

Why attitude?

 

Attitudes direct how we perceive whatever situation and how we perceive

Directs our action, or reluctance to act.

 

Could the situation apply to teacher and student …

 

Yes.

 

Then what is the solution?

 

Can we find common ground?

 

Some.

 

Yes, and some is a beginning.

 

 

 

 

Relationships provide a sense of connectedness

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Spirit tells me that relationships serve to provide us with a sense of

Connectedness, whether the connectedness is real or imagined.

 

What kind of relationships are we talking about?

 

Any kind.

 

Such as?

 

Intimate, personal but not intimate, casual, neighbourly, professional,

Physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, whatever, or a combination

Of some of the above.

 

Think about it? He asks me. How? What? and whom do I relate to? and

In what way?

 

Also, He adds, bear in mind that not everything or everyone I send my

Vibrating energy waves to, by choice or otherwise, is tuned into

Receiving them, or would care to tune in, if they were not now.

 

What made me think that relationships were less complicated than that?

 

A simple outlook on the outer world.

 

Are relationships with the inner world less complicated?

 

For whom?

 

Me.

 

No.

 

 

 

Saying it doesn’t make it so.

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Spirit tells me that, at a grass-roots level, compassion is as

Sophisticated a way as any to express genuine care.

 

Gentle words of love and caring serve a need, both to the

Giver and to the one receiving, but only when the words

Are supported by caring deeds can they at least seem

To be genuine expressions.

 

Compassion is a beautiful word that expresses a deep but

Simple emotion, genuine care for someone or something.

But, saying it is never enough. We need to support our

Caring words with caring actions.

 

I could still be pretending.

 

Yes.