Response to Michelle

Hi Michelle, and everyone else. I haven't delved into the nuclear hexagrams too much, I just haven't had the time, but I will digress here to make a couple of points, or at least throw something out there for discussion. Before I comment too much on that though, I would like to say that there are a number of hexagrams that give us specific information about unity, and about relationships. The following list is not all inclusive but will give some examples. Before I give examples though, understand that these hexagrams are not exclusively about unity or relationships, it is just a primary subject within them. Hexagram eight tells us that men find unity on the basis of common experiences. Hexagram thirteen tells us that in order to have true fellowship, in must get rid of distrust. Hexagram forty five tells us that in order to unite, the leader must be collected within himself. On another level this means that there has to be a central point around which the group unites. In terms of male female relationships, hexagram thirty one counsels us that good relationships are not based on lust or ulterior motives. Hexagram thirty two teaches us that to be able to continue a relationship, we must make sure that we are stable within ourselves, and that we "do not change direction." Hexagram fifty three advises us to not try to rush into a relationship as that would just scare the other person away, a relationship must be based on a coming together that each day takes another step in familiarizing ourselves with one another, getting to know one another. And hexagram fifty four counsels us that "we must remain constantly mindful of the end." In doing so ones relationships do not get shipwrecked by the inevitable forces of life that tend to tear people apart.

Hexagram sixty one also involves unity, but here the emphasis in not on male female relationsips, although that applies here too, but on the natural law of inner attraction that brings together those of like kind. Now this applies to male female relationships as well, but the idea here is the bringing together of those that belong together for any given purpose. One can look at hexagram fifty nine for further example of this. In hexagram fifty nine, disparate elements are dissolved to make way for elements that belong together. This is natural law, and is beyond the pale of conscious control.

All of that being said, back to the nuclear hexagram, twenty seven, we have the concept of nourishment. Now there are a number of hexagrams that counsel specifically on nourishment as well, the ones first coming to mind are hexagram five, which in essence counsels us to wait for the nourishment of heaven, (that which naturally befalls us), hexagram twenty seven, which counsels us to pay attention to where we receive our nourishment, and what kind of nourishment we are wanting to receive, hexagram forty eight, which counsels us to draw from the deep well, of our inner self, and hexagram fifty, which counsels us to nourish those who help us with the fostering of growth. An oversimplification, and perhaps I have not used the best wording, but you get the idea. Anyway, back to the nuclear hexagram, in the process of bringing those together who belong together, there is perforce an element of nourishment in the sense that those who are mutually and naturally attracted to each other, will be mutually responsive to the needs of each other. But in order to be responsive naturally to the needs of each other, there must be an emptiness of heart, open to the other person. Unless there is an emptiness, or openness ofr heart, we become somewhat like the person in hexagram thirteen, line three, where the fellowship has changed to mistrust. And in the latter line, it can be readily seen that the one who mistrusts, becomes untrustworthy. The nuclear of hexagram twenty seven is hexagram two. In hexagram two the Sage, spirit, the I Ching counsels us to be receptive. Receptivity and devotion are two big keywords for hexagram two. The more we have "like kind" coming together, the more natural it is to trust and be trusted. When like kind comes together, there is mutual trust and mutual receptivity. Back to the initial nuclear, hexagram twenty seven, we look at the two trigrams, (which is more the way I look at nuclears, when I do) we have below movement, and above rest. Therefore we have the whole cycle, and Wilhelm Baynes, in the commentary in book three says about the hexagram as a whole, and then a word about the nuclear, "The eldest and the youngest daughter are together here in their proper positions, (like attracting like) hence mutual trust is not disturbed. The attributes of the trigrams are well harmonized. Gentleness is above, joyousness below, and the nuclear trigrams are rest and movement. Moreover, the entire structure of the hexagram is very harmonious and symetrical, the yielding lines are within, and the firm without." With the eldest daughter with the youngest daughter, we have like attracting like, and in the nuclear, with the eldest son and the youngest son, we have like attracting like, and in the nuclear nuclear hexagram, we have yin and yin, like attracting like. The emptiness of the central two lines shows the emptiness and receptivity of a heart free of prejudices. Hexagram twenty seven has a similar structure with yielding within, and firmness without.