Seeing with Rose Colored Glasses

Having received hexagram twenty one a few times lately, I thought I would spend a little more time getting familiar with the inner meaning. For as those who have followed this blog know, I am not so much into doing "readings" as I am finding out the esoteric and more spiritual meanings of the hexagrams, and how they relate to my life, and how they can teach me.

I find that in Carol Anthony's books she has put together a very nice detailing of some meanings of hexagram twenty one. Therefore I cannot say too much because it would appear I were copying her work. The only thing about Carol Anthony's work is that I think she puts a little too much emphasis on "our inferiors," and yet not really. I would just describe it a little differently.

Here is the thing about hexagram twenty one. It talks about laws and punishments, but who is punishing who and why, and how much? For what? Well, one thing Carol Anthony says is, "it is not our job to punish, that is a job for the Cosmos." But often, many people, many immature, surmise that the meaning is that there is a God up there who strikes us down out of anger when we doing something He doesn't like. This is a misunderstanding. Punishment fits the crime, and it is not dished out by anyone, but the laws of the universe, (just like the laws of gravity) are inclined towards a "what goes around comes around" nature.

But why laws? Isn't the universe just the result of a big bang, by accident, and people just the result of an accidental coming together of chemicals which create consciousness? Well, that is what a lot of people believe. But they are wrong. And I say that as matter of factly as I can. They are wrong. Period. End of discussion. It isn't one belief versus another, it is truth versus fiction. I can't stress that enough.

So the universe has natural laws associated with it, no different than the law of gravity. But gravity has a purpose. In the same way the laws of karma have a purpose. These laws are long term and often involve multiple lifetimes so it seems to us in our finite wisdom to not operate. But it does. And there is one goal for the laws of karma. And that is to bring about unity, love, and compassion for all creatures. Now that being said, some people do not belong together. That does not mean however, that there cannot be harmony among them, they just don't interact.

Why are we separated? One reason is we don't have the same perception of reality that our neighbors do. So we have conflict, with each person thinking they are in the right. So which one is in the right? All we have is our perceptions, but often our perceptions are faulty. So we think the other is to blame, and they think we are. Who is right and who is wrong? It appears it would be best to let the Cosmos decide. None of us have a claim on ultimate maturity. We see with rose colored glasses. As the ancient saying goes, "Now we see as in a glass darkly, but then we shall see the full light."

It is our nature, as we perceive ourselves to be in the right, to try to punish the other person. But that just comes from our ego. And it may be ourselves who are really blind to the light. So in hexagram twenty one line one, we receive a mild punishment, not to "get" us, but the punishment is simply to put us on the right path. But we will not get on that path if we do not have the ability to see our own culpability in the situation, or at the least, allow the Cosmos to inform us as to who is right or wrong. Or does it even matter? In this was, we can detach ourselves from the situation that is causing grief, and allow it to be worked out the way it is supposed to work out, and thus, finally achieving ultimate unity, or at least a "just and valid view of our fellow man." Hatred and fear are dissipated, (see hexagram fifty nine) and we achieve that which we had hoped for, or at least diminish the prospects of the situation getting worse.

There is a lot that can be said about hexagram twenty one, and hopefully more can be said soon.

Contrasting Yin and Yang

In the I Ching hexagram one relates to the primordial yang power and tends to describe it. It is easy to just look at the commentary on the two hexagrams to get an idea of how opposite they are. But it is necessary to go beyond the obvious to get a really good idea of just how each operates.

It is obvious that hexagram one describes yang energy and hexagram two describes yin. But the depth of difference is not apparent without some critical analysis of the text. It is more obvious that yang is strong, yin is weak, (relatively speaking). It is obvious that yang is heaven and yin is earth. It quickly becomes clear that yang is more masculine and yin more feminine. However, what makes that so? And where does heaven begin and earth depart. If you climb the highest mountain, are you in heaven? If you descend into the lowest part of the earth are you more earth? All these things have to be defined and yet they cannot be defined because yang is only yang in relation to something that is yin, And yin is only yin in relationship to something that is yang. So is the earth yang or yin? We have to be careful about precise labels. In relationship to the sun the earth would be yin, but in relationship to the moon the earth would be yang. So which is it? By itself it is nothing. It is neither yin nor yang. So we have to get beyond absolutes and think in terms of relationships.

But back to the point. There is more about yin and yang than what first meets the eye. Sometimes the commentary does not clearly make mention of certain truths but it is there if we know how to properly integrate portions of the text. So, hexagram one line one, which is pure yang, points to a situation where a situation is not ready to develop yet. Why not? It is still at its incipient stages. (Almost sounds kind of yin, does it not?) But develop it will, if we bide our time. (Bide our time) Aha! another aspect of the yang nature, time. The point is that evolution is taking place here. Something is growing, and though the "TIME" isn't right, it is evolving into that stage that is right. So what do we conclude about yang energy. First, that it is a strong, and growing force. It is the power of evolution. So what about yin? Well, let's look at the first line of the second hexagram. It says, "When there is hoarfrost underfoot, solid ice is not far off." What is happening here? The forces of involution are taking place, rather than waiting here for the draconian energy to evolve, we are watching a devolution. We are watching what once was of value, degenerate into something less useful. So we can conclude, yang energy is evolution, yin energy is involution. What are we taught in the last two hexagrams of the I Ching. First, we have number sixty three, where all the lines are in their correct place. But what happens when everything is correct? It cannot be permanently maintained. And things deteriorate until in hexagram sixty four, all lines are in their incorrect places? Evolution proceeds and the lines eventually end up in their proper places and everything is correct again. Hence we have eternal change, except that the principle, the core, never changes, (see hexagrams thirty one and thirty two.) Therefore all things in the universe are eternally in the process of either involution, or evolution.

Now note that in the first two hexagrams evolution is mentioned first, in hexagram one, and involution second, in hexagram two. But in the last two hexagrams the order is reversed. We first have involution, and then evolution. There are far reaching speculations that could go with this, but enough for now. By comparing line with line, we come up with deeper aspects of the I Ching. We also do so by analyzing its structure, and by looking deeper into the context and the sequence.

It's been so long

It's been so long since I have done anything, I have forgotten a good portion about the I Ching that I used to know, and so I am starting over, so to speak from scratch. It is also a long time since I have posted here. Now I have my heart set on publishing a book about the I Ching, but it may take more time, even years, to publish than there is time for, not only because I am getting older, but because war between the United States and Russia is now almost inevitable. We are truly in the end times. Of course, I am sure I have also lost a lot of my readership base since I post so intermittently. I am interested in too many things, and have a hard time keeping up with half of them. Not only am I interested in the I Ching, but in Gnostic and Esoteric Christianity. In Buddhism and Hinduism. In Taoism and Tai Chi Chuan. In astrology and to a lesser extent numerology and gematria. It is so unfortunate that as humans we only have so much time because all of those subjects are extremely important and they need to be integrated, but how is that possible?

So, in the first line of hexagram one, a nine in the first, it says that a great man is still unrecognized. On one level the I Ching is talking about itself. The I Ching itself is in a sense the great man, or at least, the great teacher, the great law giver, the great dispenser of wisdom. And how much of that do we recognize even if we think we already know the I Ching. At the same time all of us probably feel that we have an area of expertise that goes unrecognized by and large. And we probably feel so rightly. For how can we get our message out to others? No matter how great or how valuable our message is the majority of the people will not be able to get to your message as they have their own area of interest, and are limited as we all are, by time. It is only when we start making effects in the outer world, ( the nine in the second of hexagram one) that people sit up and take notice. When what we produce shows itself to be of benefit. Therefore we have to be patient. And we have to study and constantly increase our own knowledge base in order to pass that knowledge, the part which is of real value anyway, to others.

If we are unrecognized, then our message is not ready to go out to the world. And in the same way, if the value of the I Ching is not recognized, it cannot be properly used. The I Ching is a deep well. It has a reservoir of knowledge and wisdom that cannot possibly be fully tapped even in several lifetimes. As such, it cannot be fully recognized even if it is partially recognized. We must each do our own work. We must 'chop wood and carry water.' And only when our necessities are provided for can we sit and take the time to intuit deep wisdom. But until the depths of the I Ching is recognized, it is only a well where one, "shoots fish." The first line of each hexagram represents a beginning step. But in the first hexagram the beginning step is the most beginning of all steps because at first we have not even recognized that there is a step to be taken. As such no important actions can be taken here because we are not even aware of our situation, and any step we take may lead to the chasm, (hexagram twenty nine). So here we do not act. Because any action would be born of naivete, and we can be destroyed by the hidden dragon.

Gaining stability

Hexagram forty five line one indicates a person who is inconsistent. And when we are inconsistent in our lives then we receive inconsistent results. It is a matter so to speak of karma. Often we are inconsistent because we have not figured out who we truly are. In Carol Anthony’s books she is constantly talking about our inferiors. Here they are more likely to be called our lower self. There are many aspects of our low self and they often fight for supremacy. Some of us are far more moody than others, but pretty much everybody has swings. It is a matter of finding out who we truly are – what our real nature truly is, and then being true to ourselves. Therefore, when we call out to our Higher Self, we become more in touch with the real person inside. Coming into harmony with our real nature, our real person, our real self, can lead to a greater self- assurance and a greater harmony within. The commentary says “We should attach ourselves to this leader.” Without leadership in our lives, without Self direction, we are rudderless, and we crash upon the rocks of the shore. As the commentary in the W/B version of hexagram seventeen, line five says, “Every person must have something he or she follows – something that serves as a lodestar.” Our higher self is our lodestar. It is the higher self that guides us through life’s deepest valleys and highest peaks. When we are firmly entrenched with this leader our lives find purpose and continuity. We are no longer dashed by the waves of the sea. As Jesus calmed the storm on the sea of Galilee, so our lives become calm and peaceful.

Hexagram thirty four also has at least a secondary theme of the need for stabilization. When we come into power there is a temptation to immediately use it, but unless we are stable using that power may backfire on us. Once again we must have a firm guide, and a center or a leader around which we gather. On one level that leader is our own Higher Self. If we are not centered within ourselves, our power brings out our instability. No matter how strongly built a pyramid may be, if it is upside down, it topples.

Finally, hexagram forty six line two, teaches us how to become centered within and able to “touch the hand” of the leader, or our Higher Self. The commentary in W/B says, “Being upright in character, he meets with response.” We refine ourselves, and refine ourselves, as much as we can. Then we become a “tool for the master,” that he/she can use to correct us, give us instruction, (hexagram four) and teach who we truly are and who we were truly meant to be. 

Large readings

I have been very, very busy lately, and have not done much with the I Ching or written here. In spite of that, I have noticed very wide peaks in the readership from day to day. On April 13^th there were 227 readers. This really puzzles me. It has been as high as a hundred before, but even that is rare. Generally it averages about twenty to thirty per day. Some days there are very few. So I am a little nonplussed. But that is alright. I hope readers have the right reason for reading, and want to learn something.

I am also very aggrieved due to the lateness of the time, as it has been in mainstream news lately, including the New York Times, that the government intends to start microchipping EVERYONE by the year 2017. The reason this can happen is that there is a major and almost magical deception that has been created by the powers that be. Make no mistake about it. The world governments are deeply involved in deception, and misinformation for the public. If this happens, if we are all microchipped by 2017, humanity as we know it, is over. This has been my focus and my concern. It is time for people to wake up. I hope to post on the I ching later today.

Net Neutrality

There is a law being proposed called Net Neutrality. If it passes I will likely no longer be on the internet, because costs are likely to increase dramatically. Also, there is nothing neutral about it. It is a backdoor means of controlling the web, and stopping free speech. Let's hope this bill doesn't pass anytime soon. It will pass eventually for sure.

Inner Truth, Stability, and Preparedness

It seems to me that hexagram sixty one explores the heart of the I Ching, or more certainly, well, everything. (For the I ching is, in a very real sense, everything.) And even though line one usually depicts a situation which precedes the meaning of the heart of the hexagram, here it gets significant quickly. Bear with me here, I know the preceding is not the best English, yet I think it works.

Bear in mind here, first of all, that as hexagram sixty one relates to the fundamental principles of attraction, (on both the physical level, and on the spiritual level, also on the electro-magnetic level), it becomes key to everything that has been discussed throughout this blog, whether the discussion is the I Ching, or some other metaphysical or spiritual principle. It is the key to understanding, well, everything. (For is we really analyze all parts of reality, we can only come to one conclusion). Everything works together in harmony with everything else.

Of course, we cannot deny that electro-magnetic attraction has a polar principle as well. In other words, things can repel as well as attract. (yin and yang) That is why not all people are attracted to all other people. However, repelling energy does not have to mean hatred, disrespect, or even negativity. It simply means that those repelled are simply not part of our life path, and there is not a correspondence of association, just as the first and third, or fifth, or sixth lines of a hexagram do not NORMALLY have a correspondence of association. And depending on the text and the nature of the hexagram, they may or may not have an antipathy toward each other, they simply don’t correspond.) The laws of correspondence in NORMAL situations is that the first and fourth lines correspond, the second and fifth, and the third and sixth. They also often have an association with the lines next to them as well, such as the second with the first or the third, or the fourth with the third or the fifth, and so on. Enough said about that.

But the Wilhelm/Baynes commentary on the first line of hexagram sixty one states, “The force of inner truth (the law of correspondence) depends chiefly on inner stability and preparedness.” Think about this statement for a moment, (And in this particular discussion please be aware that there may be more to learn here than just what the words are saying. If we correspond to inner truth, we might find something substantial that goes just beyond the words and concepts themselves.) The more we examine ourselves, the more we examine our motives, and the more we become clear within ourselves as to our real nature, the more the power of “Inner Truth” (law of correspondence) works within us to attract things and people into our lives that are beneficial to us on a higher level. The more also we become attuned, (correspond) to our own higher self and the spiritual laws that govern our life. The more likely we are to attract a life partner that corresponds with the higher functions of our inner nature. The more we are likely to attract someone that is at least close to being a soul mate than when we are not mentally and emotionally prepared to correspond with that which is best for us. The more likely we are to be attracted to a book or a video, or a website that will have information in it that prepares us even further for “inner stability” and “preparedness.” We must prepare ourselves to attract the more positive things in life.

Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, our young people are not being prepared in high school or college to meet the more mature aspects of the inner and outer world. They are spoon fed information that will help them get good jobs when they get out of school, but that will not help them mature or become more rounded individuals. They do not have “inner stability.”

Enough said for the moment, more on this later, for it is a deep subject, much like the well in hexagram forty eight. 

The Shemitah

Well, I have been away for too long. I, however, do not know what to write. It is not that I do not have material, it is just that I don’t know how to present it. I do not intend for this to be a religious forum, and yet, the very nature of any discussion of the I Ching, Buddhism, or esoteric Christianity creates a situation in which that aspect cannot be fully avoided.

Lately I have been very, very absorbed in the study of end-times eschatology. People have been thinking it is the end-times for centuries, and in a way, each group was right, except for any “rapture” ideas. The rapture is an idea I don’t think is totally real. (But it could be.) All the end-times prophecies, or at least most of them, came true for the Jewish world in 70 CE. The Romans squelched a rebellion brutally and the Jewish people who survived were scattered throughout the world. World Wars one and two could also be interpreted as an end-times event because most of the world was engulfed in war and millions died. One thing not understood about prophecy is that time is cyclic, it is NOT linear. Oh yeah, I know this flies in the face of obvious interpretations of time, but it is nevertheless true. Prophecy is repeatedly fulfilled. It is the nature of reality.

This time it may be a little more disastrous however. The world as we know it will not continue much longer. It is very likely that the United States will soon be destroyed, or at the very least become somewhat more insignificant in world affairs. This may be true for several nations. It may be true as well for China, Iran, Russia, and others.

I would recommend that everyone become familiar with the Jewish, (or Torahish) concept of the Shemitah. This is related to the cyclic laws of years. In other words, every seventh day is a Sabbath. Every seventh year is a yearly Sabbath. This can be also called the Shemitah. After forty nine years there is a jubilee year. The idea is that every seventh year, if the laws relating to allowing the land to rest, so that it could restore itself, and the laws relating to the forgiveness of all debts, was not followed, then disaster was to follow. (I may not have described this absolutely correctly, but I think the general idea of the Shemitah is correct.) In America, the stock market tends to fall significantly every seven years, always in the seventh month of the Jewish SACRED year, which is late September or October. Some crashes were worse than others. Most people have no way of knowing which years will be worse, but some may know, but belong to esoteric societies which keeps their knowledge secret. That we cannot know. To get to the point now, 2015 is a Shemitah year, and as best as can be surmised, 2016 is a Jubilee year. The American stock market crashed significantly in 2008, the previous Shemitah. It also crashed in 2001 right after the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. We can go back further and see a significant trend. Every seven years… Will this one be worse? Remember, the Jewish Civil, year, which starts in late September, normally, as I understand it anyway, is this year a Shemitah, and next year a Jubilee year, in which freedom was proclaimed throughout the land. As the old blessing goes, “May you live in interesting times.” We certainly do. It can be frightening, or it can be exciting, depending on your perspective, but I would suggest that people be ready for Any event.

New Age, New World Order, What Have You

Well, I haven't been able to post much because so much is happening in the world right now, and I can't even begin to keep up with the information that is coming my way. But I want to take a moment to brush up on some things, not necessarily on the I Ching right at the moment, but on the state of the World.

Before I get into it I want to say that I am greatly appreciative of the fact, that even though I haven't written for a while, the readership has gone up enormously, and some days are posting over a hundred readers throughout the world. This isn't anything to stroke my ego with, as it has little to do with me personally, or any superior writing ability, or superior knowledge, but things are simply happening the way they are SUPPOSED to happen. That being said, I never know from one day to the next whether anyone will ever read it again. But I do hope to put things up here that are meaningful to my readership, give them a great deal of new knowledge that will be useful in their lives, and hopefully make their lives more fruitful.

For now just to mention, as I did a few weeks ago, that the ramifications of the December 21, 2012 scenario are not yet over with. Events on the earth, especially in the political arena are speeding up with great intensity. Religious freedom in this country is for all practical purposes a thing of the past. That statement may be scoffed at by some because the forces of darkness, (yin in the I Ching, although yin is not by itself negative) really do operate in the dark. They do not come to the light of day until they have totally undermined the good, and overt power rests with them. (hexagram twenty three) They are not quite ready yet to show their hand openly to the world, but the foundations of freedom and democracy are being undermined quietly at a steady rate. For right now, anyway. But look to the middle of 2016 and afterwards. That is when as the saying goes, the crap hits the fan, or at least it should hit then. It may be delayed a little. But the more I look, the more I don't think so.

So, it is with great interest I listened to a show today on coasttocoastam.com about the Torah codes. Now a lot of people are aware of the Torah codes, although the vast majority of the public in any country are not. There are multiple variations on the Torah codes, and some of them have been used for centuries by the priests and rabbis who were in the know. The more sophisticated ones have not been able to be cracked until the use of computers. But even if you know how to use them, and few people do, you still have to have a frame of reference in order to gain anything from them. The irony of the Torah codes, and gematria, is that for centuries priests and rabbis have used them to prove their own point of few. Rabbis often use the Torah codes to prove that Jesus is not the Messiah, others use them to prove he is. So it is easy to say then, "what good are they?" Well, like anything, they have their place. Just let it be said for now that new things are coming to light.

I think as events come to pass, it becomes more and more clear that two books of the Bible, incidentally prophecy books, are EXTREMELY accurate. Those two books are the Book of Daniel in the Tanach, and the the Book of Revelations in the Christian scriptures. Enough said about that for now. That is not to negate the value of other books.

I once said somewhere else that I would not predict the stock market any more. And I won't specifically predict, but I would indicate there is a good likelihood of a major stock market correction along about September or October of 2015. This is based on economic laws encoded into the Torah, and prophecy, and timing including timing taught in the Torah codes. It can always be delayed, but most likely not. Another basis for it is the four blood moons (lunar eclipses) two of which happened last year, and we saw the consequences in the war between Israel and Hamas. (This is very likely to flair up again.) Two more will happen this year with a solar eclipse between them on March 20. What the effects of the solar eclipse will be this year I have no idea. Incidentally, all these blood moons happen on major Jewish holidays and feast days.

Anyway, enough said. Look for some MAJOR changes on planet earth however.

Stimulus from a High Place

The commentary on hexagram nineteen line two tells us that "when the stimulus to approach comes from a high place ... good fortune will ensue." This is a universal law and will always apply in the long run though sometimes it may seem not to in the short run. The key is knowing when it is coming from a high place. There is a hint here that we must receive stimuli from our higher self, and not from selfish desire. Selfish desire will get us into trouble sooner or later.

What stimulus do our actions come from? Are we trying to aggrandize ourselves at the expense of others? Sometimes this may work for us for awhile. Usually it doesn't in the long run however. It is true that some notorious gangsters, brutal as they may be, have died in their bed at a ripe old age. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is the end of the story however. There is a judgment of sorts, one way or another. But if we are striving toward the higher aims of mankind in general, we can be confident of our being and our success if we follow the "natural way," as the Taoists might call it, or the "way of the cross," as the Christians might call it. We empty ourselves of self, and allow the higher power to flow through, always being assured that we are set upon the right course, and our compass is true.

In this way we can be as in hexagram six, "So clear-headed and inwardly strong that we are able to quickly come to terms" with any enemy, in a way that is beneficial for all. Hexagram nine line two however, tells us that we "must be in harmony with the time." How do we know whether we are in harmony with the time? We know because we are acting from the stimulus of the higher self. When we are fully in accord with our Higher Self then "all things work together for good ... those who are called according to His purpose." That is, the purpose of our higher self. When we do we can follow this path good fortune comes.

Hexagram thirty seven line two tells us that "We should not follow our whims, but must attend within to our nurturance and to our Higher Self. We "must always be guided by the will of the master of the house," The house is our inner being, where we find sanctuary, where we receive guidance from the master, where we have that inner knowing that allows us to know what stimuli is the right stimuli to keep us on the path that we were meant to be on. If we do not strive to stay on this spiritual path then sooner or later, our readings of the I Ching will prove to be misinterpreted, and the "Three unexpexted guests" will not come. We will be on our own, and ashamed and embarrassed at our misfortune. Are we in harmony with the Tao, or the "way of the cross," or are we not?

The Limitations of Hexagram Sixty

In all my thirty plus, maybe forty years of studying the I Ching, I have very rarely gotten hexagram sixty. But now I am getting it intermittently. Usually this happens when we are ready for a new type of lesson or a lesson on a different level. The thing I find interesting here is that this hexagram tells me a lot of the same things that the other hexagrams do, just in a different way. That is just me however. Others may find completely different things in it as we all have our own areas of expertise and understanding, and all have our own personalities and character traits, and when we consult the I Ching personally, through a random means, such as throwing coins or yarrow stalks, we receive answers that are specific to us. Someone else getting hexagram sixty may see something completely different in it, and that is not wrong. The Spirit behind the I Ching knows our nature, our abilities, and our LIMITATIONS.

Lines one and two show two different scenarios, one in which it is "safe to go out the door," and another where "it is not." The key is that it all depends on the timing, a timing which only the universe, or the Higher Self knows, but our LIMITED self does not. If we become arrogant, and think we control it all, we are not in harmony with the meaning of the hexagram nor are we in harmony with the universe as a whole, and therefore not in harmony with our Higher Selves.

It is requisite that we submit to our Higher Selves, or in other words, the universal powers, and do not try to complete everything by ourselves. If we think we can do it all in our own power, we inevitably fail. Granted, some may make their way very well in the world, but sooner or later, arrogance will catch up with us, and we will be humbled.

Line five tells us that we must apply our limitations to ourselves. There are times when we might have to apply them to employees, (if we own a company) or to our children, etc., but primarily we must apply them to ourselves. To know when to go out the gate and courtyard is not something we are consciously capable of knowing, but when we follow the higher guidance it works for us without our conscious awareness of it.

When these four lines change, the result is hexagram fifteen. Hexagram fifteen indirectly and discreetly indicates to us that we must be modest and recognize a higher power that can guide us. When we are in harmony with this higher power, we can pass through the gate or not at the right time and in accordance with the will of higher powers. In this way we follow what the Taoists call "the natural way," and we make no mistakes.

Union and Misunderstandings

In the last post it was related that a relationship with a significant other is not unsimilar to a relationship with our own Higher Self or the I Ching, and pretty much the Higher Self and the I Ching are the same thing. The I Ching is merely the medium the higher self uses to communicate with us. Pretty much the same principles apply. Therefore, in our approach to the I Ching, we are really approaching a deeper aspect of our own being, and as such are having a relationship with that deeper aspect. Often in our relationships, misunderstandings are created because non of us see the world through the same eyes, or have the same understandings of given things. We become all too often like "the teamhorse that goes astray." If we really care about our relationships however, we attempt to look beyond the misunderstandings and find a common ground for attempting reconciliation. Sometimes differences are irreconcilable of course, at least with a significant other, not with our higher self. Nevertheless, it is often possible to maintain a relationship if things have not become too poisoned. In order for things not to become too poisoned, it is essential that we look at the world through other lenses, and not  just our own. It is imperative that we gain a broader view of the world so that we can see someone else's point of view. We do not want to see the world through "the crack of the door" as it is said in hexagram twenty line two. We must have a broader view. In the same way, it is necessary to gain a broader view of ourselves, and of our relationships with the world. In fact, by "Observing," in hexagram twenty, we come to understand things we would not otherwise understand. And the "commands" (directives) of our higher self and how to relate to it become more clear.

Sometimes it is simply not possible in our present state of development to find a way to reconcile, but our Higher Self can clear up the differences in its own way, if we are "receptive" (hexagram two) to the impulses that can be received from the Higher Self. This situation is depicted in hexagram thirty eight line two. Here it says, "One meets his lord in a narrow street." This meeting may be "accidental" by our standards, but by the standards of the Higher Self it is not. For it is the Higher Self that plans out our "accidental meetings," which refers to a place where we come face to face with a truth in such a way that we cannot deny it or lie to ourselves. We will be forced to look in the mirror to see ourselves the way we really are no longer with self deception. The meeting can be startling. We meet in "a narrow street" where we cannot get away from the truth of the matter. This can be arranged by the "Higher Self" as well for situations which are fated or destined for us, or for relationships that were intended for us. We come face to face with the reality of the situation as unpleasant as that might be, and we cannot get around it because the "street is too narrow" to allow for escape. This may be very uncomfortable but it is not a bad thing, for therein do we learn who we really are. And relationships are often a necessity for us to see a mirror image of oneself, and come to terms with the reality of our condition. Then as in hexagram twenty line five and six we come to contemplate our life and find where we have failed and where we have succeeded, and the reason for each.

Often, as in line six of hexagram thirty eight, we see our companions, (including our Higher Self) "As a pig covered with dirt. As a wagon full of devils." We are ready to fight. But in time, thanks often to the meddling of the Higher Self, to "meeting our Lord in a narrow street." we come to realize that the partner comes with good intentions. We have the same problem in hexagram thirteen line three where we "hide weapons in the thicket." There is always a tendency within ourselves to project onto others the faults that we ourselves are burdened with. However, as in line four of hexagram thirteen, "he climbs up upon the wall, (where he has a better view) and realizes that either "he cannot attack" or that there is no need to attack, and reconciliation draws nearer. It is important that we try our best to reconcile with those we can reconcile with, and infinitely more important that we reconcile with our own Higher Self, and in the same way, with the same meaning, the I Ching.

Different relationships

There are so many lines in the I Ching, and I would submit that in some ways, all lines in the I Ching discuss our relationship with our own higher selves and how that relationship is either blocked or in non working order, or else it is in good order. In hexagram forty eight line four it says, "The well is being lined." It amazes me how many different meanings any given line can mean. Often it can mean a situation has not fully developed yet, and no definitive answer can be given until the situation develops further. It can also mean that we have not yet fully developed ourselves or the nature of our relationship to our own higher self. Remember that all lines can relate to relationships; either relationships to ourselves, to our neighbors, to our interaction with society as a whole, to relationships with superiors or inferiors, or personal relationships of the most intimate kind. Hexagram forty eight line four can therefore mean, in terms of a personal relationship, that the relationship has not yet fully jelled, and there is no guarantee that the relationship will move to the next level. This of course does not begin to exhaust the possibilities of meaning coming from just this one line.

In hexagram eight we have an obvious reference to relationships of one kind or another. But all types of relationships follow a certain kind of pattern. The same type of principles of  relationship we have with a "significant other" is the type of principles in a relationship with our higher self. Just as we don't want to try to move too fast into a relationship of significance, we cannot too quickly develop a relationship with our own inner self. The stage has to be set. And both hexagrams thirty one and hexagram fifty three (as well as others) caution us against moving too fast into a relationship. It tends to scare the other person away. We have to under many conditions hold back for the time being until the time is right. Until the "well has been lined."

Sometimes a relationship simply is not possible. (Although it is always possible with our higher self if we proceed in the right way.) As such, hexagram eight line six tells us, "He has no head for holding together." In other words, the conditions aren't right for a relationship to develop. This is true on a personal and interhuman level, just as it is true on a deeper level in getting to know our higher self. We do not understand (head) the mechanisms for making a relationship work even within our own being. If the beginning is not right the the end cannot be right either. Relationships cannot develop too quickly. At the same time, if we hesitate too long we miss the minute of truth, the minute when the relationship can work.

Hexagram sixty one indicates also the way relationships work. But here the emphasis is not on the physical aspects of a relationship or the dynamics of male female relationships (actually, yes it does in a certain way, which will be discussed here.) But on the inner affinity necessary between two people to make the relationship work. The same principles that work within us for a relationship with ourselves apply with a relationship with others. There has to be an inner affinity of "like attracting like" in order to make it happen. Usually for men the original impulse for attraction is the physical beauty of the female, where for the female it is the success of the man that is an initial attractor. However, for a relationship to jell and continue it takes more than that. There must be an inner affinity between the two people. In a human relationship however, there has to be an awareness of each other and a mutual looking at each other in the sense of going the same direction. In line four though, the team horse does not look at its mate. This is because it has a job to do and cannot be distracted. In terms of our relationship with our higher self, this has got to be the way it is. We cannot be distracted in pursuing a relationship with our higher self and at all times must attend to our duty. In contradistinction to what I just said though, although the former applies too in it own way, in order to have a relationship with another, we cannot allow outside distractions to develop keeping us from pursuing and continually better relationship with our significant other. We cannot be dazzled by the beauty or the attractiveness of outside people, but must maintain strict discipline in pursuing the improvement of the relationship that we have and the desire to make it better. We must at all times attend to our duty. In this way we "limit ourselves" (hexagram sixty) to the pursuit of that which reinforces the value of the relationships that we have.

Line five of hexagram sixty one says, "He possesses truth, which links together." Falsehood will not enhance our relationships, this is true in interpersonal relationships as well as relationships with our own higher self. We cannot lie to our own higher self. It is impossible. It may be possible to lie to our significant other for a while and get away with it, but eventually it will destroy the relationship, not strengthen it. (I am talking about real deceit here, not little lies to not hurt someone's feelings). However, when both lines four and five of hexagram sixty one change, the resulting hexagram is number thirty eight. Herein lies the possibilities of misunderstandings and how to deal with them. We will get to that later.

Something Very Short

Not much about the I Ching in this post. Just a few short notes, hope to get going again tomorrow or a day or two.

I have been very interested in world events for some time now. There was much debate about whether the Month of December in 2012 would bring some drastic changes. Some thought it was the end of the world. When nothing of particular, (seemingly) importance happened on that day people just ascribed it to the lunatic fringe. Nothing could be further from the truth. It had real significance and still does, and this whole thing is not over. The world is about to experience turmoil like never before. But it won't happen tomorrow or the year after. It is a gradual thing. We are starting to experience it.

The gist of it is this. We are entering a new era. And those who understand the nature of the world and how it works, have a fairly good idea, though not exact, of how things are playing out. The world's elite, the international bankers, the upper level master masons, those controlling behind the scenes are playing us for fools. And it doesn't matter which country you live in or how educated you are. You have been lied to and reality is not anything like what we are taught in schools. Those of us living in the United States are aware of the news that came out about Obama Care, and how the architects of the program have stated that they purposely lied to the American people about how it worked and what it would cost because we are too stupid to know what is good for us. As "snake oily" as that comment is, there is some truth to it in the sense that we have always been lied to, and believe the lies we are told. It has always amazed me, that when we in the west elect our leaders, on the one hand we know they lie, on the other we listen to what they say, and tend to believe them, and vote for our candidate thinking he or she is going to make change, and nothing ever changes. It is because they are counting on the gullibility of the American public.

Well, if you don't live in the west don't think you are not affected because the same thing is true in your country, whether you vote for your leaders or live in a totalitarian state. You are still being lied to. And your leaders think the common folk are unbelievably stupid just as ours do. This world is ruled by a Luciferian principle, whether there is any Lucifer or not, it amounts to the same thing. The elite lie to us about everything, and laugh about it, just like they did with Obama Care.

I will not get into this any further at this time. I just want to mention and recommend a book or two that relates to "esoteric" Christianity, and other "esoteric" systems as well. One book I would recommend is "End Times and 2019. For 2012 was the beginning of this seven year system. If anyone doubts this, it has been documented in main stream magazines and news that the United States intends to start microchipping its population in the year 2017. See what the book of Revelations, starting with chapter 13, has to say about it. Other books might be books written by David Flynn, such as "Temple at the center of time." Or the book by his brother, Mark Flynn, "Labrynth." You might find them interesting.

More on hexagram forty eight

It was mentioned that when hexagram forty eight shows as a secondary hexagram (and also hexagrams four and twenty), it can indicate that the lesson has not been fully understood. Hexagram forty five line five carries a similar theme, but here it is a general statement that the I Ching's teachings are not readily perceived. The line says, "Supreme and enduring perseverance is needed, then remorse disappears." If we do not spend time meditating on the lines and commentary in the I Ching, we will not be able to perceive truly and perfectly the message that is presented before us. It is only when we calm our mind, for only in a state of calmness can we "perceive the laws of the universe." (See hexagram fifty two). But such does not come easily. It is not in the first reading usually that we get the answer. It must be meditated upon until a deeper stratum of our being is reached, (the rope must go all the way down to the well), until we really have a grasp of the meaning of the lines and precepts within the constructs of the I Ching. (The same is true of any other sacred book.) It is only by persevering that we achieve any meaning answers from the I Ching. It is only in persevering in the right, in love, and awe and respect, that the great laws of the universe permeate our mind and produce within us fresh insights. In hexagram twenty nine the light lines are trapped between two dark lines in each trigram. On the one hand, the darkness creates a greater contrast to the light, on the other, the light cannot be readily seen until the lessons of the teacher (the I Ching) are practiced over and over again that the light begins to shine within the darkness. We cannot perceive real spiritual truth until the mental ground of our being has been prepared. (See the parable of the sower who went forth to sow in the gospels). The seeds only produced in the ground that was fertile. Our minds must be fertile.

Hexagram sixty three line three says that, "Long, drawn out struggles must be reckoned with." The struggle is within ourselves. In order to see the light we must meditate and work to understand the metaphorical and metaphysical meanings of the lines. It is only when we are willing to struggle for the answers that the come, and in coming we are allowed to "See the Illustrious Ancestor," In other words, we see the real meaning behind the words. But line five of sixty three says that real seriousness is lacking, and as long as it lacks, our "rope does not go all the way down to the water." We lack seriousness when we look for superficial answers, and having found them, give up any further search thinking we have received the full measure of "water from the well." In that sense we only "shoot fish." And/or our "jug breaks." In this case, as in line four, "The king is not clear minded." His words are only superficial and do not reach to the heart of the problem.

If it were simply a matter of intellectual learning, the teacher (I Ching) would not have to repeat the lesson over and over again, but hexagram twenty nine speaks of the necessity of repetition by the teacher, otherwise the material is not made ones own, and does not have the life giving properties of water.

The Trouble with Forty Eight part two

Just one really quick thing I forgot to write. Part of the charm of hexagram forty eight is its commentary saying, "May fail to penetrate to the real roots...and remain fixed in convention." This is really, really important. Because if we fail to get to the heart of the matter we tend to believe whatever we were brought up to believe; whatever our schools teach us, or our governments or our churches or our psychiatrists tells us. There then becomes no critical thought. We just "follow the conventions."

Now, critical thinking does not guarantee us of any success either. Once again, as in hexagram fifty two, understanding the laws of the universe only come about when we are at deep peace and calm, and no longer affected by the "hustle and bustle" of life. This is because we are looking for spiritual truths, not just intellectual science or religion or philosophy or what have you. We want to go down to the deepest stratum of spiritual teaching, brought to us by the I Ching or other sacred book which has an intelligence of its own beyond human capacity, and can direct its teaching specifically to the individual under timely circumstances when it is most favorable to pass that particular teaching to the individual, and when the individual is most receptive to it.

The trouble with hexagram forty eight

Actually, there is no real problem with hexagram forty eight, except in some contexts. As a secondary hexagram, or the hexagram derived from the changing of lines, hexagram forty eight could at times be telling us that we are "not getting it." The reason we don't get it is that we don't go far enough down into the well to find the real answer. We see spiritual things from a superficial angle only. The commentary in Wilhelm/Baynes on this hexagram says, "We must go down to the foundation of life. For any merely SUPERFICIAL ordering of life that leaves its deepest needs unsatisfied is as ineffectual as if no attempt at order has been made." (At this point, does anyone see why I use only the Wilhelm/Baynes version when using the I Ching for spiritual growth?) How often is our reading and understanding of the I Ching superficial or even misinformed? I would say 100% of the time. It is not enough to just get a simple answer to a simple question with the I Ching. For if it doesn't change us then it doesn't change the circumstances under which we asked the question either. And even if we get some good advice and follow it, it will leave us feeling as in our "deepest needs are still unsatisfied." We have not gotten the real answer, because our rope does not go far enough down.

There are other hexagrams that deal with this same problem although in a slightly different way. Until we get into the upper trigram we are viewing things in a very superficial way. In hexagram twenty it is often that we do not properly perceive the teachings of the teacher, or that we do not have a sufficient basis for understanding to really understand the true meaning. In several places in the I Ching it tells us that until we can truly calm our mind we cannot understand the laws of the universe. (See hexagram fifty two for one example.) The problem is discussed also in hexagram four, but here the emphasis is one the immaturity of the one attempting to perceive, and teaching alone is not enough, but life experience is what is really needed. It is one thing to have head knowledge of a subject, it is another to experience it and through "repetition of the material" make it a part of our inner being. When hexagram forty eight appears, it is possible to think we have gotten to the truth when we have not. In this case we need to take the advice of hexagram twenty one, and "bite through" til we get to the heart of the message. For when we think we understand, usually we do not.

Inner discipline

Sometimes in our personal readings we might get hexagram thirty seven, with, let's say, lines one and three changing. The context here is such that we need to have firm discipline within the family. This does not necessarily mean what we might think it means in our western world. In the western world we tend to think of the Confucian model of the I Ching an outmoded model of superficial morality and ethics. Indeed some often cringe at the thought of the "Superior Man" in the I Ching as they think this leads to unfair biases of one man over another. This all has to do with what we in the west call "Political correctness", where we all try to use words that we think have the least amount of bias built into them. But this so called political correctness is stretched very thin and often distorts the true meaning of words and concepts. The I Ching is full of concepts of the actions of the superior man versus the inferior. Let's face it. Our football teams, baseball teams, and all other sports teams are filled with people of superior talent or they would not be playing professional ball. We must call a spade a spade and face life as it really is.

So, in effect the person who contributes to the well-being of his or her family can in some senses be called acting in a superior way in regards to the family over someone who squanders the families wealth on alcohol or beats the children or what have you. These are not the actions of the superior person. It would be best to quit becoming prejudiced by pretending to be getting rid of our prejudices and see things in their true light.

But it can be that we have no family in the literal sense, so we might be confused when we get these lines, or any lines in hexagram thirty seven. But we must remember that what happens above also happens below, and what happens without also happens with in. And within each of us there are a multitude of personalities calling out for expression. One moment one mood controls us, and the next another. Line one of hexagram thirty seven says, "Firm seclusion within the family. Remorse disappears."  Even if we are not a part of a literal family, we have a family within ourselves, and the best way to integrate that family is to be always focusing on the "superior", and letting the "inferior" go. We must develop ourselves in such a way that there is an "inner power" within us. Line three carries on the theme of discipline, and we must discipline ourselves. When these two lines change, we have hexagram twenty. Hexagram twenty speaks of a profound inner seriousness. (In life, paradoxes exist, so it is equally true that we cannot take life seriously and should have fun, and that we should take life very seriously.) Most people at some time in their life find something that inspires them with a great deal of awe, and they get caught up in it, and try to understand it. In hexagram twenty the person finds great awe in the spiritual and/or cosmological processes of life. It so inspires us that we are in awe of the greatness of it all, and begin to "comprehend" the laws of nature. Science does this as well as the philosopher. But in order to really understand the laws of the universe we must have that inner discipline that keeps us on track, not by force or intimidation but by fascination. We are so in awe of it that our minds become quiet and meditative, as in hexagram fifty two, (which has a similar structure) and it is through this quietness and this awe that we come to understand the spiritual laws of life, and not just have book knowledge of them, which is meaningless. Just reading the book of changes from cover to cover would never give us a profound understanding of the laws of life. It is only when we compare "line with line, precept with precept" that the material becomes part of us and binds us and unites us as an inner "family" and we become awed by the vastness and the profuseness of it all. It changes our inner being. Book learning, and intellectual learning does not do that.

Not for the Inferior Man

The utilization of the I Ching works only for the superior man and not the inferior. Therefore it behooves us to know where we stand. If we are not capable of understanding the advice of the I Ching there is no use in requesting it. In the same way, if we do not act in accord with the Tao, or that is, with the way of sacrifice; if we do not recognize a heavenly guidance in our life, or we do not walk a spiritual path, then the wisdom and guidance of the I Ching will not work for you.

For example, let us say we receive hexagram five line four, and we look at the guidance. The hexagram and line speak of a situation in which we are cut off and ordinarily there would be no hope for us. However, there is hope when we compose ourselves and allow guidance to come through. When there is no hope we let fate take its course. When fate takes its course, then suddenly, a way out shows itself. We have this same motif in line six of the same hexagram. After one falls into the pit, three uninvited guests arrive. The uninvited guests are spiritual powers that save us from the situation that we are in. Those spiritual powers will not arrive however, for the average person. It is only when we have turned ourselves over to the Tao, to the spiritual way, to the way of sacrifice, or the way of the cross, that we have any hope of having "three uninvited guests arrive." If we are not at one (atonement) with the spiritual powers, with the universe, the guests will not arrive. This is not to be considered totally a bad thing, it is just the nature of the laws of the universe. We cannot overcome the laws of the universe in any way. The only way we can have this hope is by being one with the tao, one with the natural way.

We see this concept in many places in the I Ching. In the image in hexagram forty seven it says, "Thus the superior man stakes his life on following his will." The commentary on the image says, "This (hexagram) symbolizes an adverse fate in human life." Therefore it is essential that we understand that it is essential that the will we follow is not that of our lower self, but the will of the higher self, which is the will of heaven. Without that, nothing of permanence can be accomplished." Acting from our lower self can be of benefit for a time, but does not have the permanence of the will of the higher self. We cannot escape our fate, but we can consolidate it in a good way by following the way. This the inferior man cannot do, only the superior man can accomplish the will of heaven. Therefore, only the superior man will find help from unseen forces when adverse fate befalls us.

Hexagram fifty also speaks of fate. The image says, "Thus the superior man consolidates his fate by making his position correct."  The commentary says, "There is likewise in man a fate that lends power to his life. And if he succeeds in assigning the right place to life and to fate, thus bringing the two into harmony, he puts his fate of a firm footing." Therefore, in many ways, the superior man creates his own fate, though he or she is not necessarily conscious of having done so. It happens in the spiritual realm, beyond the comprehension of the conscious mind. Those powers are nevertheless real, whether we recognize them or not.

Finally, we see this argument expressed in hexagram twenty three, line six. The line says, "The superior man receives a carriage, the house of the inferior man is split apart." Why? The superior man follows the will of heaven. The inferior man follows his own will, arrogantly. When we follow the Tao, or the way of heaven, we create a fate, or a karma, or a destiny that "saves us" at the last minute. The 'uninvited guests arrive." When we create negativity, when we create discord, and disharmony, when are creating the conditions where our house, (the place we shelter ourselves, where we think we have safety and protection), is "split apart."

What is truth?

In life, many times we encounter obstacles that must be dealt with. Sometimes the counsel is to stop and wait. Other cases, as in hexagram twenty one, we must "energetically bite through the obstacle." Lord, give us the wisdom to know which way to deal with a situation in a given situation. Sometimes we just have to bite the bullet, (hexagram twenty one, and take the plunge. (Hexagram twenty nine). One way to decide is the "smell test." Often in situations in life something just "doesn't pass the smell test." As a kid I often heard the phrase, "there is something rotten in ..."  Now we say "it doesn't pass the smell test." Where people come up with these idioms and expressions I don't know. But the idea is that "something smells fishy." In cases like these it is well to bite through to the truth. And that is one aspect of the meaning of hexagram twenty one, getting to the truth of the matter.

So Pilate said to Jesus, before sending him off for crucifixion, "What is truth." In Christiandom it has been generally acknowledged that that was a sarcastic statement. And maybe it was, but maybe it wasn't. It becomes apparent to many who have been through tremendous struggles that there IS no truth. Truth is only what we make it in the moment, or truth amounts to "might makes right." If we look at history that certainly is apparent that might has decided who is right. But is there an absolute truth? Should we even use the time to find it? Pilate must have ordered the crucifixion of innumerable personages, many of whom probably had no crime greater than by circumstances getting in the way of the powers that be. Sometimes people are crucified or sentenced to death only because they present a challenge to those who are in power, and often they do not even mean to be a challenge. So it is understandable that he would say, "What is truth?" After all, we only do what is expedient, regardless of any morality. Or, in other words, the highest morality, or the highest truth is simply doing what maintains the status quo.

Sometimes in our lives we have to ask the question, what is truth? Or what is THE truth? obviously, we all get lied to at one time or another, even by our best friends. Sometimes that is only so that we don't hurt someone's feelings, but often it can become more sinister than that. So we hear someone say something, and we think, "That doesn't sound right." Then we get suspicious. When we get suspicious we start reasoning about how we can "bite through to the truth." In the commentary on hexagram twenty one it says, "Whenever unity cannot be established, the obstruction is due to a talebearer and traitor who is interfering and blocking our way." So when we see obstructions, it is best to find out what the cause is and remove it. (See hexagram eighteen.) Someone might not be telling us the truth, or they may not be telling someone else the truth about us.

Line four is representative of the obstacle that must be bitten through. But that is not always pleasant. So in ferreting out the truth, we may "receive metal arrows," which in some cases may be a good thing, but often when we find out the truth, it is not pleasant for us. So we have to bite the bullet or accept the metal arrows. Often the truth hurts. Yet we must must get through to the bottom line.

But how often are we our own talebearer and our own worst enemy. Perhaps it is our own deception of ourselves that is causing the problem. Perhaps we do not see things in their true light, and are not objective about ourselves, Then, we ourselves will not pass the "smell test." We will not come across as correct, honest, or forthright to others. Then we have to break through our own obstacles before others do it for us. It will be unpleasant, (metal arrows) for us to find the truth out about ourselves. It will likely be even more unpleasant if others point it out to us. And they may not be so merciful to us as we would be to ourselves. We must have truth within. We cannot be honest with the world if we are not honest with ourselves. Illusions always bring pain with them. If it weren't for the pain, we would likely never recognize our deficiencies. If it weren't for the pain, we may never know we skinned our knee. Sometimes receiving metal arrows can be a blessing in disguise.