Oracle for the Week of 3.18.24
In the end, the aggressors always destroy themselves, making way for others who know how to cooperate and get along. Life is much less a competitive struggle for survival than a triumph of cooperation and creativity.
— Fritjof Capra
KOU
Coming to Meet
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At the time of the meeting of the light with the dark, a great flowering may occur.
THE JUDGMENT
COMING TO MEET. The maiden is powerful.
One should not marry such a maiden.
The rise of the inferior element is pictured here in the image of a bold girl who lightly surrenders herself and thus seizes power. This would not be possible if the strong and light giving element had not in turn come halfway. The inferior thing seems so harmless and inviting that a man delight in it; it looks so small and weak that he imagines he can dally with it and come to no harm.
The inferior man rises only because the superior man does not regard him as dangerous and so lends him power. If he were resisted from the first, he could never gain influence.
The time of COMING TO MEET is important in still another way. Although as a general rule the weak should not come to meet the strong, there are times when this has great significance. When heaven and earth come to meet each other, all creatures prosper; when a prince and his official come to meet each other, the world is put in order. It is necessary for elements predestined to be joined and mutually dependent to come to meet one another halfway. But the coming together must be free of dishonest ulterior motives, otherwise harm will result.
THE IMAGE
Under heaven, wind:
The image of COMING TO MEET.
Thus does the prince act when disseminating his commands
And proclaiming them to the four quarters of heaven.
The wind blows from above and symbolizes the influence exercised by the ruler through his commands. Heaven is far from the things of earth, but it sets them in motion by means of the wind. The ruler is far from his people, but he sets them in motion by means of his commands and decrees.
THE LINES
▢ — Six at the beginning means:
It must be checked with a brake of bronze.
Perseverance brings good fortune
If one lets it take its course, one experiences misfortune.
Even a lean pig has it in him to rage around.
If an inferior element has wormed its way in, it must be energetically checked at once. By consistently checking it, bad effects can be avoided. If it is allowed to take its course, misfortune is bound to result; the insignificance of that which creeps in should not be a temptation to underrate it. A pig that is still young and lean cannot rage around much, but after it has eaten its fill and becomes strong, its true nature comes out if it has not previously been curbed.
Nine at the top means:
He comes to meet with his horns.
Humiliation. No blame.
When a man has withdrawn from the world, its tumult often becomes unbearable to him. There are many people who in a noble pride hold themselves aloof from all that is low and rebuff it brusquely whenever it comes to meet them. Such persons are reproached for being proud and distant, but since active duties no longer hold them to the world, this does not greatly matter. They know how to bear the dislike of the masses with composure.
(See below for the specific line’s significance and how to interpret it.)
SIGNIFICANCE OF SPECIFIC LINES DETERMINES
ITS STATUS AND FUNCTION IN A HEXAGRAM
LINE 1
Lines one and two are of the earth’s domain.
Line 1 represents an ordinary intellectual or a commoner.
In present times, it is perceived as the people.
At the position difficult to understand: as it just arrives at a hexagram, what will happen later is unknown at this point.
In this case the line is also the hexagram’s constituting ruler, ▢ —. In this case the line is also the hexagram’s constituting ruler. Unable to help the ruler because he lacks ability and goodness of character the line is resolutely to be cast out.
LINE 2
Lines one and two are of the earth’s domain.
Line 2 represents the courtier of the duke, or a domestic official, or a low ranking official
In present times, it is interpreted as the elite of civilians.
At the position for starting action: it possesses the principle of moderation. It is ready for the assigned mission, but what it can do is still limited.
LINE 3
Lines three and four are of the human domain.
Line three represents the feudal lord, i.e., the duke.
In present times, it is interpreted as a civilian leader.
The line is at a position full of ill omens, but it teems with ambition and is very active.
LINE 4
Lines three and four are of the human domain.
Line four represents the courtier of the king, or the official of the central government, or a high-ranking official.
In present times, it can be interpreted as the official.
At a position full of fear it stays next to the king and acts as a courtier
Its mode of conduct is at a position of resting, as it just arrives at the upper trigram after a hard march.
In this specific oracle it is its governing ruler; it does not indicate ability and goodness of character, and will be cast out.
LINE 5
Lines five and six are of the heavenly domain.
Line five represents the king
In present times, it can be interpreted as the president
It is at the core of a hexagram and possesses the principle of moderation; or at the peak of a hexagram where the line reaches its full development.
LINE 6
Lines five and six are of the heavenly domain.
At the top position: the shrine, line six is the symbol of a clan or dynasty. Or is some cases, position six refers to a very honored position, but without title, power, responsibility or obligation.
In present times, it may be interpreted as the country, or a retired official.
Its characteristic is easy to understand. It is at the end of a hexagram, what has happened at each phase is known to it.
Mode of conduct: At the top and end, the mission of the hexagram is going to be completed, and its norm is about to change.
In this case the line is also the hexagram’s constituting ruler, . Unable to help the ruler because he lacks ability and goodness of character the line is resolutely to be cast out.