There were "old" features in your gua (hexagram). It means that you have two hexagrams. The first one — is something that the Book tells you at the moment, the second is something it warns you about. |
 |
→ |
 |
  22. Adorning (bì). GraceAdvise
Learn to distinguish perfect from the beautiful, the true from illusory. Learn how to find beauty in the small and enjoy it.
Inital text of I ChingThe Judgement
Grace has success. In small matters it is favorable to undertake something.
The Image
Fire at the foot of the mountain: The image of Grace. Thus does the superior man proceed when clearing up current affairs. But he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
- He lends grace to his toes, leaves the carriage, and walks.
- Lends grace to the beard on his chin.
- Graceful and moist. Constant perseverance brings good fortune.
- Grace or simplicity? A white horse comes as if on wings. He is not a robber, he will woo at the right time.
- Grace in hills and gardens. The roll of silk is meager and small. Humiliation, but in the end good fortune.
- Simple grace. No blame.
Prediction
Outwardly, everything is good. But it is not time for great things. At the moment content with little. Do not obsess over visual appeal. Look at what's happening and choose goals for the future according to the dictates of the soul. Furnishing our external, do not forget to take care of the internal, true beauty is inside.
This hexagram shows a fire that breaks out of the secret depths of the earth
and, blazing up, illuminates and beautifies the mountain, the heavenly
heights. Grace-beauty of form-is necessary in any union if it is to be well
ordered and pleasing rather than disordered and chaotic.
THE JUDGMENT
Grace brings success. However, it is not the essential or fundamental thing; it
is only the ornament and therefore be used sparingly and only in little things.
In the lower trigram of fire a yielding line comes between two strong lines
and makes them beautiful, but the strong lines are the essential content and
the weak line is the beautifying form. In the upper trigram of the mountain,
the strong line takes the lead, so that here again the strong element must be
regarded as the decisive factor. In nature we see in the sky the strong light of
the sun; the life of the world depends on it. But this strong, essential thing is
changed and given pleasing variety by the moon and the stars. In human
affairs, aesthetic form comes into being when traditions exist that, strong and
abiding like mountains, are made pleasing by a lucid beauty. By
contemplating the forms existing in the heavens we come to understand time
and its changing demands. Through contemplation of the forms existing in
human society it becomes possible to shape the world.
THE IMAGE
The fire, whose light illuminates the mountain and makes it pleasing, does
not shine far; in the same way, beautiful form suffices to brighten and to
throw light upon matters of lesser moment, but important questions cannot
be decided in this way. They require greater earnestness.
1
A beginner in subordinate place must take upon himself the labor of
advancing. There might be an opportunity of surreptitiously easing the way-
symbolized by the carriage-but a self-contained man scorns help gained in a
dubious fashion. He thinks it more graceful to go on foot than to drive in a
carriage under false pretenses.
2
The beard is not an independent thing; it moves only with the chin. The
image therefore means that form is to be considered only as a result and
attribute of content. The beard is a superfluous ornament. To devote care to it
for its own sake, without regard for the inner content of which it is an
ornament, would bespeak a certain vanity.
3
This represents a very charming life situation. One is under the spell of grace
and the mellow mood induced by wine. This grace can adorn, but it can also
swamp us. Hence the warning not to sink into convivial indolence but to
remain constant in perseverance. Good fortune depends on this.
4
An individual is in a situation in which doubts arise as to which is better-to
pursue the grace of external brilliance, or to return to simplicity. The doubt
itself implies the answer. Confirmation comes from the outside; it comes like
a white winged horse. The white color indicates simplicity. At first it may be
disappointing to renounce the comforts that might have been obtained, yet
one finds peace of mind in a true relationship with the friend who courts
him. The winged horse is the symbol of the thoughts that transcend all limits
of space and time.
5
A man withdraws from contact with people of the lowlands, who seek
nothing but magnificence and luxury, in to the solitude of the heights. There
he finds an individual to look up to, whom he would like to have as a friend.
But the gifts he has to offer are poor and few, so that he feels ashamed.
However, it is not the material gifts that count, but sincerity of feeling, and so
all goes well in the end.
6
Here at the highest stage of development all ornament is discarded. Form no
longer conceals content but brings out its value to the full. Perfect grace
consists not in exterior ornamentation of the substance, but in the simple
fitness of its form.
Barbara Hejslip interpretationThis hexagram can be favorable only for the affairs concerning theatre. It means, that you have a propensity to hide the original face, and people surrounding you too behave not quite sincerely. Your love affairs are problematic enough now. But successes in other spheres are possible. Your desires will be executed, but is completely not fast. It is necessary to try to accept a life such as it is, and to study at it.
  11. Pervading (tà i). PeaceAdvise
Do not be afraid to lose small – you will be rewarded more. Stay tuned, when luck accompanies you – remember that everything is transient.
Inital text of I ChingThe Judgement
Peace. The small departs, the great approaches. Good fortune. Success.
The Image
Heaven and earth unite: the image of Peace. Thus the ruler divides and completes the course of heaven and earth; He furthers and regulates the gifts of heaven and earth, and so aids the people.
- When ribbon grass is pulled up, the sod comes with it. Each according to his kind. Undertakings bring good fortune.
- Bearing with the uncultured in gentleness, fording the river with resolution, Not neglecting what is distant, not regarding one's companions: thus one may manage to walk in the middle.
- No plain not followed by a slope. No going not followed by a return. He who remains persevering in danger is without blame. Do not complain about this truth; enjoy the good fortune you still possess.
- He flutters down, not boasting of his wealth, together with his neighbor, guileless and sincere.
- The sovereign I gives his daughter in marriage. This brings blessing and supreme good fortune.
- The wall falls back into the moat. Use no army now. Make your commands known within your own town.
Perseverance brings humiliation. Prediction
It is an auspicious sign. The small leaves and the great will come. The High helps Heaven and Earth to render on the merits. Harmony is everywhere. Losses are recovered, excess is settled. You can start a new business, but you will need help from outside. It is good time to plan for the future. What seems far away – will become nearer, what seems useless - will bring benefit. Necessary quality - common sense.
The Receptive, which moves downward, stands above; the Creative, which
moves upward, is below. Hence their influences meet and are in harmony,
so that all living things bloom and prosper. This hexagram belongs to the
first month (February-March), at which time the forces of nature prepare the
new spring.
THE JUDGMENT
This hexagram denotes a time in nature when heaven seems to be on earth.
Heaven has placed itself beneath the earth, and so their powers unite in deep
harmony. Then peace and blessing descend upon all living things.
In the world of man it is a time of social harmony; those in high places
show favor to the lowly, and the lowly and inferior is an end to all feuds.
In side, at the center, in the key position, is the light principle; the dark
principle is outside. Thus the light has a powerful influence, while the dark
is submissive. In this way each receives its due. When the good elements of
society occupy a central position and are in control, the evil elements come
under their influence and change for the better. When the spirit of heaven
rules in man, his animal nature also comes under its influence and takes its
appropriate place.
The individual lines enter the hexagram from below and leave it again at
the top. Here the small, weak, and evil elements are about to take their
departure, while the great, strong, and good elements are moving up. This
brings good fortune and success.
THE IMAGE
Heaven and earth are in contact and combine their influences, producing a
time of universal flowering and prosperity. This stream of energy must be
regulated by the ruler of men. It is done by a process of division. Thus men
divide the uniform flow of time into the seasons, according to the succession
of natural phenomena, and mark off infinite space by the points of the
compass. In this way nature in its overwhelming profusion of phenomena is
bounded and controlled. One the other hand, nature must be furthered in
her productiveness. This is done by adjusting the products to the right time
and the right place, which increases the natural yield. This controlling and
furthering activity of man in his relation to nature is the work on nature that
rewards him.
1
In times of prosperity every able man called to fill an office draws like minded
people along with him, just as in pulling up ribbon grass one always pulls up
a bunch of it, because the stalks are connected by their roots. In such times,
when it is possible to extend influence widely, the mind of an able man is set
upon going out into life and accomplishing something.
2
In times of prosperity it is important and above all to possess enough
greatness of soul to bear with imperfect people. For in the hands of a great
master no material is unproductive; he can find use for everything. But this
generosity is by no means laxity or weakness. It is during times of prosperity
especially that we must always be ready to risk even dangerous undertakings,
such as the crossing of a river, if they are necessary. So too we must not
neglect what is distant but must attend scrupulously to everything.
Factionalism and the dominance of cliques are especially to be avoided. Even
if people of like mind come forward together, they ought not to form a faction
by holding together for mutual advantage; instead, each man should do is
duty. Theses are four ways in which one can overcome the hidden danger of
a gradual slackening that always lurks in any time of peace. And that is how
one finds the middle way for action.
3
Everything on earth is subject to change. Prosperity is followed by decline:
this is the eternal law on earth. Evil can indeed be held in check but not
permanently abolished. It always returns. This conviction might induct
melancholy, but it should not; it ought only to keep us from falling into
illusion when good fortune comes to us. If we continue mindful of the
danger, we remain persevering and make no mistakes. As long as a man's
inner nature remains stronger and richer than anything offered by external
fortune, as long as he remains inwardly superior to fate, fortune will not
desert him.
4
In times of mutual confidence, people of high rank come in close contact with
the lowly quite simply and without boasting of their wealth. This is not due
to the force of circumstances but corresponds with their inmost sentiment.
The approach is made quite spontaneously, because it is based on inner
conviction.
5
The sovereign I is T'ang the Completer. By his decree the imperial princesses,
although higher in rank than their husbands, had to obey them like all other
wives. Here too we are shown a truly modest union of high and low that
brings happiness and blessings.
6
The change alluded to in the middle of the hexagram has begun to take place.
The wall of the town sinks back into the moat from which it was dug. The
hour of doom is at hand. When matters have come to this pass, we should
submit to fate and not try to stave it off by violent resistance. The one
recourse left us is to hold our own within our intimate circle. Should we
persevere in trying to resist the evil in the usual way, our collapse would only
be more complete, and humiliation would be the result.
Barbara Hejslip interpretationIt is not necessary to forget the friends when the happiness has obviously a kind feeling to you and your career moves ahead. But at the same time not be thoughtless and negligent. If you want, that the luck and success accompanied you as it is possible longer, try to support with their successes in other areas. Your desire will be executed, but do not hurry up and do not try is artificial to accelerate a course of events. Now you, apparently, are inclined to squander money. Keep itself, do not overestimate the financial opportunities.
|
Richard Wilhelm's commentary