I Ching Symbols

The question I asked today was. “How to be kind?” The unspoken finish to the sentence is “to other people?” Here is the answer the Iching toss that day returned to me….John

The present is embodied in Hexagram 30 – Li (Fire): It will be advantageous to be firm and correct, and in doing so there will be a free course and success. Let him also nourish a docility like that of the cow, and there will be good fortune.
The third line, undivided, show its subject in a position like that of the declining sun. Instead of playing on his instrument of earthen ware, and singing to it, he utters the groans of an old man of eighty. There will be evil.
The situation is evolving slowly, and Yin (the passive feminine force) is gaining ground.

The future is embodied in Hexagram 21 – Shih Ho (Biting Through): There will be successful progress, and it will be advantageous to use legal constraints.
The things most apparent, those above and in front, are embodied by the upper trigram Li (Fire), which represents brightness and warmth.
The things least apparent, those below and behind, are embodied by the lower trigram Li (Fire), which is transforming into Chen (Thunder). As part of this process, brightness and warmth are giving way to movement, initiative, and action.

24. Fu / Return (The Turning Point)
	above K'UN THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH below CHêN THE AROUSING, THUNDER
The idea of a turning point arises from the fact that after the dark lines have pushed all of the light lines upward and out of the hexagram, another light line enters the hexagram from below. The time of darkness is past. The winter solstice brings the victory of light. This hexagram is linked with the eleventh month, the month of the solstice (December-January). THE JUDGMENT RETURN. Success. Going out and coming in without error. Friends come without blame. To and fro goes the way. On the seventh day comes return. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. After a time of decay comes the turning point. The powerful light that has been banished returns. There is movement, but it is not brought about by force. The upper trigram K'un is characterized by devotion; thus the movement is natural, arising spontaneously. For this reason the transformation of the old becomes easy. The old is discarded and the new is introduced. Both measures accord with the time; therefore no harm results. Societies of people sharing the same views are formed. But since these groups come together in full public knowledge and are in harmony with the time, all selfish separatist tendencies are excluded, and no mistake is made. The idea of RETURN is based on the course of nature. The movement is cyclic, and the course completes itself. Therefore it is not necessary to hasten anything artificially. Everything comes of itself at the appointed time. This is the meaning of heaven and earth. All movements are accomplished in six stages, and the seventh brings return. Thus the winter solstice, with which the decline of the year begins, comes in the seventh month after the summer solstice; so too sunrise comes in the seventh double hour after sunset. Therefore seven is the number of the young light, and it arises when six, the number of the great darkness, is increased by one. In this way the state of rest gives place to movement. THE IMAGE Thunder within the earth: The image of THE TURNING POINT. Thus the kings of antiquity closed the passes At the time of solstice. Merchants and strangers did not go about, And the ruler Did not travel through the provinces. The winter solstice has always been celebrated in China as the resting time of the year—a custom that survives in the time of rest observed at the new year. In winter the life energy, symbolized by thunder, the Arousing, is still underground. Movement is just at its beginning; therefore it must be strengthened by rest so that it will not be dissipated by being used prematurely. This principle, i.e., of allowing energy that is renewing itself to be reinforced by rest, applies to all similar situations. The return of health after illness, the return of understanding after an estrangement: everything must be treated tenderly and with care at the beginning, so that the return may lead to a flowering. THE LINES Nine at the beginning means: Return from a short distance. No need for remorse. Great good fortune. Slight digressions from the good cannot be avoided, but one must turn back in time, before going too far. This is especially important in the development of character; every faintly evil thought must be put aside immediately, before it goes too far and takes root in the mind. Then there is no cause for remorse, and all goes well. Six in the second place means: Quiet return. Good fortune. Return always calls for a decision and is an act of self-mastery. It is made easier if a man is in good company. If he can bring himself to put aside pride and follow the example of good men, good fortune results. Six in the third place means: Repeated return. Danger. No blame. There are people of a certain inner instability who feel a constant urge to reverse themselves. There is danger in continually deserting the good because of uncontrolled desires, then turning back to it again because of a better resolution. However, since this does not lead to habituation in evil, a general inclination to overcome the defect is not wholly excluded/ Six in the fourth place means: Walking in the midst of others, One returns alone. A man is in a society composed of inferior people, but is connected spiritually with a strong and good friend, and this makes him turn back alone. Although nothing is said of reward and punishment, this return is certainly favorable, for such a resolve to choose the good brings its own reward. Six in the fifth place means: Noblehearted return. No remorse. When the time for return has come, a man should not take shelter in trivial excuses, but should look within and examine himself. And if he has done something wrong he should make a noblehearted resolve to confess his fault. No one will regret having taken this road. Six at the top means: Missing the return. Misfortune. Misfortune from within and without. If armies are set marching in this way, One will in the end suffer a great defeat, Disastrous for the ruler of the country. For ten years It will not be possible to attack again. If a man misses the right time for return, he meets with misfortune. The misfortune has its inner cause in a wrong attitude toward the world. The misfortune coming upon him for without results from this wrong attitude. What is pictured here is blind obstinacy and the judgment that is visited upon it.

Ching – The Well

48. Ching – The Well

– –

—– above K’an The Abysmal, Water

– –

—–

—– below Sun The Gentle, Wind

– –

The Judgement

The Well. The town may be changed,

But the well cannot be changed.

It neither decreases nor increases.

They come and go and draw from the well.

If one gets down almost to the water

And the rope does not go all the way,

Or the jug breaks, it brings misfortune.

The Image

Water over wood: the image of the Well.

Thus the superior man encourages the people at their work,

And exhorts them to help one another.

The Lines

Six at the beginning means:

One does not drink the mud of the well.

No animals come to an old well.

Nine in the second place means:

At the wellhole one shoots fishes.

The jug is broken and leaks.

Nine in the third place means:

The well is cleaned, but no one drinks from it.

This is my heart’s sorrow,

For one might draw from it.

If the king were clear-minded,

Good fortune might be enjoyed in common.

Six in the fourth place means:

The well is being lined. No blame.

Nine in the fifth place means:

In the well there is a clear, cold spring

From which one can drink.

Six at the top means:

One draws from the well

Without hindrance.

It is dependable.

Supreme good fortune.

via Ching – The Well.

     37.   Chia J^en / The Family [The Clan]

     ----------
     ----------        above    Sun    The Gentle, Wind
     ---- ----
     ----------
     ---- ----        below    Li     The Clinging, Flame
     ----------

     The Judgement

          The Family. The perseverance of the woman furthers.

     The Image

          Wind comes forth from fire:
          The image of the Family.
          Thus the superior man has substance in his words
          And duration in his way of life.

  64.   Wei Chi / Before Completion

     ----------
     ---- ----        above    Li     The Clinging, Flame
     ----------
     ---- ----
     ----------        below    K'an   The Abysmal, Water
     ---- ----

     The Judgement

          Before Completion. Success.
          But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing,
          Gets his tail in the water,
          There is nothing that would further.

     The Image

          Fire over water:
          The image of the condition before transition.
          Thus the superior man is careful
          In the differentiation of things,
          So that each finds its place.

     The Lines

     Six in the third place means:
          Before completion, attack brings misfortune.
          It furthers one to cross the great water.

     Nine in the fourth place means:
          Perseverance brings good fortune.
          Remorse disappears.
          Shock, thus to discipline the Devil's Country.
          For three years, great realms are awarded.

     18.   Ku / Work on What Has Been Spoiled [Decay]

     ----------
     ---- ----        above    K^en    Keeping Still, Mountain
     ---- ----
     ----------
     ----------        below    Sun    The Gentle, Wind
     ---- ----

     The Judgement

          Work on What Has Been Spoiled
          Has supreme success.
          It furthers one to cross the great water.
          Before the starting point, three days.
          After the starting point, three days.

     The Image

          The wind blows low on the mountain:
          The image of Decay.
          Thus the superior man stirs up the people
          And strengthens their spirit.

K’un – The Receptive

---

2. K’un – The Receptive

– –
– — above K’un The Receptive, Earth
– –
– –
– — below K’un The Receptive, Earth
– –

The Judgement

The Receptive brings about sublime success,
Furthering through the perseverance of a mare.
If the superior man undertakes something and tries to lead,
He goes astray;
But if he follows, he finds guidance.
It is favorable to find friends in the west and south,
To forego friends in the east and north.
Quiet perseverance brings good fortune.

The Image

The earth’s condition is receptive devotion.
Thus the superior man who has breadth of character
Carries the outer world.

The Lines

Six at the beginning means:
When there is hoarfrost underfoot,
Solid ice is not far off.

() Six in the second place means:
Straight, square, great.
Without purpose,
Yet nothing remains unfurthered.

Six in the third place means:
Hidden lines.
One is able to remain persevering.
If by chance you are in the service of a king,
Seek not works, but bring to completion.

Six in the fourth place means:
A tied-up sack. No blame, no praise.

Six in the fifth place means:
A yellow lower garment brings supreme good fortune.

Six at the top means:
Dragons fight in the meadow.
Their blood is black and yellow.

When all the lines are sixes, it means:
Lasting perseverance furthers.

My free reading today from: Here

On this day I asked the question:  Will my friend succeed and bring me business?

	The present is embodied in Hexagram 42 – I (Increase): There will be advantage in every movement which shall be undertaken, and it will even be advantageous to cross the great stream.
	The second line, divided, shows parties adding to the stores of its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells whose oracles cannot be opposed. Let him persevere in being firm and correct, and there will be good fortune. Let the king, having the virtues thus distinguished, employ them in presenting his offerings to God, and there will be good fortune.
	The fourth line, divided, shows its subject pursuing the due course. His advice to his prince is followed. He can with advantage be relied on in such a movement as that of removing the capital.
	The situation is shifting, and Yang (the active masculine force) is gaining ground.
	The future is embodied in Hexagram 10 – Lu (Treading Carefully): One treads on the tail of a tiger, which does not bite him. There will be progress and success.
	The things most apparent, those above and in front, are embodied by the upper trigram Sun (Wind), which is tansforming into Chi’en (Heaven). As part of this process, penetration and following are giving way to strength and creativity.
	The things least apparent, those below and behind, are embodied by the lower trigram Chen (Thunder), which is transforming into Tui (Lake). As part of this process, movement, initiative, and action

The following reading is from a site that a friend sent me that she has used for years.  The question that I asked was:  Shall I continue to seek recognition as an artist?

The Reading:
7. Shih / The Army

—- —-
—- —- above K’un The Receptive, Earth
—- —-
—- —-
———- below K’an The Abysmal, Water
—- —-

The Judgement

The Army. The army needs perseverance
And a strong man.
Good fortune without blame.

The Image

In the middle of the earth is water:
The image of the Army.
Thus the superior man increases his masses
By generosity toward the people.

The Lines

() Nine in the second place means:
In the midst of the army.
Good fortune. No blame.
The king bestows a triple decoration.

2. K’un / The Receptive

—- —-
—- —- above K’un The Receptive, Earth
—- —-
—- —-
—- —- below K’un The Receptive, Earth
—- —-

The Judgement

The Receptive brings about sublime success,
Furthering through the perseverance of a mare.
If the superior man undertakes something and tries to lead,
He goes astray;
But if he follows, he finds guidance.
It is favorable to find friends in the west and south,
To forego friends in the east and north.
Quiet perseverance brings good fortune.

The Image

The earth’s condition is receptive devotion.
Thus the superior man who has breadth of character
Carries the outer world.

---

This is a representation of the first hexagram by the artist John Shklov of as it symbolizes “the creative.” It is a watercolor on watercolor board, with a Koa frame. The artwork itself is 11×14 and the frame is 17×20. Contact the artist for particulars including price and shipping details.
I Ching (The Meanings of the 8 Trigrams and 64 Hexagrams)