999787 · 14.1.2.3Hexagram 14

Fulfilment.

Line image

The only activity here is the acceptance of feeling (line 5), not even of active feeling but of the potentiality of feeling and also the feeling of potentiality. This hexagram is called “great possessions” and we always possess things for something we expect from them—peace, security, pleasure, or power for instance—and this is their potentiality. Having a lot of potentiality is about having a lot of possibilities.

Also this acceptance (by line 5) of the inactivity of intuitive feeling of the life force (line 2) can be expressed as accepting that we “make nothing of” the life force, meaning that we let it be what it will.

Trigram image

Here we observe potentiality through the hesitant attentiveness of the trigram Li. This makes it a tao of many outlets, for by accepting the feeling of potentiality without trying to bring it to manifestation we will next move into activity through the natural flow of the cycle. Because of this the moving lines of the hexagram do not lead us against the flow, as in many hexagrams, although they do lead us out of it. Potentiality becomes manifest because it is its nature to do so, not because we ourselves do anything.

In a wider view of this tao, our potentiality is to express what we have kept out of our view (this is our karma) because the power of identity rests upon its ability to be ignorant of “the other”; then this tao becomes a recognition of the reality of feelings we are not having (recognition of line 2 which is yang). This is recognition of the whole reality and so is great possession indeed.

The Chinese Oracle

Great possession.
Greatest success.

Comments

Possession of what is great; it is wide awareness that creates this success (possession of a great lot of meanness does not). This is about the greatness of what is possessed, not its great quantity, and as we know that identity narrows its spectrum of reality as it grows and becomes more specifically itself, this possession of wide awareness shows a maturity of identity where the attention is again turned to the whole.

Manifestations

The pattern
Creative power
comes from the inner reaches
to shine on the returning tide
which possesses the day.
For humans
The energy now comes
as the flow is inwards.
It is a gift of beauty,
of power mellow from experience.
In nature
The sun shines all day,
setting in glorious moments
for which it has prepared.
In forms we make
The wise ruler becomes sage
whose certainty of touch
knows the outcome
after living the pattern.

Changing Lines

Line 1 goes yin

life force shows more change

The emerging energy moves out naturally, in this tao we do not have an activity-seeking attitude.

The Chinese Image
No involvement with evil.
No error.
Being aware of difficulties
he remains free of error.

That our own activity would create problems is evident, so evident that we are able to follow the tao and do not get involved with these difficulties.

Line 2 goes yin

intuitive feeling more active

In this tao where our attention is open to feeling (line 5 is yin) if our feelings are active, as they become here, there is no blockage to the flow.

The Chinese Image
Large waggons for transport.
If there is a direction
it can be taken without error.

Open feeling is very versatile and will carry our lives in whatever direction is suitable. Directions are suitable when they are there in our circumstances, if we need to create them with our desires there would be error but here we can follow and the tao contains all that we need and think we need.

Line 3 goes yin

outer world changes more

The potential feeling becomes manifest activity. We are not manipulating the energy into activity but accepting what it does, going with our circumstances; thus we are in direct communication with whole reality.

The Chinese Image
A prince in an exchange with heaven; something a mean man could not do.

When we are identified narrowly (the mean man) we cannot be aware of whole reality by the very nature of identification.

Line 4 goes yin

accepting the outer state more

Our involvement in the lack of activity of the outer world (line 3) in this tao is not because we are worried by it, we can see the difference between our ego-activity and that of the life force; we see that if our activity is not that of the life force we become separate or out of phase with it, and being out of phase is full of effort.

The Chinese Image
He restrains his great resources.
No error.

This also implies that realizing that others have different needs, we do not impose our way upon them.

Line 5 goes yang

less awareness of intuition

Here we become less aware of a feeling of stillness and one of two consequences may arise: either we become still as our actions come directly from our centre of stillness, or our disinterest in stillness shows itself in an interest in activity. In this tao the first of these is indicated, but our activity-seeking identity may also be active.

The Chinese Image
He who shows inner truth and dignity has good fortune.

Inner truth and dignity are attributes that come from the still centre of our being; acting from there we remain whole during action instead of becoming polarized and identified.

Line 6 goes yin

our inner being accepts more

To become more involved in the emerging energy of this tao is not to be in possession of it but to be possessed within it.

The Chinese Image
He has heaven’s blessing which brings great good fortune and success.

He is blessed by heaven because the experience comes upon us like a gift, not by effort. What occurs is the achievement of the life force—but we are a part of this and in no way left out.

Secondary HexagramHexagram 35

Primal forces create change.

Line image

The manifesting, lower, half of the pattern is active throughout and the upper, receptive half is manifested by feeling (line 5); so the tao is about activity of manifestation which we join in feeling but we do not attach ourselves either outwardly or inwardly (lines 4 and 6 are yang). This is developing our outer-inner relationship; we stand between them and feel.

Trigram image

We hesitate to identify our inner being in this tao (Li) and our identified self cannot take advantage of our circumstances (K’an). This slows our response and stills our outer flow of activity (Kên). The common name of the hexagram is “progress”; when we have doubt and hesitation in our being the question of progress arises.

The Chinese Oracle

Progress.
The prince who achieves tranquillity is given many horses.
He is granted audience three times in one day.

Comments

This image tells us what the progress is about. Our reality is ruled by what we distinguish or identify, so this process is the king and ruler and his progeny the prince is our identified self. Having audience with the king is being privy to the process of identifying, so our reality here is not in what we identify but in our being part of the cyclic process that rules our reality. The cycle is symbolized by “one day” and its changes by the number three; here is the progress, and without tranquillity we cannot be part of this; the many horses symbolize that many directions become available at one time when we do not identify in the process of the cycle.

Manifestations

The pattern
Formation.
Primal forces
in the making of things.
For humans
He makes himself anew,
his karma moving
into a new relationship
accomplishes his growth.
In nature
The earth heaves restlessly,
reshaped by its own power
of the depths.
In forms we make
Control of change
occurring of itself
is the hinge of power.

Changing Lines

Line 1 goes yang

life force shows less change

This tao is about being in the flow and not manipulating it. Here the life force ebbs and this is not our doing, so if we just continue to be, the flow will come back.

The Chinese Image
Progress is held back.
Continuance in the way brings good fortune.
Calm confidence in the face of disbelief is no error.

By remaining alert amongst small activity we will not only see its first signs of regrowth but also experience awareness with no objective. This change in experience is itself progress although we cannot conceive it until it happens.

Line 2 goes yang

intuitive feeling less active

Our intuitive feeling of the life force diminishes while we are attached to progress outside in the world. In this tao outer activity is stilled (in trigram Kên) so looking for activity here is disappointing.

The Chinese Image
Progress with sorrow.
Continuance in the way
brings good fortune.
Blessing is received
from the grandmother.

The grandmother symbolizes an old generation of feeling, past feeling, and past feeling coming into the present is emotion; so as we feel less of our present circumstances, past feelings find their release; they needed release so this is a blessing.

Line 3 goes yang

outer world changes less

We normally make activity in order to control our circumstances; here we do not do this but trust in the tao of progress itself.

The Chinese Image
All are trusting.
Regret disappears.

To live without manipulating requires giving up our hoping; we can only regret if we have been hoping for something.

Line 4 goes yin

accepting the outer state more

The progress of being in the flow is towards balancing the inner and the outer; if we keep returning to our outer reality for a sense of realness we repeat habit tracks.

The Chinese Image
Progress like the movements of a rodent.
Continuance brings danger.

The rodents have typically quick, darting movements, running for cover, and here it is as though we were using the outer reality as safe cover. We feel unsafe when we cannot distinguish and identify our circumstances but the greater danger lies in our being trapped in distinguished reality as the only way of being that we can recognize.

Line 5 goes yang

less awareness of intuition

In this tao progress is toward the balance of inner and outer (the non-defined and the defined), so in this moving line we are following the tao as we become less involved in identifying our feelings—we still feel but our mind does not take over the feeling.

The Chinese Image
Regret disappears.
Heed not gain or loss,
it is movement that brings good fortune.
Everything is furthered.

The choice between gain and loss is something we experience by going out from our centre into definition; without this there is no regret, no hope to be dashed. When we act in the movement of the moment everything is furthered, not just that which would lead to a particular outcome.

Line 6 goes yin

our inner being accepts more

In this tao the inner being holds back from identifying itself, but here it does accept responsibility for its circumstances, which has dangers in a tao of not having particular identification.

The Chinese Image
Progress with the horns
to overcome the rebels.
Correct. Dangerous.
There is regret.

To move out of the centre to any identified state involves regret, but to deal with identified parts of our being, a stance is necessary—it is necessary and so correct and it is also dangerous in case we lose the centre again.

Nuclear HexagramHexagram 43

A peak of accumulation.

Line image

The life force emerges and manifests without activity (lines 1, 2, and 3) and although we accept this stillness in our inner being (line 6) we are not accepting inactivity in our feelings nor in our outer world (lines 5 and 4). So there is a certain amount of stress here towards action, as though we wish to break out of a confined situation; we are watching the emerging life force for signs of movement. The common name of the hexagram is “resolution” or “breakthrough”.

Trigram image

All the trigrams are Ch’ien except the top one and nothing is manifestly active except that the inner is preparing activity (Tui). This flow is beautiful if we are at peace with it, but has dangers and is stressful if we are not; there is energy building up and our outer identity has no role in this, so the danger is from aspects of our identity trying to force the issue in order to gain expression.

The Chinese Oracle

Resolution in proclaiming the truth
at the king’s court. Danger.
Announce it to your own city.
Do not carry arms.
To have direction is favourable.

Comments

The king’s court is peopled by aspects of our identity because we, as identified beings, are ruled by the identifying process, our king. It is necessary that they all know what the situation is so that they do not “carry arms” or try to force their way. If we have direction then we are not looking for one and then the danger does not arise.

Manifestations

The pattern
The power of the creative
withholds action,
building up such a store
it brims over.
For humans
The time of accumulation
reaches its peak.
The time for movement approaches.
Do not squander it
there is power enough.
In nature
The lake has risen,
it must flow out
and water the land.
In forms we make
When the rich and powerful
do not notice
the poor and weak,
catastrophe threatens.

Changing Lines

Line 1 goes yin

life force shows more change

The first sign of inner movement is not the time to make outer action. We should not be too eager or we shall not have the support of the life force and whatever we do will be superficial and unsatisfactory.

The Chinese Image
To set out with a show of strength and then fail is a mistake.

Line 2 goes yin

intuitive feeling more active

Activity is identity’s chosen role; here we feel the inactivity of the life force and fear for our ability to act.

The Chinese Image
Warning cries at night.
Armed, no fear.

In the darkness (activity is the “light” of consciousness) there are calls for light, for activity to avert extinction of our ability to identify, but we are armed with the light of the tao—the movement will come when it comes, we need not fear to miss but we will stay alert, that is how we are armed.

Line 3 goes yin

outer world changes more

Here we are not peaceful enough to withstand the anticipation of the tao and we create outer activity which will divert the life flow.

The Chinese Image
Powerful cheekbones.
Misfortune.
The superior man is resolute
and walks alone splashed with mud.
They speak against him
but he is blameless.

The cheekbones enable us to read determination in another’s face; here there is this power of self-will which is misfortunate in this context because no amount of it can be effective and it produces stress with no flow for its relief. The wide-seeing superior man is just going about his business, not trying to push things, and this is correct in our present circumstances.

Line 4 goes yin

accepting the outer state more

Here we are involving our identity in outer inactivity, which is to say we are worried about it and consider it a problem to be solved; this is an impatience for activity and is not supported by the life force.

The Chinese Image
His thighs are without skin
and walking is difficult.
If he would be led like a sheep
all would be well, but what
is said is not heard.

The muscles of the thigh carry us forward, and here there is no support from the life force if we go forward. If we were following the life force we would not have this problem.

Line 5 goes yin

more awareness of intuition

Our intuitive state is inactive (line 2) so here we become aware of this lack of feeling. This has dangers in this tao because unless we can persevere with quiet feeling, our interest will arouse desire for active feeling; if we create activity with desire we will miss the next movement of circumstances.

The Chinese Image
Ground-clinging plants.
The middle way is free of blame.

The middle way is neither identified outside nor inside, it is non-identified, clinging to the real or wholeness or earth. Staying with what exists, not searching, is the advice contained here.

Line 6 goes yang

our inner being accepts less

This whole tao is a watching for potential to be manifest and this sixth line is the watcher of the emerging life force; if we cease to be alert it will catch us by surprise and we will be out of step with it.

The Chinese Image
No warning.
Misfortune.