THE QUESTION: HOW WILL THE SITUATION EVOLVE?

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Listen.
The here and now is all what we have.
(from the I Ching, or the Book of Changes: about where we are)

䷮ 47. K’un – Exhaustion
↓
䷧ 40. Hsieh - Deliverance



47. K’UN – EXHAUSTION

The Judgement: Exhaustion. Success. The great man brings about good fortune. No blame. There will be things to say: do not believe.

Note to the Judgement: Exhaustion. Solid lines are surrounded [by dashed lines]. "Dangerous" and "joyful" make Exhaustion; «success» is present too, even if it's reserved for a lord. «The great man brings about good fortune», because solid lines are in central position. «There will be things to say: do not believe», because the importance given to words will come to an end.

The Image:  There is no water in the lake: the image of Exhaustion. Thus the superior man stakes his life on following his own will.

Series: to ascend without taking breath will certainly bring to exhaustion. That's what follows the sign: Exhaustion..
Mixed signs: Exhaustion means mutual encounter.
Appended judgements: Exhaustion is proof of virtue. Exhaustion brings to doubt, and from doubt to success. In exhaustion you learn to put out your own resentment.

9 in the 5th place (changing line)
His nose and feet are cut off.
Oppression at the hands of the man with the purple knee bands.
Joy comes softly.
It furthers one to make offerings and libations.

Somebody who is fond of men has been exhausted from top downwards (that's the sense of the nose and feet cut off). No help from those who are supposed to contribute to common salvation (ministers used to wear purple knee bands). Yet things will slowly get better. Before that moment, one should appear before God in deep meditation and, for the good of all, pray and offer sacrifices.

Change

40. HSIEH – DELIVERANCE
above: Chen, the Arousing, Thunder
below: K'an, the Abysmal, Water
Now motion gets out of danger. The obstacle is gone, difficulties untangling. The deliverance has not taken place yet, it has rather just begun and the sign shows its different stages.

THE JUDGEMENT
Deliverance. The southwest furthers.
If there is no longer a place where to go,
return brings good fortune.
If there is still a place where one has to go,
then hastening brings good fortune.
This is a time when tensions and complications begin to ease. During this time, one should go back to usual condition as soon as possible: that's what the southwest means. These times of quick changing have greatest importance. Like a rain of deliverance that loosens tension in the atmosphere and makes all buds blossom, a time of freedom from oppressing burdens acts on life as deliverance and spur. But there is one important thing: during this time, one should not exaggerate his triumph. Advance just until it's necessary. Once deliverance is achieved, it furthers to go back to the common rules of life. If some residue is left behind, one should exhaust it as soon as possible in order to sweep it all away before any delay could interfere.

THE IMAGE
Thunder and rain set in:
the image of deliverance.
Thus the enlightened man pardons mistakes and forgives misdeeds.
The storm acts on the air and purifies the sky. That's what the enlightened man does with men's mistakes and sins, which generate states of tension: clearing them, he performs deliverance. But when wrongs are evident he does not insist, he rather skips over mistakes – involuntary transgressions – like the rumble of thunder wanes in the distance; and he forgives faults – voluntary transgressions – like water washes dirt off everything.

THE QUESTION: HOW DO WE BRACE OURSELVES FOR THE STORM?

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Listen.
The here and now is all what we have.
(from the I Ching, or the Book of Changes: about where we are)

䷯ 48. Ching – The Well
↓
䷧ 5. Hsu – Waiting


48. TSING – THE WELL
above: K'an, the Abysmal, Water
below: Sun, the Gentle, Wind
The wood lies under, water above. The wood dips down in earth to bring up water. Here is the image of the ancient Chinese sweep-well. "Wood under" doesn't refer to buckets at all, which in ancient times were made with clay, but to the wooden pole that drills for water from the well with its motion. This image alludes also to the domain of plants, that draw water from earth to their lymphatic vessels. The well from which water is drawn, moreover, contains the idea of the inexhaustible source of feed.

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.
Occasionally in ancient China capital cities used to change, sometimes the reason was a better place, sometimes succession in dynasty. Architectural styles have changed over centuries, but the well's shape – from the remotest period to the present – has remained unchanged. Thus, the well is an image of human social organization related to the most primitive necessities of life, independent of any political arrangement. Political arrangements change, and so do nations, but human life with its needs remains the same. Nothing can be done about it. But this life is also inexhaustible. It does not decrease nor increase, and it is for all. Bloodlines come and go, and all avail themselves of life in its inexhaustible flow.
For a good public or social administration, however, two things are necessary. On the one hand, to go down to the foundations of life: any superficiality in its arrangement, which leaves the deepest vital needs unsatisfied, will come out to be imperfect as if no attempt of arrangement had been made. On the other hand, any negligence that would make the jar break is equally baleful: when, for example, a state exaggerates military protection to the extent that wars are provoked (which, in their turn, spoil state's power), this is breaking the jar.
The sign has a meaning for single individuals too. In spite of the difference among human talents and cultures, human nature in its fundamentals is the same for everyone. And everyone can, through self-development, get to the inexhaustible source of the divine nature of human essence. But even at this point, two dangers lie in wait: first, to care about one's own culture may not let to penetrate until the roots of humankind and get one struck into conventions (this kind of semi-culture is detrimental just as coarseness); or second, one may suffer a sudden breakdown and then overlook the culture of his own Nature.

6 in the 1st place (changing line)
One does not drink the mud of the well.
No animals come to an old well.
If a man wanders in marshy lowlands, his life will sink into mud. That man will lose importance in front of humanity. Thus to the man who wastes himself, nobody will come close. Finally, nobody will care about him anymore.

Change

5. HSU – WAITING
above: K'an, the Abysmal, Water
below: Ch'ien, the Creative, Heaven
Every being needs to be fed from above. But the feed is released at its time and needs waiting. The sign shows clouds in the sky dropping rain, which livens up everything that grows and gives food and beverage to mankind. This rain will come at its time. One cannot force it to fall, one must wait for it. The idea of waiting is also suggested by the qualities of the two primeval signs: power inside, in front of it danger. Power in front of danger does not act hastily, but it can wait; while weakness in front of danger ends up getting nervous and doesn't have the patience to wait.

THE JUDGEMENT
Waiting.
If you are sincere, you have light and success.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.
Waiting doesn't mean hoping in vain. The one who waits has the inner certainty to reach the goal. Just this inner certainty gives the light that, only, brings to success. This leads to the perseverance that carries health and confers the power to cross the great water.
There is a danger in front of us and we must overcome it. Weakness and impatience are ineffective. Only who is strong will be able to face his own destiny, because he is able to persevere in wait, on the strength of his inner certainty. This strength shows out with inexorable truth. When one can see things how they are, looking at them right in the face, from events will rise a light that reveals the way out. To this revelation, perseverant action must follow; because one can face destiny only going firmly against it. Then one can cross the great water, that is, take a decision and overcome danger.

THE IMAGE
Clouds rise up to heaven:
the image of Waiting.
Thus the enlightened man eats and drinks, is joyous and of good cheer.
When clouds rise up to heaven, it is a sign of rain. The only thing to do is waiting for it to fall. And so happens in life, when a destiny is preparing. Until the moment has not come, it's prudent not to give in to trouble nor to the will to shape the future through intervention and struggle. It's prudent instead to restfully accumulate strength for the body, eating and drinking, and for the spirit, being joyous and of good cheer. Destiny will come spontaneously, alone. Then you'll be ready.

THE QUESTION: NEW MOON, WE START TO GLIMPSE THE AWARENESS. HOW DO WE TURN THE LOOP INTO A FRETILE CIRCLE?

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Listen.
The here and now is all what we have.
(from the I Ching, or the Book of Changes: about where we are)

䷖ 23. Po – Splitting apart
↓
䷢ 35. Chin – Progress


23. PO – SPLITTING APART
above: Kên, Keeping Still, Mountain
below K'un, the Receptive, Earth
Dark lines in their rise are about to bring down even the last strong and light line, wearing it away with their action. The wretch and dark fights with the enlightened and strong, not directly, but rather eroding the other inside with its imperceptible action, so that in the end it falls. The sign represents the image of a house. The upper line is the roof. When the roof crumbles, the house falls down in pieces. The sign is coordinated to the ninth month (August-September). The yin power is approaching increasingly stronger, and it's about to wipe out the yang power completely.

THE JUDGEMENT
Splitting apart.
It does not further one to go anywhere.
In this time, the wretch is pushing forward and is right about to get rid of the last strong and enlightened men. Since this is related to the course of time, for the enlightened man it is not convenient to undertake something in these circumstances. During these adverse times, it's opportune to infer the right behavior from images and from their quality. The lower sign stays for the earth, whose qualities are compliance and dedication; the upper sign stays for the mountain, whose quality is serenity. Here is the advice to adapt to bad times and to stay still. This is not about human plots, but about conditions of time which also show an alternation of growth and decrease, of fullness and emptiness, following celestial laws. To act against these conditions of time is not allowed. That's why it is not cowardice, but wisdom, if we give up avoiding to act.

THE IMAGE
The mountain rests on the earth:
the image of splitting apart.
Thus, those above can ensure their position
only by giving generously to those below.
The mountain rests on earth. If it's steep and narrow and its base is not wide, it is bound to collapse. Only rising from the earth wide and big, instead of steep and arrogant, its position is safe. And so is for lords, who rest on the wide base of people. Lords also should be generous and benevolent like the all-carrying earth; then they will make their position safe, like a mountain's stillness.

6 in the 4th place (changing line)
The bed is split up to the skin.
Misfortune.
Here the catastrophe reaches the body; no more just the place where one rests. No admonition follows, nor any other remark. Misfortune is at its zenith, no way to put it off anymore.

Change

35. CHIN – PROGRESS
above: Li, the Clinging, Flame
below: K'un, the Receptive, Earth
The sign represents the sun rising over the earth; therefore, it's the image of fast and easy progress that, in turn, means always greater expansion and clearness.

THE JUDGEMENT
Progress.
The powerful prince is honored with horses in large numbers.
In a single day he is granted audience three times.
The example depicts a time when a strong and faithful prince gathered other princes in peace and obedience before the great king, so that the latter generously honored him and held him close.
Here lies a double idea. Real progress starts its action with a man in dependent position; a man that others keenly follow, since they consider him like one of them. This leader has enough inner clearness not to abuse his great influence, which he uses instead in favor of his lord. On the other hand, the lord – free from jealousy – richly gifts the great man and holds him lastingly by his side. An enlightened lord and a faithful servant: these are the conditions for great progress.

THE IMAGE
The sun rises over the earth:
the image of Progress.
Thus the superior man himself brightens his bright virtue.
The sunlight, rising over the earth, is bright by nature. But the more the sun rises high, the more it gets out of the haze and brightens farther with its original purity in every direction. Just as men's true nature is good in its origins, but blurred by earthly ties: it needs to be purified in order to shine with its original brightness [This is the topic thoroughly covered in the Superior Culture (Ta Huo)].

THE QUESTION: WHAT'S THE IMAGE THAT AWAITS US FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS?

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Listen.
The here and now is all what we have.
(dal Libro dei Mutamenti: sul dove siamo / From the Book of Changes: about where we are)

䷞ 31. Hsien – Influence
↓
䷮ 47. K’un – Exhaustion


31. HSIEN – INFLUENCE
above: Tui, the Joyous, Lake
below: Kên, Keeping Still, Mountain
The sign's name means "general", "universal" and, in a figurative sense, "to stimulate", "to influence". The upper sign is Tui, the joyous; the lower is Kên, keeping still. The rigid lower sign influences with its constant repressing action the feeble upper sign, which responds with serenity and joy to that influence. Kên, the lower sign, is the younger son; the upper one, Tui, is the younger daughter. What is represented here in some way is reciprocal gender attraction. Moreover, the male is the one who has to take the initiative and place himself under the female when he's preparing to make a proposal of marriage. Just as the first section of the Book starts with the signs of sky and earth as fundamentals of whatever exists, so does the second section with the signs of proposal and marriage as fundamentals of every social relation.

THE SENTENCE
Influence. Success.
Perseverance furthers.
To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.
The weak stays above, the strong lies under; in this way their forces attract each other until they come together. This produces success, since every success is based on the effects of mutual attraction. Inner peace with outer joy prevents joy from exceeding the limit and keeps it into the right size. That's the sense of the following advice: perseverance furthers. With this indeed, the proposal – for which the man who is strong puts itself under the woman who is weak and demonstrates care to her – is distinguished from seduction. This attraction of peers is a universal law of nature. The sky and the earth attract each other mutually, giving birth to every being. The wise man influences men's hearts through a similar attraction, leading the world to peace. From the attractions that things produce, one can recognize the nature of every being in the sky as on the earth.

THE IMAGE
A lake on the mountain:
the image of Influence.
Thus the superior man encourages people to approach him
by his readiness to receive them.
A lake is on the mountain, which receives the influence of its moisture. The mountain benefits from this situation because its peak doesn't emerge, it's hollow instead. The image suggests the advice of being innerly welcoming and free, in order to stay amenable to good advices. To the one who pretends to know everything better than the others, men will soon stop giving advice.

6 in the 2nd place (changing line)
The influence shows itself in the calves of the legs. Misfortune!
Tarrying brings good fortune.
The calf follows the foot in its movement. By its own it cannot move nor keep still. It's a non-independent movement and, since it cannot control itself, it is misfortuned. One needs to wait serenely until a real influence comes to push to action. Just then one will be safe.

9 in the 3rd place (changing line)
The influence shows itself in the thighs.
Holds to that which follows it.
To continue is humiliating.
Every heartbeat incites a move. Thighs move to the place for which the heart aims, without thinking; they comply with the heart and follow it. But for the life of men, this habit of moving after the influence of every whim is not good and, if it lasts, leads to humiliation. This takes along a triple observation: one shouldn't chase after every person one would influence, but rather one should know when to stop. Moreover, one shouldn't give up at once to the leader's whims. And, eventually, one should never forget the chance to resist in front of the influence of the heart. On this resistance is based human freedom.

Change

47. K’UN – EXHAUSTION
above: Tui, the Joyous, Lake
below: K'an, the Abysmal, Water
The lake is above, below lies water. The lake is empty, exhausted. The idea of exhaustion emerges in a further way: a dark line above keeps two light lines down; a light line below is closed between two dark lines. The upper sign belongs to the dark principle, while the inferior sign to the light one. So as enlightened men are exhausted and repressed from the wretch everywhere.

THE JUDGEMENT
Oppression. Success. Perseverance.
The great man brings about good fortune. No blame.
When one has something to say, it is not believed.
Times of misery are the opposite of success. But they can lead to success if the right man is found. Thus, when a strong man is oppressed, he doesn't lose his serenity in spite of danger and that serenity is the basis for further successes. It means perseverance, that is stronger than destiny. The one who gets innerly subdued by exhaustion, won't reach success. But the one who from need gets only bended, it will rise in him a strength to react that will show up over time. No wretch can do this. Only the great man brings about good fortune and gathers no blame. It's true, however, that at first any outer influence is denied to him, since his words have no effect. In times of need, therefore, it furthers to be strong inside and of few words outside.

THE IMAGE
There is no water in the lake:
the image of Exhaustion.
Thus the enlightened man stakes his life
on following his will.
When water drains away from the lake, the Lake is bound to dry up and exhaust. That's the destiny. That's the image of adverse destiny in human life. During these times, there is nothing to do but to accept our own destiny, remaining faithful to ourselves. But this bears on the deepest level of true essence, because only that level is superior to any outer destiny..