The Leadership I Ching

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING 2ND EDITION 2015

BOOKS BY PETER FRITZ WALTER

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING Your Daily Companion For Practical Guidance Second Expanded And Revised Edition, 2015 By Peter Fritz Walter

Published by Sirius-C Media Galaxy LLC 113 Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, Delaware, USA ©2015 Peter Fritz Walter. Some rights reserved. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License This publication may be distributed, used for an adaptation or for derivative works, also for commercial purposes, as long as the rights of the author are attributed. The attribution must be given to the best of the user’s ability with the information available. Third party licenses or copyright of quoted resources are untouched by this license and remain under their own license. The moral right of the author has been asserted Set in Palatino Designed by Peter Fritz Walter 2nd Edition, Expanded and Revised, 2015 Free Scribd Edition Publishing Categories Business & Economics / Leadership Publisher Contact Information [email protected] http://sirius-c-publishing.com Author Contact Information [email protected] About Dr. Peter Fritz Walter http://peterfritzwalter.com

About the Author Parallel to an international law career in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, Dr. Peter Fritz Walter (Pierre) focused upon fine art, cookery, astrology, musical performance, social sciences and humanities.

He started writing essays as an adolescent and received a high school award for creative writing and editorial work for the school magazine.

Upon finalizing his international law doctorate, he studied psychology and psychoanalysis and started writing both fiction and nonfiction works.

After a second career as a corporate trainer and personal coach, Pierre retired as a full-time writer, philosopher and consultant.

His nonfiction books emphasize a systemic, holistic, crosscultural and interdisciplinary perspective, while his fiction works and short stories focus upon education, philosophy, perennial wisdom, and the poetic formulation of an integrative worldview.

Pierre is a German-French bilingual native speaker and writes English as his 4th language after German, Latin and French. He also reads source literature for his research works in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Dutch.

All of Pierre’s books are hand-crafted and self-published, designed by the author. Pierre publishes via his Delaware company, Sirius-C Media Galaxy LLC, and under the imprints of IPUBLICA and SCM (Sirius-C Media).

In memory of Richard Wilhelm (1873-1930) A German sinologist, theologian, scholar and missionary who lived in China for twenty-five years, Richard Wilhelm has made the first translation for the West of the Book of Changes, in German entitled ‘I Ging: Das Buch der Wandlungen.’ This book, the result of a colossal scholarly achievement, was translated to English by Cary F. Baynes and published by Princeton University Press in the United States in 1950 (Bollingen Foundation). It contains an important Foreword by Carl Jung.

The author’s profits from this book are being donated to charity.

Contents Preface

13

How this Book Can Help You!

Introduction

31

The I Ching and HeartMath® Research

The Technique

45

A Road Map for Your First Consultation Watch Your Mood Get Prepared Ask Your Question Make the Hexagram The Moving Lines Reading the Hexagrams

Base Structure of the I Ching

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

What is Right Action? The Men of Old First Line Yang Second Line Yang Third Line Yang Forth Line Yang Fifth Line Yin Sixth Line Yin Patterns of Change Mastering Change The I Ching and Morality The I Ching and Emotions The Reflection Pattern The Karma Pattern Action Patterns Three Phases of Action Non-Action vs. Bold Action

The Hexagrams

111

64 Hexagrams and 384 Lines

1 Qian

113

Yang / Creative Energy / The Active Principle

2 Kun

117

Yin / Adaptive Energy / The Receptive Principle

3 TUN

121

Difficult Begin / Birth Pangs / To Be Stationed

4 MENG

125

Immaturity / Lacking Experience / The Undeveloped

5 XU

129

Waiting Patiently / Stagnation / Hesitation

6 SONG

133

Dispute / Conflict / Inner Struggle

7 SHI

137

The Army / Military Leadership / Collective Power

8 BI

141

Fellowship / Unity / Togetherness

9 XIAO CHU

145

Small Accumulation / Limitation / Incremental Progress

8

CONTENTS

10 LI

149

Conduct / Behavior / Attitude

11 TAI

153

Peace / Harmony / Success

12 PI

157

Obstacle / Adversity / Obstruction

13 TONG REN

161

Fellowship / Community / Uniting with People

14 DA YOU

165

Great Harvest / Power / Abundance

15 QIEN

169

Modesty / Humility / Moderation

16 YU

173

Enthusiasm / Harmony / Expansion

17 SUI

177

Compliance / Following / Diligence

18 GU

181

Correct Corruption / Improve Things / Act Against Decay

19 LIN

185

Advancing / Going Forward / Progress

20 GUAN

189

Contemplation / Stocktaking / Reflection

21 SHI HO

193

Biting Through Hardship / Correction / Reform

22 BI

197

Adornment / Beauty / Grace

23 BO

201

Erosion / Decline / Fragmentation

24 FU

205

Return / Renewal / Revival

25 WU WANG

209

Innocence / Unexpected Happening / Surprise

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26 DA CHU

213

Great Potential / Creative Energy / Great Power

27 YI

217

Nourishment / Nutrition / Self-Cultivation

28 DA GUO

221

Critical Mass / Great Excess / Imbalance

29 KAN

225

Watery Depths / Danger / Abyss

30 LI

229

Fire / Synergy / Cooperation

31 XIAN

233

Mutual Attraction / Wooing / Marriage

32 HENG

237

Constancy / Continuation / Perseverance

33 DUN

241

Retreat / Withdrawal / Going Backward

34 DA ZHUANG

245

Power of the Great / Great Strength / Use of Strength

35 JIN

249

Success / Progress / Advancement

36 MING YI

253

Time of Darkness / Ignorance / Difficulty

37 JIA REN

257

Family / The Clan / Group Life

38 KUI

261

Contradiction / Opposition / Disharmony

39 JIAN

265

Obstruction / Obstacle / Difficulty

40 JIE

269

Dissolution of the Problem / Release / Liberation

41 SUN

273

Sacrifice / Decrease / Reduce the Excessive

10

CONTENTS

42 YI

277

Benefit / Increase / Advantage

43 GUAI

281

Resolution / Decisiveness / Rushing Ahead

44 GOU

285

Contact / Encounter / Temptation

45 CUI

289

Congregation / Gathering / Harmonizing

46 SHENG

293

Rising / Progress / Going forward

47 KUN

297

Adversity / Exhaustion / Entrapment

48 JING

301

The Well / Water Hole / Reaching the Water

49 GE

305

Revolution / Reformation / Groundbreaking Change

50 DING

309

Cauldron / Harmonization / Stability

51 ZHEN

313

Force of Thunder / Shock / The Arousing

52 GEN

317

Keeping Still / Impediment / Non-action

53 JIAN

321

Gradual Progress / Step-by-Step Plan / Positive Development

54 GUI MEI

325

The Maiden / Marriage / Subordination

55 FENG

329

Peak / Abundance / Over-Capacity

56 LU

333

The Wanderer / Traveling / On the Road

57 XUN

337

Gentle Wind / Conformity / Submissiveness

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58 DUI

341

Joyousness / Enjoyment / Contentment

59 HUAN

345

Scattered / Dispersion / Dissolution

60 JIE

349

Self-Restraint / Limits / Limitation

61 ZHONG FU

353

Inner Truth / Insight / Faithfulness

62 XIAO GUO

357

Predominance of the Small / Restraint / Minor Excess

63 JI JI

361

After Crossing the Water / Already Done / After Completion

64 WEI JI

365

Before Crossing the Water / Not Yet Done / Before Completion

Annex

369

Book Reviews Books Reviewed

Bibliography

381

Contextual Bibliography

64 Hexagrams

399

A Synopsis

Personal Notes

401

12

Preface How this Book Can Help You!

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

There is nothing constant in the universe. All ebb and flow, and every shape that’s born, bear in its womb the seeds of change. —Ovid, Metamorphoses This book is not only about the I Ching or the age-old Art of Divination, and it’s not just another interpretation. In this case it would not bring something new and original to you, dear Reader. There are now countless books on the market that extensively explain, annotate and interpret the ancient Book of Changes, as the I Ching is called by most scholars. The present interpretation of the old wisdom book has grown with me over the last twenty years. I have consulted half a dozen of famed interpretations over the years starting with the perhaps most classic one by Richard Wilhelm. —Richard Wilhelm, The I Ching or Book of Changes, translated by C. Baynes (1967).

Most of them left me with the discovery that a too narrow and ‘literal’ translation of the wisdom book results in a sort of verbiage that is not of our time, and that can at times be quite misleading. In addition, some I Ching editions authored by famous Taoist masters, such as Hua-Ching Ni, contain their particular teaching.

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PREFACE

—Hua-Ching Ni, The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1983/1999).

If one is a disciple of their philosophical school or doctrine, this may be agreeable, but when that is not the case, the practical use of the I Ching for your daily divinations is restricted because you are served a terminology that you don’t understand. Last not least, we are living in a modern society today, and our thinking has switched from a moralizing mode, so typical for former centuries, to a functional mode. With the expression ‘functional mode’ I mean that we today are more inclined to find moralistic reasoning a part of ‘religious’ sectarian opinions and rather unfit for a person who is spiritually awake, whereas we more easily welcome an empirical approach to life that is based on scientific evidence and human experience. The HeartMath® research that I am going to discuss in the Introduction is such an approach: it is scientific, yet it proves age-old wisdom traditions right that say we have an intelligence of the heart that is different from the intelligence of both our brain and our body. This ‘Heart IQ’ as it is also called is in my opinion responsible for the fact that divination works, for it’s our heart which knows what is right in every moment and for each and every decision. Thus when we divine, we are doing nothing else than involving our heart in our decision-making process!

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The I Ching has a clear and natural approach to morality, which means it does not embody a ‘moralizing’ approach. Taoism is based upon natural or genuine morality which can be expressed in what has been termed the ‘golden rule’ of not doing to others what you don’t what others do to you. For example, the I Ching has nothing against wealth, but it is not enamored with poverty either; it recommends to remain simple and to see that our efforts should surpass a mere striving for comfort, as comfort alone cannot give meaning to our lives. However, this does not mean that the I Ching suggests us to stay out of the world or to retire in the forests. Not at all. The art of living the I Ching teaches is to stay in the world without becoming entangled with the world. Negativity in interpreting the I Ching, which I found in all and every I Ching edition I was using, even those from famous scholars from the East or West got me to draft a radically new and modern interpretation that is using the vocabulary of our time. In truth, the I Ching doesn’t divide life in black and white, as our media so often do. The idea that a ‘punishing’ destiny is looming or that there is a revengeful God are not in accordance with the philosophical approach of the old wisdom book. It has to be seen also that especially for beginners, to receive one of those really negative lines may cause fear and even shock to you, and this is certainly

16

PREFACE

not beneficial to your evolution, for we never grow in wisdom by fear or shock! We simply do not learn through fear to better our lives, and our behavior, but through correct assessment of our motives of action, and the situation itself. Also, as my own interpretation of the I Ching focuses on leadership, the art of leading others through properly leading self, it is essential to start with a positive mindset, rather than a fatalistic and superstitious one. We are far beyond the times when people were consulting fortune tellers; today serious astrologers, numerologists, cartomancers, and life consultants are changing their consultancy style from ‘predictive’ to ‘psychological.’ All learning is gradual, and when it involves a change of basic behaviors, it is incremental. This means that evolving ‘from chaos to coherence,’ to quote the title of a book I will be talking about further down, will not be possible overnight. It’s a slow and gradual process; it starts with building awareness of ‘what is’ in order to move toward a different way of seeing the world. In my long years of experience with I Ching editions that are overly negative, my moving forward in life was often slowed because of the fear triggered by some really negative readings; and in some notable extreme cases, I lost huge amounts of money because the I Ching reading

17

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

was absolutely opposite to common sense and my clear intuition! I followed it nonetheless, addicted as I was at the time to being ‘guided’ and that was a bad idea altogether—and I tell you these stories not because I think my life is particularly important, but because they may serve you as a warning to not do it the way I did it, and thus use divination to your advantage! In other words, divination has to be done with reason, with common sense, not in a fatalistic mood that believes there is only one right solution. Often in life there are many more options for action than just one, and many more modalities of how to act correctly. All belief in ‘fate’ is outdated, based upon an archaic magic-fatalistic worldview that has no place in a world governed by science and reason. For example, when I inherited my family fortune back in 2000 and my main commercial tenant, an Italian Gelateria, threatened me with not paying the rent for the next sixth month—8,500 Euros/month—for out of the air if not unlawful reasons, my first reaction was to go to a lawyer. I was fortunate enough to have one right at the opposite corner of the street where my property was. She was not from our region, but from North Germany, a straightforward and tall woman with a firm intention and diction, that you might call a tough career lawyer! She was exactly what I needed, and I knew it immediately upon meeting her. She said:

18

PREFACE

—We have to strike hard, with a heavy blow to these sunshine guys who want to play rolling skates with you while they never spoke up against your mother as long as she was the boss. You need to throw a stone, and a heavy one! Please sign this form so that I can go to court and start the action tomorrow morning at 8 am. I hesitated, suddenly thinking, I will go home and consult the I Ching before I make a decision. She said okay, let’s talk about it again tomorrow morning at 7:30 am when I come to the office. I went home and consulted the I Ching and it said that to go ahead aggressively would end up on an impasse and that I should conciliate. The next morning at 7:40 I called her and told her to wait with the action. She replied that she felt I was going to make a mistake but I did not listen. At 10 am one of the two Italians came and asked for a talk. We sat down and he said they were in trouble but would not want me to lose out on rent. They could possibly not pay for one or two months but would surely pay thereafter. I asked what happened and he confessed that he had personal problems with his partner since quite some time, that he had wanted to work for a local company and thus break up with his partner but it had not worked out so far. I more or less agreed, not sure what to do while before consulting the I Ching I had a sure intuition that acting immediately and aggressively was the right action!

19

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

And I knew why. I knew the troublemaker was not this tall and honest-looking Italian from Venice, but his little fat partner with the innocent-looking gray eyes. And my intuition had been correct. About two weeks later I got a letter from their lawyer. They had taken a lawyer who had been one of my colleagues at law school, a man who had a big mouth and was notoriously wrong with all his legal work. But as I had revealed his real face several times in class by correcting his mistaken replies, and the whole class had laughed at him, he had a matter to settle with me. In his letter, he confronted me with an absolutely insolent ultimatum. I supposedly had to let them stay for the next six months without receiving rent, then they would go, and all that on the shaky grounds that there was ‘water running down the walls in the cellar’ and that the pipes were clogged and they could not produce icecream. I immediately got the plumber who told me nothing was clogged, and that I should be careful with ‘those Italians.’ I took another lawyer, again following the I Ching, instead of staying with the tall lady from the North. It was another university colleague of mine, a soft-spoken young man who was very gentle and ‘understood my situation.’ But he did nothing that was in any way effective and when I invoked a clause in the contract to change the locks and shut those tenants out because they were more than two

20

PREFACE

months in debit with the rent, he had a hundred arguments against the procedure. Then, destiny gave me another option. One day eating icecream in an Italian Gelateria in the capital, I got to know the owner, an Italian from Genova. I told him the story. He simply replied: —That’s my opportunity. I know your place since long and I have only waited for this day. I will pay you 11,500 Euros per month and want to take the place over as soon as possible. With me you have a stable tenant! Baffled, I told him how he was going to solve the problem with the two Italian shop owners? He smiled and said: —Among Italians we have got easy solutions … Upon which he took out a gun from his pocket and put it on the table. I froze to ice, saying I would think about it and call him up the next day. I asked the I Ching that same night and it predicted great danger if I chose this option. So I let it go. To make a long and painful story short. It was impossible to get any money from them while they were put out by court order after one entire year. A month before the final judgment, they had evaporated to Italy and my lawyer was unable to find out their address. While they had to pay the costs of the trial, I had to pay my lawyer and had rental losses of 85,000 Euros. I knew by then that I had done it all wrong and should never have listened to the I Ching! 21

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Then, during the financial crisis back in 2008, I made another wrong assessment and financial decision following the I Ching and lost another 70,000$. It was only after the storm was over and the damage done that I discovered to what point my readings at that time had been influenced by my overall negative thoughts and emotions, and the mood of panic I had been in. As a result of this learning experience, I have used all my diligence to render a new interpretation for those ‘critical’ hexagrams and lines in a way that You, the user of this book, gets a signal that change is needed, without however losing your spontaneity for decision-making in accordance with your deeper intuition. For one thing is really important, and it’s not revealed in any of the I Ching literature I consulted. When a reading flagrantly opposes and contradicts your intuition about the matter, and you are tense and scared by the situation at hand, do not follow the I Ching reading! Either ask again when you are free of fear, or if the situation is such that you remain tense and afraid of future events, by all means follow your intuition, and not the I Ching for you have then impacted negatively upon the reading because of your negative emotions! It is important that you understand that the I Ching— and generally all divination—doesn’t overrule your intuition. What you get is a suggestion, not more, and not less. You do not need to follow it if you feel it’s not in harmony with your intuition, or that the reading is against 22

PREFACE

common sense or impractical or completely disregards the realities of life. In a case as with the Italians, it was clear to me from all my life experience that hitting hard and right away was the only correct thing to do. And I had had the chance to get a good lawyer right away, but changed her, again because of the I Ching, against a guy who had neither a brain nor balls in his underpants. Then life gave me another chance to get a new Italian tenant who paid me substantially more, was reputed as a business person and had an ‘Italian only’ solution. Why was I afraid? Why did I let him go? Twice destiny offered me solutions and twice I let them go because of the I Ching. In 2008, the situation was even more clear-cut. I should have left my money in the bank in Cambodia in the first place for nothing happened to that economy during the financial crisis, absolutely nothing, for they had no stock market yet, while I following the I Ching got my money to a bank in Singapore who against initial promise did nothing to setup my portfolio, and paid me a lousy interest of 0.8% for my funds while in Cambodia I had got 8.25% interest. It was from the start the wrong decision but I was so scared that I obviously influenced the readings, for in this case I had made several, and they were all negative. Hence, the importance of how you prepare for a reading, how you set it all up, which mindset you have at that time, and how you handle any kind of anxiety or anticipa23

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

tion. It is also important to not make too many readings for the same question. This brings me naturally to giving you some advice on how to divine with the I Ching. The easiest manner to consult the I Ching is to drop three coins on a flat surface six times. Head counts 3 and tail counts 2, thus when you get two heads and a tail, you get the number 7, which is a — yang line, but no answer, or you get two tails and a head which gives you the number 8, which is a – – yin line, but equally no answer. However if you throw three heads, you get the number 9, which is a — yang line and an answer and when you throw three tails, you get 6, which is a – – yin line and also an answer. Let’s say you throw 7-8-7-9-8-8 which results in Hexagram 55:

55 丰 FENG Peak / Abundance / Over-Capacity (—

—) 8

(—

—) 8

——— 9 (———) 7 (—

—) 8

(———) 7

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PREFACE

As we have seen, 7 or 8 are no answers, which is why I have put these lines in parenthesis. While they are no direct answers to your question, indirectly they are necessary for composing the hexagram that provides the overall answer. This overall answer is then to be seen under the lines and for this hexagram reads as follows:

Things are at a peak or climax. A developed person uses their full deployment for serving others and enriching the world. According to the natural law of balance, when something reaches its point of fullness, decline is inevitable. Everything in the universe follows this cycle. it’s like a tidal movement. If one has more than enough, he should not hold onto everything for himself, but be charitable. When abundance becomes full, it’s like the sun being too strong: the light is blinding one, vegetation dries up, the land becomes parched, and nothing can flourish. Feng teaches the value of control in a situation of abundance so as to not overstress the cycle. We have also seen that you have drawn the 4th line as your direct answer. This line reads as follows: 4—If you want to be useful, having learnt the lesson indicated by the 3rd line, the universe will guide you and you will attract an associate with whom you can work together to realize your goal.

25

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Now you may ask how is it possible that by any means the I Ching can know what’s going on inside of your mind and even how it can help predicting your fate, or help you in making a sound decision? That sounds almost impossible for anybody who first hears about it. Joseph Needham writes in his Foreword to The Genius of China (2013) by Robert Temple: Francis Bacon had selected three inventions, paper and printing, gunpowder, and the magnetic compass, which had done more, he thought, than any religious conviction, or any astrological influence, or any conqueror’s achievements, to transform completely the modern world and mark it off from antiquity and the Middle Ages. He regarded the origins of these inventions as ‘obscure and inglorious’ and he died without ever knowing that all of them were Chinese. (Id., 10)

Just as the Chinese were the first to invent the magnetic compass for navigating in the exterior world, they coined the I Ching as a compass for navigating our interior world. The wisdom of the I Ching is based upon the fact that all changes in nature occur as a matter of cyclic change, but while this may be conspicuous, it is less obvious how these changes come about , and what the patterns of those changes are! Based upon the binary code that was long unknown in the West, the I Ching incorporates all of the dynamic patterns of living that are resonance patterns of our thoughts, and vibrational patterns of our emotions, together with the 26

PREFACE

actions we set in the world, which also have a certain positive or negative resonance. As we today know from systems research and quantum mechanics, all we think and do creates interference patterns in the energy ocean of the universe. The I Ching somehow got the blueprint of it all, and that—5000 years ago. It’s quite a feat! The Chinese worldview was a holistic one in those olden times, just as our science develops it now after its long ‘Newtonian Sleep.’ For an unbiased observer it is obvious that nature is not a machine and doesn’t function like a clockwork. A good example is medicine. While modern medicine uses a mechanistic approach and is focused upon symptoms, Chinese medicine is concerned with the underlying causes of disease, and therefore has developed a valid approach to disease prevention. Using pulse reading and acupuncture, Chinese medicine is able to diagnose disease long before it is actually manifesting in the physical body, by examining the underlying energy field of the patient. To understand how the I Ching works, we can actually draw a comparison to acupuncture. The acupuncturist focuses on the energy flow in the body, detecting imbalances or blockages in the flow, and then correcting the condition by establishing harmony. The I Ching deals in a similar way not with the body but with the patterns of living; these patterns are energy fields and the I Ching detects if they are harmonious and thus beneficial or inharmonious and harmful. 27

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Let me say a last word about how you benefit from this book compared to a classical I Ching interpretation. What I tried to do in writing this book is to help you as a beginner to focus your learning efforts on the essential, avoiding to ingest all the more or less tedious anecdotic or historical details that those voluminous commentaries present. This kind of information is not directly relevant for consulting the I Ching while it’s of course of high interest for the scholar. As I did not myself find a book that gave me such a practical opening path for working with the I Ching, I was for a long time wading through hundreds of pages of material that confused me more than anything, until I started to actually use the I Ching for divination. For example, Richard Wilhelm’s world-famous first interpretation of the I Ching in history is divided in two parts, both of which contain relevant information. But to this very day I cannot see how the second part adds on to the first part without giving a lot of non-essential and rather confusing additional information? Likewise, the Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1983) by Master Hua-Ching Ni consists of more than 650 pages; the first 215 pages are meant to be introductory yet are highly difficult to understand! My goal in writing this book was thus to present to the reader a practical and modern interpretation of the I Ching which has incorporated the important research on inner coherence and success principles that HeartMath® research

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PREFACE

delivered and that has been taken over by many business leaders and Fortune 100 companies all over the world. —See, for example, Doc Childre and Bruce Cryer, From Chaos to Coherence, Boulder Creek, CA: Planetary, 2004.

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Introduction The I Ching and HeartMath® Research

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

The I Ching may well be the oldest book on the planet. Like the Bible, the Book of Changes was a co-operative effort spanning many centuries. R. L. Wing, in his I Ching interpretation, makes the assumption that the deepest ideas conveyed in the I Ching were handed down orally from the elders of nomadic Siberian tribes. These early sages were great observers of nature; they looked at the stars and tides, plants and animals, and the cycles of all natural events. They also made out the patterns of social life, government, warfare, and the rules pertaining to the welfare of the family. Contrary to Western philosophers who thought of the cosmos as a static arrangement of atoms, ancient Chinese scholars put their focus on the organic and systemic nature of the universe; they looked at how things change in nature, and how structures organically emerge. Their idea of nature was of a fluid, ever-evolving organism in which everything is connected: an interconnected system of relations, which is exactly what cutting-edge systems research now reveals to us, thereby falsifying hundreds of years of speculative, and largely superfluous, philosophy. —See Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi, The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision (2014).

They then condensed their insights into the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching. It is quite astonishing to see that those sages had an acute awareness of the hidden parallelism 32

INTRODUCTION

between agricultural cycles, social patterns, courtly manners, warfare strategies, cosmic events, and the practice of self-cultivation. The authorship of the I Ching is attributed to the legendary Fu Hsi, who ruled China during the third millennium B.C. He is said to have created the arrangement of the initial eight trigrams that are at the basis of all the sixtyfour hexagrams. Another influential author and commentator of the I Ching was King Wen, the founder of the Chou Dynasty (1150-249 B.C.). He is said to have written his commentary on the I Ching during the time of his imprisonment under the tyrant Chou Hsin. The legend goes that a dream had revealed to him a hexagram displayed on the wall of his cell, upon which he began to describe his mental images in words. After he was rescued from prison, King Wen took the throne, and his son, the Duke of Chou, completed his father’s work by writing complete commentaries on all the lines of each hexagram. At that time, and even later in ancient China, all great scholars were devoting much time and energy to study the I Ching and write their own commentaries for it. Among them are Lao Tzu, Mencius, Mo Tzu, Chu Hsi, and Chuang Tzu. Confucius (551-479 B.C.) made the perhaps most important contribution, known as the Ten Wings, which is a collection of philosophical essays on the I Ching.

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Confucius was among the first philosophers who considered the potential of the I Ching for self-development, and especially the development of leadership qualities. The anecdote goes that he consulted the I Ching so often during his later years that he had worn out three times the leather thongs holding together the parchment upon which it was written.

Another important I Ching scholar was Carl Jung. He came across Richard Wilhelm’s celebrated translation for which he later wrote an important Foreword. Jung saw in the I Ching a brilliant mind map of human nature and cosmic order, and the cosmic memory of archetypal forces which he named as the ‘collective unconscious.’ 34

INTRODUCTION

R.L. Wing writes in The I Ching Workbook (1984) that the search for a solution to the mystery underlying the constant motion and change in the universe has spawned both the science of physics and the earlier science of metaphysics. There is a line going through all the impending change in the cosmos; it could be called a developmental energy, or creational principle that the old Chinese called the Tao. Modern science has revealed it through quantum mechanics and calls it the Quantum Field or Quantum Vacuum. While this technical expression suggests that within this field, there is nothingness, the exact contrary is true. As Ervin Laszlo put it in his book Science and the Akashic Field: An Integral Theory of Everything (2004), it’s actually a plenum. What the old Chinese called ch’i and in the West used to be called pneuma or ether, is now considered as obsolete by modern physics in the sense of a secondary mover. As Einstein put it, the field nature explains sufficiently why electrons are entangled even over huge distances and why there can be ‘spooky motion at a distance,‘ as a result. But the very core of the I Ching is the principle of polarity which is an underlying reality in all of nature. The old Chinese called it the dualism of ying and yang. All the hexagrams in the I Ching are reflections of these polar yet complementary energies. Carl Jung, known to have studied and worked with the I Ching for many years, 35

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actually explained its working with synchronicity or meaningful coincidence. When you throw the coins, the way they fall has meaning; it’s not a random event. The resulting hexagram reflects the content of your subconscious mind which knows what the outcome of the situation will be, so the I Ching, as any other divination device, actually projects the content of your subconscious mind. As we often today are afraid of change, we can learn to become more change-friendly if we often consult the I Ching and follow its advice. The good news is that the I Ching will always counsel you to change in a non-hurtful, smooth and predictable manner, so that the change is intelligent and harmonious. Following the I Ching you thereby become more flexible in your overall approach to life and to problem-solving. In this sense, the I Ching is not just a manual for fortune telling, nor a substitute for your intuition! Now, let me explain how the recent, quite revolutionary HeartMath® Research both confirms and explains how our heart’s intuitive wisdom impact upon life and creates reality. Honestly, I did not expect that once scientific research would prove all my intuitive insights to be true. But this has well been the case. Stephen Covey reports in his book The 8th Habit (2004) that controlled double-blind scientific laboratory studies ‘are producing increasing evidence of the close relation36

INTRODUCTION

ship between body (physical), mind (thinking) and heart (feeling).’ —Stephen R. Covey, The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, London: Simon & Schuster, 2004, 51.

Before I go more into detail using the original research report, let me outline here the quite far-reaching conclusions that Dr. Covey drew from it, calling it our four intelligences: ‣

Our Physical intelligence (PQ);

‣

Our Mental Intelligence (IQ);

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Our Emotional Intelligence (EQ);

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Our Spiritual Intelligence (SQ).

The IQ is our classical intelligence concept as affirmed by psychology and early brain research. It was widened in the 1970s by the understanding of ‘emotional intelligence’ or EQ. —See for example Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence, New York, Bantam Books, 1995.

Goleman writes in one of his later books, summarizing his many years of research on emotional intelligence that ‘for star performance in all jobs, in every field, emotional competence is twice as important as purely cognitive abilities.’ —Daniel Goleman, Working with Emotional Intelligence, New York: Bantam Books, 1998, 31. 37

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The intelligence of our body, namely our gut, and our spiritual intelligence have been discovered only recently. Doc Childre and Bruce Cryer write in their research report: The human body is an incredible system—roughly 7 trillion cells with a mind-boggling level of physical and biochemical coordination necessary just to turn a page, cough, or drive a car. When you consider how little of it you have to think about, it becomes even more amazing. When was the last time you reminded your heart to beat, your lungs to expand and contract, or your digestive organs to secrete just the right chemicals at just the right time? These and a myriad of other processes are handled unconsciously for us every moment we live. Intelligence manages the whole system, much of it unconscious. The notion that intelligence is a purely cerebral, aloof activity uncontaminated and unaffected by emotions has been shown in this and much other recent research to be an outdated and misguided myth. —Doc Childre & Bruce Cryer, From Chaos to Coherence: The Power to Change Performance, Boulder Creek, CA: Planetary Publishing, 2004, 27-28, and 33.

What I was trying to point out in my own words, that is, that self-regulation is built in our body and mind system, and that peak performance is a result of inner peace is now confirmed by HeartMath® research. These scientists have termed the inner state that is conducive to success ‘inner coherence.’ Based on this insight, they are talking about the need for inner leadership and in-

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INTRODUCTION

ternal self-management as the starting point of all highly effective leadership. HeartMath® research confirms what ancient mystics knew, namely that the world is an ‘internally created phenomenon.’ We all live in a different world as we process the sensory date we receive according to our mental setup, our beliefs and our emotions to create what each of us experiences as ‘the world out there.’ The authors write in their report: Creativity, decision-making, health and well-being all improve when mind and emotions are coherent and relatively noise-free. —Doc Childre & Bruce Cryer, From Chaos to Coherence: The Power to Change Performance, Boulder Creek, CA: Planetary Publishing, 2004, 3.

From my several years of work experience as a corporate trainer in South-East Asia, I know that today organizations not just in Asia but everywhere in the world are challenged at a very high level. The mechanistic management solutions most executives have learnt and believed in are not working any longer because they disregarded the human element, which means the human being that has also an irrational side, and is emotional, rather than always rational. Under the old leadership paradigm and before globalization, this was still quite workable, but with the networked world economy and the relocation of producing markets to

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virtually everywhere on the globe, the old model proves to be increasingly insufficient. It is not surprising, then, that the authors summarize their research in these alarming terms: In an age of chaos, emotional management or mismanagement is more important in determining the long-term success of an organization than product success or process improvements. This is as true of start-up firms that experience rapid success but are unprepared for its operational realities as it is for the massive older organization or institution affected by large-scale emotional turmoil and malaise of its workforce. It is also true that 80% of the Fortune 500 companies of 1970 have disappeared off the list. —Doc Childre & Bruce Cryer, From Chaos to Coherence, 34.

This is why the individual learning experience assumes such importance. When executives and workers in a company are left alone to self-manage their emotions and learn new knowledge, they will fall back on old memories, those namely they had in school or even earlier. Without conscious thought or choice, a person often avoids learning environments and challenges because of unpleasant feelings imbedded in neural tracks in our brains during earlier learning experiences. —Doc Childre & Bruce Cryer, From Chaos to Coherence, 34-35.

What this research also revealed is that the cognitive capacities of employees become far more sharp and effec40

INTRODUCTION

tive as emotions become balanced, understood and integrated. If organizations continue to leave people alone and without professional support in handling their emotional conflicts and challenges, they will not be able to help their staff handle the enormous stress that today is part of organizational life everywhere on the globe. Abundant research delivered the proof that millions of people today are maladapted to handle the stress of life in our modern consumer societies, both at work and at home. —See, for example, Hans Selye, The Stress of Life, Revised Edition, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978/1984, with many references.

Hans Selye was the first researcher who found that not all forms of stress are harmful. He even asserted that some basic level of stress is needed for advancing in life; in other words, our emotional system can cope with stress if stress levels remain within reasonable boundaries. According to HeartMath® research it depends on the person’s ability to handle their individual ‘stress response.’ In so doing, a person skilled in self-management can actually take stress as an opportunity for personal growth. Thus chaos is not the problem, but how long we need to build inner coherence! Research on emotional intelligence has shown that the most successful people in life are the ones who have learned to manage their emotional reactiveness, neutralizing or transforming negative emotions in the process of gaining a new richness of experience.

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—Doc Childre & Bruce Cryer, From Chaos to Coherence, 43-44.

This research also demonstrated that when the electrical patterns of the brain synchronize with the rhythmic patterns of the heart people operate with greater physiological coherence, resulting in increased conscious awareness and greater intelligence. The ability to self-generate feelings such as care, appreciation, and compassion is key to greater brain efficiency, enhanced learning, and a more emotionally balanced life. This is one reason why heart intelligence is such a powerful metaphor for increasing personal and organizational effectiveness. —Doc Childre & Bruce Cryer, From Chaos to Coherence, 45-46.

One of the most cutting-edge findings of this research is that, contrary to traditional neuroscience, people can learn to ‘rewire’ neural tracks that inhibit learning, growth, and emotional maturity, and that are necessary for achieving success. The brain has showed to have an enormous plasticity for those processes of rewiring neural networks and for changing preferred neuronal pathways that were laid down in early childhood. This fact alone opens enormous possibilities for assisting us with mind and brain changing tools targeting at not only boosting our performance level but changing our selfunderstanding in virtually limitless ways. We need to stop blaming our emotional nature for mismanaged emotions

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INTRODUCTION

and start to see the heart for what it is—the source of our core power intelligence! This is so much the more important as, although the heart and brain each radiate electrical frequencies, the amplitude of the heart’s signal is 40 to 60 times stronger than that of the brain! A mind or organization without heart is scattered, impulsive, and easily distracted. Emotions and organizations without the intelligent balance that comes from the heart create flash fires of instability and waste, causing people to stay locked in self-justified mental loops, missing a heart intelligent perspective that could offer deeper understanding. Incoherences rules. People leave. Groups operating only on instinct arising from gut feelings and often based in fear stay constrained in modalities that imprison the spirit and age prematurely. The heart puts first things first, from the 7 trillion cells it nourishes to the life it sustains to the vitality it ensures—intuitive, intelligent, businesslike; core, fundamental; the first priority. —Doc Childre & Bruce Cryer, From Chaos to Coherence, 51, 55. The results measured after implementing this research are staggering. They included reductions of 65% in tension, 87% in fatigue, 65% in anger, and 44% in intentions to leave the company.

Now let me explain how HeartMath® Research proved the divinatory method of cognition right. The old science of divination knew that there is an intelligence of our heart and that the heart emits vibrations into the universe that have an impact upon all of life and living!

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This age-old insight, however, was denied or declared ‘epiphenomenal’ during the phase of positivistic science, from the time of Bacon and Galileo until the upcoming of systems research in the 1940s. Both the systems view of life and HeartMath® Research now clearly confirm the fact that when we are focused internally, and in a state of inner coherence, we have the ability to lucidly plunge in a state of cognition that is highly aware of where we are steering and thus how our current thoughts and projects will develop on the timeline into the future! While most people are not consciously aware of these patterns of lucid cognition, they can use divination, the I Ching, the Tarot, the Runes or any other method to help them in their decision-making. Fact is that it’s not the divinatory method as such that somehow ‘knows’ our future, but our own heart’s lucid cognitive intelligence! Throughout this book, for the interpretation of the 64 hexagrams, I have used the expression ‘build inner coherence’ for indicating that the situation requires you to seek your focused state, to make peace with yourself, overcome any fears, face your future positively, and plunge into that state of lucid cognition that, if not immediately, so the hours and days following your reading, will signal you the way to go, and thus to act properly, so that everybody involved in the situation is benefited.

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The Technique A Road Map for Your First Consultation

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Watch Your Mood As I mentioned it already, it is very important that you are in a relaxed and meditative state of mind before you set out to consult the I Ching. If you are restless or anxious, avoid consulting it and choose a quieter moment. It is also important to avoid disturbance, to make sure your mobile is turned off and you haven’t any closely approaching appointments. Allow your mind to be quiet, then focus upon the question. Formulate the question clearly in your mind, better: write it down. You may want to use a little ritual for getting into the right mood, by burning an incense stick, lighting a candle, and taking a few deep breaths.

Get Prepared You need three coins, some paper, and a pen. You may choose the coins according to your taste and preferences. Some prefer the original Chinese coins that are round with a square hole in the center. But any coins can do, the only thing is that they are of the same kind, the same size and the same weight! Before using the coins for the first time, you may want to dedicate them by washing them and holding them up a moment in your closed hands in front of your frontal lobe (6th Chakra). This preparation may focus your internal energy. It is important that you use these coins for no other purpose, so by preference place them close to this book, in a dedicated 46

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drawer where there is no other material, except, if ever you also use the Tarot and the Runes. In such a case, you may have all your divinatory tools in one and the same drawer.

Ask Your Question In my experience it is of great importance to clearly formulate your question. If it is ambiguous, you will get an equally ambiguous reading. If you ask an either-or question, you may get a totally off-track answer, so avoid from the start to ask for two alternatives in one single question! For example, if you ask ‘Will it be beneficial if I travel to India for this next vacation,’ this is a fairly precise question. But if you are asking ‘Should I travel to India or to Bangladesh,’ you can’t possibly get a correct answer for you put up two alternatives in the same question.. But you can well ask about a problematic situation in the following manner: ‘Why do I have constant problems with my boss?’ The answer you will get then will point you to the most intelligent way to handle the confrontation; in most cases the I Ching will tell you how you act in a way that is either inappropriate or inflexible, and how you can learn to deal with the situation constructively.

Make the Hexagram Then shake the coins in your cupped hand and let them fall onto a flat, uncluttered surface. To repeat it, you get potentially four different combinations: —Three tails, 6 (yin, — —, answer) 47

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—Three heads, 9 (yang, —, answer ) —Two tails, one head, 7 (yang, —, no answer) —Two heads, one tail, 8 (yin, — —, no answer) Now compose your hexagram on a sheet of paper, or memorize your sequence. For example, when you draw 68-8-9-9-8, look at the Hexagram Guide below and you will find it’s Hexagram 45, with Lines 1, 4 and 5 as answers. I have found an easy way to write this down on your paper without needing to write the broken and unbroken lines. You simply write 45/1/4/5. This means it’s hexagram 45 with the lines 1, 4 and 5 changing. What is a changing line?

The Moving Lines Now the lines that are answers, the nines and the sixes, these lines are changing. That means you can then immediately compose the hexagram with the changed lines, the one into which the present hexagram will change. You can find that easily by taking your original sequence, 6-8-8-9-98 and then change the moving lines to their opposite. You will then receive 9-8-8-6-6-8 which is Hexagram 24 (Return).

Reading the Hexagrams The first hexagram comments on the current situation. To stay with our example, consult Hexagram 45 below in the text. First read the GENERAL ADVICE, printed in SMALL 48

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CAPS under each hexagram, then look up the text for lines 1, 4 and 5. Then you try to find a synthesis or a direction in your reading. You can only do that intuitively, there is no recipe for how to do that. Read if necessary all this information over and over again until you get an inner hunch! Then look up the changed hexagram by reversing the yin lines into yang lines and vice versa, as I just explained it. Do not look up the lines, however, they are not valid in a changed hexagram, only the GENERAL ADVICE. Then reflect how this additional information can be useful to you for further analyzing your situation; then summarize it all in a short and concise sentence and write it down.

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Base Structure of the I Ching What is Right Action?

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

The Men of Old Taoism is often misunderstood in our times of machinery, the machinery of mind, the conceptual trap, the confusion about the existential and the imaginary, the sensual and the extrasensorial, the real and the imitated. As there is today so much of unnatural conditioning, people are often unable to recognize what is real, and what is fake. One of the main points in this confusion is to associate Taoism with Confucianism, while here in reality two worldviews are opposing each other. Here freedom, there moralistic life denial, here spontaneity, there artificiality, here abandonment to intuition, there blockage of intuition by obsessive scholarship and discipline. The confusion starts with the very idea to design Taoism as either a ‘philosophy,’ or a ‘religion’ while it’s none of these. It’s pure wisdom. Philosophies are systems of thought, religions are systems of worship. Taoism is the contrary of a system. Its very essence consists in defying any kind of system. The next point in this scholarly confusion about Taoism is the point to say it was against desire, or the shaping of desire by sensual perception. Some of the translations of Lao-tzu are highly misleading in this respect, appearing to give the impression of an approach to life which is dry and scholastic, against the perfume of sensuality. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Yang Chu, a Taoist who lived in the 4th century B.C. wrote: 52

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Yang Chu The men of old knew that life comes without warning and as suddenly goes. They denied none of the natural inclinations, and repressed none of their bodily desires. They never felt the spur of fame. They sauntered through life gathering its pleasures as the impulse moved them. Since they cared nothing for fame after death, they were beyond the law. For name and praise, sooner or later, a long life or short one, they cared not at all.

This statement is true. But in our days of hero culture’s pseudo values, such a worldview is highly difficult to understand. Ignorant folks are likely to jump to the conclusion that, then, those ‘old men’ must have been criminals. In truth, the confusion is one of values. Whereas those men were living virtuous lives, the value of virtue is today questioned with the result that ‘correct behavior’ is defined as all behavior that is within the law. In screwing down virtue to a mere conformity with reigning laws, it was relativized, it became itself a concept. As laws are constantly changing, under this modern idea, virtue is to be considered as a rather fleeting, volatile notion, something that has no absolute value. Let me quote one of Lao-tzu’s poems to show what he really means, while apparently this poem, as so many others, appears to deny the value of sensuality or of the sensual world.

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Lao-tzu The five colors blind the eye. The five tones deafen the ear. The five flavors dull the taste. Racing and hunting madden the mind. Precious things lead one astray. Therefore the sage is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees. He lets go of that and chooses this.

This poem is not a recipe for life-denial, not an abasement of the senses, but the experience shared by somebody who has indulged in sensual experiences and comes to a point of satiation, a point where intuition says that wisdom is flowering when one listens inside, at a moment when all senses are satisfied. Only somebody who has had the experience of sensual abundance can know that after indulgence, this voice of wisdom is the manna shared by our higher self, which then comes as a profound insight. This is meant when Lao-tzu’s says that the sage doesn’t go for fame. What this means is not that he shuns the world, but that he might be insulted anyway because he thinks differently about what ordinary people call ‘the law,’ simply because he knows that all human laws are ultimately deeply and grossly unjust. That is why the sages of old advised to practice deconditioning, to look at life with pure eyes, with eyes of won54

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der, with a child’s eyes. That is why they, as we would say today, promoted the values of the inner child, which can be seen in the depictions of sages, and of Lao-tzu himself. These men look childlike, innocent, and carefree, absolutely the contrary of our modern heroes, with their hard rigid mechanical bodies, and their squared stiff faces full of hatred and violence. The following shows that this childlike wisdom is not a form of foolishness or numbness, or lack of a sense of reality—in the contrary. It shows that this mindset brings about a keen sense for justice and political realities: Lao-tzu Why are people starving? Because the rulers eat up the money in taxes. Therefore the people are starving. Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much. Therefore they are rebellious. Why do people think so little of death? Because the rulers demand too much of life. Therefore the people take life lightly. Having to live on, one knows better than to value life too much.

This chapter is not about I Ching divination in the ordinary sense. If it was, it would not bring something new and original as there are now countless books on the mar55

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ket that extensively explain, annotate and interpret the ancient Chinese wisdom book. If you wish to study the I Ching in depth, you should either buy one of the traditional I Ching translations, such as the one by Richard Wilhelm, that I myself used during the first years of my diligent study of the I Ching, or you should use a translation and annotation by a Taoist master. For example, I am today using the I Ching translation and interpretation by Master Hua-Ching Ni. —Richard Wilhelm, The I Ching or Book of Changes (1967). See also Helmut Wilhelm, The Wilhelm Lectures on the Book of Changes (1995), and Hua Ching Ni, I Ching, The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1999).

Studying the I Ching was not for me a form of l’art pour l’art, but it had a practical purpose. I wanted to understand the underlying patterns of living that are at the basis of all divination, and the roots of human behavior. And indeed, my understanding of life and living was uplifted through practicing divination on a daily basis since twenty years. These years also coincided to be those during which I was beginning to coach groups, both in the corporate setting, and privately. This uncanny kind of holistic learning about emotions, behavior patterns, conditioning, on one hand, and the wisdom of subtle cosmic guidance, on the other, rooted me in my new profession as a coach and corporate trainer; and with that decision, and the change resulting from it, my former career as an international lawyer had clearly found an end. My motivation for changing 56

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my professional career was the outcome of a deep reflection about the sense of life, and my mission. I understood that I am deeply interested in human beings, and in their paths of life. The law profession, while it interested me in some way, was not satisfying my desire to help people grow, to facilitate their relationships, and to help them lead happier lives. To be a lawyer meant, in daily practice, to sustain people’s desire for conflict and ‘being right,’ for fighting each other, and one was supposed to take sides and defend interests. The I Ching helped me on my way to find my true mission. This is, then, perhaps the value of this personal guide about the I Ching, as it is the fruit of experience, and not only of theoretical study. And it is destined to help you better understand yourself and others. Understanding yourself and understanding others is however impossible without understanding the underlying cosmic patterns of living. Human beings do not function differently from the rest of life on earth. Besides that, they are rooted in a universal scheme of cosmic interactions that is little known or totally unknown to psychologists today. The I Ching or Book of Changes is an ancient text that is said to have been completed during the rulership of King Wen in China, in the last generation of the Shang Dynasty (1766-1121 B.C.). Master Hua-Ching Ni explains in his thorough interpretation of the I Ching:

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Master Ni The system of hexagrams which we call the Book of Changes or I Ching was one of the first great successes in ancient man’s attempts to find the laws which regulate all phenomena. Most significant was the discovery that the laws of Nature are also the laws of humanity and that since Nature and humanity are one, harmony is the key to life. This conclusion was drawn after long internal and external searching which revealed the balanced way of life as the fundamental path. This integral vision of the universe became the spiritual faith of ancient developed people. It was the broad and plain foundation for their discovery of spiritual truth and secret methods. Since life is the main theme in all useful knowledge, the Book of Changes, the Tao Teh Ching, acupuncture, internal medicine, and the internal work of spiritual self-cultivation all make living in harmony with nature their foundation. —Hua Ching Ni, I Ching, The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1999), p. 4. Regarding the Tao Teh Ching, mentioned in this quote, see Hua-Ching Ni, The Complete Works of Lao Tzu (2003).

Regarding today’s modern culture, Master Ni pursues: Master Ni In contrast, our overgrown human population, combined with modern city life, obscures the significance of nature in the lives of people today. Great Nature, however, always remains the true source of life. To restore our understanding of this integral truth, we can use the line system of the Book of

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Changes to study the way in which people and events develop. (Id., 3-4). — Hua Ching Ni, I Ching, The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1999), pp. 3-4.

There are countless studies on the base structure of the I Ching and how it came about with its sixty-four hexagrams that are compositions of two trigrams each. We can consider each hexagram or kua as an energy pattern that is a unique mix and vibrational code of the two base energies, yin and yang, represented symbolically by lines. Yang is represented by a solid line, yin by a dotted line. Each hexagram is composed of six lines. The first three lines correspond to the lower trigram, the upper three lines compose the upper trigram. Hexagrams are dynamic patterns in that there is a down-to-up movement contained in them, and a certain time-span inherent in that movement. The lower trigram thus deals with matters that are in their beginning stage, from the start of a project until about half way into its realization. The upper trigram deals with the culmination and the end of processes or projects, positively or negatively. All sixty-four hexagrams are combinations of the eight base trigrams that Master Ni calls The Eight Natural Forces. In nature’s harmonious and balanced Web of Life, there are many cycles interwoven with each other that contribute to giving flexible stability to every natural system or process.

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—See Fritjof Capra, The Web of Life (1997) and The Systems View of Life (2014).

Now, in every cycle, there is what Master Ni calls the balancing force. In the case of pure yang and pure yin, the balancing force is expressed in the central line of the hexagram, which is always the 5th line. In general, this line signifies a position of leadership, and it holds the whole hexagram together; it is also the most influential line or decisive factor in the hexagram. In most cases, and without considering the divination result, when you draw the 2nd and the 5th line of a hexagram, you can almost be sure that you got a favorable reading for your project or idea. The 6th line, in most hexagrams, deals with some or the other form of excess and thus signals a setback or failure to expect in the future, except in a few hexagrams where the 6th line is entirely positive, as for example in Great Amassment (26) where the top line is interpreted as Heavenly Blessing. Let me explain the base structure of each hexagram using Great Strength (34) as an example. The guiding advice of this hexagram is: USE YOUR STRENGTH PRUDENTLY. The structure of the hexagram is yang-yang-yang-yang-yin-yin.

First Line Yang The 1st line, in all hexagrams, expresses a beginning. If I am excessive at the start of a project, I risk early failure. In all new endeavors it is wise to use the first time of a new

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project for gathering knowledge, exploring opportunities, and getting familiar in a new environment. In Great Strength (34), the first line reads as follows: Too much strength in the toes. The beginning stage makes moving ahead difficult. Such strength will surely lead to misfortune. — Hua-Ching Ni, I Ching, The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1999), p. 304. All further references in this chapter are taken from Master Hua-Ching Ni’s I Ching edition.

This means that when I am in an environment I am not yet familiar with and walk in the room with proud flair, when I am the new one in a team and have the biggest mouth, when I come over as the person who believes he knows all, then I might be rejected or encounter failure. The right attitude at the start of a new project is caution and respectful humility as well as watchfulness so as to get, as early as possible, the feedback of the environment regarding my impacting upon things and people.

Second Line Yang The 2nd line represents a more advanced stage in the realization of a project. I may have gathered enough information and experience so as to go ahead in my endeavor in a more decisive and forward-looking way than at the start. This line reads: Caution in using strength brings good fortune. (Id.)

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Third Line Yang The 3rd line represents the end of the lower trigram. It is sometimes showing some form of excess, frequently being negative in its meaning, or it may contain a warning to correct one’s attitude. This line reads for hexagram 34: Those of self-development do not display their strength. Inferior people willingly show their strength and thus create a dangerous environment. Such a display of strength is like a goat attacking a fence. Because of its stubborn persistence, its horns become weakened. (Id., 404)

Forth Line Yang The 4th line represents a strong position. It is the first line of the upper trigram and thus can be said to play the role of a senior manager for leading the project to its final realization. As this line corresponds with the 1st line, it can be said to be the higher octave of the beginning line, and reads: Continue marching in the right direction. All obstructions will disperse. Use strength correctly, in the proper place and at the right time. (Id.)

Fifth Line Yin The 5th line represents the central line in every hexagram. It is therefore sometimes also called the ruling line. You can say that when you get the 5th line in any divination, you are on the right track in some way. The 5th line 62

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shows that there is a strong point in your project or endeavor that bears some chance for success: One subdues oneself in order to end all confrontations. No remorse. (Id.)

Sixth Line Yin The 6th line represents the final stage of a project or endeavor, or its final result. In most hexagrams, the 6th line expresses some or the other kind of excess and therefore gives a negative reading. Or it gives a warning and shows a way out of a possible dangerous turn of events. This line reads, again for hexagram 34: The stubborn goat attacks the fence, but can neither achieve its goal nor retreat. No benefit. If one learns through one’s difficulties, trouble will not last and there will be good fortune. (Id., 405)

To summarize, in hexagram 34 we see the 6th line operating more like a warning. When you compare this line with the 5th line, you see that the good turn of events (abandoning stubborn behavior) did not happen, probably because the person did not understand that she was behaving in a rigid, stubborn and aggressive manner. And yet the 6th line still sees a possibility for the person to change and turn things in a positive direction. In other hexagrams, such as, for example, in hexagrams 1, 11, 28, 63 or 64, however, the 6th line predicts a negative turn of events regardless of further action or retreat from 63

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action. It’s as if in these hexagrams, things have developed to a more condensed state of reality than in other hexagrams.

Patterns of Change Nothing in life is static. All is movement. The universe is a dance. In death processes, the relentless movement of life slows down and comes to a point of profound stillness. However, in this stillness is contained the grain for further movement, for new life. In every condition is contained its opposite. In stillness is contained movement, in movement is contained stillness, in hot is contained cold, in male is contained female. In the small boy is contained the great general, in the small girl is contained the famous film diva. In yin is contained yang and in yang is contained yin. What is contained is smaller as what bears it because it is in growth. However, by the same token, what bears the smaller is decreasing in size to become small itself. With culmination and fullness decay sets in, and a new cycle of growth is put in motion. When we observe changes, we learn that if things are kept within reasonable boundaries and the balance of yin and yang is maintained, they will last. Endurance and lasting success thus are the result of balance, and not of unlimited strength, of flexible adaptation to circumstance, and not of rigid willpower put into one-pointed action.

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When yin and yang are in balance, this is called the middle way. But the middle way is a dynamic, not a static condition. Let me use an image to exemplify this truth. When you film a man who steers a car on a straight highway and then review the video and put the playback speed to very slow, you see that the firm static position of the steering wheel is a mere illusion. You then become aware of the fact that for the man to steer the car in a straight manner, he needs to make constant little movements to the left and to the right. What appears to be stillness, then, is actually the resulting line of a movement from left to right and from right to left, and, consequently, the car does not really move in a straight fashion but more in a wave-like manner. With the same logic as there is no straight line in nature, there is no car driver who ever would steer a car in a straight line. It is only because of the rapidity and the smallness of the controlling steering movements that we perceive the position of the steering wheel as still. For the same reason, the direction of the car appears to us as straight and only by slowing down the film, we become aware of the wave-like movement of the car on the straight highway. When you take this as a metaphor and apply it to daily life, you see for example that when you design a web site, you need to be picky about every inch of space; however, being as picky as that in relationships lets you come over as a stodgy jerk, or a stingy nerd. 65

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Rather, it is recommended to show latitude with people, a form of well-meaning generosity that is founded on inner peace and high self-worth. When you treat life and people as straight lines, you actually show that you see the world as a dry arrangement of ideas, and not as an organic and energetic whole that is in a process of constant and dynamic change. This latitude you should show with people comes from the insight that all our weaknesses and what you may find obnoxious in others are but temporary stages or phases of development in a continuous cycle of change and growth. This is true for our fears and worries as well. Most progress in life we make by overcoming fears. Fears are guideposts to what lies ahead to be explored for further self-expansion. The biggest mistake we can do in life is to stay away from what we are afraid of, and procrastinate. When you see a small child facing a dog she is afraid of, you will see that the child in most cases does not just run away, but gets into some kind of back-and-forth dialogue with the dog. Run away, come back—run away, come back —and wait and see further … This behavior is very intelligent because the dog will respond to it. The amazing thing is that the dog’s own fear will decrease because of the game-like toggle approach of the small child. And to the extent that the dog’s fear decreases, the dog becomes potentially less and less harmful to the child. A dog that is in peace is not a dog that bites.

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The child does not say: run away forever and see this dog never again. No, the child enters a nonverbal dialogue with the dog which says: —I am interested in you but I am careful not to make you afraid. This is how I want to lower my own fear, in lowering your fear as well! So let’s play a little swing … which will help us to get acquainted with each other. When you have a new and daring project, you may intuitively practice the same approach—and perhaps judge it negatively. You may swing back-and-forth and go ahead a little step and the next day step back a mile. Or your steps forward and backward are of equal length, which is already better. But let me assure you: there is nobody who always goes forward. The natural way when starting something new is to swing toward your project and away from it for a certain while. The I Ching expresses this truth with ‘he lingers for a while and eventually gets settled.’ —Hexagram 3 (Difficult Begin), First Line.

Of course, your intuition always is watchful and each time when you swing forth or back, it will give you little hints. The encouraging hints you get and the ones that hold you back of going further are battling within you, and you will be clear, at the end, what the right way to go is for you. It’s the way that feels good. The most dangerous moments for your peace of mind are not those where you are busy, and not even those when 67

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you are tired, overworked or exhausted. It’s the moments when you feel bored because all is working so smoothly; you got used to your comfort and safety and have nothing to worry about. Sun Tzu, in The Art of War quotes the general Pan Lo who said that for holding on to peace, we should prepare for war! This laconic dictum means to be mindful all the time, and especially in moments where you think you can just whistle and hang around doing nothing. Nonaction is certainly most creative, but only if you keep your mind unspoiled by destructive or nihilistic ideas. This is so because nonaction favors change as life patterns typically change when we are in a poised, relaxed condition, and when we sit back a little from our daily duties. However, this positive condition for change is spoiled when we worry. When we are at rest, destructive thought infiltrates like a bunch of cockroaches creeping in a lonesome house. It starts with the more general worries, that I call the 3F-worries, future, fortune, fate—and if you allow these general worries to erode your peace of mind, the worry pattern will get stuck with one or the other specific worry issue that acts like a worry-trigger every time you get back thinking about it. Positive thought is a funny thing because all speak about it when they are anyway positive. The only time you need positive thought is the time when you are not positive, but caught in the trap of boredom and comfort. The I Ching

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does not help you being more positive, but it helps you to understand why you are negative. It asks you why you worry when there is nothing to worry about. But it also tells you when you should worry, because danger stares you in the face while you are running forward like a blind hen. And it shows you when your success is going to turn into failure because you try to hasten growth, and thus burden yourself with stress. And stress, in turn, is a primary source of worry. Here, you can see how practical the cyclic principles are that the I Ching teaches. There is a dynamic process in all growth; first there is an effort, and this effort is most of the time so consuming that there is simply no space for worries; then a phase of achievement and success occurs, and that is, as Pan Lo noted, the first dangerous abyss. Or as some philosopher put it: there is nothing to defeat great and lasting success but small success. The small petty success is a danger because complacency tends to set in and effort decreases. And with it, worry increases. And doubt. Positive thought can be built into a habit, but for this to happen, you need to invest considerable time and effort. Before you reach this state of consistency in controlling your mind, you may apply positive thought as a remedy in all those moments when you feel your comfort, your safety, your success and your riches are suffocating you. We are most happy at a meal when we start the meal in a really hungry condition. Hunger is the best cook, not a luxurious setting and a bored mind. And the motor of crea69

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tivity is pure enjoyment that comes from a different kind of hunger, sexual hunger or our fundamental human hunger for art, or for religion. When you read the autobiographies of famous creators, painters, actors, singers or pianists, you will see that they invariably are most productive in the first years of their careers, at a time when they were still struggling in all possible ways to make a living and propagate their art to find an audience. Klaus Kinski, a famous Polish-German actor, tells in his autobiography that during his childhood, his family was so poor that he frequently was sent to steal food in the market, and as he could run very fast, he never was caught. And still when he was learning his art and got his first roles as an actor, he was so poor that sometimes he had to repeat eighteen hours per day for a role without having anything to eat for one or two days. —Klaus Kinski, Kinski Uncut: The Autobiography of Klaus Kinski (1997).

Our human nature is such that the surest death blow to creativity is total satiation. You may have known this state when you look at another, and more common, form of creativity: sex. When have you been most happy in your sexual affairs? Was it not during the times when you could have sex only once in a while and when you had to use one or the other form of creativity to find a good partner? It is interesting to see the parallels between the life of individuals and the life of companies. You will then under70

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stand why the I Ching invariably applies for the life of individuals, companies or even countries: it is because life patterns are universal and not bound to human nature. I am talking about growth processes. All life is growth, and growth can be healthy and constructive, or unhealthy and destructive. Cancer is a growth process as well, but a destructive one. The lesson to learn from nature is to not desire blind or excessive growth, but organic and natural growth. Excessive growth is destructive. The I Ching expresses this truth with ‘Hastening growth lets the plant shoot up, but it destroys the fruit.’ When you measure growth only in terms of speed or what I call forward direction, you disregard the cyclical nature of life. Standstill and backward direction or retrogradation are essential movements in natural growth processes, and they have within the cycle the same importance as the forward direction. Every planet spins for several months in a year in the opposite direction. This is called retrogradation in astronomy and astrology. In astrology, the energy of a planet is interpreted also depending on its spin. When the energy of the planet is in forward direction, it is expressed more on the outward level, and its effects are immediate and mostly also visible. When the planetary energy however is in retrogradation, the effects of the energy upon our life are delayed and they are for the most part felt on the inward level only. Thus, the effects of retrograding planets are in-

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visible. Some astrologers, for this reason, speak of inverted planetary energy during the phase of retrogradation. Similar to planets, the energy of human beings, in the growth process, goes through three different phases: forward direction, stagnation and backward direction. Western scientific thought and philosophy, ignorant about action patterns, considers positive only the forward direction, denying to credit the validity of the two other essential movements of life. But this statement is of course valid only regarding mainstream culture and mainstream science. As I have shown in other publications, even in times of the most fundamental repression of holistic pro-life wisdom in Europe, the original holistic life science was taught and practiced in the underground by alchemists such as Paracelsus, to name only the most famous among them. Today, mainstream science is like a lazy school boy, timidly learning lessons in dim afternoon classes it should have learnt, long ago, in the bright morning hours. In last resort, life can only reward those who have really contributed to the progress of humanity, even if it happens hundreds of years after their physical death. Truth cannot be veiled for long: it will eventually appear and shine through even the thickest layers of ignorance and malevolent denial of reality. Picasso was creative in his younger years, as he was creative in his older years, but when he was young he was very poor and had barely the amount of food he needed 72

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for his subsistence. Picasso, as all great artists, lived apart from consumer culture, but he had to pay the price for it. He had to suffer for his art, and it was his passion for art and the pleasure to be creative that saved Picasso from the ultimate failure of giving up and exasperating before he was famous, acclaimed and financially rewarded.

Mastering Change The danger I am talking about is our need for change. When I was at the end of my twenties, I felt I needed a big change, but at the same time was very afraid of it. I became more and more aware that by marrying early in life, I had put myself in a golden cage and that, in addition, my comfort was not based upon a real foundation. I was still financially dependent on my mother and I had stressed the relationship with her up to a breaking point, asking her for more and more money. She was not minding the money; my mother’s fine intuition was that my marriage was not going to hold for long, and this not because of any material reason, but because of the simple truth that I had married too young for a stable partnership and that my wife and me had very different characters. I stubbornly rejected my mother’s point of view, only to admit later that I had wasted the best years of my life in a deeply problematic relationship that left me angry and frustrated. I had resisted the necessary change of a relationship pattern I was caught in and that later, in

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psychotherapy, was identified as a non-resolved Oedipus Complex. Without wanting to expand too much about my own little life, I tell these anecdotes as examples for how we may suffer from a resistance to change more than from actual change. Some coaches today specialize on what they call change management, yet I think we should not separate this skill from the other skills we need in order to master life. Managing change is managing life. It’s as basic as that. Life is change and resistance to change is always a trap. When you observe growth processes in nature you become aware very quickly that life essentially is change. When I speak about change, I do not mean only outward change. The changes in the external settings of your life are of lesser importance. The really important changes are those inside of you, in your mindset and belief system. All what you change here has a direct impact on your external life circumstances. When you change a pattern inside of you before you change it in your outward life, the change actually will feel organic when you incarnate it outwardly in your life. It’s like flowing with life, as if nothing special had happened. It’s what we use to call the welcome change. When you resist change, however, and more so if synchronistic events show you ways to change and you repeatedly disregard them, life may force you to change. Then something rather undesirable may happen, an accident, sickness or a backlash in 74

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one or the other of your endeavors, a social or professional downfall or a tragedy in the family. Flexibility is the single most important virtue or skill we need in order to live through changes with an open and childlike attitude. Flexibility is somehow an Eastern value. It has always been taught by sages as the foremost quality for mastering life, but in the West, because of a basically moralistic life paradigm, flexibility was never considered as an important life skill. That is why today, in a world that changes faster than ever before, Asian cultures live through the profound changes modern life brings in a more dynamic and less hurtful manner than cultures that follow a pervading moralistic paradigm. In fact, both Taoism and Buddhism are religions that teach observation of life as the prima materia for the acquisition of wisdom. To learn from direct observation or to study scriptures in which people have told their observation are two different pairs of shoes. When I am immersed in what others think about life, I am out of focus for my own observation of life. When I study scriptures, I study the past. When I directly observe all around me, including my impact upon others, I am dynamically involved with the present, and I move in the present. Flexibility and observation go together in the same way as rigidity and principle-based living.

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It is not a historical hazard that the principle-based life paradigm is presently the one most successfully taught and propagated by famous coaches in the United States. It’s because it fits the principle-ridden and inflexible Christian mindset. But it is definitely not the best teaching for managing change in a non-hurtful, positive and open way! It was not before reaching my thirties that I began to observe life instead of following one or the other religion or philosophy. I had resisted change so long that life forced me to change. But I welcomed this change because I felt I was returning to my own true being and realizing my own nature. I saw my basic intuition confirmed that life is unendingly flexible and adaptable, and that this quality is built into our human setup because life has created us. Many of our collective human tragedies are the direct consequence of our life-denying religions and philosophies that teach us to be stubborn and rigid instead of flexible, principle-ridden and moralistic instead of open and loving, and static instead of dynamic. It was in some way a benediction that the moment I acquired wealth, I had already gone through many fundamental changes, and had suffered quite a bit of misfortune. I also was at that time ready to accept responsibility for my life instead of blaming parents, childhood or the whole world for my trials. With this basically disillusioned mindset, I could manage without hurt the challenge with our family business.

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The I Ching and Morality The I Ching never is moralistic. It has nothing against wealth, nor is it enamored with poverty. It recommends to remain basically simple and to see that our efforts should surpass a mere striving for comfort, as comfort alone cannot give a sense to our lives. However, this does not mean that the I Ching recommends us to stay out of the world or to retire in the forests. Not at all. The art of living the I Ching teaches is to stay in the world without becoming entangled with the world. The I Ching teaches to focus upon what we are interested in, what we consider as our mission. As a result, the I Ching does not recommend a fatalistic, procrastinating attitude but encourages personal growth. I would say, after years of experience in divining, that the wisdom book shows us the difference between greed and commitment, as for building commitment, we have to warp against over-commitment in the form of greed. When you are merely greedy, and your base intention is just to amass more riches, when you are lacking a more outgoing commitment to your profession or activity, then the I Ching will disadvise you to proceed. What is greed? Let us have a closer look. There is no doubt that the powerful motor of capitalism is greed. Greed is an effective drive because it is fed by emotional flow. However, greed is not for this reason a natural human characteristic; it is rather a compensation longing for mate77

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rial goods that comes about through the repression of our natural desires. To put it shortly: prohibit sex and you will breed greed in people! Greed is a longing for pleasure, and constant pleasure, and it compensates for the prohibited natural body pleasure. Greed is not just a sort of hunger for wealth. What’s wrong with hunger for wealth? What’s wrong with being clean, comfortable, joyful, wealthy and powerful? Greed is not that. Webster’s dictionary defines greed as ‘excessive or reprehensible acquisitiveness’ and it thus bears an element of excess in it. Interestingly, in the Western culture where materialism has come about in the first place, greed is judged very severely as negative and destructive by the Bible. Does that mean that every Western businessman who follows and practices Christian religion will be caught in a deep conscience split? I think that this would be a misunderstanding of what greed is. In Buddhism, there is perhaps no single other characteristic that is so harshly judged as destructive for human development as greed. And yet I have never seen a Chinese, Thai or Vietnamese businessman who was in the least bothered with being strongly focused upon acquiring wealth and social status. I think that when we talk about greed, we really talk about excessiveness. Following the Eastern principle of balance and harmony in all doing, which is recognized as one of the fundamental life principles in Chinese philosophy, we would not need to blacklist greed because it would be

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held as a signal for negative growth because of its excessiveness. This makes much more sense in my opinion than the moralistic judgment against greed that is to be found in Christian faith, in Buddhism and in Islam regarding greed. In fact, moralistic judgments have barely a rational basis, as they are often arbitrary. But it makes sense to avoid behavior that, because of its excessiveness, brings about strife, conflict and backlashes in all ways. To be more correct on the meaning of words, we could then conclude that a free economy is not based upon greed, but upon the natural striving for comfort and wealth, which is just another form of striving for pleasure, but that capitalism in its extreme form is well based upon greed. Such a position gives us headway out of the dichotomy capitalism-communism and a new landscape in which we may build an economic system for the future that is based upon the pleasure principle, and that avoids to breed greed in the first place through a naturally permissive education. When you look at permissive cultures, you very seldom find greed among people, whereas for example in the very repressive Protestant or even Calvinistic culture, you find greed very strongly developed in people while paradoxically, the religious dogma harshly condemns it. Needless to say that this produces a schizoid split in conscience that more or less strongly marks this kind of culture. These people are not very agreeable to have around; their lips are

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tightly closed or even perversely distorted, and they tend to do exactly the opposite of what they are preaching. An intelligent society must avoid moralism as it’s against human nature, and bring about a human being that is whole as much as possible; this is so because fragmentation brings strife, conflict and violence in human society and in the long run perverts the human nature. Now, after this somewhat scholarly explanation, you may want to ask what in fact you can do, in your life, to avoid greed and still develop commitment and a healthy focus upon the acquisition of wealth using positive growth cycles as a motor? The answer is in the question. When you follow the principle of balance and harmony, you will avoid greed because you are aware of the fact that greed produces hurt, and you don’t want and need hurt for yourself, your family, your friends or your business partners. If you really wish the best for all people you are in touch with, and you go for what Buddha called The Middle Way, you can’t be greedy. Your natural striving for wealth, status and power will come to a standstill in the moment you see that it produces hurt, short-term or long-term, to any creature. You will apply what the I Ching calls self-restraint, and what I call standstill as one of the three main directions in human behavior. Example. You may stay longer and longer in the office in order to maximize your revenues, but there will be a moment you have to acknowledge that you see your chil80

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dren only at weekends for a few hours, and you become aware that a child needs a father as a human being and not as walking money purse. You don’t need anybody to tell you that, you know it, and you will know it when the moment arises. And then you may ponder the standstill option or even the backward option, as the forward option then would clearly reveal as destructive for the wellbeing of your family and in the long run for yourself as well. In the education of your children, when you are too strongly focused on eradicating greed in your child, you will create conflict in your child’s mind. This conflict is actually counter-productive to your goal and will make your child still more greedy. There is only one effective way to avoid children becoming greedy; it is to raise them permissively and thus to ensure they have real opportunities to live our their emotions. At the same time, you need yourself to not be a bunch of greed for you teach by example— we all do! You cannot bring about qualities in your children that you do not yourself cultivate. And yet, most parents try to do exactly that, and later wonder why they are so ineffective with their educational measures. Educating your child means in the first place educating yourself. This is actually true for all leadership. The best and most effective way of leading others is by leading self, by being yourself, by incarnating the example.

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The I Ching and Emotions The I Ching has often been found to be too Confucian in its overall attitude toward life. However, we should be careful using such statements. The I Ching has existed long before Confucius, and when scholars state that the I Ching was Confucian in some way, they speak about the interpretation of the wisdom book, not about the original text that is written in a poetic language. While it is true that Confucian philosophy puts high stress upon restraining emotions, I cannot make out this bias in the original text of the I Ching. But again, excess should in any case be avoided. To repeat what I said above, being excessively emotional would run counter to the I Ching’s general stress upon balance and harmony. With this general knowledge in mind, let us see how the I Ching’s stance would be regarding anger, the quintessential hot emotion. Let me first clarify that anger surely is not a negative emotion, as so many religions and philosophies declare. Anger shows us where we do not bestow enough latitude upon ourselves. We may respect others, and the whole world, but often we lack self-respect. The I Ching does not advise against emotions, but it recommends to stay centered despite of emotions. Even in the midst of my anger, I can make sure to not insult anybody, and to guard against over-reacting. And perhaps most importantly, I can accept my anger and refuse to fight against it. In situations of anger, when I asked the I Ching what to do, it recommended to simply leave the place and 82

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change the environment. And the anger was gone on the spot when I had turned my back to the place where I had been angry. When you see that anger signals us a certain change in behavior, in attitude, or in direction, you see that it is actually a very useful emotion. The I Ching, when you ask it for help in a situation of anger, will not advice you to handle your anger well: it will directly go to the cause and look at what in the first place caused your anger. And it will tell you what you should do to change the situation so that further anger is avoided. And here you can see how fundamentally different the I Ching is when you compare it with religious scriptures such as the Torah, the Bible or the Koran. In these scriptures, anger is invariably declared to be a very destructive emotion and the only thing these books do about it is to admonish us to not be angry. But that is stupid because it not only is ineffective, but it completely disregards the higher logic of life that has given us emotions with a purpose, and with a good reason: all our hot emotions are signals that trigger change! Much to the contrary to religious texts, I argue that the lack of emotions is worse than the presence of emotions. I mean with lack of emotions, boredom. Boredom is the worst that can happen to you.

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It is worse than imprisonment, malady and death. It is a real plague. Boredom is the result of losing your soul or being disconnected from your soul. It is an absolutely unnatural condition, while I know that most young people today think that it was a normal condition of modern life. It may be a normal condition of modern life, but this only proves that modern life is a perversion of real life. In real life, there is no boredom. The I Ching does not talk explicitly about boredom. It does not use that word. And when you think about it, there might be a reason for it. The I Ching seems to handle boredom in The Undeveloped One (4), a hexagram that concerns education and selfeducation. The guiding advice of this hexagram is: Go ahead to enlighten undeveloped ones, but it should be the undeveloped one who makes the request, not the teacher. He should approach with sincerity. (Id., 238)

The 4th line reads: Stubborn and ignorant, one is helpless. (Id., 241)

The I Ching holds education in high regard. It seems to suggest that every true and lasting success if based upon proper education, and that education means a constant effort and commitment to learning.

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Many parents experience their adolescent children being bored, and see daily how destructive this condition is for their children, and even the whole family. That this happens is in most cases not the fault of teachers but of highly boring curricula. And boring curricula, in turn, are the outcome of a lack of care, of commitment from the side of politicians and policy makers; they show a deep lack of creativity. Most schools are not the fruit of love and care for children, but the inevitable result of child neglect. Education is always given the last priority in budget considerations, while it is of the first and foremost importance for the future of society. If you are in this position as a parent, you should try all to help your children lead more meaningful existences. To leave it over to schools and school administration boards to educate your children shows more than all that you neglect your children, that you imprison them in institutions that have no regard for the soul of the child, and his or her individual destiny. To revolt against it does not lead to alternatives as long as parents don’t stick together and pressure politicians and educational authorities to take action for changing things positively in the future. To make your children’s lives more meaningful implies first of all that you make your own life more meaningful, and that then you share as much as possible of your meaningful life with your children. You may have plenty of money but your day-to-day reality may look devoid of meaningful moments and ap85

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pear dull and repetitive. I have known children of artists who were quite poor but who shared with their children truly meaningful existences. I found the children invariably to be mature, happy, autonomous and intelligent, and they were very gentle and considerate in their relationships with others. It seems to me today that there is nothing more important in life than our soul being nourished with meaning. Nothing in our materialistic modern societies can compensate for our collective lack of meaning as a culture. Where are the cultural and religious foundations that give us meaning? It seems that we have lost them, or that anyway, when they seemed to exist in the past, they may have been a part of a rather oppressive cultural system? I found meaning in my own life only after rejecting many of the false beliefs that I saw the majority of my colleagues in school and university were holding. They believed in a one-pointed form of success that consisted of becoming wealthy, having a family, and a secure job. That was it. When I was bored in my class as a law practitioner, and instead learnt English, my colleagues looked at me strangely and asked me, flabbergasted: —Why the hell are you learning English? What is this good for? Are you not interested to spend your life where you were born? I replied that under the circumstances I was not sure where I was going to spend my life, where I was going to find a meaningful profession, as I knew that the law pro86

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fession was not what I really liked. I further told them that I was doing a masters degree in European Integration for a career in the European Community, and they found me ‘crazy.’ And indeed, I did not know what I really wanted, in my younger years, and I had to wait for many years to pass to have clarity in this respect. Believe it or not, only twenty years later I got an idea what I wanted, and only thirty years later I began to realize it. Perhaps I went the hard way, or, as an astrologer once put it, I had to slow down my spin and become more single-focused. That was very hard for me as I was interested in so many things. And yet, simply looking at what I liked to do in school, I could have seen very early what it was. But I did all and everything to look away from myself, took others as examples, wanting to be like this famous artist or that interesting writer, or again wanted to live like a saint, or a Gandhi, or engage in philanthropy, or change the world as a revolutionary. And when sitting at the piano, I just wanted to mesmerize my audience with sounds they have never heard before. Astrology helped me tremendously on my way from the periphery to my center, my true being, avoiding the pitfalls of certain karmic conditions that made me overlook myself constantly. I was reading books about overcoming the ego, and yet I had no ego, and thus all these books were not written for me. I needed twenty years to find out that I was hardly 87

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ever thinking of myself and that others, and their lives, had a much too important place in my life. I was in fact concerned too much about others instead about myself, while I realized that most people were spinning in the opposite sense. They only had themselves in mind, and others were for them something to keep up with, at best. I would not say that per se, when you are rich, you are more at pains to realize meaning in your life. To say that poor people have a richer life on a soul-level is a nice illusion that I was holding for many years. I think that this dream alleviated me the pain to accept that human life on earth is ingrained with misery. The problem with being poor is that when I work too hard to join both ends, I have no time for myself. The problem with being rich is that when I have too much time for myself, and for maintaining comfort and safety on a daily level, I am too much concerned about myself and life may appear to me as a mere reflection of myself. And then I miss meaning because I reduce life to what appears to be my own boundaries, the bounds of my ego. I then also tend to exclude others from my ego-centered world, or give them a place at the periphery only, instead of letting their soul-being penetrate and enrich me. I do not say that when we are rich, we are per se more materialistic, while this is a tenor that goes through almost all religious scriptures. I believe rather in the contrary and my life experience confirmed me in that view. The moment I had sold the bothersome family property and put the 88

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money in the bank, I felt free of all sorrow and began to eventually focus on what I felt was giving meaning to my life. Never before had I felt such a deep inner peace! I was beginning to pray every day for guidance to engage in the profession I was really talented for, and to enrich other people’s lives with my gifts and talents. In my experience, tabula rasa thinking, the idea that you can start from page zero, does not really bring progress. When you create without a foundation, you risk to be offtrack, off-soul, so to say. Tradition is not a trap, but a pool, a pool for creative development. This is, for example, how Maurice Béjart, the famous French choreographer, described his artistic paradigm. Béjart, being known as a culture-destroyer, was in reality a culture-builder. He was very conscious of the tradition he was building his art upon, and he admired it and studied it with incredible diligence and unending commitment. He was, like Picasso, a master in the tradition that had born him to be what he was. But he went beyond that mastership and explored into the unknown. This requires not only a lot of courage, but also a lot of modesty. You are not sure you will be the star because you create novelty. You build a new universe and you cannot know who or what will be the center of that universe. It’s perhaps not you, the creator of it, but a star that is better qualified than you to parent and develop what you have given birth to? This is

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what life teaches us, and when you consider this reality, you might be humbled. When you study the biographies of creators, you see that they gravitated around their mission as planets gravitate around the sun. They might have done little jobs for joining ends, but you will not see a painter ending up as a car manufacturer or a pilot. And if he does, you can be sure that the painter in him was not really gifted for his art, because otherwise he would have been more committed to his art than just ‘getting a job.’ I believe that what we are naturally gifted for is like a magnetic field that attracts all that is needed for realizing that gift. But of course, you can use your willpower also for halting when you’ve made half of the way, jumping from a bridge and destroying not only your mission, but also yourself. Human history abounds of this kind of stories, and that again might humble us to acknowledge that nothing is given over to fulfillment when it is not cared for, but taken for granted. This is one of the pitfalls wealth might represent for you. You may begin taking things for granted, success for granted, fulfilled love for granted, and happiness for granted. And then you are off-the-road again and life will teach you that instead of being at an advanced stage of development, you are again in the starting holes. My mother having been suicidal early in her youth, was not less suicidal once she inherited the family fortune and was rich and comfortable. She was not happy before, and she was not happy thereafter. She had not learnt to be 90

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happy. She had taken all and everything for granted, and yet was longing for one single true and fulfilled relationship with a man. But life did not give it to her, probably because she did herself not really commit to this longing. Truly, life is more beautiful and more exciting when we are hungry, and the most part of the magic is gone when we are satiated! It might be more difficult to attract your soul mate when your thoughts are constantly gravitating around trivial matters, or when you are absorbed in your worries and lose a lot of energy because of sorrow. Tabula rasa thinking means that you cut off the Ariadne thread that led you to the point where you are now, and try instead to explore the labyrinth of life without a guide. It’s more difficult, and there is a certain chance that you do something that is not really connected with your soul. The I Ching teaches that every true progress is gradual. Gradual progress means that we build upon what we built before, and so forth. One step after the other, one brick upon another. No matter how slow we are, as long as we remain focused and committed, we do make progress.

The Reflection Pattern You may know that old parable of looking at a glass of water as half-full, or as half-empty.

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You fill a glass half with water, and then contemplate that strange kind of object. Then you wonder about how you should see that object, as a glass half-filled or as a glass half-unfilled, as a glass half-happy or as a glass halfunhappy, as a glass half-useful and half-useless, and so on and so forth. Needless to mention that positive-minded people tend to see that glass as half-filled, whereas negativeminded people tend to make the glass down as half-empty. We learn from this simple experiment that reality is not to be taken for granted, and rather depends on our way of looking at it! Or to speak with quantum physics: reality is creatively interacting with the one observing it. Light can be seen as a wave or as a particle. Einstein found this already at the beginning of the 20th century, and before the establishment of what today we use to call quantum physics. When I see life as order, I tend to see order in all-thatis, whatever occurs to me. When I consider life as nothing but chaos, I tend to make out chaos in the cosmos, and accordingly I experience my own life as chaotic. My internal belief system thus conditions my perception. This explains why reality is far from being the same for all of us. Why do I perceive life so differently from you? Because our perception of reality is a result of the reality we live in and that we have created by our mind. Is that tautological? It is. Because reality is tautological. If I interact with processes by observing processes, if I change flow by flowing myself, if I let the universe dance to my music by dancing with the 92

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universe, then, for heaven’s sake, I must admit that I have no reason to complain for I am responsible for my world! Then I become aware that all I see is the result of my choice. I want to see roses. So I see roses. I want to see garbage, so I see garbage. I want to see happy children, so I see happy children. I want to see abuse, so I see abuse. I want to be different, so I see difference everywhere, while difference per se is not a value, but only in relationship to something that is same. If I want to be different for any price, I am just a naughty child who likes to put every toy upside down, to have the clown vomit and the woman her pants down. I want to be conformist, so I see sameness everywhere and all life seems to me carved from one and the same wood. Then, when I see what really appears to be a difference, I tend to argue: —These two things are not really different, they only appear to be different. In reality, they are same. Their difference is infinitesimally small and thus can be neglected. However, when I see that I am limited, I cannot but practice modesty, according to Modesty (15), as I will abhor faking to be all-powerful which is the way of the worldly and political forces in place. I will then recognize with ease that I simply harvest what I sow, and this without regret, without sorrow, without a bitter taste on my tongue. I throw a handful of sand against the wind and wipe my eyes as a result. Like a toddler playing on the beach. That is how the sage evaluates reality. By direct perception as well as trial-and-error. 93

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When I look in the eyes of a small child, I perceive what is true and what is not true. This truth is so strong that it penetrates in my heart and changes things forever. When I judge life, I cannot perceive the responsiveness of the universe. When I judge, I implicitly have a measure to base my judgment upon. What is this measure other than the length of a fantasy ruler? Can we know how high the next mountain is that nature creates, or how high the next wave is at the beach when there is heavy sea? Can we know how far the cricket will jump? Approximately yes. But not exactly. By the same token, all truth is approximate and not exact. In hindsight we can measure all. But that means to measure death! We cannot measure life because that would mean to know exactly the details of things to come. All divinations are approximations. There are good reasons to put away with all fortune telling as it is as approximate as living is. When I live without inquiring into the nature of future events, I am accepting the approximate nature of things, and I live more carefree than when divining all day long. Wallenstein can tell a story. He was not a happy man. Nor was Nostradamus. When I really understand the nature of living, I see that there are no dreams that eternally have to remain dreams, but that every dream is the creative contemplation of a future reality.

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The Karma Pattern When I see that not values, which are creations of the mind, but dynamic exchanges with all-that-is, which are intuitive dialogues with the universe, bring me closer to perceiving reality more objectively, and less with putting my personal stink, I will avoid values. If you admit or not that the universe is responsive, you will experience karma, the dynamic feedback created by action, a stone or rose thrown back to you. Please note that the notion of karma is not a creation of Hinduism, but a reality in a universe that communicates in an organic multi-vectorial manner. Karma means action, nothing more and nothing less, and it is part of all religions, because it is part of our dynamic and responsive universe. Hinduism has the merit to have put a very peculiar stress upon karma, and for good reasons. But when I know to dialogue with the universe in a dynamic manner, such as the universe itself dialogues with us, I can handle karma creatively and do not need to be trapped by it. As the proverb says: For the sage, karma means liberation. In the West, the notion of karma has been largely misunderstood. It is often taken as a religious theory related to Hinduism or Buddhism. As if the Western part of the globe obeyed to different laws or could abide by different cosmic rules!

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To repeat it, karma, literally in Sanskrit means action; it simply means cause-and-effect, or in the terminology of modern systems theory, karma is the law of a responsive, feedback-looping system. I shout in the forest, in a canyon. I hear my voice resonating in space. You can also say that karma is the natural condition in a responsive universe. I kill life and thus raise chances that I am myself killed, because I set an action of that kind, and create a negative resonance. All actions create a resonance according to their nature. I nurture life by being kind and taking care of others, or feedback to them their beauty, their strength, their originality. I support others in the realization of their original nature. Then, I create a karma of positive resonance that supports me in realizing my own original nature. There is no god, no savior and no punishment. There are no wrong acts, no right acts. There is karma only, feedback given by the universe. By observing that feedback and recognizing its nature, positive or negative, I can evaluate the outcome of my actions. There is no other way. You can’t do that by thinking about your behavior. Thought is circular and inbound within my own continuum. I cannot abstract from my thought and become an observer-thinker, despite the fact that great sages such as Krishnamurti told us we could develop this ability.

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Let’s assume I have not reached that stage of development and thus am still caught in the ego-based structure. Then I have the option to observe the nature of my actions by evaluating the feedback they create in the universe. In being careful and observing what happens around you before you take any major action, you can avoid fatal mistakes and setbacks and act in accordance with the steering power of the universe. This power is of a higher intelligence, and considers not only your actions but the actions of all other humans, of all other beings, and even the actions of natural forces. How does a particular action you are going to take fit in the universe? What kind of waves will it create? What kind of responses will it trigger? All this can be evaluated before the action is taken. And the I Ching has been created precisely for assisting us in that quest. Once you understand this, you will agree that to take blind actions is foolish behavior. And yet, most people, especially in the modern world, take blind actions all the time, and even think that it was normal human behavior. It is ignorant human behavior. Educating children to take blind actions is irresponsible education, or no education at all. Most Western people will reply that it was through a set of firm behavior rules, so-called ‘morally correct behavior’ that positive karma could be created. However, moral correctness is on the same line as political correctness. It is totally volatile as moral rules are 97

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volatile and change from country to country and in some countries even from village to village, and they change over time as well, and they change when economic conditions change. Hence, morality is a fiction; moralism has been seen throughout human history as one of the most sordid ways to blindfold the masses and keep them from educating themselves about the universal laws and rules that really regulate action and reaction. How much morally correct behavior triggered wars and genocide all over human history! How many massacres have been committed in the name of well-sounding moralistic slogans, how many millions of people were killed for politically and morally correct principles!? When I maintain a rigid principle-ridden mindset, I act from an arrogantly fixated ego position. By contrast, when I am humble and flexible, I do not overestimate the powers of my ego and instead rely on the intelligence of the universe to help me finetune my actions. Then I remain open for help and support and admit that I need help and support in the first place. The universe sends help, but only to those who are open to receive it.

Action Patterns As already mentioned, the I Ching teaches flexibility as a foremost value for constructive and positive action, action that creates good and beneficial karma for self and others. When I am flexible, I am ready to go not only forward, but at times also backward, and once in a while, I am 98

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even putting things on hold, a movement that I call standstill. Note that I consider standing still, in this dynamic system of positive and constructive action, as a movement. Just as nonaction, from the same perspective, is a form of action, standstill is a form of movement. It is the movement that avoids wrong action by standing still. Wrong action is action that brings about strife, tension, or hurt, to others and, as a karmic reaction, to self as a karmic boomerang. The I Ching teaches a gradual interplay of different movements, such as, for example, moving forward, standing still for some time, and then moving forward again. This is depending on the lines you receive, and it also depends on the structure and hierarchy of the particular hexagram you are contemplating. Let us first consider the more clear-cut divinations, those that show an unambiguous move in either of the three directions. Moving forward is clearly expressed by hexagrams such as Progress (35), Rising (46) or Gradual Progress (53). Moving backward is advised by Retreat (33), and this unconditionally as all six lines recommend to retreat from the condition in question, and differ only by the fact that such retreat is more comfortable and easy or less comfortable and bothersome. Standstill is clearly advised by Keeping Still (52), and here, like in Retreat (33), the different lines only inform about the easiness or uneasiness of the halt, but they do not recommend any movement other than standstill. 99

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Thus, when you get any line of Retreat (33) or the hexagram without lines, this is a clear indication that you are advised to take a distance from the action or endeavor, or relationship, you intend to engage in, or intend to continue engaging in. The same is true for Keeping Still (52). All the lines indicate standstill as the right action for that moment. Note that it is difficult to know how long a particular hexagram is valid. I do not think that the I Ching invariably advises to retreat from a certain action forever, but in most cases just for a certain time. It is only through repeated divinations that you may get to know the reason why you should retreat and how long, or else if you should definitely stop action for that particular purpose. All advice on divination that says I Ching readings to be valid for either three months or six months is a matter of personal opinion, not to be found in any serious interpretation of the Book of Changes. I have had situations where the reading was valid for just one day, as the next day a new cycle set in that was foretold by a totally different reading later that same day. This, by the way, is true for all divinatory practices. Books on the interpretation of the Tarot that say a particular reading is valid for six months are expressing personal experience at best, if they are not just repeating the balderdash they themselves learnt from others. In truth, there is absolutely no rule that says that a certain divination is valid for one minute, for one day or for

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one lifetime. This is exactly the uncertainty factor in all divination. You may know all in advance, but you will not know the time when events set in. I have had readings where an event set in the next day, and I had readings where an event never set in, probably because I was heeding the advice and changed the parameters of my behavior in time. There is a subtle interplay between your intuition and the I Ching. You know intuitively when you should consult the book again. To disregard your intuition and wait six months for the next reading is foolish. The universe communicates you not only the nature of your karma, but also the time when you should consult the I Ching again. Of course, you may return too often to divination, and for reasons of stress or fear. And when you consult the I Ching in a negative mood, you may get a negative reading. But then the I Ching will tell you what’s wrong with you. It will tell you that you lack decisiveness, that you need to put first things first, that you should be firm in following your original purpose, that you worry too much, that you should be persistent or that you should advance despite your anxiety. Or it may tell you to meditate and put things on hold for a moment, to free your mind and get new creative inspirations, or to consult a friend or expert for finding the solution. Or it may advise you to do things in cooperation with others, and not single-handedly.

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As a beginner, you should first become familiar with the idea of action being naturally threefold, and not consisting only of marching forward. When you look at human history, you see that our old-fashioned and somehow extremely violent tradition has created evil, sorrow and misery by ignoring the simple fact that action is threedirectional. Marching forward was seen as the only right action. In a way, marching forward can be seen as the identifier of the total madness that is so characteristic for patriarchy. And the madness of today’s worldwide consumer culture is the logical historical and psychological follow-up of patriarchy with its ignorance of systemliteracy. We can see the three base movements equally in the way the I Ching entered the soil of Western culture. There was first a forward movement, during Antiquity, then a long retreat during the Dark Age, and then a period of standstill. The I Ching could be discovered by a wider range of people only after the horror regime of the Church had found its end, thus from about the Renaissance. When the Church declared the I Ching, together with so many other jewels of human wisdom as diabolic knowledge, we can clearly see a phase of Retreat (33). But for various reasons, the I Ching became popular in Western culture only within the new age movement, from the second half of the 20th century. Today, the I Ching is clearly again in a forward movement, in Western culture. From the Renaissance until to102

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day, the I Ching was going through a period of Keeping Still (52). It could be consulted without danger, but was given attention only by a small range of Western scholars, among them the German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716) who found that the I Ching implicitly uses the binary code that today is used in every computer. In the near future, during the Aquarius Age, the I Ching will receive an honorable and important position within a greater range of wisdom devices that are constantly reaching wider circles among the educated classes of international society, and foremost the young generations, which is one of the main reasons why I wrote this book.

Three Phases of Action Action is what I call forward movement within a positioning that sees action together with nonaction and retreat as one of the three phases of action. After having introduced the notion of three base movements in the previous paragraph, let me now have a regard on the various phases within the forward movement. The I Ching deals with action in most hexagrams. As already mentioned, there are only a few hexagrams that recommend action through and through, while most are mixed in the sense that within a course of action, diligent attention and careful inspection is recommended to avoid excess, and a setback or failure as a result of overacting. Let me explain this using Yang/Creative Energy/The Active Principle (1) as an example. The first line of this very 103

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powerful hexagram that consists of six yang lines recommends nonaction. The second line recommends to seek advice. The third line predicts danger, but says there will be no harm. The forth line, eventually, sets action completely free and the fifth line predicts great success. However, the top line is a quintessential example for excess and is generally interpreted as a painful setback through an arrogant and inflexible attitude, or a rigidly forward-moving behavior. Let me now give a few examples for hexagrams that end in a positive 6th line. I think it is important to consider that not after every culmination point follows a negative spiral. Such a conclusion would be a misunderstanding of the I Ching. Flexibly intelligent action uses the time after completion, as hexagram 63 teaches us, for securing what has been achieved, and for rest and meditation. It is short-sighted to interpret the I Ching as a set of patterns that ‘predict the future.’ The truth is that no future can ever be ‘predicted’ because every moment a different thought and emotional pattern can be put forward that changes the present state of events, thereby changing the future by changing the present. The future is but an extrapolation of a vibrational pattern set in the present. When I change the present pattern, logically the future pattern will be different as well. That is why, as I mentioned earlier, a particular reading can be superseded in a day, an hour or a week, but not in any time intervals determined in advance.

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Life is infinitely flexible. After a thunderstorm, a hurricane or an earthquake, there may be a certain level of destruction, but it’s not the end of the world. Nothing in nature can cause the end of nature—except human ignorance and willfulness. This is an unwritten law pervading all living in the cosmos. The first example of a hexagram that ends in a positive 6th line is Great Harvest/Abundance (14), which is called by some I Ching experts as the most lucky of all hexagrams. Here, the 6th line simply reads in Hua-Ching Ni’s interpretation: ‘Heavenly blessing. Good fortune. No problem.’ —Hua-Ching Ni, I Ching, The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1999), p. 295.

Another example is Modesty/Humility/Moderation (15) where the 6th line reads: He uses modesty instead of aggression with outsiders to correct the confusion within his territory. (Id., 300)

Other examples are: ‣

Obstacle/Adversity/Obstruction (12);

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Advancing/Going Forward/Progress (19);

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Contemplation/Stocktaking/Reflection (20);

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Adornment/Beauty/Grace (22)

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Great Potential/Creative Energy/Great Power (26);

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‣

Nourishment/Nutrition/Self-Cultivation (27);

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Critical Mass/Great Excess/Imbalance (28);

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Mutual Attraction/Wooing/Marriage (31);

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Retreat/Withdrawal/Going Backward (33);

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Family/The Clan/Group Life (37);

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Contradiction/Opposition/Disharmony (38);

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Obstruction/Obstacle/Difficulty (39);

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Dissolution of the Problem/Release/Liberation (40);

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Sacrifice/Decrease/Reduce the Excessive (41);

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The Well/Water Hole/Reaching the Water (48);

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Revolution/Reformation/Groundbreaking Change (49);

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Cauldron/Harmonization/Stability (50);

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Gradual Progress/Positive Development (53).

In all these hexagrams, the 6th line is positive and constructive. Now, if almost one third of all hexagrams of the I Ching give a positive reading for the 6th line, it cannot be said, as some scholars erroneously do, that the 6th line in every hexagram of the I Ching invariably predicts misfortune.

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Non-Action vs. Bold Action Nonaction is action, Lao-tzu wrote in the Tao Te Ching. And this wisdom is part of the I Ching as well. You can find nonaction in the I Ching in two different ways: ‣

As a general standstill, as indicated by Keeping Still (52);

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As a tactical standstill, as part of various action-hexagrams: •

The 1st line in Yang (1);

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The 1st line in Dispute (6);

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The 6th line in Small Accumulation (9);

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The 1st line in Great Harvest (14);

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The 1st line in Great Potential (26);

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The 4th line in Fire (30);

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The 3rd line in Mutual Attraction (31);

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The 1st line in Power of the Great (34);

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The 1st line in Resolution (43);

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The 4th line in Contact (44);

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The 5th line in Adversity (47);

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The 3rd line in Revolution (49);

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The 3rd line in Gradual Progress (53);

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The 1st line in Before Crossing the Water (64).

As mentioned earlier, when nonaction appears as a line in an otherwise dynamic hexagram, and contrary to the general advice given in Keeping Still (52), interpretation is needed. 107

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Typically, one of these critical lines is drawn together with other lines of the same hexagram. When this happens, a temporary halt is indicated or the line can be said to indicate a very careful way to proceed. If the line is drawn as a single answer without any other line, this means that indeed nonaction is the best for a certain time. The time-span cannot be predicted, as I pointed out earlier, but from a systemic point of view I would argue that the time-span of rest or nonaction indicated by Keeping Still (52) is certainly more extended as the one indicated by any of the lines that recommend a temporary halt. That is all I can say on the time matter. For all those who are caught in the erroneous belief the I Ching was but a textbook on Confucianism, and that it did not favor any form of bold and spontaneous action, let me advance the following arguments to put things in the correct light: ‣

The I Ching is much older than Confucian thinking;

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Confucius is said to have studied the I Ching most diligently and never pretended to have developed any knowledge or system that superseded or surpassed the wisdom of the I Ching;

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The I Ching contains a number of lines that advise bold and massive action, and to prove my point, I will line them up in full detail here, and exhaustively so: •

The 4th line of Yang (1);

•

The 5th line of Yin (2);

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The 4th line of Difficult Begin (3); 108

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•

The 1st line of Peace (11);

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The 6th line of Obstacle (12);

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The 2nd line of Great Harvest (14);

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The 2nd line of Modesty (15);

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The 2nd line in Advancing (19);

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The 5th line of Return (24);

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The 1st line of Innocence (25);

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The 6th line of Great Potential (26);

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The 6th line of Nourishment (27);

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The 1st and 2nd lines of Fire (30);

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The 2nd line of Power of the Great (34);

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The 3rd line of Success (35);

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The 6th line of Contradiction (38);

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The 1st, 2nd and 6th lines of Dissolution of the Problem (40);

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The 5th line of Sacrifice (41);

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The 1st, 2nd and 5th lines of Benefit (42);

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The 2nd, 4th and 5th lines of Congregation (45);

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The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th lines of Rising (46);

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The 4th, 5th and 6th lines of The Well (48);

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The 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th lines of Revolution (49);

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The 5th and 6th lines of Cauldron (50);

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The 2nd, 4th and 6th lines of Gradual Progress (53);

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The 1st line of The Maiden (54);

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The 1st, 4th and 5th lines of Peak (55);

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•

The 5th line of The Wanderer (56);

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The 5th line of Gentle Wind (57);

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The 1st and 2nd lines of Joyousness (58);

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The 1st line of Scattered (59);

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The 5th line of Inner Truth (61);

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The 5th line of Before Crossing the Water (64).

If more than half of all hexagrams of the I Ching recommend unbridled action in one or several lines, the opinion sometimes expressed in the literature that the wisdom book was an action-breaker and led people to procrastination seems to be unfounded. In fact, having studied and practiced both the Tarot and the I Ching for almost thirty years, I find the Tarot more difficult to interpret because it uses psychological archetypes for describing circumstances. By contrast, the language of the I Ching is rather precise, and its advice to the point. It is perhaps more difficult to get to bold action when using the Tarot for divination as this is the case with the I Ching. Let’s not forget that in the past, in China, many great generals have used the I Ching for war strategy and for gathering precise information about when and how to advance or retreat the army in order to win the battle. After all, what the I Ching definitely cannot do is to act for you! There is a moment when you have to cease reflecting and start acting. And in that moment, the I Ching has to be laid aside.

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乾 1 Qian ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ———

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Yang / Creative Energy / The Active Principle Work steadily. You will achieve favorable results.

Traditionally, pure yang energy was considered auspicious for the realization of any project. Most of the lines are favorable except the first and the sixth. In the first the energy is not yet ready and the sixth line indicates a possible excess that needs to be avoided. 1. The time is not ripe for outer action, but it’s a good time for self-development and working on inner clarity for your plans and goals. 2. Seek out the advice of a knowledgeable person in your field. It will be good to work together to achieve your goals. 3. You are now in a situation to attract others to your ideas and social advancement is possible. But you need to be prudent in such a time for your creative energy may lose focus and get scattered through too much exposure and input. If you hold your vision, focus and integrity, you can pass safely through this period of time. 4. This is a moment of choice. You can either seek public fame or work for your own inner advancement and personal development. Follow your deepest intuition, listening to the inner voice that knows what is true for you. When you affirm and have faith in your guidance, this 114

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guidance will manifest in your life and you will make the right choice. 5. This is a line of great potential and leadership. You can realize an important project now and the outcome will be beneficial for all parties involved. If you are not sure about the why and how of the realization, consult a knowledgeable person. You will receive help and support! 6. This line shows a need for moderation. Any extreme action should be avoided for it may have a counterproductive effect. You may be too ambitious or you may overstress your possibilities. Restrain yourself to avoid any undesired consequences.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Yin / Adaptive Energy / The Receptive Principle Adapt. Go with the flow.

This hexagram was traditionally associated with a female horse. It represents soft and gentle characteristics. This hexagram is generally very positive, except the sixth line which indicates the illusion one could achieve success single-handedly. The overall stress of this hexagram is collaboration and communication with others. 1. To understand all means to forgive all. Be openminded. In the beginning stage of a project or relationship, you should be gentle and cautious. Your knowledge is not broad at this point and you should proceed with care and foresight. 2. This line indicates that you act in accordance with the universe now and that your endeavors will be naturally successful. Be honest and upright, and do not worry. You can advance gracefully now! 3. This line traditionally speaks about a government official who is not paid for his work, yet what he does serves the public good. This means that what you do now in a public, unselfish spirit will be rewarded later on. For the moment, keep your talents and ideas for yourself and proceed in this spirit, then you act in accordance with the universe! 118

KUN (2)

4. This is a time for prudence. Run a low profile and be self-contained. You can advance at this time more on the inner level than outwardly. Be faithful to your highest guidance and restrain your impulsiveness in order to avoid unnecessary disturbance; confrontations may lead to undesired obligations. 5. This is a position of leadership. Your modest attitude and humility in a position of power and influence lead to great success. The traditional interpretation assigns the color ‘yellow’ to this line, which was associated with intelligence. It said that if leaders were willing to follow the natural virtue of this line, there would be nothing wrong in the world. 6. You will gain the insight that the hallmark of success is not competition but cooperation. If you insist on your way in a matter where more people are involved, you may cause losses for all, and nobody wins. The traditional interpretation speaks of dragons fighting in the wilderness. However it also says that their blood blends together, which connotes a blending of yin and yang. Thus, if you are able to ‘blend’ your energy with those of your collaborators, your project may still succeed, but you need to realize this truth and change your attitude.

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屯 3 TUN —

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Difficult Begin / Birth Pangs / To Be Stationed Be stationary and firm. Do not move. Reorient yourself.

This hexagram teaches a need for careful thought before starting a new venture. It indicates a potentially confused beginning which is why treading carefully and seeking advice is recommended. There is however a chance that persistence leads to later success. 1. You cannot advance alone in this position. Be faithful to inner guidance; you will attract the right helpers. 2. You need to be patient, for there are difficulties and obstacles in your way. The traditional interpretation speaks of a girl mounted on a horse but at a standstill. This is because she declines to marry and will wed only in ten years. This means metaphorically that you should not collaborate with others when the time is not right or when such collaboration is against your principles. In such a case it is better to wait until you attract the right people to help you. 3. The traditional interpretation speaks of a person who is hunting in a forest without a guide, unable to find deer and in addition losing his way. This means that if in your isolated position you push forward, you will experience a setback. The right action here is to stand still and wait until your inner guidance shows you a way out. You may also

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want to check out your goals and intrinsic motivation; it may be necessary to adjust your goals to the situation. 4. Now the way begins to open for you, but not for acting single-handedly. You need to cooperate with others, but stay your course and be faithful that you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. 5. This line advises to not granting favors to others and to not realize big projects. This means you should do a step at a time, avoid any form of corruption, and proceed with a humble attitude. Doing small steps toward your goal is after all a form of advance; sometimes slowness is the correct response in certain situations. The most important is that inwardly you stay your course and be faithful to your ultimate success at a later time. 6. This line traditionally is associated with a person mounted on a horse, but at a standstill, weeping uncontrollably. This means that when you encounter a blockage on your way, this may cause you momentary sadness. However, this line also teaches that if you change inwardly, the outward situation will also change. This is a good time for introspection, meditation and self-cultivation. Stop your course of action for a while and ask for inner guidance. You will receive it!

123

蒙 4 MENG ——— —

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Immaturity / Lacking Experience / The Undeveloped Be willing to learn and educate yourself.

It may be needed to educate yourself as the situation may be confused because you are lacking inner coherence. You may thus be at pains to make an informed decision. In such a case, patience and inner strength are needed to gain clarity for advancing at the right moment, relying on your inner guidance. 1. Restrain yourself and practice self-discipline. Set yourself strict guidelines for action and you’ll avoid having regrets later on. A stoic attitude and strict principles are the path toward happiness; while leading an unregulated life is not a recipe for success. 2. This line traditionally announced a good marriage. While such an interpretation may be too narrow, what is indicated here is that collaboration with others brings good results. In all human affairs, judgment is short-sighted because we never know all the factors that motivate human action in others. Hence, tolerance and benevolence with others, even if they act inappropriately, is the correct attitude and brings success. 3. This line traditionally speaks of one attempting to marry a women who seeks a wealthy man. More generally, what the I Ching advises here is to not be blinded by desire 126

MENG (4)

and to avoid excess. Thus, wait patiently for a better moment and avoid action. 4. This line warns of ignorance. It may be a matter where you need more background information before you go on. If you do not heed this advice, you may suffer a painful setback. Spiritually, if your inner mind does not support your project, there will be conflict. Right action here is to check if your intended action is in accordance with your conscience and to affirm that you are guided by correct principles. Affirm this over and over and your subconscious mind will pick up on it and will give you feedback, through dreams and premonitions, how you should act in this situation. Until you receive this inner guidance, hold on and do not persist. 5. Being faithful to your inner guidance, you shall achieve your goal and advance in your life. It will bring you advantage to seek another’s advice and support. 6. This line traditionally speaks of punishing an ignorant child. A modern interpretation would see the ‘child’ as a metaphor for your own inner child. If this inner energy is too boastful and neglects proper guidance you should restrict it by considering the matter from the perspective of your inner adult (rationality) and your inner parent (responsibility). The inner child is your most creative impulse, but sometimes creative solutions are hurting social traditions, and thus you need to apply wisdom to the way how you proceed in life.

127

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Waiting Patiently / Stagnation / Hesitation Be patient and bide your time. Overcome stagnation.

This hexagram teaches the importance of time in all matters that need a growing energy for realization. When you need to wait, rushing ahead only results in restlessness without bringing a real advance. The wisdom of this hexagram is to teach creative adaptation to a situation where quick progress is not possible. 1. Do not rush into things. Do not exhaust your energy at this point. Wait until you see a safe way to proceed. 2. There are difficulties ahead. To be aware of danger is a good way to avoid it. When you are faithful to your inner guidance, you will see a way out and you can advance successfully! 3. You are in a vulnerable position. You may have got into this position by having been too reckless in your recent past. Now be cautious and hold still so as to not invite trouble. 4. The situation is such that retreat is the best action here. Keep your inner light and be faithful to be guided when the moment is right. You may find help and support to get out of this situation if you are faithful to your inner guidance.

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XU (5)

5. This is a time for relaxing and getting a good new perspective of the situation at hand. There is much more to do for realizing your goals; thus remain focused and do not become restless. You will be guided to advance when the time is right. 6. You’ll receive a blessing in disguise. The traditional interpretation speaks of three uninvited guests who need to be properly treated for everything being alright. This symbolizes that in some form or another, you receive a helping hand from the universe, but you need to recognize the blessing which may not be obvious. Often in life, when we do good to others, it comes back to us not from the same people and at a later time, but it does come back to us.

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讼 6 SONG ——— ——— ——— —

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Dispute / Conflict / Inner Struggle Tension. It may indicate contention. It may be an inner struggle.

This hexagram traditionally is about conflict with others, a state of contention or a litigation. But it can as well apply for an inner struggle. You are likely to receive it in a reading when you have two ‘talking’ voices within you, one that wants to go ahead, and the other that wants you to stop. In such a case, you need to develop good judgment. 1. Avoid dispute and make peace. If you are bothered by gossip or if others treat you with lacking respect, forgive them, but go your way and believe in your inner values. 2. Pure willpower is often in life not a good recipe for success. Here, patience and tolerance are needed for dissolving a dispute outwardly, or within yourself. You may need to make concessions in a dispute, or you may gain clarity about what you really want. Retreat is a good action for now! 3. The advice here is to run a low profile and avoid public prominence. If you heed this advice and you remain cautious, you may eventually succeed. But do not start new undertakings now! 4. The traditional interpretation of this line is that one’s grievance has been rejected. It is thus recommended to 134

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avoid the conflict altogether by not insisting and making peace. A favorable response may then occur. 5. In this position, you may well proceed with a grievance or litigation. As you are guided by correct principles, you will be successful and dispute can be dissolved. This line may also indicate that you have found inner peace by dissolving conflict within. It is thus favorable to go ahead! 6. The I Ching always advises against competition. Your position here is that while you have won the dispute, you have stirred up an envious reaction in others. Thus to insist until the end is not favorable. The traditional interpretation of this line speaks of a leather belt that was bestowed because of winning a litigation, but that will be snatched away many times. This metaphor teaches the importance of inner poise, harmony and peace of mind, which have higher values than the momentary winning of a dispute. Hence the need for inner reflection and, if necessary, of wistful retreat.

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师 7 SHI —

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

The Army / Military Leadership / Collective Power Learn the art of leadership.

This hexagram indicates that great things can be achieved with cooperation and a good sense of leadership. The importance is to take responsibility and to have a non-selfish attitude for making things happen by firing others up with respect and enthusiasm. 1. This line teaches that selfish motives are not appropriate in a position of leadership, hence the need for selfrestraint and for building an ‘orderly’ mindset and attitude. This means that you need to be organized from the start in order to avoid failure for yourself and those who are close to you. 2. This line predicts a favorable result because there is good communication. The traditional interpretation speaks of being empowered by the King. This means that yin and yang are in correct balance, so you can advance toward your goal. 3. This line speaks of the defeat of an army. Psychologically, this indicates that one lacks leadership skills. While your intentions may be good, you need to control any lofty ambitions by making sure you have the ability to carry things through to the end. If you see that this is not the case, retreat is the best thing to do. 138

SHI (7)

4. This line is an extension of the 3rd line in that it teaches the way how to retreat safely. It indicates that the situation is such that in your present position you cannot win and should thus retreat. The traditional interpretation emphasizes that one should never feel humiliated by retreat. 5. Here, the I Ching consults to appoint an experienced leader for handling the situation. Thus assignments should be clearly given, and the leader must carefully match the right person with the appropriate duty—otherwise you may run into failure. If you are not in a situation of leadership outwardly, this line may also apply to your inner ‘team’ in that you may be advised to take a leadership position in the face of contradicting inner voices, and take a responsible action based upon self-reflection. 6. Take special care in delegating duties. You have basically made it through but you need to be careful what kind of people you are sharing your success with. Avoid petty people and give rewards only to those who have deserved it. This line may also be interpreted as reflecting a person who as a leader needs to be a good manager as well, thus fulfilling two roles in one person.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Fellowship / Unity / Togetherness A time for union and cooperation. The undecided will join in.

This hexagram indicates a situation where even when you think you are absolutely right, you should consult others by communicating effectively. Success is indicated but it will come only through joint effort and cooperative action. 1. This line indicates success while one may not have done anything special, thus a lucky situation. This is the result of your inner coherence which makes that on the outward level you come over as honest and trustworthy. 2. This line teaches that the achievement of good partnership outwardly is the result of inner values, integrity, coherence, sincerity, and focus. The traditional interpretation speaks of ‘unity from within’ which bodes well. Thus perseverance brings a positive result! 3. The traditional interpretation speaks of fellowship with an unvirtuous person. Thus, make sure to align yourself with the right people. If you link up with people of shadowy reputation, it may negatively affect your own social standing later on. 4. You have made it to a position of some influence or leadership. You may be in the role of support for a person, or persons, with whom you can cooperate. Thus while be-

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ing prudent, you may graciously support others, as this will bring advancement for the partnership. 5. The traditional interpretation of this line speaks of a leader who engages in a hunt. He practices self-restraint in that when an animal achieves to escape the hunting circle, he will not persecute it. Likewise, a good leader uses only those who approach by their own volition and doesn’t force himself or herself on people. When this is achieved, great success is possible for all parties involved! 6. Here a situation is indicated where one has failed to cooperate with others because of a tendency to isolate oneself or because the time of unity has passed, and another cycle has set in. A historical example here is the French Revolution. If the nobility had seen the necessity to make concessions when the time was still positive for reform and moderation, much bloodshed and still greater corruption by Robespierre’s brutal revolutionary regime would have been avoided. In daily situations, this line teaches the importance of using time effectively in a leadership position as everything is cyclic in life.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Small Accumulation / Limitation / Incremental Progress Small successes are at the basis of abundance.

The traditional picture of this hexagram is that clouds are moving across the sky but no rain is falling. This indicates a situation where one should be outwardly flexible but inwardly determined and focused. Others will realize that you are open to compromise. All success under this hexagram will be incremental and slow. 1. As so often at the starting point of a new situation, the I Ching advises prudence. You have the choice here to proceed or retreat. If you focus on inner guidance, the right way will be shown to you. Avoid reckless actions! 2. You may notice that somehow you are dragged away from a problematic situation. This kind of involuntary retreat is auspicious for it leads to a reevaluation of the situation. Trust your inner guidance and you will know how to act appropriately. 3. There may be some contention or struggle. It doesn’t bring you advantage to insist on your point of view or go ahead with too much self-confidence. The situation cannot be mastered through single-handed advance, but through proper cooperation and communication. Inner coherence

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and harmonious thoughts will assist you in bringing about positive results. 4. When you sincerely communicate with others, you can be influential in this position. The traditional interpretation of his line is ‘Be confident. Wipe away the blood and avoid danger. No more trouble.’ This means that your understanding of the situation, your moderate attitude, and your honesty will help you to cooperate effectively with others so as to master this situation and bring about a successful outcome. 5. Here your cooperative attitude attracts even more important people and you can make good connections. Be willing to share and have a charitable intention, then everything will bode well! 6. This line cautions you to consolidate your gains instead of pressing further ahead. Adversity may be on the increase and you are advised to not lose your cooperative spirit.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Conduct / Behavior / Attitude Pay close attention to your conduct. Do things appropriately.

This hexagram is all about conduct, who people behave in society, and which attitude is appropriate in different situations. It is an important hexagram in that peace and order flow out from good human conduct, while even the strictest criminal law will not be able to prevent, let alone eradicate criminal behavior. Sometimes a bad attitude can spoil the best cause. 1. Conduct yourself simply and naturally. Do not assume obligations in this position for you depend too much on the goodwill of others. The I Ching teaches throughout that when neither honor nor disgrace are imposed on a plain good life, one achieves happiness. 2. Simplicity and modesty (moderation) are safeguarding a tranquil life. Do not get entangled in other people’s dreams and do not expect favors from others, nor any high position or honor. Then you preserve your inner peace. 3. This line traditionally speaks of a person who steps on the tail of a tiger and is bitten. It’s a situation of danger caused by lacking foresight, arrogance or excessive ambition. The advice in this situation is to be flexible and avoid a rigid stubborn attitude. It is also important to maintain

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inner coherence and avoid being misled by hot temper or resentment.

4. In this situation, you have mastered the danger indicated by the 3rd line, because one has been prudent and flexible. Now you can proceed with your project or endeavor. 5. There is danger in this position but if you can muster self-discipline and you have a true understanding of the situation, you can go prudently ahead. If you feel that it’s not worth the effort, you may want to change your goals. Here advancement means to have gained wisdom through understanding one’s past. 6. Check out your conduct now and in the past. The law of karma is but cause and effect depending on the nature of our actions. If you are able to gain a certain objectiveness in assessing your behavior, you can achieve high in your life, for you will see that you reap what you sow. Hence the need to refresh your attitude from time to time.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Peace / Harmony / Success Good opportunity. Proceed.

This is an overall positive hexagram. When you receive it in a reading, it indicates that you are basically on the right path and act in alignment with the cosmos. The I Ching teaches that inner coherence and harmony are the keys to success. 1. The law of attraction works positively in your life now. You can establish good connections now with others and proceed toward your goal. Especially when you work for the common good, you will attract people with similar goals and you can establish successful cooperation. 2. Harmony means that you keep to the middle way, avoiding extremes. Being non-judgmental, and taking a position of latitude by accepting both the good and bad elements you see in the world is beneficial. When you have the courage to harmonize all opposites in this way, you bring more harmony into your life, thereby achieving more. Broadmindedness will increase coherence within yourself and others around you and you can accomplish great achievement in alignment with your higher purpose in life. 3. Your present situation undergoes a change. It may not yet be visible but there will be a turning point. This doesn’t mean defeat. You can contribute to a smooth con154

TAI (11)

tinuation, despite change, by being faithful and focus on the attitude that has brought you success; then, you will have more successes in your life. It is important not to react to change with fear because that will close your opportunity window. Fear negatively affects inner coherence; it comes up only if you resist change. Being open to change but seeing the potential for growth, both spiritually and financially, helps you to steer your ship successfully through this time. 4. When you trust others from a genuine position of broad-mindedness, you will receive their help and cooperation. You are now at a point to experience how your inner coherence positively influences the people around you, and you may be surprised how much support you will receive for achieving your goal. Many great achievements require more than one person to be accomplished, so be open to receive the help that is offered to you. 5. This is a position of leadership that has the potential of great accomplishment. You enjoy the broad support of those around you by being upright and modest in your attitude, and by so doing, you can share your success with more than one person, and can benefit many. This is a true blessing! 6. When you encounter obstacles, do not resist them on the mental and emotional levels, for this would make them appear bigger to you as they really are. After the peak of prosperity has been passed, there is a time of consolidation when you need to care for maintaining your success. In 155

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

such a time you need to be both positive and prudent, avoiding any hazardous actions or investments. It is also helpful in such a time to strengthen the bonds with those who support your cause.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Obstacle / Adversity / Obstruction Keeping still and remaining upright is favorable.

This hexagram depicts a situation of confusion. Traditionally the picture was one of scattered sand which cannot bind together. It is hard to know which direction to take. A strong will and patience are needed. Be faithful to your inner guidance. 1. Do not get involved in anything that is not in alignment with your highest principles. Do not go forward with your undertaking or relationship, but wait and keep to yourself. This time will pass. You can use it for strengthening your resolve and preparing for later success. Remaining upright in times of adversity is the recipe for great prosperity! 2. Do not compromise with the mass mind and be unaffected by flattery. There is potential success waiting for you if you keep uninvolved and trust the correctness of your cause. The most important is to keep your smart in such a time and to not divulge your motives or strategy. 3. Do not attempt to please those who you find are lacking integrity or honesty. Instead, keep to yourself and maintain your dignity. On the other hand, assess how you have contributed to bringing this compromising situation

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about. Thorough self-reflection will help you to correct the situation and go out unharmed. 4. The cycle is about to change and adversity now begins to wane. Having faith in a good delivery brings you blessings. This is the result of your inner coherence, and your faith in the positive nature of cyclic development. 5. You can now pull through the crisis and turn danger to safety. A cautious and prudent attitude will help you, while you should not slacken your efforts to achieving your goal. Success is waiting for you! 6. After adversity comes rejoicing. Remain mindful to reach your goals through correct and timely action, and try to minimize dependence on others. The more you accept others’ favors, the more you need to repay to them at a later time. If you trust your inner guidance, you will see that this guidance takes on every possible help and support in your outer life.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Fellowship / Community / Uniting with People Work hand in hand with people.

This hexagram refers to a group of people working in harmony. However, there are different situations of uniting with others, some appropriate, others not. The overall value to be discussed here is trust, and trust-building in all kinds of relationships. 1. This is a time to leave your familiar surroundings and get into the open. Let others know about your projects and ideas and be impartial in sharing with others. It brings you and those you are sharing with advantage to meet in a spirit of communion and with a positive mindset. 2. When you lose your impartial spirit and adopt partial views, you will end up in a clique, not a real community. This is the result of narrow-mindedness. You may later regret your selfish motives, and you will realize that you have only created limitations for everyone involved. 3. You may not be entirely clear about your motives. You also may lack a public spirit and hold narrow views. Your ambition may be greater than your potential for realization: this brings about inner friction and works counter to coherence. You may realize that those around you have an agenda and do not really cooperate with you. Thus for a certain time not much can be achieved. 162

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4. To be obsessed with certain personal goals may isolate you from others in the long run. However, you are now in a position of going forward through introspection and inner change. The achievement of your goal is possible, but not through any kind of forceful action. When you realize that, you are heading toward the light. Then true communion with others will be possible and bring advantage for all parties involved. 5. Your inner coherence brings positive resonance from others who are in a similar situation. Together you can remove the obstacles that were in the way to achievement and great victory is in sight! 6. There is potential for community with others, but this relationship will be limited in some ways. You will realize that you have little influence upon those you wish to cooperate with.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Great Harvest / Power / Abundance Make good use of your wealth of experience.

This is an overall very positive hexagram. Some traditional I Ching interpretations stress that it was the only hexagram of the I Ching where all lines are positive. The stress here is upon accomplishment by using one’s wealth of experience. 1. Your idea or project may have great potential but the situation is still in its beginning stage. You may be too isolated still or anxious, and you should overcome such negative feelings by building positive faith in your cause. This awareness will help you to advance! 2. You have abundant resources now and can undertake an important task. This line indicates that your ambitions will be rewarded with great success! 3. Do not indulge in ego-driven pursuits but share your wealth to benefit others. If you have charitable ambitions at this time, your public spirit will be recognized and rewarded. There may be losses in some field, and unexpected gains in other areas of your life. The most important is that you keep your heart open, and have the common good in mind, then you pass safely through this time of change.

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4. Instead of competing with others, try to cooperate. Instead of displaying a boastful and ostentatious attitude, try to conciliate. You can only realize in life what you have an equivalent for in your mental domain; thus keep focused and visualize your goals. If you do not force things, you won’t be harmed. 5. As a leader, you don’t need to be superior in every detail. When you are honest and open, but also dignified and serious, nobody will take you lightly. This is a position of successful leadership; being receptive and sincere while maintaining power results in high achievement. 6. If you live rightly and benefit those who have helped you to this position, the universe will help you and great blessings will follow for everyone! The great art of leadership is to achieve balance inwardly and outwardly, which results in coherence within yourself and all those who help you achieving your goals.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Modesty / Humility / Moderation Modesty and moderation bring success.

This is another hexagram in the I Ching where all six lines are positive and beneficial. According to Richard Wilhelm, this shows ‘how great a value Chinese wisdom places in this virtue.’ When you are in a position of authority, consideration of others is particularly important. Besides, you should be humble especially when you are praised. 1. With a modest and disciplined attitude, much can be achieved and you can get a lift from a lowly position into a higher sphere of responsibility or realm of being. If some travel is connected with your project, do the trip and it will bring you advantage! 2. Your attitude of moderation brings you advance in all affairs. It is beneficial to be to the point and carry out your duties mindfully. Your proper conduct will bring you success. 3. Do not distinguish between pleasant and unpleasant tasks and duties. Embrace all you do with diligence and keep an attitude of modesty, then you will achieve high. Once you are widely successful, do not let fame get into your head. 4. A good reputation is not a goal in itself, thus remain modest even when you meet acclaim. Ultimately, this re170

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quires you to keep inner balance in all you do, both privately and in public. Then you will be able to maintain moderation and keep to the middle way which brings ultimate success. 5. If you do not depend on wealth or personal status and you have the benefit of all in mind, you can advance smoothly and all obstacles will vanish out of your way. This is the result of maintaining a selfless and dedicated attitude, and serve the common good. 6. Sometimes, dissatisfaction arises for the modest person as others try to take advantage of him or her. It may cause inner struggle to realize that others take one’s modesty as a display of weakness. However, do not allow others to get you out of your inner poise, but remain steadfast. Being moderate in attitude is a form of mental discipline; it does not for that matter concede others any rights over you. If you have the strength to keep your attitude intact despite all, you will gain the final victory—not those who misrepresent your motives!

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Enthusiasm / Harmony / Expansion This is a time for expansion and growth.

A successful period is on the way. Cooperation and shared enthusiasm are essential in order to progress appropriately. However, this hexagram also puts the stress on one’s attitude and advises one to be moderate and disciplined when going forward. 1. Trust your inner guidance, not outward appearances. All in your life is a reflection of your inner state of mind, and your level of inner coherence. Relationships and social contacts may not lead you toward your goals, they may even deceive you. When you trust your inner guidance, you are led toward the right people or you attract them into your life. When you are humble and sincere, you help this divine power in you to unfold creatively for you; on the other hand, when you are too complacent, you may block this force. 2. You may call it faith, self-confidence, trusting in your principles … all this means basically the same: when you are poised and disciplined, or even stoic, unshaken by how things are developing for you, you attract a positive and happy outcome of the situation. You will be successful! 3. If you believe that gaining advantage from some social relations will bring you success, you disregard the 174

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creative power that is located in your own inner mind. Trust the guidance you receive from the universe! You can still change direction and correct a sycophantic attitude. Doing so will bring you ultimate success. 4. A truthful and joyful attitude which is consistent can get you far in life: you will attract friends and collaborators. You will experience new creative ideas emerging from your inner mind, and this brings you success! 5. Over-indulgence weakens you, while a stoical and good-natured attitude helps and heals you. This means, it brings you advantage to be steadfast and disciplined in your conduct. 6. When joy and happiness are extreme, they may lead to deterioration and a self-centered attitude. In such a case, it is beneficial to develop mindfulness, and to restrain yourself, reduce your expenses, and avoid excesses of any kind. Then you may discover a vein of new growth that can lead you to a new victory.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Compliance / Following / Diligence It is beneficial to be of service while trusting your principles.

This hexagram teaches the value of compliance. The word here connotes two meanings: following up to one’s highest principles, and following another person or example. There are two extremes in life that need to be avoided; one is a willful attitude without ever listening to advice, and the other is an attitude of lenience that imitates others because the person lacks identity. The middle way is the way to go. 1. It is advantageous to you now to go out and meet people of various kinds, and communicate. You may easily attract help and support for the realization of your projects and ideas when you meet others in a friendly and positive mood. While listening to others’ suggestions and ideas, however, make sure you make your own decisions. 2. Stay true to your highest principles and avoid to be too much focused upon small profits. Have your greater future in mind and think long-term. There is a proverb that says that not failure, but small success is the enemy of great success for it leads to complacency. Stay focused on your long-term goals and you will reach them. 3. When you let go of the smaller for gaining the bigger, you are aligned with your divine power which always wants your best. This also means to let lower and inferior 178

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goals behind and focus upon higher and more worthy and noble goals. Such an attitude brings you ultimate success and also strengthens your character. 4. Some of your connections may try to pull you in a direction that is not what you were originally wanting to be heading toward. Remain focused on your goals and try to act independently, and believe in what you initially recognized to be true and worthy. 5. Your faithfulness brings you rich reward. This line indicates great success. 6. Others may want to bind you in, as an expert or consultant, a helper or advisor, or a healer. Whatever your field of expertise, your correct attitude has impressed others to follow you or to seek you out for advice. You will be rewarded every time you offer others help and support without selfish motives!

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Correct Corruption / Improve Things / Act Against Decay Act decisively to put things right.

Corruption is already manifest at this point. The value of the advice received by this hexagram is to correct the situation in the best possible manner. At the beginning, the situation needs to be properly assessed, then the right action for correction or reform is to be taken. A compromising attitude needs to be avoided. 1. You are in a situation where you are asked upon to put order and bring about renewal. It may not look possible at first to solve the problem which has to do with your past, but in the end you will be successful if you persist. Use only harmonious means to put things right, for otherwise you would trigger unnecessary resistance. This problem may be within you, on the psychic level, or in your outward life, or both. 2. You can only solve a problem in the present, not for the past. Live in the present. Let the past be gone and prepare your future by bringing order into your life now. Do not waste energy by thinking of the past and what would have happened if you had done this or that differently … such worries make it only worse. Avoid thus to indulge in

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regrets and seize the day (carpe diem) for building a new positive and forward-looking attitude—now! 3. On the outward level, your efforts to correct the problem may meet resistance; you may have been overzealous or impatient to put things straight. This may cause conflict with others. The solution is to avoid excess and trust your inner guidance that the right solution will come about. Such an attitude should be accompanied by forgiveness: forgive yourself and others, and do not blame anybody for what happened in the past. As soon as you feed your inner mind with your new convictions, you are on a new and positive track! 4. If you slacken in your efforts, you may end up with defeat. Do not take over any of the thought patterns of your past; your wellbeing is in the eternal now, not in the past. To turn this situation around, you need to persist without being over-zealous and yet confident that your inner harmony, coherence and positive conviction will produce the right outcome! 5. The disorderly or problematic situation will be corrected thanks to your persistence and determination. You are asked upon to assume responsibility and act decisively; doing so will result in an improvement of the situation that was long needed. You will attract help to correct the situation and you can earn merit and honor! 6. You may as well decide to get out of the situation entirely and devote yourself to the life of the sage, and practice self-improvement instead of trying to improve 183

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situations around you, in your life, relationships, or your business. So doing brings success because our outside world is but a reflection of our own inner processes; when you clarify and clear up your thoughts and calm your emotions, when you bring balance into your inner setup, you will reap a rich reward also on the outward level for you will see that your entire life will change for the better, and your influence upon the world and others will grow. Then, you can benefit others with your wisdom.

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Advancing / Going Forward / Progress Advance with a positive attitude.

This is an overall positive hexagram that shows the virtue of advancing properly. Advancement or progress is a yang movement; as such, it needs to be controlled for avoiding excess. 1. When you are convinced of doing the right thing and you are saturated with a benevolent attitude toward all beings, you will advance, and others will come to share in your ideas. Being impartial in this advantageous situation brings the greatest gain! 2. Your positive, impartial and mindful advancement benefits others. This is a prosperous time for you. 3. Your advance should always be cautious and mindful. Ban any lower motives, such as being flattered or indulging in negative thinking, then you will pass through this period successfully. 4. You are perfectly overseeing the situation, and others will cooperate. This makes your advance smooth and you can continue to grow personally and in your responsibilities. This success is the result of your inner coherence and your harmonious and impartial attitude!

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5. This is the sign of a leader. You have been so successful in your advancement that at this point you should choose competent and loyal helpers for delegating responsibilities. Thus, you can benefit many people while being victorious yourself! 6. The positive and compassionate vibrations you radiate toward others bring you in a sphere of growth and influence, and you can gain a position of respect, honor and wisdom.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Contemplation / Stocktaking / Reflection Take a good look at yourself.

This hexagram teaches the value of self-reflection and stocktaking. It is also concerned with one’s overall view of life, which may be based upon poor vision or correct vision. While the first two lines speak of poor vision, all the other lines are positive and indicate that one’s vision is properly enhanced by self-reflection and thus correct. 1. You should see yourself and the situation you are in from a greater distance, or point of view. As long as you are entangled with it, you will not get a correct vision and appreciation of the complexity of the situation. Try to see yourself embedded in a greater systemic network so that you can detect all the influences you are exposed to. For so doing, it is necessary for you to be honest with yourself. When trying to influence others, you must believe that what you are conveying is true and accepted by your inner mind as being true! 2. Your self-development depends on a correct vision of yourself. As long as your mind is clouded with selfdefeating beliefs, or else with self-aggrandizing ideas, you cannot develop yourself. You need to adopt latitude and insight in the greater social perspective so that you can be-

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come influential. At the same time, you should calmly trust your inner guidance. 3. Investigate your inner motives from the point of view of a broad vision. This will enable you to decide about the next step to take. Trust your inner guidance that everything will unfold in time for you to do the right thing in the right moment. The best way to see how you are doing in life is not by second-guessing what kind of person you are, but by attentively assessing how you come over to others, and if that influence is positive and beneficial. If it is, you know you are on the right track. 4. You are in an excellent position now for developing a great vision, one that surpasses your own position, and for overseeing the social implications of your actions. It is a position of leadership that, if you have the necessary social awareness, can certainly lead you to assuming a situation of considerable social influence. 5. True wisdom is to be able to look at yourself through the eyes of others. You are now in a situation of leadership and as soon as you are able to assume some level of objective self-assessment, you shall become a role model for others. This is very rewarding! 6. Heaving reached this level of objectiveness in assessing yourself, you can focus upon eternal verities, thereby becoming a light for many others who look up to you. You will discover that the ultimate victory in life is the victory over your own ego, and the faculty to look upon life, and others, from an unselfish and broad-minded perspective. 191

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Biting Through Hardship / Correction / Reform Adopt severe measures.

The image of ‘biting through’ indicates that one needs to act decisively to correct the situation. It’s like cutting away an evil force. It was especially important for this hexagram to provide a new interpretation for punishment is not the way heaven acts, and should therefore not be the way a developed person acts. The teaching of this hexagram is to get entirely beyond toxic emotions, shame and selfcondemnation, and to thereby ‘clean up’ and reform one’s inner and outer life. 1. Be always watchful that your thoughts and actions abide by the laws of universal harmony. Be aligned with the principles of truthful and respectful conduct, and do not allow others to drag you into any compromising situation. If you discover that you have failed to comply with this universal law, you are still able to reform yourself without suffering undesired social repercussions. This is how you can learn from your mistakes and avoid to repeat them! 2. While appearing as virtuous and kind outwardly, you should inwardly be firm and principle-minded. Such moral courage can transform gentleness into the highest

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form of virtue and power. If you have faith in your inner guidance, you will naturally do what is right. 3. Beware of mental poison in the form of negative thinking and emotions such as anger, rage, jealousy, envy, and feelings of revenge. They weaken your entire organism and block your progress. Cleanse your inner mind regularly from such toxic emotions by repeating positive and uplifting affirmations on a daily basis. Be persistent with this attitude and you will be able to reform yourself! 4. However difficult your problem may seem, whatever reaction you encounter from the outside world, and however stringent the adversity is you may be facing, persist, bite the bullet, and keep a positive attitude toward overcoming the difficulty. You must face the problem directly and work through it completely. This is how you can dissolve the obstruction. 5. There may be danger all around you, but if you persist in a constructive and positive attitude for overcoming the problem, you will be victorious. Adopt a somewhat stoical attitude and keep focused not on the problem, but on the solution! 6. Are you having ears and cannot hear, and eyes and cannot see? You cannot reform yourself by ignoring the advice of others or by closing your eyes in front of your inner and outer reality. If you try to force your ego through the situation instead of understanding it, you will suffer a setback or defeat and create conflict with others, and soci-

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ety. Listen to the voice of conscience timely enough to avoid any undesired outcome of the situation!

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Adornment / Beauty / Grace Develop grace and wisdom.

This hexagram is associated with art and civilization, and the way a developed person refines his character. Most people look only at the outside of things and people, finding beauty in superficial decorum instead of looking inside, and piercing the veil of daily life, considering the beauty of character, nobility and grace, personal culture, and true intelligence. 1. Progress by your own effort instead of overly counting on others’ help and support. This is a good time for advancement if you avoid appearances and opt for your intrinsic values. It will benefit you to trust your own capabilities and to focus on your principles. 2. Trusting appearances does not bring you forward in life. Instead, if you focus upon your convictions and principles, you may inspire and uplift others and by so doing, experience yourself being inspired and uplifted. 3. It is positive for your development to develop a graceful and pleasing personality, without emphasizing form over substance. Self-education is important throughout our lives, and there is no age when we stop learning and growing.

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4. In this position you are having a choice. You may either put the stress on developing your outward position, glamor, and fame, or else simplicity, sincerity and virtue. If you choose to put the stress on your inner values, you will strengthen your spiritual guidance and you will experience an increase in worthwhile and interesting relationships with others. 5. Having chosen the right attitude from the start, and having developed grace, compassion and sincerity, you are being rewarded for you will be supremely successful in the end. 6. Simplicity is the secret of good conduct. Your true nature is now developed and you are having an increasing and beneficial influence upon others. This is true success!

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Erosion / Decline / Fragmentation Put things on hold. Keep to yourself.

The five yin lines of this hexagram were traditionally associated with an evil or negative force, while the top yang line is the single force of virtue. All cycles in life lead to decline or decay, and thereby, to renewal, hence it is well possible to interpret this hexagram without speaking of evil forces, thereby avoiding a moralistic interpretation which would not be in alignment with the tenets of Taoism. It’s not chance but systemically sound that this hexagram is followed by Renewal (24). 1. Put a hold immediately to all negative thoughts and affirm to being guided toward the best possible outcome of the situation. Meanwhile, wait patiently for better times to come and avoid bitching and complaining. When you have bad dreams, use positive affirmations after waking up to dispel the depressive mood, and rebuild faith on a daily basis. 2. Do not indulge in wishful thinking. Instead, try to clearly assess your situation. Avoid being self-righteous and be cautious in your conduct. You may be in a compromising situation, but always keep in mind that the ‘en202

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emy’ is in your own house: it takes the form of negative thoughts and emotions that are ravaging your inner peace and prevent inner coherence. Use positive affirmations to dispel apprehension and wait for a turn of the tide. 3. Maintain your integrity and be faithful to a good outcome, and you can avoid friction. Do not trust low motives or low-minded people around you, and you will be removed from evil. 4. You may be in a dangerous situation, but you can turn the situation around by stopping thoughts of defeat and, worse, of self-condemnation, hate, anger or revenge, and by patiently affirming that your inner guidance will summon the right solution. Toxic thoughts and emotions are always involved in dangerous situations, for when you are at peace with yourself, you are coherent on your inner level and there will be safety all around you. Thus if you have indulged in toxic emotions or thoughts, forgive yourself and immediately start affirming that you are positively guided by universal love and that the whole situation will turn to the best for everybody involved. 5. The tide is now turning in your favor and you are close to a successful outcome. Cooperation with others will be beneficial for all parties involved! 6. You will see that faithfulness and positive attitude have made your adversaries vanish away or be drawn into defeat while you enjoy the positive outcome of the situation! This outcome is the fruit of your virtue, while having

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tried to force defeat on your adversaries, you would have been yourself defeated.

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THE PRACTICAL I CHING

Return / Renewal / Revival A time for renewal.

The first yang line is like a seed that has fallen to the ground. Thus revival or renewal can start to grow, and it does so from the first to the fifth line, while the sixth line shows, as so often in the I Ching, an excess or, a refusal to follow the teaching of the hexagram. In other words, in this hexagram, contrary to the previous one, negativity is giving way to light. 1. You may have arrived at a bifurcation point. A certain action may not be in accord with your principles. Make a sound decision. When you opt for what you consider right and correct, choose that as your direction! Such an orientation, which is in alignment with your higher values, will bring renewal in your life and will strengthen your character. 2. It is advantageous for your development to follow those of whom you think highly, those who are acting in alignment with higher principles. If you are around them or if you just take them as your role model doesn’t make a difference; the most important is that you return to your own true nature. 3. In a time of renewal, steadfastness and constancy are important. If you are not certain or you are torn up by doubt, you may miss an opportunity. However, this weak206

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ness of character can still be corrected through practicing a firm and stoical attitude. 4. At this stage of your character development, a certain time of solitude is beneficial. Some of your friends may not follow you into the new land you have discovered, inwardly or outwardly. Let them go and follow but your own star, and your clear intuition. Doing so will attract to you the real friend! 5. You have now developed the firmness of character you need in order to overcome all your obstacles, and you will achieve success! 6. You may have missed an opportunity for renewal; you may be too much stricken by certain habits or desires in order for you to have an objective view of the situation. If you experience a setback, do not react aggressively, but with humility and understanding. Then you may see in which way you should turn and redeem your lack of foresight.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Innocence / Unexpected Happening / Surprise Proceed, but with no harmful intention.

Wu Wang deals with situations in life that are beyond our conscious control. Sometimes they are good surprises, sometimes bad surprises. This is why the ancients called this hexagram ‘unexpected happening’ or ‘innocence.’ Many good things come to pass because we plan for them, but there are also many things that come about spontaneously when we are ‘innocent’ and inwardly coherent. 1. Go forward with good intentions, trusting your heart. You will win over obstacles in your way when remaining faithful to your goal. 2. All successful endeavors need careful preparation. Do not doubt to go into the right direction, do not secondguess your success. Just go forward, one step at a time. 3. When you experience loss, do not accept it in your inner mind. What truly belongs to you cannot be lost, and the universe will give it back to you in another form, or at a later time, provided you remain faithful and innocent, and avoid a resentful attitude. 4. Trust your heart, your inner mind, your intuition. Act independently and you will be victorious! In such a situation of inner clarity, it may not be useful to listen to

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friends, but, to use a Gandhi saying, to ‘trust the friend within.’ 5. If you encounter a problem that was not caused by yourself, be it related to health, finance, or a relationship, remain steadfast and relax. Focusing on your inner direction will surely help you and the problem will take care of itself. 6. In this position, you better stand still for a certain time. Advancing at this moment does not bring you benefit and can turn out to be dangerous. Be patient and wait for a better moment for taking action!

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Great Potential / Creative Energy / Great Power Stay firmly committed and go forward.

This hexagram gives advice how to deal with creative energy, an accumulation of energy. In the traditional sense, amassing positive energy means gathering personal virtue, material support, information, and knowledge, in the sense not of book knowledge, but of intuition. Thus, this hexagram teaches how to amass positive energy and help people develop collectively in a positive direction. If energy can be properly controlled, then people are united and success is assured. 1. At this point, nonaction is advised. There are certain obstacles in your way that you may ignore. Racing ahead does not bring you benefit. Calm down and wait, the right moment will come soon! 2. Focus on your goal and diligently carry out your daily duties. A big leap is not possible at this moment, thus conserve your vitality for the moment when the energy is ready for progress. 3. The way begins to open for your breakthrough, but you need to harness your talents and avoid rushy, impulsive action. Go forward with prudence and secure your gains. 214

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4. You have used your energy wisely. The obstacles in your way have helped you to activate your resources. You can now reach a breakthrough success if you do not force things. Let life help you and you will be victorious! 5. True leadership is the ability to avoid direct struggle and to recognize the source of the problem instead of focusing on the symptoms. You are guided toward success if you act moderately and prudently. 6. Having acted within the universal moral order and with proper restraint, you can now enjoy the fruits of your actions: you will experience a notable success!

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Nourishment / Nutrition / Self-Cultivation Seek the right source of income. Restrain eating and speaking.

This hexagram, Yi, means self-cultivation and nourishment that is obtained in the proper manner, peacefully and lawfully. The two trigrams, the lower and the upper, exemplify different kinds of nourishment. The teaching here is how to use restraint in eating and care in speaking, thereby bringing the inward and outward flow of energies into balance. 1. Envy and jealousy surely are mental poisons. When you envy others to enjoy their blessings, you block the way those blessings can come to you. In addition, such an attitude will negatively impact upon your sense of self-worth and dignity. The right attitude is to bless all those you see are fortunate, and to calmly declare that you will attract the same for yourself within the good order of things, and at the right time. 2. The source of wealth lies in yourself, in your talents and abilities you were born with and which you should cultivate. If you disregard this fact and search for income through other people’s goodwill or favor offered to you, you may lose your independence and in the long run, your self-esteem may be eroded. Always try to stand on your own feet, and provide sustenance for yourself through work and the proper handling of your financial affairs. 218

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Only exceptionally and when it’s required by the nature of your project or idea, ask others for help and support. 3. You need not only material nourishment; your soul also needs to be fed with proper education, the contemplation of beauty, the cultivation of a sense of aesthetics, and the engagement, actively or passively, in the pursuit of art and music. If however you engage yourself only in satisfying your material desires and sensual pleasures and neglect to feed your soul and spirit, you will deteriorate in all areas of your life, materially, emotionally, and spiritually. 4. In this position you may look out for helpers, and you will find them. This in turn will open you the way to gain influence over others so that you can expand your affairs. 5. This is a time of reflection and preparation. Avoid distractions, improper nutrition, great expenditures, travel or indulging in any personal extravagances. It may be beneficial to ask a person you trust for advice. Meanwhile be patient, and confident that the right time for action will come. 6. Your social awareness leads to a new path opening for you in which you have increased responsibilities and you gain influence upon others, or the public. You can now achieve your project, you may travel to another destination, both mentally and physically. All your projects will succeed because you care for the welfare of all!

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Critical Mass / Great Excess / Imbalance There is excess and friction. Things are strained. Caution is needed.

This hexagram was traditionally considered as very unfortunate. It shows that energies are out of balance, that there is excess and that inner and outer strength are out of sync. The I Ching teaches the Middle Way which means to do things by keeping a proper balance in everything. This principle may also be called harmony, equilibrium, resonance or symmetry. This is how the universe regulates itself. 1. Softness and flexibility help you to avoid harm. Pay attention to all the details before you begin anything. To be very cautious in such a position is correct. 2. If you are attentive to unusual possibilities, you may have a real opportunity. Do not think conventionally and be open for new solutions which may emerge spontaneously, and you can realize your desire. A gentle demeanor helps you to achieve higher, while internally you should be faithful to your highest principles. 3. If you do not listen to well-meant advice and persist in your own way, there may be excess that brings harm. You have been too inflexible in the past. The I Ching 222

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teaches that when excess of any process becomes visible, extinction is not far away. Thus this line is unfortunate. To remedy this situation, you need to reflect about your lacking cooperation with others, and how much you have isolated yourself. 4. Do not rely overly on others now; instead, trust your own inner guidance, but remain soft and yielding outwardly. If you are open to learn and change, you can progress. You can achieve success now if your vision is correct. 5. In order to achieve anything in life you need to be realistic. If you are overly idealistic, you may have nice visions and dream of many projects, but you won’t incarnate them into tangible reality. The same is true for old age. When you dream to be young while being old, you may engage in foolish adventures that may bring you harm. The solution is to get a fresh new look at yourself, and to understand the reality of your life here and now. 6. The situation may look dangerous, thus do not be daring in your attitude, and remain calm and centered. Through finding the appropriate measures, you will be able to handle the situation. The problem can be solved by responding calmly and gently, and by trusting your inner guidance.

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Watery Depths / Danger / Abyss Roll with the flow to ride out danger. Confidence and mental stability help you to go through this time without harm.

This hexagram is formed by two identical trigrams called Kan or water. It is one of only eight hexagrams where the basic trigrams are doubled, thus its image is reinforced! The primary guidance of this hexagram uses the nature of water as an example of appropriate conduct and self-development. By remaining centered, one may go through this cycle of danger unharmed. 1. You are temporarily out of tune with inner guidance. The more you do in such a situation, the more tends to go wrong. Recklessness may get you more deeply entrapped in danger, thus change course, be mindful, stop action, and engage in reflection. The best action in times of danger is nonaction. 2. Do a step at a time. It’s an unfortunate situation and you must face the challenge, then you will be guided toward a good delivery. Calmness and clarity are appropriate to gradually overcoming difficulty. 3. When you don’t see the light, do not despair. Now, going forward is not the right thing to do. Thus, you may stand still for a moment and stop all action. When you are

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faithful to your inner guidance, the way out will be shown to you. Until then, be patient and practice nonaction. 4. Things are now getting back to normal and you will find a handle for your problem or difficulty. Do not hesitate to ask for help; it will be given to you. You can solve your problem using inner clarity and by trusting your intuition. 5. Do not chase for honor and recognition in a time that requires you to practically solve your problems and get out of danger. The best attitude in such a situation is to follow the line of least resistance. Danger will then vanish off by itself. 6. Fear and self-condemnation, as well as resentment toward others are mental poisons. They keep you from being guided into safety and prolong the time of danger. Your actions for coping with the danger have not been appropriate. What you can do now is to wait until the situation changes by itself for the better, keeping a stoical attitude.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Fire / Synergy / Cooperation Bright and prosperous. Cultivate the heart and cooperate.

This is another of the eight hexagrams bearing double trigrams. Here they double fire, thereby reinforcing the meaning. This hexagram symbolizes brightness, light, and the energy of the heart. On the practical level, this hexagram instructs humanity in the use of brightness and mental illumination for the guidance of others. To radiate brightness means that one radiates warmth in all of one’s actions. 1. What you begin with a positive attitude, being faithful to your highest principles, you can accomplish well. Focus upon your goal and keep a ‘beginner’s mind,’ then you will advance. 2. Practice the middle way and avoid excess, be moderate, and you will advance easily now because your energy is properly centered. 3. Aging is a natural process. To meet aging with negative thoughts and ideas, or with regret, is an attitude that leads to loss, both materially and spiritually. Keep in mind that it is never too late in life for you to learn something new, even if you should have learnt it when you were much younger. Similarly, what you may not have achieved in your younger years, you may well set your idea to realizing now, and in the years to come. Such an attitude is 230

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positive and constructive; it helps you to keep your energy high. 4. Struggling for material success alone is not enough in a prosperous life. You must have the mental equivalent for anything you desire in your outward life. If you don’t practice mental techniques such as visualization or positive prayer, and instead just try to work harder for earning more, you may cause strain to your body and those around you. Then, there is a danger that you end up in a burnout or attract a disease. The magic word here is balance. You need to keep a balance between your inner and your outer life, and between giving and receiving, then your life will be harmonious and prosperous. 5. Often times, self-reflection leads to sadness because we recognize the mistakes committed in the past. However, such a broadening of your insight is often a blessing in that it brings the change that is needed for situating yourself on a higher level of being, be it materially, or spiritually, or both. You will see that the more you care for the wellbeing of others, the more destiny cares for your own wellbeing. 6. Do not judge and do not treat others harshly, even if you recognize their mistaken attitude. Negative feelings attract negative reactions, while when you practice latitude of mind, moderation and understanding, meeting others in a good-willed manner, you will attract all you need to be successful! And your character will be strengthened.

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Mutual Attraction / Wooing / Marriage Welcome new relationships. Marriage can be successful.

This hexagram describes how we attract others, in whatever field of life, be it for a love relation, be it for a business cooperation. The lines teach in which way the relationship should be handled to not overdo things, so that trust can grow between the partners. The teaching of the I Ching here is traditional in the sense that even in love relations, a hurried sexual approach to a person one may fall in love with is not conceived of as positive. 1. You are at the beginning of a new relationship or friendship. It is just the starting point and has perhaps not much significance for you at this stage, but there is potential to deepen the relationship if both parties are ready for it, and if mutual trust can be built. 2. You may be at pains of understanding what’s really going on. Avoid to act in an impulsive manner and try to clarify what the motives of both parties are in this relationship. It brings more advantage to restrain yourself and be prudent than rushing ahead. 3. You may run into trouble if you act out on brute desire. Traditionally, this line was a warning to not engage in reckless sexual relations. Today, we may interpret its meaning differently as the realm of mutually consenting sexual 234

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relations is much larger and morality more permissive. Nonetheless, this line can be interpreted in a more integrative sense and simply connote the need for building more trust in a relationship. Trust is built through an inner process, and is not much influenced by the physical relationship. If there is too much closeness too early, resistance may be unavoidable. In case of a business relation, the physical relationship is anyway of lesser meaning than the mutual sympathy and the respect that flows out from it. Both sympathy and respect, and many other factors must come together for gradually building trust. It’s not something that can be forced and it won’t happen overnight. 4. Here the relationship has grown farther, however there is still a need for prudence. Avoid to mentally press ahead. You may well now talk about your feelings and see to what extent they meet a response. You need to show now that your attraction is constant and not a fleeting matter. If you receive this line for a travel project, you may want to check out if the destination really meets your expectations. 5. This is one of the rare instances in the I Ching where the fifth line is not really a better constellation than the preceding ones. Here it namely indicates that the relationship is not meaningful to you or that you cannot exert a significant influence upon the other party to move them in your direction. If you receive this line for a business relation, make sure it’s worthwhile to develop the contact further or if it’s better to not invest more energy in it and re235

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treat. If you focus on inner guidance, the right direction will be shown to you. Sometimes people with whom we think we have a strong relationship move physically away, and we discover, with more or less surprise, that we don’t miss them at all. 6. This line indicates conversation, exchange or discussion. It may be the final act in a business relation, when a contract is worked out by both parties, and discussions take place. It may be the discussion of a marriage project or engagement in a love relation. It may be a letter exchange in a platonic love relation or an intellectual relationship.

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Constancy / Continuation / Perseverance It brings advantage to be constant and persevere.

This hexagram teaches the value of constancy in all human relations and for realizing projects. The energy cycles of all life are based upon an invariable subtle law. All natural phenomena are in a continuous process of change, with constancy as the underlying principle. In the education of children, constancy equally is important for their feeling emotional secure. The lines indicate when persistence is appropriate and when one should desist and remain still. 1. Rushing into things, relationships or situations it not a natural approach. Excessive demands at the beginning of a relationship may interfere with trust-building. If this line is received for a new project, check if you are not too hasty in your approach to make things happen. 2. It is always smarter to use a cautious approach for building mutual respect and appreciation. This line indicates that a balanced attitude brings the best result. That means to not overdo things, or overstress a relationship, but to do just enough to keep things moving in the right direction. When you are faithful to your goal, you will be guided to act appropriately. 3. Constancy cannot be built if you a fear-ridden or if you doubt your motives. Constancy both in relationships 238

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and in the realization of a project means to give a sustained effort, and an inner focus on the outcome. If you are too fickle, or moody, you may lack this constant focus and as a result, you may see your chances vanish in a relationship, or you may slacken your efforts in the realization of a project. This is always regrettable for constancy doesn’t really mean effort; it just means to give a little energy consistently, on a daily basis. You can get above fear and doubt by building strong faith and a positive attitude. 4. You may realize at this point that you had fostered illusions and that there is no basis for continuation of your project or relationship. If you trust your inner guidance you may get a new creative idea or you may realize what responsible action to take to remedy the present situation. 5. This is a line that indicates leadership. The counsel of this line is that perseverance or constancy are not enough in a position of leadership for reality also asks us to make adjustments or even change direction. This is why the I Ching considers flexibility, not persistence, as the highest virtue of a true leader! If you received this line for a project or relationship, you may check if you are flexible and creative enough in your approach, and how much you could gain with adopting a different viewpoint or perspective! 6. You may realize at this point that you slackened in your efforts to be constant and enduring, else you may have used too much energy and feel exhausted. Mindfulness may help you to get back on track, or you may lose the opportunity. 239

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Retreat / Withdrawal / Going Backward Make a strategic withdrawal.

The cyclic alternation of yin and yang is a natural process. For a developed person, retreat at the right time ensures safety and peace of mind. This is not a form of weakness. A spiritually evolved person responds correctly to the situation and knows when to retreat. The lines of this hexagram describe different forms of retreat, depending on one’s involvement in the situation. 1. Do not advance. It is better to stand still now or to retreat. Do not challenge the difficulty! 2. In this situation, you should be flexible, unassertive and not express sharpness. If you are faithful to your inner guidance, a way out will be shown to you. 3. Do not seek public exposure at this time. Private life will offer you security and fulfillment while emotional attachment to mundane affairs may bring you disappointment and harm. 4. You may want to give up certain activities or involvements and begin others. While outwardly things may seem attractive to you, on a more subtle level you are actually entangled in something that long term will not bring you advantage. You have a good chance now to get out of it and start all over again. 242

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5. Sometimes, especially when being in a leader position, retreat takes the form of an inner disentanglement rather than an open withdrawal. You can change any kind of situation by changing how you respond to it and how you see it in your mind. If there are negative emotions, overcome them and adopt a positive perspective. If you are surrounded by sycophants, simply remain centered and unresponsive to their flattery. If you are involved in a public discussion, remain steadfast but unobtrusive in your attitude. If the situation requires a real withdrawal, do it, but do it without making a fuss about it. Then you can remain in peace with yourself. 6. This is one of the rare occasions in the I Ching when the top line is bringing advantage. Here it means that retreat will bring you more advantage than staying the course. The situation is such that you can withdraw from your position without inner turmoil, thereby preserving both your poise and your reputation.

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Power of the Great / Great Strength / Use of Strength Apply strength correctly. Use power without abuse.

Traditionally the image used in several lines of his hexagram was the goat, which symbolizes too much strength. While there is a predominance of yang, this hexagram teaches how to correctly channel and apply this energy in order not to damage the two yin lines on top. Too much demonstration of strength usually creates resistance, which is why a quiet humble attitude is beneficial, and power can be maintained in this manner. 1. Advancing must be gradual so as to be in accordance with the law of life. This line symbolizes the beginning of a project or relationship, thus the energy to be used should be light. If too much is invested at this stage, in terms of time, energy, or money, it will likely be wasted. Besides, hurry is a bad advisor for starting something. 2. Here, the energy can be used profitably as the attitude is one of restraint and moderation. Thus you can advance easily. 3. At this point you have a choice. It’s all about the appropriateness of the means you are using. If you think that all means are justified if only the purpose is correct, you 246

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act against the law of life. Successful people use appropriate means in every stage of a project, for this is in alignment with the principle of sustainability. 4. This line indicates that your attitude is just and balanced and that you are using your strength correctly, thus a great advance is possible! 5. Sometimes we need to sacrifice something for receiving something more valuable. This is also valid in the spiritual realm. When you give up a stubborn attitude in order to develop more smart for handling your problems, you have done the right choice. Then you will notice that you can advance more smoothly as a result. 6. Developed people educate themselves through successfully tackling their problems. When you practice introspection, you can know how to act properly and avoid obstacles that are the result of pushing forward. At this point, you should stand still for a moment and reflect what’s taking place around you. Then you can avoid conflict and the cycle of realization can be finalized successfully.

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Success / Progress / Advancement A good time for progress and advancement.

This is generally a positive hexagram, except however, as so often, for the top line. Traditionally in Taoist wisdom, progress and advancement in life were seen more on the inward level, as a development of one’s capacity for introspection, and the gathering of internal energy. This hexagram teaches that instead of pushing forward, progress can be made safely by responding to one’s highest spirit, and intuition. This is so because true prosperity is coherence between one’s energy and the external world. 1. In the beginning stage, progress may not find the approval of those around you. Let things happen naturally. Sometimes progress achieved through strenuous efforts may be harmful. Check if your intentions are correct, then you may advance faithfully even though progress cannot be seen at this point. 2. Advancement that meets obstacles may cause you worries. In such a situation, a stoical attitude is the best. Persist in your efforts, and remain calm and upright, then the universe will help you as a mother helps her son achieve greatness.

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3. This line represents another step forward. The more you are trusted by those around you, the easier you will motivate them to help you achieve your goals. Advancement is smooth and easy now, and success will surely come! 4. Be painstaking with yourself in all matters of righteousness. There is no safety in straying from the correct way, and hidden motives are no guideline for lasting success. At this point, you should stop and reflect about what’s really going on. Going forward may be dangerous. 5. Do not worry about gain or loss. Going forward brings benefit, while it may be not yet be clear if this benefit will be material or spiritual. The I Ching teaches to accept favor and disfavor as the same. Stoicism is a similar teaching; the stoic is a person who knows that advancing has a value in itself regardless of meeting approval or disapproval. It’s your inner value, your feeling of self-worth, and your faith in the goodness of the universe that is the basis for this kind of attitude. Life is never really predictable which is why the stoical attitude brings a lot of benefit, especially health and long life. 6. This line traditionally speaks of a ram advancing its horns. An aggressive attitude seldom pays in life, and it often has undesired repercussions. In this situation, you may stand still and reflect; it may not be wise to advance. If you practice self-restraint, you may not end in trouble. Besides, always value the importance of your intentions; it

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helps to be faithful to the right direction for such inner strength is at the basis of all lasting success.

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Time of Darkness / Ignorance / Difficulty Respond correctly to difficulty.

This hexagram, similarly to 28 and 29, is a challenging one. The image is one of light vanishing and darkness appearing. Some kind of hierarchical relationship is indicated where the upper one is ignorant and the lower one bright. The I Ching teaches that even if one is mentally or morally superior, one should never show it, for it will trigger envy or jealousy in others. Each line of this hexagram teaches that, in times of darkness, people of virtue have a hard stand in society. But the developed person in this position is advised to keep still and run a low profile, using the general darkness as a protection, instead of fighting against it. 1. When you feel you are misunderstood, it is vain to discuss and explain, it may even make you enemies. The better attitude is to retreat and get centered, then to move on by choosing a safer pathway. With inner peace, steadfastness and strong faith in a good delivery, every problem can be solved. The art in life is to not develop resentment when things go awry, and let others have their way. It saves you a lot of trouble and safeguards your health and inner peace.

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2. This is a strong line, traditionally associated with a horse, which has the power to carry you to safety. Sometimes in life we need to artfully and tactfully confront ignorance, but it should always be one’s own ignorance, not the projection of it we see in others. Hence the metaphor of moving away from something; in reality, this something is within yourself. You may call it your shadow, ignorance, stubbornness, or whatever, but it’s the lesser perfect self in you. When you do not compromise in matters of principle, you set a high standard for yourself which will bring you success and recognition down the road. 3. You may meet a person who thinks in the wrong way. When you meet people who are mentally crippled because they abuse the law of life by projecting hatred and revenge into the world, you should have compassion with them as you would have with a physically crippled person. Then you may go your way and let them go in peace. There is no harm if you are careful and remain faithful to inner guidance. 4. This line represents the borderline between light and darkness. Your inner light can now show you the way out of darkness. You are not responsible for the negative thoughts and emotions of those around you. Do not get entangled, wish them well, but go your way. You can now easily get out of this situation without being harmed. 5. If you see that your motives and good intentions are misunderstood, it is better to keep your ideals for yourself. It is favorable in such a situation to run a low profile and 255

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keep to oneself without stirring resistance in others. Down the road you will be rewarded for your inner firmness and your faith in a good delivery. 6. If you are depressed or foster feelings of revenge, you may experience loss in life. Even hostility you find in others only reflects your own hostile attitude. When you act against the law of harmony, you experience decoherence and lack of success is the result. Forgive yourself and get back on the right path. This time will pass, and it may have been good for your developing a stoical mindset and a positive attitude.

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Family / The Clan / Group Life Find your proper place.

This hexagram teaches how to behave in a family or any group, for that matter. The basic pattern of cooperation relies on the correct organization of diverse energies. With this understanding, one should reflect about the diversity of life, not trying to see conflict in this fact. In every group, the members radiate different energies toward each other and peace and order are determined by the capability of each member to handle his or her energy properly. This is so because ultimately, the way the different energies interact determines the harmony of the entire family or group. 1. In every family or grouping a certain amount of order and discipline must reign so that everybody feels safe and comfortable. If you are a parent, you may not want to remain silent when your child develops bad habits, but you will talk with him or her. When you are in front of your parents, you may want to show them respect and gratitude to earn their constant benevolence. Generally speaking, it makes sense to establish firm rules in any family or community, so that people know what their duties are, and also can anticipate what happens when they disrespect them.

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2. An assertive attitude may not be in keeping with your position in the family or group. You may be called upon to gently harmonize various energies around you, as a communicator or negotiator. While such an attitude traditionally was assigned to women, those rigid roles today are widely abandoned for we all have both male and female energy within us. In this position, it brings advantage to the family or group and down the road to yourself if you focus upon the wellbeing of the whole instead of satisfying your own needs. 3. In all group life, the members must practice a certain amount of moderation. If there are no rules and everybody acts only on selfish motives, there will be disorder. If the rules are too strict, people will not unfold emotionally and remain tight up. Hence the need for balance. If you are not sure which position to take, be advised that the I Ching generally values moderation and self-discipline higher than a libertarian attitude. 4. It brings you advancement to be mindful and consider all the details of the situation. You are properly adjusted and your endeavor will be successful! 5. This line indicates that your faithfulness and proper attitude bring blessings to all members of the family or group. This is the recipe for prosperity and long-term success! 6. When all members of a family or group are devoted to the best for all, there is great prosperity, safety, and advancement. When you set a good example and show a re259

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sponsible and dutiful attitude, you can inspire all those around you and your good intentions will be recognized and rewarded!

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Contradiction / Opposition / Disharmony A time of estrangement. Only small things can be achieved.

This hexagram teaches that disharmony between people is the result of doubt and suspicion. Such an attitude may cause you to see evil, dishonesty or insincerity in others. Only when a positive, harmonious view is adopted will one be able to cooperate properly with others and thereby reach one’s goals. This is the result of introspection and of a desire to achieve harmony in all relationships. 1. When others hurt your feelings, be mindful to not retaliate, but to act from a superior position. Do not try to force unity of spirit when you see that disharmony between people is growing. Do not worry about it as this cycle soon comes to an end. Thus use restraint and moderation to remain in peace with yourself. 2. There may be meaningful encounters ahead with people if you are able to practice good communication. The law of attraction works positively for you if you keep your inner mind pristine and clean and in a positive condition. You always attract the equivalent of what you foster in your own mind. If your thoughts and ideas are harmonious, you will attract harmonious relationships. 3. A situation of strife and opposition may come to an end now and harmony will return. All our problems in life 262

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are reflections of our inner difficulties. Rather than complaining about circumstances, you can remedy any kind of situation by turning inward and see how you have projected you own inner conflict into the world. Making peace with others therefore always requires making peace with yourself first! 4. The law of attraction works positively for you. You can now attract a partner or collaborator, a wise person, helper or trustworthy friend and together you can overcome difficulties and achieve greatness! 5. It is now good for you to collaborate for there is trust and harmony between you and those around you. Never look at the present from the perspective of the past but accept novelty. While there was opposition in your past, it has vanished off now and harmony and close relationships are possible now in your life. 6. Do not take your friends for your enemies and your enemies for your friends. When others approach you in a spirit of making peace, do not meet them with suspicion and hostility. You can establish good relationships now after you have dissolved your inner resistance and anxiety, and by developing a steadfast and faithful attitude.

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Obstruction / Obstacle / Difficulty You need to overcome an obstacle in your way.

The I Ching teaches that all in life is both natural and cyclic. Obstruction can be caused by various factors, inwardly or outwardly. During a time of obstruction, one should turn inward and cultivate patience and mental clarity. Thus obstruction can actually be seen as an opportunity for gathering energy instead of complicating matters with impatience and struggle. A developed person cultivates virtue and is not defeated by obstruction. Trust your inner guidance and the way to go will be shown to you. 1. The I Ching regularly advises to start a new cycle with foresight and a prudent attitude. At this point, you need to wait for the right moment. While your way forward is blocked, practice patience and trust your inner guidance, then the right way and time for action will be shown to you. 2. Here you may know what the obstacle actually is and which form it takes. It may for example be an unwilling attitude in those you need to cooperate with, or it may be a financial problem. Whatever it is, now the right action is to go forward and try to dissolve the obstacle by finding an effective solution. If you are not sure how to solve the difficulty, trust your inner guidance, become still and listen 266

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to the voice inside. You will be guided if you are aware of your responsibilities and foster a dutiful attitude! 3. Do not endanger yourself, but retreat. Now is the time to listen to your inner voice and trust your guidance. You will attract people who help you in overcoming the difficulty. 4. In this situation, it is important to avoid acting single-handedly for it may cause you further difficulties. You need to accept the help from others and help developing a common strategy for dissolving the obstruction. Thus communication and cooperation bring you advance. 5. Your positive energy has attracted a beneficial response from the universe. There are people who care to help you. Together, you can now overcome the difficulty through a unified approach, and achieve success! 6. You are here to contribute to the world with your unique gifts and talents. This entire hexagram teaches that overcoming obstacles in life is done through quieting the restless mind and increasing inner coherence. With a harmonious inner attitude, you will attract the right advisor, helper or collaborator and together you will overcome the obstacle. Success is indicated!

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Dissolution of the Problem / Release / Liberation Your fortune is changing for the better.

After obstruction comes resolution. The guidance of the previous hexagram, Obstruction (39), was to keep still and gather energy. Here the obstructive force has started to decrease and a new cycle is set forth. This is thus the time to positively solve all problems. JIE also means to ‘untie,’ which implies untangling the psychological knots of one’s life. Forgiveness helps very much to get there for in as much you are tolerant and forgiving toward others, in as much you are toward yourself; hence you get over past mistakes. Doing so, you can resolve both inward and outward entanglement. 1. It is time for the preparation of a new project. Difficulties are behind you. But do not rush, rather do one step at a time. Success is indicated! 2. Be direct and do not hesitate to tackle difficulties on your way to accomplishment of your project or mission. To be straightforward now brings you good luck. Honesty and care in all dealings with others brings you advancement.

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3. Beware of greed, arrogance and conceit! Such an attitude may get you into a negative karmic cycle. Hold your vision, use fair play, then nothing can defeat you. 4. The more your personality matures, the more you free yourself of unworthy relationships, the more you gain the trust of good people who will then put their faith in you, and trust you. 5. Free yourself from false friends and people who flatter you because they expect an advantage through the relationship with you. Now it’s time to set yourself free. Once you are liberated of these attachments, you will attract good helpers and collaborators. Success is indicated. 6. You may have to overcome an enemy, a person who tries to mess up your plans. You may need all your strength and smart to get this done, but the rewards will be great. Aim high and you will make it!

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Sacrifice / Decrease / Reduce the Excessive Periodic decrease. Reduce that which is excessive.

This hexagram must be properly understood with the background of the yin-yang dichotomy in mind. When strong yang energy seeks balance, it decreases in order to strengthen the more passive yin energy. Thus increase and decrease are cyclic in life, as they are in financial affairs where a good flow of cash also is based upon inflow and outflow, not stagnation. Another aspect of this hexagram is that everything that is excessive cannot last, which is why it is advised to reduce that which is excessive in order to make it last. 1. In emotional matters, the principle of decrease can help restore harmony. In financial matters, you should care for your inflow of money and your outflow of money being properly balanced. If demands are made on your time for helping others, do so, but do not overdo it. If you keep matters in proper balance from the start, you can go successfully through this period of time. 2. It’s a time for helping others, but not for advancing in your own projects. When you help others, do it in a manner that safeguards your dignity. Sacrificing yourself as this is understood in some religions is not what the I 274

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Ching teaches. Only if you support others in a way that is comfortable with your own wellbeing you do it right. 3. This line shows another form of decrease. When in a group of three disharmony occurs, what happens is that one person leaves the group. This gives an opportunity for the remaining two people to form a closer bond. This may be caused by your inner guidance which considers it more advantageous that you seek cooperation with only one person so that the integrity of your plan is safeguarded. 4. This line indicates an inner awareness process. You have become aware of a problem and now can work on its solution. Thereby, and if your attitude is correct, you can attract friends and helpers. This is a good direction to go. 5. This line was traditionally symbolized by a big turtle. It symbolizes that one is given a precious gift that one has deserved because of one’s integrity and right attitude. Thus there is success all around! 6. Here your success is obvious and visible to all. In such a position, it is good to give support to others, do charity and work for the common good. This is a longterm strategy for while your benefits to others are immediate, for yourself it’s a position of good karma that may have a positive return only down the road.

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Benefit / Increase / Advantage A period of increase. Go ahead!

The traditional interpretation of this hexagram speaks of ‘crossing the great water’ which is a metaphor for any project, endeavor or new relationship. It means that advancement is correct at this time. Many possibilities are ahead of you and progress comes naturally! 1. If you are correctly aligned with your principles, you can now have great success by going forward. Normally the first line is too weak to engage in bold action but here the first and forth line are positively connected. This means you can harmonize your energy with others and cooperate effectively. Obstacles can thus be overcome and you can be overall successful! 2. This line, similar to Hexagram 41, 5th Line, is associated with turtles, which were considered as luck bringers by the ancient Chinese. This line speaks of a great benefit that you receive for being positively aligned with the purposes of the universe. This is the result of inner coherence. 3. While the outer circumstances that this line indicates may not be favorable on first sight, you can still gain an advantage here if you stay true to your principles. Often in life, we do not recognize the hidden blessing in a situation

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that seems unfortunate. In fact, going through a hard experience helps one achieve higher. 4. You can now be a good in-between and thereby take a responsible and authoritative position. If you have the best for all parties in mind, you can reap great benefit for yourself for your advice will be followed. Such an influential position may even bring more benefits later on. 5. This line indicates that when you now work for the benefit of others , you will be benefited yourself because of your positive inner coherence, and your charitable attitude. 6. The I Ching always teaches balance in life, for all our actions. This line is a warning to not change one’s attitude in the belief that increase can be continuous and excessive. If you remain steadfast for benefiting others you can go through this cycle unharmed, but if you ruthlessly press ahead for selfish gain only you may experience a setback.

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THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Resolution / Decisiveness / Rushing Ahead Seek cooperation, avoid single-handed action!

The single yin line at the top here influences the power of all the yang lines. Thus, the five positive energies represented by the yang lines must break through the energy above. After a firm decision is made to break through the negative energy, complete yang, as in the 1st hexagram, can be achieved. The hexagram recommends caution for every step up to the top line. Dealing with negative energy can be compared with tending a flower garden. If weeds are brusquely removed, the flowers may also be damaged. 1. This line warns that one may be ill-equipped to deal with the task. In such a situation, great caution is needed. 2. You need to be attentive now, all the details in this situation need your careful attention and scrutiny. If you have oversight, there will be no harm and there is gain ahead. 3. An aggressive advance to solve the problem, especially when you go ahead single-handedly, may result in a confrontation that brings no real advantage. Do not try to rush things and preserve your advantage! 4. The teaching of this line is to listen to advice and be flexible but decisive to dissolve the obstruction. This is an 282

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inner attitude of firmness combined with an unobtrusive attitude outwardly. If you are upright and have courage, you can go ahead in cooperation with others. 5. This line puts the stress on balance, inwardly and outwardly. It is right to go ahead now, firmly and decisively, but avoiding sharpness and cunningness in your behavior. Then you will be successful and petty people will lose their advantage over you. 6. This line warns of an excess either in outer action or in your attitude. Seek to be balanced, or you may lose the advantage that you may have made earlier, as indicated by the five yang lines below this line! Always behold that negativity in your inner attitude will attract negative reactions on the outward level, in real life, hence the importance to keep your inner smart and make sure you are striving first of all for inner coherence.

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Contact / Encounter / Temptation Beware of temptation!

The traditional image of this hexagram is that five men are competing for one woman, but she can only marry one of them; hence there is a contention within the situation but it is hidden. If the five yang lines do not cooperate, the negative yin line which approaches from below may inhibit any positive progress. However, this is inherent in the cyclic changes between yang and yin, and thus a natural situation. If you are aware of your limitations and shortcomings, you may still achieve success if you tread cautiously and practice persistence! 1. You are facing a situation of temptation. It looks like a good opportunity to be seized but there is danger if you go forward. Ignoring the problem will not help you deal with it, thus you should gain emotional awareness of it. But do not yield to the temptation either! If the temptation doesn’t present itself outwardly, it can be within you; you may be pondering a certain action which you should check back with your conscience, and if it’s not in accordance with your highest principles, the best is to change your intention to a better and more worthy goal.

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2. You may seize the opportunity now, but the profits may be snatched away by a competitor; you need to act decisively and cautiously to prevent that from happening. Beware of letting others know about your plans; for the moment it’s better to act from behind the screen. 3. This is a situation of indecisiveness which causes restless behavior. Seeing things clearly at this point can prevent further problems. If you ponder a bold yet possibly incorrect action versus a cautious yet possibly correct action, you have a choice. Choose what is in alignment with your conscience and your highest principles! 4. You need to avoid going forward in this situation; you are in danger. Possibly your motives for action are incorrect or you are not collaborating sufficiently with others. Traditionally this line was depicting a man who courts a woman who is no more available and invites trouble because he uses force or cunning to win her over. 5. In this situation, you have passed the danger of the 4th line and are in a situation where you can build on the wisdom and inner strength you gained. You are in accordance with the cosmos and can dissolve any difficulty smoothly with the help of others. 6. This line depicts a situation where one is isolated from others because one is uncooperative. The choice here is yours. If you want to retreat from the project, you can do so without being harmed, else if you want to stay and go ahead, you can only do so by winning others over for your cause. 287

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Congregation / Gathering / Harmonizing A time to form strong bonds!

The traditional picture of this hexagram is ‘to gather the essence.’ That means to gather others around oneself for a good and virtuous purpose. This implies that one is able to harmonize different energies and focus them for accomplishing a common goal. But the meaning of this hexagram is twofold: it also applies to inner growth and renewal through the gathering of subtle energy. 1. Going forward is indicated by this line. But the requirement is that you clearly communicate the purpose of the gathering and that you bring order to the group so that energies are focused on a shared goal. 2. You can gather help from others if you are sincere. Be open to influences, encounters, and recommendations. The way is shown to you. 3. This line indicates that you won’t succeed singlehandedly in this cause. You need to bring your goals in alignment with that of others, or a group of people. There may be some losses and gains that cancel each other out. 4. This line indicates success as you are successfully cooperating with others, and managing your affairs responsibly.

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5. This line traditionally speaks of a group of men gathered around a man in a high position. This is a metaphor that your endeavor to gather people for a common cause is by and large successful. It is through effective leadership that you can realize your goals and bring a positive outcome to the cause, and thus blessings for everyone will follow. 6. This line indicates a disharmonious position. For some reason, you are not able to gather people around you. The traditional interpretation sees the obstacle here in pride and lack of an integrative attitude. Inquire and check if your motives are worthy enough for this cause, or retreat. There will be no harm.

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Rising / Progress / Going forward A great opportunity for progress!

This is one of those hexagrams that are overall positive. All lines are predicting good progress, except the top line which contains a warning, but is not strictly negative as in many other hexagrams. Steady growth is based on the accumulation of many small achievements. By the same token, power or wealth must accumulate in small increments so as to be beneficial. When people are too anxious to get ahead, their ambition may become excessive and conflict with others will be the result. This hexagram teaches that life is a slow but constant process and progress. 1. This line indicates that you can advance toward prosperity. You are being trusted by others, and in alignment with your higher purpose. Go ahead! 2. A step-by-step approach is indicated here for progress. Even if your resources are meager, you can realize your goal. Your sincerity and enthusiasm will open you the doors for reaching out to those who help and support you. 3. Easy and smooth success is indicated by this line. Do not hesitate, and do not doubt your advancement. 4. This line traditionally uses the image of a prince, empowered by the king, making an offering on a moun294

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tain. This is the metaphor of being trusted by a high person and generally, an enjoyable position. You can now realize your ambitions! 5. Greatness is obtained by the accumulation of small achievements; great success is a constant accumulation of small daily successes. Promotion, progress and achievement come now at the right time for you. Do not squander your blessings. Be constant in your attention to detail and you will surely be rewarded! 6. Success is the enemy of complacency. In a position of high achievement, we are all tempted to slacken in our efforts and become complacent. On the other hand, when rising becomes excessive because one lacks inner reflection, one may end up losing what has been gathered. Thus both complacency and rushing ahead blindly need to be avoided in order to safeguard your success!

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Adversity / Exhaustion / Entrapment Meet adversity with resolution!

This hexagram was traditionally showing the image of a person who is surrounded by water and can go nowhere safely. In a modern sense, this hexagram can be seen as an unfavorable time for outward development, while it can be used very favorably for inward enhancement. Rather than lamenting circumstances, one should accept the blockage and store energy for later effort, for the law of cyclic change makes ever such situation a temporary one! 1. If you lose your motivation because of obstacles in your way, you are doomed to fail. The traditional image of this line was a person who cannot see the light for three years. This is a metaphor for mental and emotional ‘blindness,’ that is, the incapacity to plan ahead because one feels trapped and exhausted. Do not get caught in fear, or demotivation; you can inwardly fight adversity by being faithful to a good outcome, and trusting your inner guidance. This time will pass! 2. This line speaks of a person who was being awarded the red apron of high office, thus he is entrapped by feasting and honor. The I Ching teaches that when progress is easy, one should be charitable and not self-righteous, and

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despite a high position, one should think of those below and practice latitude of mind, and a dignified attitude. 3. This line traditionally speaks of a man who is entrapped by rocks and thorns and cannot meet his companion or wife. This metaphor hints at your need to build inner clarity, and set a clear goal. You cannot reap figs when you sow thistles, which means that you need to focus your energy instead of spilling it in restless maneuvering. 4. Stay your course and be careful to not lose your motivation once again. Do whatever you can to find help and you will get it. This line bears the image of a wagon that comes late and slows progress. This means that you are heading in the right direction, but you need to practice patience, and trust your inner guidance. 5. The traditional image of this line is of a high officer who is burdened by his duties, but who slowly finds a way out. This means that you should now be prepared for a blessing ahead of you, practice patience, relax your mind, and remain correctly centered. The blessing will come! 6. This line teaches that the good outcome depends primarily on your inner attitude. If you are cynical and selfish, you may feel that you are trapped in your own pride. When you correct and refresh your attitude and let go of your self-aggrandizement, you will naturally find the way to mastering the situation successfully.

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The Well / Water Hole / Reaching the Water You must understand basic truths.

This hexagram uses a well as a metaphor for the mind, how to conduct one’s education, and the clarity or lacking clarity of the water. The mind is like a well. Its ideal state is one of clarity and quietude amidst the activities of daily life. The message of this hexagram is to follow the example of the well by being peaceful and resourceful. The well also represents the ‘waters’ you are giving to others, the way you can reach out to others for bringing over your message, be it as a teacher, or as an artist, business person, doctor or professional, or a government official. Whatever your position or profession, you are living in the world and you need to reach out to others in order to be useful. 1. The first line uses the image of a well that seems forsaken as nobody comes to drink from it. This metaphor means that you are too self-centered and isolated from others; else the meaning of this line is that you need to update and broaden your vision, giving up something that is outdated, or adapt positively to a new situation. Trust your inner guidance and focus your intention on becoming useful to those around you, and the world in general.

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2. This line speaks of an open well, but a person reaching not far enough down to catch water because the rope of the bucket is too short. This means that it is too early for an undertaking or you do not make full use of your talents in carrying it out. It is not enough to be talented, you also need to be attentive to the material world and have the desire to be heard and seen. Trust in your potential and you will find a way to deploy your smart! 3. This line speaks of a functional and clean well but nobody comes to drink the water. It is thus a similar image as the first line, only that now the well is clean. This means that you need to practice persistence in reaching out to others. You have clear ‘waters’ now to give but you need to be known to others. Make yourself known to others in whatever way this is possible, and do not be shy! You need to share your knowledge, art or wisdom, or it’s not useful to the world. 4. This line traditionally speaks of a well that is protected by a railing around it. This metaphor means that you should now take care of your own affairs, and avoid being involved in those of others. You now should build the foundation for your later successes, which means you need first of all build a solid inner foundation, based upon virtue and a correct attitude. Besides, you need to have faith that the time will come for your deployment and success! 5. This line speaks of pure, clean water that is available for all. Here, your talents have been recognized and you 303

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are visible to others. This is the beginning of your social success. You need to trust your inner guidance still further in order to continue to grow and expand your influence. 6. Here great success is indicated because of wise decisions that also benefit others. The advice of this line was traditionally to not cover the well so that the waters can be drunk by all. Likewise, your clear ‘waters’ now reach others, who benefit from your spirit of open-mindedness and universal love. This is a situation of great good fortune!

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Revolution / Reformation / Groundbreaking Change Accept a great change in your life.

The traditional image of this hexagram is that of a revolution and the advice is that a successful revolution is a matter of proper timing and correct implementation. This hexagram encourages you to let go of the old in order to proceed with what is new and right. You should adjust to external conditions and act at an appropriate time so as to reform the situation and bring about novelty in your life. Many habits and patterns of thought stand in the way of change; this is one of the reasons why most people are afraid of change. If you see the need for change, you need to go ahead fearlessly and focus on the positive outcome once the change has been properly effected. 1. Keep still. The timing is not right for a big change. Never rush into action when you are insufficiently prepared. The right time will come. 2. The time is ripe now for action, thus you can go ahead to trigger change and reformation. You will now receive help and support from others if you are correctly focused and accept great change in your life. 3. Do not rush ahead at this point. Your action needs careful preparation in order to be successful, or you may 306

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rush into danger. Trust your inner guidance, and focus upon the matter that needs to be changed. Use visualization to see it the way you want it once the change has been carried out. This will help you to find the right way to proceed! 4. Now the change has been done and you are in a position of leadership, where others can rely on you. After the change, harmony is possible. When others show you allegiance, remain humble and work for the public good. When your motivation is correct, you shall have great success! 5. This line traditionally speaks of the yellow stripes of a tiger. For the Chinese, the tiger was a sacred symbol, and the color yellow indicates intelligence and great good fortune! This means that you are here in a position of great power and others follow you. On a personal level, this line represents both heart and mind which guide the correct reformation that comes from within and without. Great success is indicated! 6. The traditional interpretation of this line speaks of a deep change versus a shallow and superficial change. This means that the change can be seen when it is deep and lasting. You may now safely change established habits and traditions, and you should do that in a balanced manner, without triggering hurtful reactions around you. Try to stabilize this new situation in your life so that it will be lasting!

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Cauldron / Harmonization / Stability Lay the groundwork for something new.

The image of this hexagram is that of a cauldron, a receptacle for cooking royal feasts or for making offerings. It is a lucky symbol associated with good fortune. It also symbolizes good luck for one’s family. This hexagram teaches the art of proper timing, which is symbolized by the proper cooking of a feast. Thus, this hexagram encourages the wise to understand their duty and their responsibilities and to stabilize their efforts in order to help and guide the wellbeing of all people. Following the progressive levels symbolized in the cauldron can help one fulfill one’s duty in life and develop accordingly. Each line of the six lines represents a different section of the cauldron. 1. This line traditionally speaks of one leg of the cauldron being damaged so that the cauldron tilts to one side and thus can be easily cleansed and purified. While such a situation may be unfortunate, it serves a proper goal. This can also mean that a third person is needed to balance the energies in a family, partnership or enterprise. Cleaning the cauldron may also mean to purify yourself of bad habits before starting a new enterprise.

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2. The cauldron is now filled with food but there is envy all around you. There may be criticism, but you should listen to your inner voice and remain calm and centered. Keep on improving things! 3. Here, the handles of the cauldron have been changed but cannot be used. Thus, the fat pheasant’s meat remains uneaten. This is a situation where your talents are not recognized by the outside world. The solution is here to trust your inner smart and your spiritual guidance. The time will come for you to unfold your talents so that ‘the feast can be eaten when the rain comes.’ 4. Here the image is that of the leg of the cauldron being broken, so the food falls out and is spoilt. It speaks of a great minister who fails to fulfill his duty because the public has no faith in him. This is a metaphor for a person who lacks a sense of realism, and correct information. It is better for you to put a halt to your project or endeavor and to assess the situation once again. Remain steadfast but retreat for the time being. 5. Here the image is of strong golden handles of the cauldron with yellow ears. The lid and ears of the cauldron allow the adjustment of the heat and steam so that the food is properly cooked. Yellow is for the Chinese the ‘middle’ color in the spectrum, and it represents wisdom, smart and proper balance. This is a metaphor for a leader who has the proper attitude for going forward and broaden his experiences. You will have great success!

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6. The image of the strong jade handle on top of the lid suggests that the cauldron will not be overheated and everything is in order and properly prepared. The food symbolizes the substance that nourishes a whole nation. This is a metaphor for being guided by your higher self, thereby serving the world as a wise and humble leader. This is really a great achievement!

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Force of Thunder / Shock / The Arousing Awakening jolt. A blessing in disguise.

The image of his hexagram is that of a rolling thunder that jolts up and lets one correct one’s attitude. Shock is sometimes necessary to remove one from a position of complacency and inertia. To consider shock as a form of punishment would be misunderstanding the wisdom that this hexagram teaches. Calmness is always necessary in fulfilling great responsibility. It is especially important in dealing with shock and confusion, so as to dissolve any kind of inner entanglement and limitation. If one’s energy is scattered or disordered, one can be easily jolted by every shock that comes along, but one who is centered will act appropriately, regardless of what confronts him or her. 1. There may be some or the other circumstance that causes you shock. Do not feel defeated by it. It serves your awakening and progress once you understand it. You are ultimately benefited by the situation. In addition, you will have learnt a valuable lesson for coping with unexpected situations in the future. 2. If you go forward, you will meet danger. The image is that of a person who loses her fortune by hurrying to

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safety during a thunderstorm. However, in seven days he recovers his losses. Do not proceed! 3. You may experience such a shock that you feel terrified, but you should stay calm. In the end there is no trouble, but you should change your attitude. You can now make slight progress without mistakes. Do not lose your spontaneity and master your fear. When you keep your smart, you won’t make serious mistakes. 4. The image here is of a lightning that hits the mud, giving no power and no light. This is a metaphor for wasting energy. Stand still for now, as any progress will meet danger. Trust your inner guidance and the way out will be shown to you. 5. You are now aware of the danger which means you will also know that going ahead will trigger more shocking experiences for you. In such a situation, a wise person would stop and reflect. If you keep your smart and remain calm, you can transit this period of time safely. Put your life in order. There will be no damage if you don’t make mistakes. 6. No further movement should be made. Shock will hit your neighbor, not you. Though there is a treat, there is no real problem. Avoid action now, it’s the wrong moment to go forward, thus keep safe. Retreat is not weakness of character, and here it’s the only safe action.

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Keeping Still / Impediment / Non-action A time to stop action and quieten your heart.

With calm and inward focus, one can clear the mind of selfserving thoughts and desires. Keeping still does not mean to be inactive, but rather that one acts correctly and without strain in any situation. The I Ching teaches three forms of action: going forward, standing still and going backward (retreat). Here, all the six lines of the hexagram recommend you to stand still for the time being, to practice nonaction. This does not mean defeat, nor does it mean you should be demotivated. In the contrary, it means that you should use this time for inner progress, developing firmness of character, and strong focus on accomplishing your goal. Your inner guidance will show you when this period comes to an end and you can go ahead once again. 1. This weak line must keep still and remain firm: thus, there will be no difficulty. When you gain an objective insight in the situation, you will know when going ahead will be profitable. 2. When you have the feeling that you cannot master a certain situation that presents itself to you, then trust your inner guidance, raise your inner coherence through a meditative or self-reflective practice and ponder your mo318

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tives. Your intentions should be positive and harmonious and you should mind the best outcome for all. 3. Do not press ahead, for this would only result in restlessness and a waste of energy or resources. Now it’s a time to master any anxiety you may have, and practice meditation. Enjoy the time of self-reflection, for it will help you to succeed at a later time. Whenever you think of your project or relationship, see it positively in your mind, and visualize success! This is the best you can do during this time. 4. There is a time for action and a time for rest. Be natural. Relax your mind and body, and you will improve your health. Do not press ahead at a time when progress cannot be seen. It will negatively affect your heart function. When you are in alignment with inner guidance, you act correctly by not acting at all. This is a good time for selfdevelopment. 5. You will realize that when you are properly focused, and your inner mind at peace, you will speak in a manner that is both spontaneous and effective. There will be power in the way you communicate. There is a time for speaking, a time for listening and a time for being silent. Listen to your inner guidance and your communications shall be effective and positive. 6. Good fortune is waiting for you in a situation in which your inner smart, your inner coherence, your inner peace projects itself outwardly into the world. There will

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be a positive response if you are properly aligned with your purpose and avoid to overstress your luck.

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Gradual Progress / Stepby-Step Plan / Positive Development Slow but steady progress. Remain steadfast.

This hexagram symbolizes the union of male and female energies, or of any positive relationship. This type of internal harmony encourages the gradual development of a good relationship. The image is that of geese migrating to distant lands, being properly guided by their instinct. Geese symbolize proper inner guidance. Gradual progress leads one to higher levels of achievement. By slowly showing one’s talents and earning the trust of others, social relations may be positively developing. 1. Progress one step at a time and you will not run into danger. When you are criticized, you should not act defensively and instead progress inwardly, by focusing upon your goal and building more coherence. All success is the result of inner coherence. So prepare ahead and do not ask for a premature promotion at a time when you are not ready for delivering your smart. 2. You may have a fortune but if you clasp your hands around it, it will not benefit anybody for you will finally lose it. Sharing is the secret of all real wealth, for money is like water: it needs to flow! If you are aware that money 322

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needs to circulate in your life, you will give and receive with equal peace of mind. Then you are building the foundation of real wealth, and you will be blessed because you bless others. 3. This line traditionally speaks of a husband marching to war and a pregnant wife not giving birth. It is a situation of danger. Make sure that all risk you are taking is calculated. If you have bad experiences with others, avoid to pile up resentment and stay focused on your goals. You do not depend on outward circumstances for achieving success, for all success is the result of inner coherence. Hence, take care of your inner harmony, and all will be well. 4. There are cycles in life. If you recognize them, you win, if you overlook them, you lose. All is a matter of sensing your internal cycles. That means you need to be flexible and attentive. This is the safe way of doing things because you are aligned with your intuition. Every action needs to be checked back in order to see if it was appropriate for the time being, and within its own cycle of growth. If you do this, you will realize that you will gradually but securely advance. 5. If you cannot see advancement, or if you are surrounded by people who do not reflect to you your good intentions, do not become demotivated! You are advancing but this is a time of gradualness that you need to adapt to. You are about to make good connections for later successes. For the time being, you should be happy that you are progressing, one step at a time. Every cycle of evolu323

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tion is different, for the timing is different, and once you understand that, you will have the right attitude to master this situation. 6. You will realize that once you have mastered your problems and know how to gradually advance in life, this is something not only for your own benefit, but also for the benefit of those who take you as an example. This means that your success is shared with all those who follow you, and this is a blessing in itself!

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The Maiden / Marriage / Subordination Know your proper place in life.

The present hexagram as well as the preceding one, Jian, were traditionally considered as marriage advice. While in Jian marriage is successfully achieved in gradual stages, here the literal translation is ‘a woman returns to where she belongs,’ suggesting that something is out of place. Indeed, harmony is the essence not only of a good marriage, but of any kind of relationship; this hexagram is in modern times no more restricted to marriage but gives advice for people behaving in social life, attributing to each person their proper place. 1. Your social situation is modest but others trust you. When you do your work dutifully and joyfully, you will advance and obstacles will vanish from your way. When your thoughts are harmonious, you build inner coherence, which is the condition for success. 2. You may have the impression to be in a treadmill and that things are not advancing. However, if you are persistent you will be making progress. Be patient and persevere! 3. You receive in life only what you are asking for. If you ask, it shall be given to you. But you must ask. Do not 326

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be too shy to have high ambitions, but work on your projects from inside out, realizing inner coherence, being peaceful and good-willed. On the outward level, be firm and persistent, then you will reach your goal. 4. This line was traditionally denoting a late marriage. However, it’s a positive reading in that the waiting time is passed by improving oneself and strengthening one’s character. Then the late marriage will be harmonious! Be patient, the relationship you are asking about, whatever it happens to be, will not progress at the present time. It is recommended to turn inward and practice self-cultivation. 5. This line is a positive reading for a person who is able to find his or her proper place and by being unassuming, responsible and flexible. You can make good progress now in a position where you serve and support another person, or a group of people. Your efforts are going to be rewarded! 6. You need to share your being with the world in order to be successful and rewarded. If you hold back or you play a role, acting under false pretenses, you will be found out, and you risk that people stop trusting you!

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Peak / Abundance / OverCapacity Things are at a peak or climax.

A developed person uses their full deployment for serving others and enriching the world. According to the natural law of balance, when something reaches its point of fullness, decline is inevitable. Everything in the universe follows this cycle; it’s like a tidal movement. If one has more than enough, he should not hold onto everything for himself, but be charitable. When abundance becomes full, it’s like the sun being too strong: the light is blinding one, vegetation dries up, the land becomes parched, and nothing can flourish. Feng teaches the value of control in a situation of abundance so as to not overstress the cycle. 1. A new relationship brings you advantage. It is beneficial to associate with those whose aims are similar to yours. 2. This line implies that one seeks external prosperity rather than internal clarity; this brings about darkness. Blind ambition can hurt you if you lose your inner clarity and steer an unbalanced approach to realizing your goals. Let others for themselves discover your true value and capability.

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3. You will realize that when you hold on to your riches with an uncaring attitude toward others, your wealth will not grow, but decline. Be balanced in all you do, also in your daily consumption so as to keep flexible and avoid stagnation! 4. If you want to be useful, having learnt the lesson indicated by the 3rd line, the universe will guide you and you will attract an associate with whom you can work together to realize your goal. 5. Surround yourself with a group of wise people who advise you in all important matters, but make sure the final decisions are yours. While your position could be better, there is success ahead! 6. Never yield to blind ambition! Be mindful of the changes of fortune and take care of your household and/ or your enterprise. When your wishes and dreams are situated too much outside of what is currently achievable, you may lose sight of reality and incur losses. Avoid to do things single-handedly and stay in contact with those who can help you.

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The Wanderer / Traveling / On the Road Be humble on the road!

This hexagram traditionally was accompanied by the picture of a wanderer who can only achieve minor undertakings while on a journey. In a more general sense, the teaching here conveys that a balanced personality can be attained by integrating one’s spiritual purposes with a practical life style. Since life is energy in movement, travel is a natural part of living. One should neither fear to move nor lose the stillness within. 1. Do not lose your dignity while on travel, do not be overly critical toward others and do not fight over habitual expenses. Also, avoid to show off in any way and do not get involved in trivial matters. When traveling, one should be tolerant of the different customs one encounters. 2. You can find helpers when you are unassuming and tactful. We always reflect our inner life toward the outside. If your thoughts are harmonious and respectful, this will attract others toward you who are of help and support. This is why inner coherence is so important in life! 3. Here, the traditional image is of an arrogant traveler who loses a valuable helper. Arrogance can destroy one’s attainments and achievements in all circumstances, particularly while on a journey. 334

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4. You may not feel good in your new environment. Be it that you traveled to the wrong destination, feel isolated, or that you haven’t had enough inner clarity to really know why you wanted to change your place. Now, it is best to avoid restlessness and remorse and build inner coherence by trusting in your inner guidance. Then, the right way will be shown to you! 5. When you have a caring attitude toward others, and you have a harmonious mindset, you will realize that you are welcome even in places where others may be considered as strangers. On the intrinsically human plane, there are no strangers. You can now advance successfully toward a new position, at a new place, and unfold your talents there! 6. When you meet others with a hostile mind, or you are careless and inconsiderate of other people’s or countries’ customs and particularities, you may encounter loss and you may not be able to establish a new place for yourself. In such a case, retreat is the best move, while working on improving your mindset toward friendliness and goodwill for all people.

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Gentle Wind / Conformity / Submissiveness Be yielding in small matters!

Nature teaches that all creation has an element of spontaneity to it. One cannot see a flower growing, and yet it grows. One cannot see the wind except by its effect upon objects. This is the way the subtle energy creates in the universe. It is the same with spirit. One who seeks guidance from this hexagram is counseled to wait for the right time to pursue what he wishes to achieve. Great achievements cannot be expected in the beginning. 1. You should develop a firm intention and fight hesitation and doubt. In such a situation, the I Ching uses the image of a soldier who needs to be disciplined and go forward decisively and with perseverance. 2. You cannot go ahead when you are confused and lack clarity. Reflect about what’s going on and analyze the situation as well as your motives. When everything is correct, go ahead and do not hesitate! 3. There is a time for reflection, and a time for action. This line indicates that you are now beyond reflection and need to act. If you procrastinate, you may lose the opportunity!

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4. The traditional interpretation of this line is: ‘One obtains three kinds of game in the hunt and earns merit.’ You can act now with a modest but decisive attitude, and you will be rewarded. If you act in following instructions, carry them out dutifully and all will be well! 5. Attention to detail is one of the key factors in success. When you are scrupulous and fair in your deals, you can advance smoothly now, and you will be overall successful! 6. The universe will give you a negative response if you are bewildered and fearful, and too hesitant to claim your good. You need to express your expectations in this position and a too much of gentleness may be counterproductive to achieving your goal.

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Joyousness / Enjoyment / Contentment A time of joyous interaction!

Joy is a combination of inner and outer harmony, of receptiveness and gentleness. True happiness is the result not of emotional charge, but of virtue and constancy. Joy is thus different from pleasure. The source of all happiness is peace of mind, not emotionality. This is why the ancients were saying that true joy comes from inside. 1. You are firm and constant, unattached and independent. Your joy is the result of inner harmony and based upon inner coherence. This brings you success. 2. When you act from inner joy and with a good-willed attitude, you will attract helpers and resist temptation. In fact, pleasing others is not a recipe for success, but inner firmness combined with outer gentleness. 3. The more you are moved by flattery or engage in flattering others, the more you estrange yourself from your own true nature. Then your actions become shallow and you may lack influence upon others. 4. You may go through a period of indecisiveness, which is the result of an inner choice to be made between lower and higher forms of pleasure. Rely on your inner strength to make the correct choice, then you will experience joy because joy is the result of the higher, and more 342

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spiritual forms of pleasure that are within the culture and that serve to uplift humanity. 5. This line symbolizes another kind of choice, equally important. Here it’s the choice of a relationship, one that is incorrect and down the road dangerous, versus one that is noble and advantageous. Be alert to make the right choice! 6. If you seek pleasure only outwardly, without building a joyful inner attitude, you are completely dependent on how others act, and you lose your independence of judgment. This can result in undesired experiences and negative consequences. The solution here is to go inward and reflect about what you really want, and what your soul really longs for!

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Scattered / Dispersion / Dissolution Your ego causes problems with others!

When you hold grudges against others, you ultimately work against your own good. This hexagram teaches that such inharmonious conditions in our inner mind need to be dissolved for establishing inner coherence, and thereby achieve success. If others have hurt you, practice forgiveness until you feel there is no more inner sting to be felt when you think of the person or situation. Through forgiveness inner balance can be restored and the tension thus dissolved. 1. If you are aware of your inner movements and you can feel that you are in an inharmonious mood swing, this is a good thing to happen for you can then correct the condition and seek to build inner coherence once again. 2. When you face an obstacle and practice inner coherence, you will attract the right helpers. Be calm and trust your inner guidance, then the solution will emerge. 3. Sometimes a situation is so complex that you need to put all personal motives behind and care for helping the new condition to emerge, while you may not have a direct material benefit for yourself. Down the road, unselfish ac-

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tions always improve your karma, especially when you do them joyously and without resentment. 4. Great success is the result of open-mindedness and a caring attitude toward the common good. You can now put your own goals on a line with those of others and thereby achieve a great outcome for all of you! 5. When you see that those around you have limited views, and seek each to cook their own little soup, you can become a leader in the group by giving them a great idea. All great advances in human evolution have been made by new ideas, because they help people overcome their fragmented views and greedy little desires! 6. There is danger in this situation. You may retreat, and you can do it safely by affirming your inner guidance, seeking inner coherence over outer fame.

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节 60 JIE —

—

——— —

—

—

—

——— ———

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Self-Restraint / Limits / Limitation Self-restraint helps you to progress!

You can manage your energy in much the same way that water is regulated by a dam. If the energy becomes too full, the dam will break; if the energy is depleted, there will not be enough in reserve for times of need. This is a time for you to exercise self-discipline and restraint. The corrective influence is not only for oneself but also for others, for if you have a firm inner attitude, you will have a beneficial influence upon others to keep their boundaries and respect yours. 1. Do not try to overcome obstacles at this point; it is better to restrain yourself and retreat. A this time do not be active and keep yourself safe. Trust in your inner guidance and you will see the way out. 2. Now opportunities are coming to you and you need to be watchful and alert to seize the day (carpe diem), for if you hesitate and focus on your limitations, you may lose the opportunity. 3. The traditional interpretation of this line speaks of a ‘flooding’ of some sort, and overflow of water. Water symbolizes emotions and may stand for emotional reactions that have put you in a difficult position with others. If you 350

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do not fault-find others but see the problem in yourself, you may correct it easily and avoid further mistakes. 4. Self-restraint also means to do your daily duties within the boundaries and limitations of your life. When you cooperate with others, have a disciplined attitude and keep focused on your duties. You will have success! 5. A true leader will always try to find the fault in himself before he blames others. When you apply this principle in your relationships, others will follow you because they appreciate your correct attitude and will respect you. Success is the result! 6. Too much restraint has negative consequences because it creates bitterness and a harsh inflexible attitude. This must be avoided because overly severe discipline brings no real benefit in the long run. This is especially so for a leader who puts the restrictions upon those he leads while he himself does not apply them in his own life. Such a person will not be followed in the long run!

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中孚 61 ZHONG FU ——— ——— —

—

—

—

——— ———

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Inner Truth / Insight / Faithfulness Develop leadership qualities!

This hexagram pictures a bird’s egg as a symbol for the appropriate balance between firmness and flexibility, on one hand, and stillness and action, on the other. This is the basis from which we create faithfulness to influence others. There is no other hexagram in the I Ching that matches the present one as a guideline for responsible leadership. 1. The first impetus for action is inside of us. It is the correctness of alignment with our highest principles. If by contrast you start on the outward level and push relationships forward to achieve your goals, you may bond with the wrong people. Align yourself with your principles and trust your inner guidance, then you are led toward your goal, and the right kind of help for achieving it. 2. You are properly aligned with your highest principles and you are focused upon your goals. You will now attract a positive response from the outside world and can communicate and cooperate with others to achieve your goal. Success is indicated! 3. Your inner poise should never be dependent on others. Joy and self-assurance are inner qualities. If you depend on others for your enjoyments, you are deluded, and there is a certain danger that you lose your way. 354

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4. You should now give priority to higher goals than those that only serve your own purposes. Any sincere attempt to do this will make your advance smoother and eliminate obstacles in your way. When you help the universe to achieve its higher purpose, you are helped in moments when you need support. 5. This is a major position of leadership where inner poise and responsibility go hand in hand. Others will want to be guided by you, thus assume the role of the leader and exercise it dutifully. Success is indicated! 6. Do not aim too high! When your ambitions are not supported by firmness of character and correct principles, you may head into the wrong direction and incur losses or even worse: the loss of your reputation as a leader. In such a situation, turn inward and ask for inner guidance!

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小过 62 XIAO GUO —

—

—

—

——— ——— —

—

—

—

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Predominance of the Small / Restraint / Minor Excess Pay attention to detail and act with restraint!

This hexagram indicates that this is a time to make small progress, provided you pay attention to detail. The two yang lines here are not in a position for leadership and are unable to control the situation. Leadership requires strong energy. That’s why the image depicted by this hexagram is that of a bird flying into a storm. Thus, this hexagram suggests remaining low and still. One who is too ambitious or too proud places himself in a difficult situation. One who is humble receives help. 1. The time is not ripe for a great project. Be humble and follow traditional ways of doing as anything beyond that would be dangerous at this time. 2. In this position there is a certain chance for cooperation with others, however only when you remain conservative in the true sense. Do not take unreasonable risks and be aware of your limitations, but help others if you can. 3. This line is a warning! Do not be too self-assured. When you are cautious in your conduct, you can avoid a setback. This requires you to lower your pride and make a 358

XIAO GUO (62)

deaf ear to those who flatter you. They have their own agenda, thus be on guard! 4. Never force a decision, and do not force yourself on others. Teach by example and remain steadfast, be open for inner guidance, then you will be led in the right direction. 5. You need to avoid acting single-handedly in this situation. Set your goal on a line with others’ ideas and advance jointly with others so that you do not deviate from what is right. 6. The top line exceeds the situation instead of just meeting it. You may be too aggressive to realize your goal; instead, try to establish limits that can be respected and achieved. Excessiveness and an attempt to maintain a high and lofty position will only invite danger. The right way to advance is based on inner coherence, not upon outward force and might.

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既济 63 JI JI —

—

——— —

—

——— —

—

———

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

After Crossing the Water / Already Done / After Completion A phase of your life has reached a climax!

All in this hexagram is about the art to keep the fruits of one’s achievement and thus to maintain order, and to be mindful about a possible decay or decline—which is indicated by the developmental cycle. Thus, the natural cycle of decline can be avoided. Hence, you need to persevere and avoid complacency. Decline can be prevented through mindful action and the preservation of your achievement through foresight and wisdom. This is not a time to engage in new undertakings. 1. Success is possible, thus go ahead but be mindful about all the details of your action to prevent any possible decay or decline down the road. It might well be that your last-gasp effort for finalizing your project can consolidate your achievement. 2. There may be a minor delay, but you are heading in the right direction. When you care about others, or serve a greater, transpersonal goal, others will sense your commitment and return benefits to you. Peace and stability are indicated.

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3. Keep the balance between inner peace and outward right action. Success and victory are indicated, but the effort you need might be considerable. Ponder if the outcome is justified by the investment of time and effort! 4. Overcome your fears and doubts by remaining centered and faithful. Success in life is often on the way but then impeded from manifesting because there are constant doubts. This also means acting by using consideration, not domination. 5. Going step by step toward your goal is the right tempo now. Avoid demonstrations of power and work from inside out. Avoid slackening of your efforts. A step at a time, when done regularly, brings more than marathons followed by periods of exhaustion. 6. There is danger in the present situation. Stay true to your responsibilities. Focus on preserving what has been achieved and avoid taking exorbitant risks. Be mindful and you will be able to prevent a decline.

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未济 64 WEI JI ——— —

—

——— —

—

——— —

—

THE LEADERSHIP I CHING

Before Crossing the Water / Not Yet Done / Before Completion The goal is within reach but do not celebrate prematurely!

This hexagram is the opposite of the previous one but here the opposites do not integrate. At this time matters should be handled carefully and prudently. The traditional image of this hexagram is a young fox crossing a frozen stream. The lower trigram (water) indicates danger because of inexperience, while the upper trigram (fire) expresses clarity and strength. Together they indicate the completion of a task, which means there is an opportunity. 1. The person who receives this line is unaware of his limitations and puts himself at risk. You may see that you need to put order in the situation, but you are not yet aware of all the hidden factors. Thus be cautious, refrain from action and trust your inner guidance. The way will be shown to you. 2. This line indicates that the person who receives it has more self-control and thereby is less endangered in the situation than the person of the first line. When you remain centered and focused upon your goal, the time for action will come. Don’t get discouraged by the standstill!

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3. Your goal cannot be realized in the present situation. If you are focused and receptive to help, you may find support and can act in alignment with others. Refrain from single-handed maneuvers now! 4. There is a contention, perhaps within yourself, regarding some contradictory voices, or on the outward level, with others. Persevere and remain flexible, you shall be rewarded later as this line indicates success ‘by overcoming difficulties.’ 5. This is a position of leadership. The 5th line represents a civilized, humble faithful and enlightened person who overcomes all obstacles and nobly reaches his or her goal. Great achievement is now possible for you! 6. The interpretation of the top line of this hexagram is quite contradictory across various I Ching editions. Some speak of failure, some speak of festivities to celebrate success, some warn of over-indulgence. So let us quote here the Chinese proverb that was traditionally associated with this line: ‘When happiness is enjoyed to its extreme, sadness results.’ A modern reading of this proverb doesn’t really look like an indication of failure, for the line only refers to one’s inner reality. So it would make more sense to see it as a warning against over-indulgence in a time of happy success!

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Annex Book Reviews

Hua-Ching Ni

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Books Reviewed The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1999) The Complete Works of Lao Tzu (2003)

Master Hua-Ching Ni, author, teacher and healer, addresses the essential nature of human life and works to further the personal growth and spiritual development of this and future generations. He was raised in a family tradition of healing and spirituality that is continued by his two sons, Drs. Daoshing and Maoshing Ni, and by his many friends and supporters throughout the world. As a teacher of natural spiritual truth, Master Ni is heir to the ancient wisdom and teaching of an unbroken succession of 74 generations in the Taoist tradition that dates back to the Han Dynasty (216 B.C.). He also belongs to the 38th generation of healers in the Ni family legacy. As a young child, he was educated by his family and spent his youth learning from highly achieved masters in the mountains of China. Later, he continued to study many traditions and spiritual arts from a broad range of teachers. After several decades of persistent searching and with intensive training, study, and re-examination, he brought the ancient wisdom (now known as the Integral Way) alive for us today by using modern language. He has written over 70 books in English and around 50 in Chinese and lives in Santa Monica, California.

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The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth

(Translation and Interpretation of the I Ching) Santa Monica: Seven Star Communications, 1999 (Quotes are from the 1994 edition) The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth is my life guide and preferred I Ching edition since 1994. I have found it at a time of great happiness, just after having started a consulting business in Holland, through a Chinese friend. My friend from Hong Kong invited me for an afternoon out in Rotterdam and showed me various Chinese coffee houses and shops. One of these shops was selling religious utensils, and it was here that I found Master Ni’s Book of Changes. This book immediately talked to 371

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me and I bought it and could not wait to begin my studies of the I Ching, and learning to use it for divination. I had studied other I Ching books before that time, especially the I Ching translation by Richard Wilhelm. Master Ni’s I Ching edition excels in its profound wisdom and spirituality. It is a volume of almost 700 pages that actually starts with its 1st Hexagram (The Creative), at page 217! All the pages before contain a thorough theoretical and highly esoteric background analysis of the Book of Changes, which is absolutely unique and in part not an easy read. The Western reader may feel jolted at times because the conceptual thinking of Chinese sages is fundamentally opposed to our modern society’s way of thinking and living. Let me quote from the Preface: Hua-Ching Ni A bright new epoch starts with a correct philosophy that can guide people to restore human nature to its original healthy condition and then encourage them to attain further development.         People who know they are sick also know how they feel when they are well. Similarly, by observing the simple principles of behavior expressed by ancient, uncorrupted people, we can rediscover the value of naturalness and health. For this reason, I felt the time was right for this contemporary translation of the Book of Changes. It is aimed at reducing the dualistic thinking of 'good fortune' and 'misfortune' which pervades daily life. Instead, it leads to372

ANNEX ONE

ward spiritual absoluteness and independence.         Sometimes my readers may be puzzled at the logic I present, namely that ‘one plus one equals one plus one’ rather than the usual ‘one plus one equals two.’ This is important spiritual logic, because things of nature exist simply by and for themselves. This logic is validated by natural existence and needs no recognition from the general mind. Conceptual reality is the playground of the mind and can be a far cry from the reality of natural existence. Because it cannot pierce its own shell, the human mind cannot see the natural truth that surrounds it./iv

In, addition, Chinese spirituality, contrary to Christian theology, was never understood as being opposed to nature or as being out to dominate nature. Master Ni writes: Hua-Ching Ni Most significant was the discovery that the laws of Nature are also the laws of humanity and that since Nature and humanity are one, harmony is the key to life. (…) The integral vision of the universe became the spiritual faith of ancient developed people. It was the broad and plain foundation for their discovery of spiritual truth and secret methods./3

Let me give a short overview over the chapters of the book that deal with the theoretical foundation of the I Ching. The actual divinatory part of the book, which contains the 64 hexagrams, is subject of Part Three of the book, sub-titled ‘The Guidance of the Sixty-Four Specific Cir-

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cumstances.’ Here is a Table of Contents for Part I and Part II. Part One The Natural Truth Underlying the Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth pp. 3-168 1. Introduction 2. The Natural Rhythm of Life 3. The Principle of Yin and Yang 4. The Five Elementary Phases of Cyclic Movement 5. An Abstract Understanding of How Nature Develops Itself 6. Various Energy Cycles of Nature 7. Spiritual Implication of the Sky 8. Natural Energy in Human Life 9. The Natural Truth of the Spiritual Realm Part Two The Natural Path of Life pp. 169-216 10. Basic Guidelines for Daily Living in Accordance with Natural Truth 11. Introduction to the Guidance of the 64 Hexagrams 12. Guide for Finding the Hexagrams

In sub-chapter three of Part One, entitled The Principle of Yin and Yang, Master Ni mentions the following natural cycles based upon the alternation of yin and yang. 374

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‣

The Eight Natural Forces

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The Complete Cycle of the Eight Phases of Yin and Yang

‣

The Five Elementary Phases of Cyclic Movement

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Yin and Yang in the Daily Cycle

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Yin and Yang in the Lunar Cycle

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Lunar and Solar Energies in the Yearly Cycle

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Four Phases of Natural Energy

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Six Phases of Natural Energy

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Eight Phases of Natural Energy

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The Universal Cycle of Energy Phases

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The Ten Celestial Phases

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The Twelve Terrestrial Branches

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The Complete Sixty Cycle Energy Phases

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Sixty-Cycle Interaction of the Five Elements

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Sixty Interacting Phases in Cyclic Rotation

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The Spiral Unfolding of the Sixty Cycles

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The Relation of the Sixty Cycles to the Natural Energy Calendar/39-81

Regarding spiritual development, Master Ni gives an important statement under the header of ‘Mental Illness,’ a sub-chapter of chapter 8, Natural Energy in Human Life. I think that Master Ni’s observations here are very pointed 375

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and realistic for those who try to convince others of their religion, those who are out to missionarize others, to convert others to their own faith, often being judgmental about life and living, persecutory and fundamentalist. There are today in the West, especially in the AngloSaxon world, and here primarily in the United States and Great Britain, many Christian Fundamentalists who stir turmoil, confusion, violence and persecution by their violent vintage of (misunderstood) religion—which in Master Ni’s understanding simply is a form of mental illness. And I fully agree. Hua-Ching Ni People who have a mental or spiritual illness often strive for spiritual achievement, but such a search is unrealistic. Spiritual achievement depends on sanity, on having a sound mind in a sound body. Also, spiritual growth does not occur suddenly. If one is unaware of one’s own problems yet tries to follow a religious ritual, one is only looking for something to cover up those problems. The harder one works, the less will be the results. In a case such as this, great nature is a good cure./117

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The Complete Works of Lao Tzu

Tao The Ching & Hua Hu Ching Translation & Elucidation by Hua-Ching Ni Santa Monica: Seven Star Communications, 2003 The Complete Works of Lao Tzu is a well-published volume of works by Lao Tzu that Master Ni has translated from ancient Chinese into modern English—and here is the value of the book. The translation that Master Ni provides of both books is extraordinary and very comprehensive. I have read several translations of the Tao Te Ching, but clearly the one by Master Ni offers more insights and has a higher spiritual level. I recommend this book vividly to all serious search377

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ers for truth and all lovers of true wisdom. It’s a precious book by one of today’s greatest sages who is a true member of the ancient league of initiated souls. The following quotes should give a taste of the poetic and enlightening quality of the translation. Tao Teh Ching, 26 Worldly wisdom can help one understand worldly things, but it is only conceptual understanding and thus hinders the direct experience of truth. Understanding always comes one moment after the experience itself and therefore cannot be direct enlightenment which dissolves both subject and object. While universal wisdom sometimes appears to be the opposite of worldly wisdom, it too can help connect one to worldly things, but in this case the connection of the mind with reality is not through any pattern of understanding but through direct participation in the experience of life. The observer and the object of observation are dissolved with no hindrance of preconception / or delayed understanding. It is not necessary to accumulate mental attitudes after an experience has taken place, because to be is to know. This is the way of a universal being./130-131 Tao Teh Ching, 15 The ancient ones who knew how to live with the subtle essence of the universe were gentle and flexible, profound and indistinguishable.

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They were too deep to be known, thus we can only describe their appearance. They did not rush into anything, as if fording an icy stream in early winter. They were retiring and hesitant, not assertive, as if they were shy of people. They were reverent in demeanor to everyone, as if meeting honored guests. They did not insist on imposing their views on others or interfering in worldly affairs, as if they were passing travelers. They adapted themselves to a circumstance like melting ice./23 Tao Teh Ching, 35 When the subtle Way of the universe is taught, people know where to go and what to learn, because they know that they will not be harmed but will receive great peace. The teacher of the universal Way is like one who gives real food to people. He does not feed them colorful bait with the intention of catching them. The subtle Way of the universe is flavorless, with nothing much to offer the mouth. Neither does it offer much 379

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to be enjoyed by the eyes or entertain the ears, yet its usefulness is inexhaustible./49 Tao Teh Ching, 46 When the people of the world live in accord with the subtle Way of the universe, horses are used for agricultural purposes. When the people of the world do not live in accord with the subtle Way of the universe, then horses, even pregnant mares, are driven into the battlefield and bred there. There is no greater calamity for a nation, or for an individual, than not finding contentment with one’s own sufficiency. There is no greater mistake for a nation, or for an individual, than to be covetous. Hence, when one is content within one’s own nature, one will always have enough./64

380

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64 Hexagrams A Synopsis

Personal Notes