Day 21,708 - 2011 0108

Day 21,708 - 2011 0108
Belov-ED Days - 4,619
Saturday
James Oliver Smith, Jr.
http://josjr.com/

I Ching images

Fu Hsi 28: Shock, Thunder, Taking Action, Awakening
01 --- --- Thunder (Lightning, Electricity, Viper, Rattlesnake, Drums)
02 --- --- Foot
04 --------x The Arousal, The Movement, The Catalyst, The Shock

08 --- --- Thunder (Lightning, Electricity, Viper, Rattlesnake)
16 --- --- Foot
32 -------- The Arousal, The Movement, The Catalyst, The Shock

No changes

Day 26,708 - Images from the I Ching: Thunder [The Arousal] over Thunder [The Arousal] (Hexagram 28 - Shock) --> no changes ... This is the first working of the I Ching stalks this year for me ... It was a relief to feel the bamboo skewers between my fingers (sharp tips cut off, of course) ... Setting aside the first stalk, representing the Tai Chi ... Sifting through the four seasons across time ... Watching the images unfold ...

Alfred Huang (noted Taoist and I Ching interpreter) describes the process this way:
The number of the Great Expansion is fifty,
Of which forty-nine are used.
Divide them into two, symbolizing the two primary forces.
Suspend one, symbolizing the three supreme powers.
Manipulate by four; symbolizing the four seasons.
Return the remainder, symbolizing the intercalary month.
In five years there is another intercalation.
Afterward the process is repeated.
Therefore four operations produce a change,
And eighteen changes yield a gua.

This first I Ching image is quite definitely a continuation of the last image worked out from the image of December 31, which was Thunder over Thunder changing towards Earth over Thunder ... Today, Thunder over Thunder is not only present, but is made up of all young lines, none of them changing ... With Thunder within both the inner and outer realities this lack of change could hardly represent stagnation, but rather a call for sustained action ... Thunder is an image of electrictity, catalyst, surprise ... I feel this image (as I have stated previously) as the presence of a viper, in particular a rattlesnake, that strikes quickly, without warning ... Even the rattlesnake that is issuing a warning that it knows you are there, is not going to let you know when or if it will strike ... There are accounts of the mongoose from India, which is a skilled killer of cobras, is totally confused by the surprising speed and agility of the rattlesnake ... As a result it is killed quickly ... Like the rattlesnake, lightning strikes powerfully and decisively, stunning those who are objects affected by this energy ...

So much of life has this quality of surprise, shock and unexpected presence ... We are fooled by our governments, religions and traditions into believing that we are somehow entitled to have a certain amount of wealth, longevity of life and good health ... But Thunder is always there with its intense power unleashed in moments that we least expect it ... Even if we are warned and expecting something to happen the actual occurrence of the expect event has its own unexpected consequences ... sideffects ... greater impact ... strange curves ... aftershocks ... This presence of Thunder both inside and all around us makes us feel like something either needs to be done or that something will happen, and if we are not carefull we can become paranoid and terrified of stepping out of the house ... But life has always been this way and to avoid the reality of what is out there will also prevent us from partaking of all that is rich, beautiful and pleasurable out there ... The universe is full experiences that we welcome and those that we fear, and often those things we fear turn out to be wonderful ... Onc thing is certain is that if we don't venture out with whatever abilities we have, we will never experience those things that can bring us joy, happiness and pleasure ... And sitting still has its own price, for we become an easy target ... Get out ... Move around ... Explore! ... Thunder within us ... Thunder around us ... Act, but be aware ... Il Matto ...

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