6th 8 Recap

I Ching explorations – Interlude 3

Each pair in this set of 8 hexagrams contains hexagrams that are inversions of one another.  As I observed in the discussion of the 7^th 8 (October 23, 2012) inversions don’t necessarily have inverted meanings, but in this set of 4 pairs, the meanings can be distilled to fairly clear complements, as discussed below.

The Decrease (41) of what is below supports what is above, and in turn, the Increase (42) of what is below follows from sacrifices made by those who are above.

41 - Decrease

42 - Increase

 We Break Through (43) by resolutely eradicating negative energies but when yin and yang Couple (44) a delicate balance must be reached.

43 - Break Through

44 - Coming to Meet (Couple)

Energies are Gathered Together (45) like the waters of a lake brimming with potential, while Pushing Upward (46) requires concentrated, slow, and steady effort.

45 - Gathering Together

46 - -Pushing Upward

Exhaustion (47) results from oppressive circumstances, while an inexhaustible supply of  replenishment awaits at The Well (48).

47 - Exhaustion

48 - The Well

To compress the ideas even further:

What Decreases (41) must inevitably Increase (42).

When Increasing (42) continues to excess there must be a Break Through (43).

After Breaking Through (43), one is bound to have an Encounter (44).

When we Encounter (44) others we Gather Together (45).

When we Gather Together (45) we eventually Push Upward (46).

If one Pushes Upward (46) without stopping, one will become Exhausted (47).

When one is Exhausted (47) by ascending, one returns to below to be Replenished (48).