#29 K'an / The Abysmal & #30 Li / The Clinging

#29 K’an / The Abysmal – Water (K’an) over Water (K’an)

#30 Li / The Clinging – Fire (Li) over Fire (Li)

#29  The Abysmal: Water

#30 The Clinging:  Fire

Theme:

Darkness and Danger - Brightness and Synergy

Aspect	#29 K’an The Abysmal / Water	#30 Li The Clinging / Fire
Situation
Symbolically	Water doubled:  danger upon danger.	Fire doubled has no form but clings to the object being consumed.
Socially	Danger of mankind’s doing is present and one has become enveloped in its darkness.	A synergy occurs when the ability of two elements combined surpasses the individual.
Individually		There is a dependence upon and a clinging to another.
Response
Symbolically	Rather than avoid dangerous spots or plunges, water remains true to its nature and fills them in.	Given the right conditions, heat is dependent on fuel to sustain fire.
Socially	Confront the danger, adhere to approved protocols, and keep moving.	Cooperative efforts enable both parties to achieve synergies that would not occur through individual effort.
Individually	Attempt to transform a bad situation into something positive.  Remain sincere in your heart.	Recognize the limitations inherent in reality and harmonize your energies with the times.
Outcome
Symbolically	By actively addressing and overcoming the challenge, water is able to flow on.	With sustained fire comes brightness – the repeated motion of which establishes time.
Socially	By remaining calm and behaving correctly, one passes through dangerous situations unharmed.	Inner clarity derived from one’s dependence on what is right brings enlightenment to the world.
Individually	In times of danger, if one remain true to oneself great inner development is possible.  Flirting with disaster can be invigorating!	By clinging to the forces of spiritual life, one’s psychic nature is transfigured and has influence on earth.
The Lines
Top Line	Having embraced the negative, now one is imprisoned in disorder.  One must wait for release.	Clearly identify and eradicate the root of the trouble without collateral damage.
5th	Water need only reach the lowest point on the rim to flow - follow the path of least resistance.	An attitudinal change has occurred.  Rather than be consumed, one has been transformed through synergy.
4th	Don’t dwell on ceremony – given the opportunity, take the simple and direct approach.	A shooting star may be briefly prominent but leave no lasting effects.  Don’t exhaust your energy with excessive displays.
3rd	Escape is not possible yet – patiently wait it out.	Cultivate yourself and accept your fate.  Linger not in revelry or lamentation.
2nd	First stay afloat, then calmly take baby steps to extricate yourself.	Avoid excess.  Be moderate in thought and action.
Bottom Line	One has lost the way and become accustomed to the negative.	Serious concentration is needed at the beginning when the seed of what is to follow is sewn.
Recap
These two hexagrams oppose and compliment each other.  In #29, one is enveloped in the darkness and danger caused by human actions that requires strength of character (virtue), patience, and fortitude to endure and overcome.  K’an is the soul shut within one’s body.  In #30, the synergistic interaction of two entities expands the scope of what can be achieved.  While each individual is limited by Earth’s realities, voluntary dependencies that are harmonious with nature help us to gain clarity and find our place in the world.  Li is nature in its radiance.

#29 K'an

#30 Li

#31 Hsien / Influence & #32 Hêng / Duration

#31 Hsien / Influence – Lake (Tui) over Kên (Mountain)

#32 Hêng / Duration – Thunder (Chên) over Wind (Sun)

#31 Influence:  Lake over Mountain

#32 Duration:  Thunder over Wind

Theme:

Part II of the I Ching begins with hexagrams concerning courtship and marriage:

the foundations of all social relationships.

Aspect	#31 Hsien Influence (Wooing)	#32 Hêng Duration/Continuing
Situation
Symbolically	Lake (the youngest daughter) is wooed by Mountain (the youngest son).	Thunder (the eldest son) is joined with Wind (the eldest daughter) in a long-lasting union.
Socially	This hexagram represents the attraction between mates as the beginning of the most basic social unit – the family.	“The hexagram represents the institution of marriage as the enduring union of the sexes.” W/B p. 126
Individually	A great leader takes on an attitude of servitude so as to encourage people to approach for advice and guidance.	Look within for traits that have endurance and consistency in your nature.  What are you dedicated to?
Response
Symbolically	“Heaven and earth attract each other and thus all creatures come into being.” W/B, p. 123	While thunder and wind may be fleeting, their effects and the laws governing them are lasting.
Socially	Perseverance is the difference between seduction and courtship.  One’s willingness to be influenced attracts others and encourages an exchange of ideas.	While we grow and change, recurring social customs provide stability, continuity, order, and security for the family and community.
Individually	Subordinate yourself and free yourself of selfish motives – achieve a lasting relation, not a brief encounter.	Keep abreast of the times and evolve while following your inner directive - your central path.
Outcome
Symbolically	The mountain is stimulated by the moisture from the lake on its summit.	A cooperative relationship perpetuates itself – this is the continuing mystery of existence.
Socially	When the strong subordinates itself to the weak, hearts are influenced, creatures come into being, and the world attains peace.	Adherence to social order and custom provides a structure within which growth, maturation, and continuation of the whole occurs.
Individually	Taking a spouse brings good fortune.	Following through on what one is dedicated to brings success.
The Lines
Top Line	Words alone have superficial influence.	Calm down.  Restlessness prevents thoroughness.  It is time to stop and take a breath.
5th	Evaluate the depth of your conviction.  Where the root is sound, the ramifications are also sound. W/B, p. 544	One must adjust one’s approach and attitude to the times to achieve success.
4th	Don’t hesitate – follow your heart.  Be open, honest, and consistent.	No matter the persistence, one will not catch a butterfly in a blizzard.  Be realistic.
3rd	Hold back, don’t yield abruptly to every master, achieve freedom through personal inhibition of desires.	Be centered – don’t succumb to moods of hope or fear.  Inconsistent behavior leads to humiliation.
2nd	“Wait quietly until one is impelled to action by a real influence.”	Avoid extremes – use just enough energy to achieve the objective.
Bottom Line	The idea is present but no movement has occurred.	Do not expect a deep and lasting relationship in the beginning.
Recap
In #31, the masculine places himself below the feminine in an attempt to woo and establish a lasting relationship.  If the masculine is subordinate to the feminine courtship may be sustained.  If the opposite occurs, the seduction will be short-lived.  In #32, the feminine and the masculine achieve a long-lasting relationship that serves as the basis for continuation.  While the individuals will not endure, the spark of their union continues on from generation to generation.

#31 Hsien
Influence (Wooing)

#32 Hêng

Duration/Continuing