The Image of Earth over Heaven

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Related posts:

1. Question about Hexagram 12 – Standstill
2. Hexagram Twelve, Pi / Standstill
3. Hexagram 12 – Six in the First Place

“i am an i ching practitioner since 12 years ago. however, i still some lines confusing, specially the six in the second place of hexagram 12, Stagnation, in the wilhelm edition.

¿Could you give an alternative text or explanation? regards.”

The comment didn’t say what the question was, if there were any other changing lines, or if the person just wanted more insight into that particular line.

I later received an email from the commentator explaining that this was not really a question but an inquiry about a difficult work situation that involved a nasty confrontation and, I gather, an unethical work situation. When asking the I Ching about the situation the response had the second line change in Hexagram of Standstill which left the inquirer confused by the meaning of that line.

The commentator used the Wilhelm interpretation which can be seen HERE.

The reader asked for an alternative explanation other than the Wilhelm interpretation. I will post my response here instead of in the Comment section. It appears to me that I Ching is reflecting back just what the situation is. When consulting I Ching I find that to be true most of the time.

I think Steven Tarcher’s line 2, Hexagram 12 is an interesting one here:

“Do not disturb the flock. Accept that you are isolated, Make a hidden offering to the retreating spirit. Adapt to what crosses your path. Your great idea is obstructed. Do not worry. Stay true to yourself, like a fetus in the womb, and the Way will soon open. Direction: Retreat from conflict. Find supportive friends. Gather energy for a decisive new move.”

As I wrote in my History of working with I Ching, I am in the process of re-working the images for I Ching Meditations. I have not finished  translating some of my original drawings into color. So I will post a new image for the main image of Standstill and my old black and white drawings with the words. I plan on re-doing these images but will use these for now.

The questioner asks if I have another interpretation for line two. But to do that I need to explain my process for how I arrived at the meaning by showing the entire Hexagram.

Hexagram 11, Peace, the image of Earth Over Heaven is the opposite of Hexagram 12, Standsill, the image of Heaven over Earth.  I used the image of a flower in the process of developing for Peace which is about flowering and prosperity. In the Wilhelm version the first lines of both Hexagram 11 and 12 are the same,

“When ribbon grass is pulled up, the sod comes with it.
Each according to his kind.”

I see Standstill as part of the organic process of what preceded it with Peace and flowering. When I get around to translating these images into color in a style to match the Hexagrams now posted 1 through 8, they most likely will change a bit. But this is what I have for now which can be found under the category for Hexagram 12.

Like all I Ching readings, a changing line within any given Hexagram needs to be understood with the context of the whole. For the questioner, line 2 can be seen HERE.

Was this helpful?

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2. I Ching Question Response for Bean
3. Hexagram Twelve, Pi / Standstill

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Related posts:

1. Question about Hexagram 12 – Standstill
2. Hexagram Twelve, Pi / Standstill
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Slowly . . .
I become aware and realize
My soul is as organic as all life,
My re-birth as mysterious
And inevitable as death.

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Related posts:

1. Hexagram 02 – K’Kun / The Receptive Earth
2. Hexagram 11 – T’ai / Peace
3. Hexagram 10 – Lü / Treading

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Related posts:

1. Hexagram Twelve, Pi / Standstill
2. Hexagram 12 – Six in the First Place
3. Hexagram 12 – Six in the Second Place

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1. Hexagram 12 – Nine in the Fifth Place
2. Hexagram 12 – Six in the Second Place
3. Hexagram 10 – Lü / Treading

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1. Hexagram Twelve, Pi / Standstill
2. Hexagram 12 – Six in the Third Place
3. Hexagram 12 – Nine in the Fourth Place

I am the roots
And the earth
Created by the decay
Of my past blooms.
Only time creates the illusion
That soil and flower
Are not one.

I die to the senses
And find an inner light.

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Related posts:

1. Hexagram Twelve, Pi / Standstill
2. Question about Hexagram 12 – Standstill
3. Hexagram 12 – Nine in the Fourth Place

The Image of Heaven Over Earth

The flower of creation dies and
I fall from peace
Into stagnation.

Yet …
I am so much a part of
This experience I cannot see.
In the blackness of
Transformation
I stand still.

This natural process follows
The decay of the
Product of union.
I die to the world
And go inward.
I am numb. I am a shadow.
I am hidden and confused.
I am unconscious
And see no light.
It would help me at this time
To know that
I am a seed
At the beginning
Of a new awakening.

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Related posts:

1. Question about Hexagram 12 – Standstill
2. Hexagram 12 – Six in the First Place
3. Hexagram 12 – Six in the Second Place

“Terence, I saw you speaking about the I Ching on one of your videos. You explored hallucinogens, shamanism and the I Ching. Encourage me with my struggles right now as I am feeling despair.”

I threw the coins and received for the answer, Hexagram 12, Standstill (Stagnation) with the 4th line changing, to Hexagram 20, Contemplation (View.) 

Different I Ching interpretations sometimes give different names to the Hexagrams. For example, Wilhelm uses the above. The Rudolf Ritsema and Stephen Karcher version calls Hexagram 12, Obstruction. James Legge names it, The Phî Hexagram.

I always consult the Wilhelm version which you can read HERE:

Richard Wilhelms’ interpretation for the 4th line is:

“He who acts at the command of the highest
Remains without blame.
Those of like mind partake of the blessing.

The time of standstill is nearing the point of change into its opposite. Whoever wishes to restore order must feel himself called to the task and have the necessary authority. A man who sets himself up a capable of creating order according to his own judgment could make mistakes and end in failure. But the man who is truly called to the task is favored by the conditions of the time, and all those of like mind will share in his blessing.”

The James Legge version, one of the first English, says for Standstill line 4:

“The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject acting in accordance with the ordination (of Heaven), and committing no error. His companions will come and share in his happiness.”

Recently I found a book called, “The Illustrated Book of Changes” by Li Yan which I had to buy just to see the illustrations. The images are black and white line drawings. What also interests me in this book are the authors short cryptic words of interpretation under each image. You will see that his interpretation is different from the previous two.

The author is a professor at the Central Institute of Arts and Crafts in Beijing. His illustrations and interpretation for all the Hexagrams are very different from mine – of course – and while his images are detailed his text is always succinct. The words he uses for line 4 are:

“Although you are a long distance away from your place of happiness, you are destined to be immune from calamities.”

So by showing these few varying interpretations of just one Hexagram and one line you can get an idea of how these ancient Chinese glyphs are open to meaning to the interpreter. I can’t read Chinese so I have to come to my conclusions based on what feels right to me at the time with heavy reliance on Wilhelm. What we all agree on is that this powerful ancient work means something to each of us in that moment we ask for guidance. It is interesting and helpful for me to see these different interpretations of I Ching. There is not a right way or a wrong way to work with I Ching. We find a way – our way.

I have not yet posted in this blog my own meditation on Standstill but I will post the work I did on a previous version. The words will remain the same but I don’t know what will happen when I start this one in color.

Hexagram 12 – Nine in the Fourth Place

The time is right.
My highest essence
Guides me to the light again.
I open and find that
I am not alone awakening.

The image shown here is from that version where I used the imagery of the process of flowering. The complete Hexagram can be seen HERE.

I invite readers to ask questions of my process, if you have them – or what ever comes to mind regarding the I Ching. If I can’t answer your question I will do my best to send you to where you may find more information. I am also interested in your experiences with I Ching.

You can post a comment with a question here and I will post a Page where viewers can ask questions.

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