Luhrenloup's Cave

Divination

 

ORACLE FOR THE WEEK OF 3.16.26

 

“Success without honor is worse than fraud.”  Andy Beal

 

ORACLE FOR THE WEEK OF 3.16.26

P’i

Standstill

[Stagnation]

 _______________________

_______________________

_______________________

 _________        __________

_________   x   __________

_________   x   __________

The creative powers are not in relation in this hexagram.  It is a time of standstill and decline.

THE JUDGMENT

STANDSTILL.  Evil people do not further 

The perseverance of the superior man.

The great departs; the small approaches.

Heaven and earth are out of communion and all things are benumbed.  What is above has no relation to what is below, and on earth confusion and disorder prevail.  The dark power is within, the light power is without.  Weakness is within harshness is without.  Within are the inferior, and without are the superior.  The way of inferior people are in ascent; the way of superior people is on the decline.  But the superior people do not allow themselves to be turned from their principles.  If the possibility of exerting influence is closed to them, they nevertheless remain faithful to their principles and withdraw into seclusion.                                    

THE IMAGE

Heaven and earth do not unite:
The image of STANDSTILL.
Thus the superior man falls back upon his inner worth
In order to escape difficulties.

He does not permit himself to be honored with revenue.

When, owing to the influence of inferior men mutual mistrust prevails in public life, fruitful activity is rendered impossible, because the fundaments are wrong.  Therefore the superior man knows what he must do under such circumstances; he does not allow himself to be tempted by dazzling offers to take part in public activities.  This would only expose him to danger, since he cannot assent to the meanness of the others.  He therefore hides his worth and withdraws into seclusion.

THE LINES

Six at the beginning means:

When ribbon grass is pulled up, the sod comes with it.
Each according to his kind.
Perseverance brings good fortune and success.

A man is drawing another with him into retirement from public life.  This is why the text says here, “Perseverance brings good fortune and success,” and not “Undertakings bring good fortune.”  If it becomes impossible to make our influence count, it is only by retirement that we spare ourselves humiliation.  Success in a higher sense can be ours, because we know how to safeguard the value of our personalities

Six  in the second place means:

They bear and endure;

This means good fortune for inferior people.

The standstill serves to help the great man to attain success.

Inferior people are ready to flatter their superiors in a servile way.  They would also endure the superior man if he would put an end to their confusion.  This is fortunate for them.  But the great man calmly bears the consequences of the standstill.  He does not mingle with the crowd of the inferior;; that is not his place.  By his willingness to suffer personally he insures the success of his fundamental principles.

 
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