The I Ching Cards and the “Big Party”
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Although I normally use Chinese coins for my I Ching predictions, I’ve had Anthony Clark’s delightful I Ching Pack (now out-of-print) for many years and seldom work with it. I’m on the verge of buying Benebell Wen’s new I Ching translation and thought I would give the deck a workout. (Note that I added the numbers and titles for this post; they aren’t on the cards.)
I come from a large family, and we often get together around the year-end holidays to celebrate; it used to be just over 30 people but the family has grown considerably. This year my daughter-in-law has taken on the burden of running it, and it is no small task. I decided to lay a six-card spread of hexagram cards with two randomly pulled trigram cards as background theme to see how it will go. The top row of cards aims to show the emergence of conditions affecting preparation for the gathering, and the bottom row their resolution. I’m using both Richard Gill’s companion book for the deck and the venerable Wilhelm/Baynes translation for my interpretive “pastiche.” (I’m not going to get into “moving lines.”)
Lake: “The joyous;” joyful; the youngest daughter; represents joy, purity and truth.
This suggests the mood of celebration surrounding the event.
Wind: “The gentle;” penetrating; the eldest daughter; represents gentleness; alternately, persistent endeavor or timidity and indecision.
I chose to see the positive side of this card in the present case since it is the nature of the event (unless proven otherwise by the rest of the spread).
40 — Deliverance; Liberation: “The obstacle has been removed, the difficulties are being resolved. Deliverance is not yet achieved; it is just in its beginning. Action must be taken at once.”
The party is roughly one month away and things are beginning to take shape; now is not the time to slack off.
58 — The Joyous; Truth: “True joy rests on firmness and strength within, manifesting itself outwardly as yielding and gentle. Truth and true friends — two joys that bring delight and success.”
It appears that, with a little honesty and gentle persuasion, the necessary participation will be forthcoming from all who plan to attend.
39 — Obstruction; Meeting An Obstacle: “Keep still (like a mountain); obstructions that appear in the course of time can and should be overcome. Don’t give up; good fortune will follow you if you think hard, take advice and carefully seek a safer route.”
The advice is to avoid panicking if things seem to stall; doubling down on the objective should reinvigorate them. Some adjustment to the original plan may be necessary.
57 — The Gentle; the Penetrating; Dedication: “In nature it is the wind that disperses the gathered clouds, leaving the sky clear and serene; in human life it is penetrating clarity of judgment that thwarts all dark hidden motives. If one would produce such effects, one must have a clearly defined goal. You can achieve more if you explore comprehensively, define your goal firmly, seek advice and consciously move forward. Be more confident, for the winds are favorable.
Obstacles to success will be resolutely overcome if sound judgment and perseverance are united in the cause. Once the wind shifts, nothing will stand in the way.
59 — Dispersion; Scattering of a Group: “Dispersion; success; perseverance furthers. Gentleness serves to break up and dissolve the blockage. Important decisions and journeys will succeed now — but only if you seek the greater good, the good of all.”
This suggests that when everyone is on the same page, has input to the plan, and agrees to play their part, success is assured. I’m also thinking that “scattering of a group” in this position could mean that everyone will leave in a good mood at the end of the party.
16 — Enthusiasm: “It furthers one to install helpers and set the armies marching. Music thunders across the plain; a day of festival and joyous relaxation.”
Enlisting logistical support from the “army” of attendees is the right way to go. If that is pulled off, the day should be a resounding success.
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on November 23, 2023.
