Psychic Readings from The
Psychic Internet often feature images drawn from the
I Ching Oracle. To offer supplementary
information about these images for our clients,
and for the public, we have provided this archive
of brief articles.
For general information on
the I Ching Oracle, click here.
The
abstract images of the I Ching Oracle (usually
called "hexagrams") symbolize all of
the related and interacting aspects of reality.
In the following excerpts from actual Psychic Readings, the images of the I Ching
are discussed.
Click here for links to all
of the images.
Opposition
This
image speaks very comprehensively to you about
your general situation in life at this time. It
uses the idea of opposition as a way of
characterizing the way in which your personality,
and the various spiritual and psychic forces that
it expresses, come into contact, and therefore
inevitable tension, with external counterparts.
The word “counterparts” is used
advisedly here, since the sages considered
opposition not only in its negative aspect, but
also with regard to the very positive creative
potential that is liberated by the union of polar
opposites. Thus, Confucius said about the image
of Opposition, that “Heaven and Earth are
opposites but their action is concerted. Man and
woman are opposites, but they strive for union.
All beings stand in opposition to one another;
what they do takes on order thereby. Great indeed
is the effect of the time of Opposition.”
In your
confrontation with “the world,” by
which we mean all the people and institutions
that exist for you at this time, you may have a
subjective experience dominated by a sense of
frustration and loneliness. You may want to
consider the highly positive nature of this from
a larger perspective. As Alan Watts once said,
“I am grateful to my enemy, for he helps me
to know where I stand.” This is elementary
in the study of any martial art, where of course
opponents greet each other with a bow of respect
and thanks. But it is the creative potential of
opposites that is most important to focus on.
Water, for example, is considered an opposite of
fire. But if both are controlled properly, the
one put in a kettle, and the other beneath the
kettle, so that then a productive creation of
steam can enable many useful projects. If you
view your experience as the source of the
creative power that comes out of the
juxtaposition of opposites, you will be
reconciled to your situation in life, and be more
able to direct its progressive energy.
The key
for a successful handling of your situation is
conveyed to you most eloquently by the words of
the central verse associated from very ancient
times with the image of Opposition. It says,
“Thus amid all fellowship, the superior man
retains his individuality.” Listen to
Richard Wilhelm’s great commentary on this
verse. “The two elements, fire and water,
never mingle but even when in contact retain
their own natures. So the cultured man is never
led into baseness or vulgarity through
intercourse or community of interests with
persons of another sort; regardless of all
commingling, he will always preserve his
individuality.”
In one of
the verses from the image of Opposition that is
highlighted specifically for you by today’s
Reading, the oracle says, “Remorse
disappears. If you lose your horse, do not run
after it; It will come back of its own accord.
When you see evil people, Guard yourself against
mistakes.” This means that you need have no
fear of loosing your potential for success in
writing, by taking advantage of the apparent
distraction of an academic project. Moreover, it
would probably not be wise at this time to try to
force your situation to conform exactly to your
wishes, for this would actually tend to result in
the opposite of what you desire. As Wilhelm says,
“a horse goes farther and farther away if
one runs after it. If it is one's own horse, one
can safely let it go; it will come back of its
own accord.”
In the
second verse that is highlighted specifically for
you by today’s Reading from the image of
Opposition, the oracle says, “Isolated
through opposition, One meets a like-minded man,
With whom one can associate in good faith.
Despite the danger, no blame.” And a third
verse echoes it as well. “Remorse
disappears. The companion bites his way through
the wrappings. If one goes to him, How could it
be a mistake?”
In these
quoted verses from the image of Opposition, you
can see a promise of the transformative influence
of someone who will soon be coming into your
life. At that point, it will make sense for you
to take a more determined effort to shape your
life as you please. You find yourself today in a
situation where you are separated as if by an
inner opposition with the people around you on
all sides. This has led to isolation, but you
need not doubt the existence of someone who is
closely “kin” to you. In fact, we feel
the presence of this person in your life before
the end of this year, or the first half of next
year at the latest. This is going to be someone
that you can trust. You may not recognize the
sincerity of this person at the beginning, but it
will be revealed somehow. And then, the whole
dynamic of your situation will change.
More on
Opposition
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