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Does a healthy family mean living longer?

Original hexagram is Water over Heaven; 5
The Expansion is Lake over Heaven; 43
The Kernel is Water over Fire; 63 BY WAY OF Water over Fire; 63

Our families whether they be our birth families, spiritual families or immediate families, they are a part of our destiny.  It is best if we do not rush but rather allow the natural unfolding of our family, and family to be. Having family builds our character, and to a large degree dictates our moral compass.  And, family has a way of showing us our truth, bringing self honesty to the open.

It is with family that we gain a deeper understanding of union, and contributing toward the common good.  This understanding leads to progress and a shedding of ego, cultivating generosity and compassion for others. Having family is virtuous is many ways, and absolutely can contribute to living a long and healthy life, when the family is in harmony.

In life there are times when everything appears to be in balance, and then it flips.  Family helps us learn how to bite through obstacles and weather the storms of life.  Family helps us make difficult transitions, grow and develop, and ideally supports us with our journeys.

When the family, whether it be birth, immediate, spiritual or otherwise; whatever family is to us, when in balance and harmony, can be rewarding and bring a lot of joy to our lives, which lends itself to longevity.

To learn more about what the I Ching is about, visit our I Ching page!

To See the Future, Look to the Past?

Original hexagram is Water over Water; 29
The Expansion hexagram is Lake over Water; 47
The Kernel is Earth over Earth; 2 BY WAY OF Mountain over Thunder; 27

The text indicates that we live again and again because “Through repetition of danger we grow accustomed to it.” Further, that “…danger is due to a subjective attitude.” We are locked in our prisons and must be held accountable for actions of the past.  If we want to know what lies ahead, then looking back will give us an idea.  If we want to know how we lived in the past, then look at our lives now. The text speaks to our hearts being locked in the confines of reason, and that essentially in times of danger, “all that counts is really carrying out all that has to be done, thoroughness, and going forward, in order not to perish through tarrying in the danger.”

The text uses the analogy of water, indicating that water flows, filling all the depressions and cracks and crevices as it moves along. Further, “…it does not shrink from any dangerous spot nor from any plunge, and nothing can make it lose its own essential nature.”  It reaches it goal by “…flowing continually.”  Just as we grow accustomed to the “dangers” we can grow accustomed to what will enable us to escape the dangers. By being concerned about goodness and establishing attributes to carry out goodness, and through the power of repetition we can create better habits, thus creating lasting virtue. We have to start where we are, so no need to dwell on age or longevity of bad habits, rather, start today with sincerity and honest intention with consistency.

Remember that times of adversity “…are the reverse of times of success.”  Maintaining joy in one’s heart through the most difficult of times enables one to persevere and the source of success.  It also provides stability.  “He who let’s his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly has no success.  But if adversity only bends a man, it creates in him a power to react that is bound in time to manifest itself.”   (sounds like boot camp) It is important to take care of oneself, nourish the soul and focus on strengths. Taking care of oneself helps in taking care of others.

It’s important to cultivate good spiritual practices and friends.  This helps one further through the hardest of times, and in the end builds the character that allows sustainability so that one is able to bear all things.  It furthers one to comply with the laws of fate, and remain true to oneself.  In other words, there is no power in resisting or arguing your karma.  Accepting your karma, and pushing forward with virtuous activity, cultivating habits of sincerity, honesty and love through repetition and consistency is key to one’s progress.

Go forth today with a new outlook on life, and an attitude to persevere through the most difficult of times with breadth.  Cultivate new habits that lead to virtue and remember, you are in training for the future

Why bother with cultivating yourself spiritually?

Today’s Original hexagram is Mountain over Earth; 23
There is no expansion hexagram.  The expansion is part of the original hexagram.
The kernel (nugget) for today is Earth over Earth; 2

Becoming spiritually sound is like building a house. One needs a good foundation to build on and a secure roof on top.  When we build our spiritual path with a good foundation, we are sure to progress. It does not further one to run from their karma.  There is no reprieve in the mountains nor out in the ocean, because wherever you are, your karma rest with you. So, you might as well hunker down and get to work, changing and developing your moral compass. Keywords to spiritual cultivation include devotion, generosity, benevolence and stillness.

What we end up with through the process of spiritual cultivation, is a deep understanding of coexistence.  As with the laws of nature, there are the laws of living beings.  What this means is that there are hierarchical relationships, however when there is understanding, then there is receptivity and creativity, in balance and harmony.  We all can’t be superheros, but we all can live up to our potential and there is more benefit and sublime success in that than 100 superheros.

When we cultivate our spiritual path, we create spaciousness and expansion.  The stronger we become spiritually, the more balanced we become between swiftness and gentleness.  It offers discernment as to who to follow, and who not to follow with confident clarity.  The text indicates however that we must understand that we can not go it alone. We need the help of our Teacher and spiritual community because there will be times of toil, and our house will need the support.

Go forth today cultivating your Path, through the practices of devotion, generosity, benevolence and meditation.  When we grow spiritually, our environment grows and thus we become a  more advanced wholeness. Have a wonderful Friday.

What does love have to do with it?

Today’s original hexagram was Fire over Earth; 35

There is no expansion, rather the expansion is part of the original hexagram

The Kernel (nugget) for today is Fire over Water; 64 BY WAY OF Water over Mountain; 39

Love equals expansion, clarity, joy, and easy progress.  When we love, it frees us from our poisons. “In a single day he is granted audience three times.”  In practical terms what this means is that when we love, we spread forth and influence far and wide.  We receive many blessings and our lives become less arduous.  Our nature is essentially good, however as we grow we become “…clouded by contact with earthly things…” and need “…purification before (we) can shine forth” again.  Love is part of this purification.

To love fosters “rapid and easy” progress.  When we can truly learn how to love, we can begin to move ever forward on the Path. When we love, it sets everything in motion for completion.  And, we can’t love at convenience.  When we love, we love genuinely and without hooks; this is the only way.  “…if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there is nothing that would further.”  In other words, we must love to the end and we must love equally.

Conditions for us to love can be difficult.  Often times requiring a lot of responsibility and commitment~ like leading a force through battle; the “…world out of (chaos) and back to order.”  However, this is what brings us enlightenment.  Love unites.  Learning how to love does not come without difficult tasks.  We often times feel surrounded by obstacles; mountains to climb, rivers to cross, hurdles to jump.  When we are in these moments and circumstances it is best to be with like minded people and friends.  It might be helpful to step back and pause and gain some perspective before continuing to march.  In the end, this is what will serve best.

On this wondrous winter day, be watchful of blame, look within to correct the inner compass, and step into the ocean of learning to love.

Learn more about the I Ching on the I Ching page!

Laughing offers us mini moments of retreat. Not to be confused with flight, they are rather moments of reflection, introspection, and joy. When we laugh, we offer joy through our smiles and become infectious. Like watching a fire grow, our laughter expands and spreads forth.  And like the wind, it drifts from place to place. It resonates between the earth and the sky.

There is a lot of hidden benefit in laughing. It can calm the upset, lighten the loads we bear, and foster love.

There is something powerful and respectful about someone who can laugh and truly bring joy to the group. And laughter often illuminates the middle way in a difficult situation.

Laughing enables us to make the long haul, and helps develop our inner strengths of clarity and understanding~ compassion.

Coming to a place of peace, joy and serenity requires surrendering: letting go of the tightness and allowing the ease. When we can laugh together, there is prosperity.

Laughing develops our inner growth~ and offers joy to the world. Have a wonderful Wednesday, and don’t forget to laugh.

Original hexagram is Heaven over Mountain; 33

Expansion is Heaven over Heaven;1

The Kernel is Heaven over Heaven;1 BY WAY OF Heaven over Wind; 44

See the I Ching page for more information and explanation.