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.
Decrease
The image
of Decrease is literally described as a lake at
the foot of a mountain. This is quite literally
the picture that presents itself here at Heavenly
Valley, where we look out on Lake Tahoe, and so
this image of Decrease has been the subject of
much meditation for us over many years.
The most
important thing to understand about it is that it
is paired with the image and the idea of
Increase, and in fact, the two images are
essentially mirror images of each other in purely
abstract and structural terms. The pairing of
these two images reveals one of the principals of
essential importance in Chinese philosophy and
science. It is expressed in the ancient verse
that says, “The images of Decrease and
Increase are the beginning of flowering and of
decline.” Moreover, a condition of decrease
is considered to be the basis of future increase.
It is like saying that the cup has to be empty
before you fill it up. Another ancient verse
says, “If decrease goes on and on, it is
certain to bring about increase.” In this
respect it is often better to draw the image of
Decrease, rather than the image of Increase,
since the latter describes a cup that is full and
can only be emptied. Another way of thinking of
the condition of Increase would be to think of
the full moon. It has nothing more to do but
diminish and wane until it fades away to nothing;
and only then it can start as a new moon again,
waxing to fullness.
In other
words, as a fundamental principal of Chinese
thought, the wave is always implied or explicitly
described. Our own science tells us that there is
a wave component to every element of nature. Of
course, most people know that light comes to us
in waves from the sun, and we talk easily of
radio waves, and audio waves. But, the science of
quantum physics is based on the idea that every
particle of matter has also the complimentary
nature of a wave. My point is that EVERYTHING in
the Universe manifests in waves. And don’t
we experience this is a very personal way? Our
emotions flood past us in waves of ups and downs.
Our incomes and expenses go up and down depending
on circumstances. Some days we feel energetic,
other days lethargic. There is nothing that does
not happen in waves. And one good way of
describing the art of life is to describe the art
of the surfer who rides the waves at the seaside.
The art of life is all about surfing the waves
and not getting drowned by them.
In the
verse that was highlighted specifically for you
by today’s Reading from the image of
Decrease, the oracle says, “Perseverance
furthers. To undertake something brings
misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is
able to bring increase to others.” This
presents some food for thought with regard to
your relationships. In the past, have you been
too willing to sacrifice your own interests? This
is not a question that demands an immediate
answer. Only try to think of it now and again in
the light of the verse just quoted.
Decrease
is a time when you will have fewer distractions,
when you will be reliant on your own personal
resources. It is a good time for meditation. And,
a very productive subject of meditation will
certainly be found in the central verse
associated with the image of Decrease. In it, the
oracle says, “Thus the superior person
controls her anger and restrains her
instincts.” In other words, decrease has a
beneficial effect when it curbs the more volatile
emotions, bringing them under the control of the
whole being – that is to say, YOUR whole,
integrated being.
More on
Decrease
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