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.
Retreat
This idea
is highlighted for you as an aspect of the
meaning of the second of the two images that I
have drawn for you today from my I Ching Oracle.
This is the image of Retreat, which in its own
way underlines the importance of modesty, but a
modesty of a very particular kind. Thus, in the
central verse associated with the image of
Retreat, the oracle says, “Thus the superior
person keeps the inferior person at a distance,
not angrily but with reserve.” YOU are the
superior person referred to in this verse. This
is a word to the wise: do not underestimate
yourself, and do not overestimate others. But,
all the same, let your behavior be a model of
perfect modesty.
The
Judgment verse associated with the image of
Retreat reiterates the importance of modesty in
your position. Here, the oracle says,
“Success. In what is small, perseverance
furthers.” But you need to understand that
the retreat advised here is not the same as a
wanton abandonment of the field. As Wilhelm says
of this image, “Conditions are such that the
hostile forces favored by the time are advancing.
In this case retreat is the right course, and it
is through retreat that success is achieved. But
success consists in being able to carry out the
retreat correctly. Retreat is not to be confused
with flight. Flight means saving oneself under
any circumstances, whereas retreat is a sign of
strength. We must be careful not to miss the
right moment while we are in full possession of
power and position. Then we shall be able to
interpret the signs of the time before it is too
late and to prepare for provisional retreat
instead of being drawn into a desperate
life-and-death struggle. Thus we do not simply
abandon the field to the opponent; we make it
difficult for him to advance by showing
perseverance in single acts of resistance. In
this way we prepare, while retreating, for the
counter-movement. Understanding the laws of a
constructive retreat of this sort is not easy.
The meaning that lies hidden in such a time is
important.”
More on Retreat
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