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◈ Primary hexagram: 38—Opposition in time. (Taking turns.)

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Name from “Language of the Lines”

Opposition in time. (Taking turns.)

Lines

Image created from the lines

There is outer activity (line 3) but we are not accepting this (line 4); there is no activity of intuitive feeling (line 2) but we are looking for it (line 5). The other lines are all yang so such activity as there is here is in opposition to our circumstances, and “opposition” is the common name of the hexagram.

Image created from the trigrams

The very light emerging energy (Tui) is hesitant in the world (Li), stopped by doubt (K’an) in identity and our inner being is also hesitant to accept it (Li). Hesitation and doubt alternate and oppose the life force flow as we are divided as to whether we should be still or moving, observing or involved.

The Chinese Oracle

> Opposition.

> Success in small matters.

Comments

When there is opposition we cannot go far in any direction without being opposed, we can move about a little but this tao is restrictive and set against itself, we are set against our self.

Manifestations

The pattern

Forces of opposition

cannot coexist

without losing character,

so they take turns.

For humans

To move with the easy and rest simply

in harmony with others

allows his actions to be his own.

When the young realize taking turns

they can express fully without frustration.

In nature

The cosmos moves in cycles

of the active and tranquil.

In forms we make

To realize form

is to allow its innate character.

Wise government is not impaired.

Moving lines

Line 1 goes yin — life force shows more change

Here the source is changing towards active manifestation; if we wait peacefully it will reach the outside in time. It is the source that carries our activities.

> Regret disappears.

> Do not chase after the lost horse,

> it will return.

> Although there is evil company

> he does not mix with it.

Regret disappears because activity (the horse which carries identity) returns of its own accord. The evil company is the narrow frame of mind which demands that it gets what it wants, and now, but we do not tangle with that, we let the tao unfold.

❧

Line 2 goes yin — intuitive feeling more active

When we feel the life force in this tao we feel opposition, the narrowness of a single-minded point of view. To become aware of such a situation within ourselves is not a mistake, but it is uncomfortable.

> He meets his lord in a narrow street.

> No mistake.

We come to realize something quite suddenly and cannot escape from it, there is nowhere to go (our lord is the one we must follow). We meet him coming the other way but it is good to see truth when, or particularly when, it is going the opposite way to the one we are facing.

❧

Line 3 goes yang — outer world changes less

Our present outer activity comes to the end of its energy and our attempts to proceed appear to be opposed.

> They drag at the axle

> and strike the oxen.

> His head is shaved

> and his nose cut off.

> No good beginning

> but a good end.

The good end comes because we give up futile effort and allow the tao. The trouble comes because we were insufficiently aware.

❧

Line 4 goes yin — accepting the outer state more

Here we accept the outer world as our way of being. Participation is symbiotic relationship instead of opposition and this is no error; it does carry the danger of forgetting the tao and entering a narrow reality.

> He stands alone amongst opposition.

> He finds a companion with whom he co-operates.

> Danger but no error.

❧

Line 5 goes yang — less awareness of intuition

Here is a very inner act but it is occurring in our conscious identity. Our interest in the silence of intuitive feeling has been to enliven it, not to accept it, because no other activity was available. Now we cease this and so trust the life force even though it is not doing what identity wanted—it is a change in mind, a change of mind.

> Regret disappears.

> He and the one with whom he relates

> bite through the barrier layer.

> What error can there be then?

The one with whom he relates innerly is the “companion” (see section 1, page 2) but in outer life this may work through others. When the outer identity and the inner companion are not separated there is certainty and no question of error.

❧

Line 6 goes yin — our inner being accepts more

In this tao the emerging life force is unchanging (line 1 is yang) and we have felt opposed to this. We now see things differently.

> Lonely and opposed.

> He saw a pig covered with mud,

> a waggon-load of phantoms.

> He drew his bow but then put it aside

> seeing that this was not an assailant but a close relative.

> As he goes gentle rain falls and good fortune comes.

The pig is nourishment but obscured by mud (confusion); the waggon-load of phantoms are frightening appearances. By ceasing to oppose we become unopposed, for the opposition in this tao is a misunderstanding of our situation which causes us to fear it.

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