For this week’s Curiosity of the Day, I wanted to do something different, so I consulted the Chinese I-Ching (易經, YiJing, the Book of Changes) instead, to reflect what we need to know for the week to come. Remember, just like the title of the book suggests, change is the only constant, no one reading lasts forever. What we’re doing here is simply using the cards to have an ongoing dialogue, and a deepening relationship with ourselves and the world around us.
I-Ching Hexagram 16 is Yu (豫), in a glance it represents enthusiasm and a carefree life, however there’re other messages hidden inside once we interpret each trigram separately.
The main/lower trigram of Yu (豫) is ☷ Kun (坤, Earth) and its guest/upper trigram is ☳ Zhen (震, Thunder). Above Thunder, below Earth, thunder emerges from earth, the message here is that we need to go with the flow, listen to the hearts of the people and move with time (when the time is right).
It also teaches us to never seek to shape opinions or change minds, but rather inspire enthusiastically, and rouse the right sentiment into real action, just like the rolling thunder, we can open mystical gateways to emotions that bring people together with a united heart.
Yu (豫) also warns us of excessive pleasures. Just like (excessive) anger, overjoy can also blind us from seeing the surroundings and bigger pictures clearly. When we have achieved what we want, be careful not to get too excited, addicted to the current success, neglect those around us and what’s truly important to us.
It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t experience joy, of course we are entitled to be happy for our own achievements, the key point here is moderation.
With the right attitude and intention, with actions based on a proper planning and the ability to listen to others empathetically without judgement, in time we will reach the successful and serene life, which, will only last if we know to enjoy it with self-restraint.
I personally take these messages to heart, for I, have had my fair share of “overjoy-gives-rise-to-sorrow” moments. Live it, learn it, correct it, love it 😉.
Inner Orbit 