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GUA 24 · FU
RETURNING
Overall Image (大象)
Thunder dwells within the earth
To return
The early sovereigns, accordingly, on the day of winter solstice,
closed the frontier pass gates
Merchants and travelers did not move about
Rulers did not inspect the domains▼
Overall Image (大象)
Thunder dwells within the earth
To return
The early sovereigns, accordingly, on the day of winter solstice,
closed the frontier pass gates
Merchants and travelers did not move about
Rulers did not inspect the domains
The longest night at last ends in dawn, the great wheel again spins towards spring. Locked in winter’s frost the frozen seed abides, a conception, but a long way from birth. Winter begins today, but the bottom of this cold lags six weeks behind, on the near side of hope for the best, and spring’s promises kept. The change will not be abrupt, but trust in the wheel’s direction suggests it is on an acceptable course. In such deep cold and dark night there is no wiser choice to make than for refuge and home: light and the fire go indoors as well. Why are these the high holy days? Why not spring in full blossom or glorious summer? Take a full winter to answer.
Main Judgment (Returning) (卦辞)
Fulfillment
Exit and enter without anxiety
Companions arrive without fail
Turning around and returning is the way
The seventh day brings return
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go▼
Main Judgment (Returning) (卦辞)
Fulfillment
Exit and enter without anxiety
Companions arrive without fail
Turning around and returning is the way
The seventh day brings return
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
New life begins deep inside, in those places too near to know and too small to see. But the mind sometimes seems made to go out and about, to test and discard new truths and realities. Now and again the mind will need a reminding, a memory wants a remembering, the vision a revision, the cognition a recognition. We cannot face the new without a renewal. Out there and way out there are where we leave those things that we will not or cannot bring home. The best and most realistic of all long-term goals is a home, and the longest-term home of them all is the earth. Of every being and thing that has ever existed, one thing can surely be said: this was only a phase that some of this world went through, although sometimes again and again. When nearly the same things happen again and again, then and there we find our reasons to hope. Seven days out of line? No matter, never mind, to and fro will go the way, here we go and come again, right back to where we belong. And this does not mean we must live there all of the time, any more than needing to sleep means sleeping all of the time. But is this not a high, holy thing to spend some time where we belong?
Key Words (关键词)
Coming back, coming home, coming around, beginning anew; to resume, retrace▼
Key Words (关键词)
Coming back, coming home, coming around, beginning anew; to resume, retrace
Re-; Restoration, restitution, redintegration, renewal, reunion, recovery, resilience Natural processes, cycles, the inevitability of cycles, recycling; renewed promise Pivotal point, still point, turning point, axis of the world, winter solstice, rebirth Core truths surviving digression, reconstitution, rededicated efforts, revitalization More coming around than turning back, 361 degrees instead of 180 degrees (Fan)
Structure & Connections
Structure Class
Sovereign Gua, 11th Moon (Dec)
This classification indicates the hexagram's role in the 12 Sovereign Cycle (Earthly Branches) or its structural family.
Astrology
note:Mars in Earth
planet:Mars
element:Earth
Tarot
card:Five of Pentacles
suit:Pentacles
Qabalah
note:Geburah in Assiah
sphere:Geburah
The Lines
11st • YangNot far to return
Nothing worthy of regret
Most promising▼
1
1st • YangNot far to return
Nothing worthy of regret
Most promising
24.1x Nothing distant in this return:
The way to refine (a) life
Even the greatest or truest of paths must be thought to include some of these smaller digressions and trips aside. Being oneself is being true to one’s nature, and nobody experiments quite like nature. Life is for learning. The straight and narrow directions are heedless of most of this world. The most respectable man in the world should be permitted, if it is his choice, to enjoy women’s toes a little too much. It’s these little flaws in the art of our lives that let evil spirits out. Life needs to explore its options and this can’t always be done only inside of the mind. Stepping off the side of the path to have a good look around, or simply to relieve yourself, is not a great mistake. The shortest distance between two points is the distance traveled in fact: it isn’t the one in the plan. The guilt of one who fears to stray will make of his path a deep rut.
22nd • YangContent to return
Promising▼
2
2nd • YangContent to return
Promising
24.2x Contentment in return holds promise:
Through lowly compassion
He goes out a little bit further this time, coming home seven days later, back to the fold, and maybe a fatted calf, with something new to ponder, a little wiser, a bit more humble. Exposure to the new lets him bring some of this home, to share with family and friends, to compare it with what is thought right, here on this side of the stream. Going as scout and diplomat for friends and the tribe he returns to will mean that he belongs here still. And this part is important: the decision made to do this exploring for those you leave at home can be made backwards in time, especially if one is able to turn error around into wisdom. When measuring a direction from self, instead of from a path, all straying is done in forward directions, not sideways. Turning around to go back home is also a forward progress. But sometimes this is uphill both ways.
33rd • YangRepeated returns
Difficulty
But no blame▼
3
3rd • YangRepeated returns
Difficulty
But no blame
24.3x Repeated return has (its) difficulties:
Deserving no blame
He comes home to rest from a hard day’s work, but he will return tomorrow, only to do it all over again. What he does during the day falls apart a little less completely each night, so there may be an end in sight. And every seventh day he can rest and recover a little. This wheel of toil and trouble is supposed to turn towards a brighter tomorrow, although most are dragged in circles until they drop in the dust. So what is the difference which leads to no error or blame? They say that it is insane to do the same thing over and over and keep expecting different results. The right thing to do then is to get some different results, with wise investment at home, learning to do more with less and getting back to the basics. It is not a resignation to this way of life. But any truly great work will keep one coming back, just like petty tasks will.
44th • YangWalking in the middle, all alone in return▼
4
4th • YangWalking in the middle, all alone in return
24.4x Walking in the middle, all alone in return:
In order to follow the path
He thought he might find his way with this group, but little of what he learns here will be a part of his whole life’s path. It was somebody else’s journey. Things did remain to be learned before they could be brought home. Perhaps in a week on the road all he will gain is one memory, the odd look on somebody’s face, or a clever thing to say the next time, or a bit of assertion to groan about later. To his private context he takes what little he needs, but a little is plenty if what he returns with is seed. So this all came as a big surprise, just when he thought it was going so well. The road taught him this: it goes two directions at once, each with ups and downs. The path of a higher purpose is only half as crowded, even if it is twice as lonely. But suppose that he’d learned this nearer the end, and had twice as far to go back.
55th • YangHonest return
With no regrets▼
5
5th • YangHonest return
With no regrets
24.5x Honest return, with no regrets:
Concentrating in order to examine oneself
This time he went way too far out. The path went on forward, yet he came back, and will not do things that way again. To stay your own best friend after a misadventure like this needs more than forgiveness, but to whip yourself for acting the fool is to play the fool twice. So he had a rough time, made a mistake, believed wrong things, drank and turned into a jerk, got angry and lost a few friends. We need to turn our regrets into lessons. Honesty stings, but the toxins dishonesty swallows will kill us. A straightforward, critical inventory is the shortest way back home, less loops than shame or guilt or repentance. Good judgment might pronounce some atonements, but it takes the best lessons forward: ahead is work to be done, a smarter life to be lived and consequences to own. Why live out our years in memory of our regrets?
6 • YangLost return
Ominous
There will be calamity and grave errors
If trying to advance the military
In the end there will be a major defeat
Reaching one’s domain and its nobility with misfortune
Even after ten years, no ability to campaign*▼
6
• YangLost return
Ominous
There will be calamity and grave errors
If trying to advance the military
In the end there will be a major defeat
Reaching one’s domain and its nobility with misfortune
Even after ten years, no ability to campaign*
24.6x Lost return comes to misfortune:
The opposite of a noble course
He gets hooked on his highest hope, like a fish gets hooked on bait, gobbles it up and swallows it whole and is dragged beyond any hope of a timely return, into the jaws of his destiny. The arrogant general can’t see the long winter that lies beyond the solstice. He marches northward, overstretching his supply lines, underestimating the natives, overextending the resources and losing all sight of home. How could there be a return, crossing burned bridges and pawing the scorched earth for grain? Trapped where he cannot survive it must end. Too much belief in the self and its one way purpose. If he does now have the wit to survive, there are still ten years worth of damage. The lotus is cut from its roots in the mud, as the spirit is cut from the flesh, all for the greater glory, but only to wither and die. Here there will be no redemption.
Reference in Original Text & Resources
This content is derived from Bradford Hatcher's THE BOOK OF CHANGES: Yijing, Word By Word.
Original text for Hexagram 24 begins on Page 204-212.
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