咸
GUA 31 · XIAN
RECIPROCITY
Overall Image (大象)
Up on the mountain there is a lake
Reciprocity
The noble young one, accordingly, is open to welcome the other▼
Overall Image (大象)
Up on the mountain there is a lake
Reciprocity
The noble young one, accordingly, is open to welcome the other
First the stillness, then the joy; first the poise, then the pleasure. What belongs in a lowlier place finds itself exalted, crags normally harsh and cold are softened in the clouds and mist, rained on until they flower. A beauty waits and wants to be loved beside the alpine lake. One cannot be self-satisfied here: the two will complete and enrich each other. Joy is held up high. The wise will put preoccupation aside, and be open to joy by their readiness. To put the other first now is the way to meet one’s own needs as well. For what it is that she needs, the attractive one will bring peace. Strength yields for this, not to this, humbling itself. The already-full gain nothing.
Main Judgment (Reciprocity) (卦辞)
Fulfillment
Rewarding to persist
To court the young woman* is promising▼
Main Judgment (Reciprocity) (卦辞)
Fulfillment
Rewarding to persist
To court the young woman* is promising
Life grew up with the earth. Ages before these mountains were young, most of the beings had already learned to team up and pair off. Such an ancient alchemy knew how to make new life - out of interacting with others. Now some forms of thought have appeared and they claim to be wiser than this, possessed of a subtler science. But even these won’t mistake eros for frivolous force. At least they make it a devil. Beyond simple union, beyond putting our fractured, fragmented selves back together as viable, functioning wholes, there might be no other purpose or plan. Every human being alive has a myriad generations of human and near-human ancestors to thank for bringing them here, not to mention the primates and far longer lines of descent. Each of these beings, in turn, had something to give in exchange for something they wanted. Each self struck a bargain with other, to negotiate a new pairing while acting in what they hoped was their own best interest. Each had to take a lover. Life learned long ago that the self by itself is extinguished. It learned to want and desire, and that it would need to merit its rewards and fulfillments. This is what brings out our best.
Key Words (关键词)
Mutuality, symbiosis, interactions, convergence, coalition, congress, in concert▼
Key Words (关键词)
Mutuality, symbiosis, interactions, convergence, coalition, congress, in concert
Sharing, embrace, affinity; persuasion, influence, incentives, interest, affection Complements, healthy combinations, right for each other, compelling fulfillment Congress for mutual purposes, teamwork; coming together, resonating with others Eros, attraction, sensuality, stimulation, prompting, arousal, stirrings, response Common interests, meeting each other’s needs, valence bonding, synergy, dyad
Structure & Connections
Structure Class
Gen-Dui Family
This classification indicates the hexagram's role in the 12 Sovereign Cycle (Earthly Branches) or its structural family.
Astrology
note:Virgo Ascending, Mutable Earth
element:Earth
Tarot
card:Queen of Pentacles
suit:Pentacles
Qabalah
note:Briah of Atziluth
sphere:Briah
The Lines
11st • YangPersuaded in one’s big toe▼
1
1st • YangPersuaded in one’s big toe
31.1x Persuaded in one’s big toe:
The destination lies elsewhere
He gets itchy feet at the first thought of stimulus. He imagines sensations to come and his toes start to curl in early delight. The idea is very compelling. If only there were no rules. If his toes were hooves he would not be so timid and hesitant. Alas, he is human, encumbered instead with a soul to keep clean, and humans rehearse all their pleasures and joys. At least his will has shown the first signs of movement, and his thought has support from his flesh. These might be good, first vital signs, if you don’t count the look in those wild, desperate eyes. These do not send clear signals. And to travel a distance by curling the toes will give such inadequate chase to the playmate who skips on ahead. The question is when to let go, to let attractive force take you. Dare I? Should I? Can I? No, you cannot, if you tie yourself down.
22nd • YangPersuaded in one’s legs
Disappointing
To abide is timely▼
2
2nd • YangPersuaded in one’s legs
Disappointing
To abide is timely
31.2x Even though disappointing, to abide (is) timely:
Acceptance does no harm
He has waited long enough. His legs spring into action, forward and back, without a great plan; he must get some of this right away and some of that for later. He lets himself be moved, but only gets carried away, pacing the floor, or bouncing his feet, or walking it off in his sleep. Yes, the force is extraordinary, but it’s only on general alert. A direction only shows itself in wear and tear on the rug. The force behind this movement is real, and it’s as vast as it seems. It drives the tribes through the ages. If it grows bored it can make a two-headed creature; it evolved the human brain and half of human culture; it tests itself against chaos itself. Life wants to make more of itself. We are thus on permanent standby, as eager for chances here as for food. But progress isn’t made by movement alone: we need to have something to offer as well.
33rd • YangPersuaded in one’s loins
Managing those consequences
To continue thus is wretchedness▼
3
3rd • YangPersuaded in one’s loins
Managing those consequences
To continue thus is wretchedness
31.3x Persuaded in one’s loins:
But less than secure
* The purpose lies in pursuing another
The position holds onto the inferior
There is nothing mutual here. Responses lead, not the stimuli; desire is followed, but not chosen first. When the will pursues what should follow, things become less. Yes this is chasing tail, no matter whose. This leadership evolved to point the way to truth, but today truth has moved, to deep behind the beloved’s eyes. All of love and all flesh is sacred: it has that nerve, along which travels the spirit. And love is respect for the spirit looking back. This is not the problem: wrongness comes with being a slave and making objects of subjects. Best is the love of a partner, the next best is to dream love for spirit. Last is the masterful love of a puppet: this thing is best left in the closet. One works instead on attractive behavior, on having things to give worth receiving, on being a worthy find. This is love going head and heart first.
44th • Yang(Fan Yao* 39.4: if going is impassable, then coming is alliance)
Persistence is promising
Regrets pass
If unsettled and vacillating in whether to go or come
Your alliances will conform to your thinking*▼
4
4th • Yang(Fan Yao* 39.4: if going is impassable, then coming is alliance)
Persistence is promising
Regrets pass
If unsettled and vacillating in whether to go or come
Your alliances will conform to your thinking*
31.4x Persistence (is) promising, regrets pass:
(Being) less than excited by trouble
* (To be) unsettled (and) ambivalent (in whether) to go (or) come (Is) less than distinguished (for) greatness Ambivalence might be better than apathy, but this still wanders all over the place. Whether he might be coming or going is not known at this time. Movements can cancel each other out, so others wait to see, to measure a net progress here. A higher order of purpose can make both advance and retreat serve our lives in the forward directions, while a lower purpose or lack of direction can travel much and go only nowhere or backwards. Friends and alliances pick this up too, and none but those inescapably bound are inclined to follow in circles - and least of all those partners we may want to attract. Mixed signals are also easy to read, but the message is still all wrong and signals will not make a dialogue. It is clarity in what you want and in what you have to give that gives the purpose both firmness and appearance of health.
55th • YangMoved in one’s neck and shoulders
Avoiding regrets▼
5
5th • YangMoved in one’s neck and shoulders
Avoiding regrets
31.5x Moved in one’s neck and shoulders:
The purpose (is) trivial
Maybe he fears getting shot down in flames: one simple no has all the destructive force of the world’s greatest hyperbole. So he thinks it over, all over again, naming the ninety-nine ramifications and deciding on higher love, which looks more like an arm’s length friendship, except for occasional backrubs to work out the tensions. The forbidden excitement levels diminish; things move from the coarse to sublime. All those disturbing juices go elsewhere, around a cool and neutral heart, to chill the higher minds. So why do the neck and shoulders still seize, and need all those rubs? Why does this still happen so often, as though the excess of caution and fear were still there? No great or lesser ape would write letters, then tear them up. A monkey’s business is not thinking over or through. Better to hear a no and get on to the new.
6Top • YangMoved in one’s jawbones and tongue▼
6
Top • YangMoved in one’s jawbones and tongue
31.6x Moved in one’s jawbones (and) tongue:
Gushing (with) oral persuasion
No heaving bosoms or throbbing loins here! The silver-tongued devil talks small, smooth and fast. He prattles away in the tavern, with a fine, saucy wench on each knee. But take away the gestures, the flattery and the fashions and not much with substance remains. There are no intriguing voids and silences left: these were all quickly filled in. There are no tempting depths to dive into here. Though some facts get stated, in something like logical order, there is more misdirection than purpose. Maybe they each might go home alone, to set down their thoughts about love and attraction. But this will be all that survives of this night. So what is the point of the exercise? What wild screams of delight could come from these same throats, if they only came from a lot deeper down. Life wants so much to live more than halfway.
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 31 begins on Page 246-254.
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