Magical Twilight; card of the week 19th January 2016

January 19, 2016Leave a comment

This i-Ching hexagram #36 sometimes called “twilight” or “darkening of the light” relates to a similar theme we saw last week (don’t rush into motion, there might not be anything you can DO) and the re-view, re-negotiate, and be thoughtful themes of this month’s mercury retrograde. “Twilight” speaks of an especially fortunate time for continuing to guard steady, amazing progress by sticking to our personal integrity and letting go instead of leaping into fevered motion.

When the twilight comes it’s a magical time of evening with fireflies glowing and stars beginning to shine. But it’s also a time between rest and motion when visibility is low and when not all the little day-creatures have found their safe nests. Bound by day and night, the land between these two worlds creates the need for caution and consideration. After all, you don’t want to be the day-mouse darting around haphazardly under the watchful eyes of a night owl.

_{(this picture painted on a tiny wooden disc makes it hard to see – but there’s a little mouse peeking out of a hole)}

This week, appreciate the beauty of the transitional energy underway. Count the fireflies and stars, but be mindful about what you’re doing. Don’t get lured out of your nest before the time is right and don’t scurry without direction or a flashlight. Even if you find yourself going to lots of social engagements, you’ll do best if you keep yourself grounded in your own immovable core as you have a good time or as you bring your wisdom and friendship to those who are having a tough go.

This week is not about dimming your PERSONAL light or living in the dark! In fact, this is a great week to think about ways in which you can stay true to yourself without getting all caught up in what’s going on. If you’re true to yourself then your light can really shine the way it’s meant to and you’ll have way more fun that way.

Twilight hexagram is also about not always going along with what’s popular. Conventional thinking could lead you down a road that is just not YOU. The masses can be right about a lot of things but there’s also time when the conventional wisdom around you might suggest the most basic “little me” ego way to see the world – for example: — don’t try to understand another person’s pain or experience – ditch ‘em! — don’t think about what role you played in things, blame someone else! You shouldn’t have to be kind or loving, the person in the wrong should do it!

Think twice before you let what’s popular or common define your direction. You might even find yourself swimming against the Zeitgeist this week. Think about all those scientists who were laughed at; of Copernicus who had the crazy notion that the Earth revolves around the sun, and how very much AGAINST the grain of popular thinking that once was.

Yes, the twilight brings dimmer light and with it, it’s harder to see far ahead and harder to connect the dots and see how everything fits together but sometimes it’s not important to see how it all fits and to trust the Heavens in their sparkling, infinite array of stars and potential ahead. You’re safe, you’re you and you have an important light to bring to the world!

Have a great week!

About this deck: I made this oracle many years ago using wooden discs painted with wood pencils, varnish, and wood enamels. It is inspired by the I-CHING or “Book of Changes” dating back to end of the second millennium BCE, it’s also one of the oldest books in recorded history. The I-Ching comprises a set of 64 hexagrams (6 lines each) which represent all the possible six-line combinations of yin/yang energy. Yin and Yang energy are the dualistic building blocks of the universe; feminine/masculine, active/passive, light/dark, etc. Each hexagram is made up of two of the 8 “Hua” Trigrams that represent the classical fundamental elements and which were said, in legend, to have been inspired when the first Emperor of China Fu Hsi had visions related to the lines and dashes on a turtle’s back. Because of some of the legends surrounding it, scholars believe some of the “I-Ching” material pre dates recorded history in Ancient China.

INCREASE: card of the week 31st August 2015

August 31, 2015September 1, 2015Leave a comment

What a way to end the series on the i-ching for August: INCREASE!! And what a great theme to bring into September too! This hexagram is about abundance and creativity, finally ARRIVING and prosperity.

This can be a really successful period if we start focusing our minds in that direction. And that’s sometimes the trick, right? To focus on hard WORK instead of emotions, excuses or procrastinating. The force of increase works best if we’re active in it instead of passively hanging out and waiting for it to bring its riches to us. We’ll feel a lot better if we stop ho-humming and get in the groove of doing some things that invest in the DREAM this week. Take advantage of this increase while it’s here! The good times are starting to roll and we need to roll with them and not let them pass by.

If we have a stream or ocean to cross, it’s good to take advantage of abundant tides and strengthening winds to get underway… but these things don’t work by themselves. The traditional text on hexagram #42 speaks of having a goal in mind and somewhere to go to, of making true priorities. If you end up being really inspired this week, what will you do with it? If you find yourself with extra money in your pocket, will you use it for your deeper plans or goals?

All the reaping of rewards, lush vines growing on fertile grounds, abundance, encouragement and expansion forward is amazing! But how can you pump up the jam too? Coming from the mentality of “having” versus “loss” is just as important as generosity. Be generous with feelings of abundance, and with all the flowering and growth and prosperity coming this week and month. Spread the wealth and largess. (and if you say, “I don’t have anything to give” — yes you do!)

The more we give and spread, the more we INCREASE in ourselves and others! This is not the time to be a miser and think about how little you have and how to protect that little bit. This is not the time to go into fear or see minuses instead of pluses. Not a time to be frugal with the flow. The more you share and the more you focus on your overflow the more your own flowers will bloom!

If you’ve been stressed about abundance or have felt like you don’t have enough money, or enough love… this is such a wonderful week to have and to create those things.

Have a wonderful week of INCREASE!!

Before Completion; Card of the Week 24th August 2015

August 24, 2015August 24, 2015Leave a comment

I-Ching month is almost done and this card (coin) #64 hexagram ‘Before Completion’ speaks of nearing completion too!

Some of us have been working on something pretty hard for awhile. (Or in some cases, more than awhile!) This week you might become aware that the work is almost done and you’re nearing completion. This might sound really relieving and awesome, but sometimes there’s actually a little bit of nerve wracking before we’re there. The bird (so small it’s almost a squiggle!) on this disc is a little fledgling getting ready to take that first flight. The time of being in the nest is almost completed, but there can still be uncertainty or hesitation at this stage.

The period of chaos, of hubbub, of striving has not yet transcended into order. The goals are finally in view, but you may get the feeling that things are still incomplete. In these last pushing moves you want to proceed cautiously and with alertness. Now is not the time to get cocky or careless or throw a wrap party before the film is in the can. It’s time to keep calm and carry on, as they saying goes. Don’t gunk up all your hard work with crazy fear moves now.

All your hard work has not been in vain and you’ve done a great job!! Some of you will really identify with that this week and go, “YES!!! I am almost in sight of the top, and I’m not going to slip up now.” But speaking of hard work…. some of us might secretly be thinking, “Well… I would have worked harder… but I didn’t know the direction to go in” or, “Dang it! I had every intention of doing the work but lately I’ve been procrastinating… waiting even!” (Hint: if you’re frustrated about what you’re not seeing… make no mistake about it: you ARE WAITING instead of creating or participating in the goal ahead of you!) — truth is… maybe a little lately you’ve NOT been working as hard as you wanted or intended to. This week is a good time to re-group and get back on target as you near this time of completion.

And speaking of completion, one last thing: every “completion” and every “ending” isn’t really an ending at all. Seeded in the completion of this phase is the start of the next phase and something wonderful unto itself. Your journey never really ends! You don’t have to be afraid that nearing completion means you’ll drift into ennui or staleness or that the excitement that got you through this big thing is over and that you’re going to just turn to boring dust. (A fear a lot of people have most especially around relationships)

Be patient with your inner birdie if you feel some pangs of nest-sickness. Continue your hard work and keep going! As Lao Tzu says:

Rushing into action, you fail.
Trying to grasp things, you lose them.
Forcing a project to completion,
you ruin what was almost ripe.

Therefore the Master takes action
by letting things take their course.
He remains as calm at the end
as at the beginning.
He has nothing,
thus has nothing to lose.
What he desires is non-desire;
what he learns is to unlearn.
He simply reminds people
of who they have always been.
He cares about nothing but the Tao.
Thus he can care for all things.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching