Following. The Source of Success: an Advantageous Trial.
Without fault.
Return to your flow and let it move you. Gather the inner energy. Don’t take on corruption and wrongdoing. Beware of manipulating people for selfish ends. Use your ideas for the good of all involved.
The Image
The old character shows a foot at a crossroads, a grave mound and a warrior with an open hand who offers a sacrifice at the critical moment.
Circle of Meanings
Insert yourself into the universal flow; strong natural attraction, inevitable and correct, a spirit that joyously moves you into the world; be influenced by, find guidance, follow a way or spiritual practice; energy channels in the body that trigger and motivate change. Heart Theme: 53 Gradual Advance to the symbolic world.
Spirit Helpers
Lake/Mists leading Thunder. Youngest Daughter and Eldest Son, the Mediator and Groundbreaker, rouse inner stimulation that stirs up joyous ideas. Be guided by the way things are moving. You are involved in a series of events that are firmly and harmoniously connected. Move with it. It cannot harm you. Insert yourself into the flow. It will open a whole new time. You are being drawn forward through a powerful attraction. It is not a mistake. The call has come. Let go of what is past, for a new focus is emerging. Dim your discriminating power so old habits can dissolve. The whole world must follow the times and the seasons. You are following a righteous idea inherent in the time.
Voice of the Mothers
Follow the way unfolding before you and unite with the universal flow. Do not fight it. It cannot harm you. Accepting the shock of inner enlightenment now brings you the ability to express the spirit in the human community. Co-operate with the ongoing process of change (63). Do not focus on returning to common values (48).
When the call comes, you must follow it. Through Following, your accumulated power and virtue (de) connects with the flow of events in such a way that the spirit can move into the world through you. The earliest images of this connection come from the mysterious identity between hunter and prey, reflected in the relation between the celebrant and the sacrificial victim. These mysterious connections between life and death mean that through following, a very basic and much prized quality, you come into direct touch with the flow of the Way. You insert yourself into the universal flow of events, the river of time and are able to conform effectively and spontaneously to the unfolding of the moment (shi). Through this following you are drawn into an Ancestral line and the deep power of its unfolding. The root of the word “sui, following” shows a hill or grave mound and great abundance, growing riches, a spreading multitude. It suggests accepting the spirit’s influence gladly, being moved and drawn, one foot in the world of light, one foot in the darkness. The term also refers to following a particular school of thought, tradition or spiritual practice and the paradoxical freedom that occurs when you submit to its discipline.
Spring (17): Rouse new growth by applying your experience. Do not resort to previous methods. Correct past mistakes and you can open the way for everyone involved.
Summer (25): Ripen the fruits by clarifying your purpose. Collect the energy to start anew. Success is assured.
Fall (12): Harvest the crop. Have no fear. The rough patch is ending. Seriously search out your true friends.
Winter (45): Find the seed of the new by speaking out about where you are and what you want to do. Change your attitude. Serve your highest ideals. Gather energy for a decisive new move.
Voice of the Fathers
This is an Inspiring Figure, part of the Sacred Sickness Pathways that connect personal disorders with cultural change. It is a site of intense mediating activity that links the primal powers to personal life and cultural change and is the Mission of the stage of the Symbolic Life when we confront the problems of individual identity, sexuality and personal destiny or mission.
The Situation: A new stream of energy that can lead to substantial increase.
Caring for Others: Adapt to the new time through organized activity and inspiring new ideas that renew the commitment of everyone involved. Establish a real ethic of quality, adaptability and care. Tangible benefits can be great, but the human and ethical cost must be the first criterion of planning and judgment.
Setting Intentions: Increase progress through well-organized activities that put quality and human values first. Clarify principle goals but keep practical options open. Be adaptable without sacrificing real values. Learning and growth should be pursued. There are valuable new ideas in the air.
Communication and Interaction: Open communication is effective. Be flexible and beware of prejudice. Convince supporters of your integrity and expect positive results. Be confident. Do not criticize other people’s personal failings.
Change from the Inside Out: New initiatives are very auspicious. Be thorough in your thinking and keep an open mind. Your creative judgment is sound, but do not make snap decisions. Consult with others. Make your work known but do not inflate or exaggerate. Expect a sharp rise in positive results.
- Immediate Future: follow the path in front of you. Obstacles will dissolve.
- Personal Development: dissolve the obstacles your mind creates.
- Working within the Family: open the ways and let others walk on them.
- Expanding the Circle: do not ignore the valuable new ideas in the air.
- Partnership: the future of your relationship is in the feelings you have now.
Pairing: Bringing Change to Life
Each hexagram is part of a Pair that that activates hidden paths of transformative energy through the interaction of the trigrams or Spirit Helpers, connecting phases of Inspiration and Realization. You are in the Inspiring phase of this Pair.
The transformative process of the Pair 17:18 Following and Corruption develops the freedom to follow new ways and the courage to deal with inner corruption.
Outer to Inner: The process transforms the Mediator trigram in the outer world of 17 into the Matchmaker trigram in the inner world of 18.
Inner to Outer: This turns outer expression of inspiring ideas into inner self-cultivation. This interiorisation transforms the Groundbreaker trigram in the inner world trigram of 17 into the Gatekeeper trigram in the outer world of 18. This turns inner enlightenment into awareness of the patterns that mark real ends and beginnings.
Transforming Lines
Mothering Change presents Transforming Lines as Steps of Change that show you where and how to focus your energy. Click on the links to connect with the Relating Figure generated by each line.
Inner World
Step 1 Beginnings: This return of the spirit attracts a new fate.
If you have an office, deny it.
There will be changes. Trial: Wise Words! The Way is open.
Issue from the gate and mingle with others. There will be achievements.
Leave your old position and mingle with those beneath you. The connection is not complete but if you reach out you will all laugh together. Do not involve yourself in institutional corruption. Honor what is highest. Do not pause in your efforts to find the purpose of these changes. These goings and comings will release the energy now bound up in the past. Step outside the norms and re-imagine the situation. Gather energy for the decisive new move. (45 Gathering)
Step 2 Inner Center: This inner re-organization leads to harmony with others.
Tied to the small son, you let the experienced man go.
Let go of your self-importance, dissolve your connection to the corruption around you and open yourself to the new. Your work will be rewarded and the cause for sorrow will disappear. Do not get involved in disputes. Use praise to disarm your opponents. Gather energy for the decisive new move. (58 Opening/Mediator)
Step 3 Threshold: This inner re-balancing lets you make your way in life.
Tied to the experienced man, you let the small son go.
Through Following you seek and acquire what you desire.
Trial: Advantageous for a residence. Harvesting.
You are following the right influence. You will acquire what you desire. Establish your foundation. Let the images of change circle within you until the real call comes. If you co-operate with the corrupt authorities now you will be swept away when the real change comes. You are coupled with a creative force. (49 Skinning/Revolution)
Outer World
Step 4 Arrival: This inner preparation leads to what is greater.
Following to hunt and catch. Trial: Trap! The Way closes.
Connect to the spirits and locate yourself in the Way.
Use what you are given and your understanding will be brightened.
How could this be a mistake?
Do not turn following into hunting for game. You can change things easily now if you let go of aggressive desires. Do not grasp at things. Those you confront are not outlaws. Seek an alliance. Have a great purpose and confront the abuse of authority. Strip away your old ideas. Be open and provide what is needed. (3 Sprouting)
Step 5 Outer Center: This inner re-grouping lets your real purpose shine.
A triumph. A connection to the spirits that leads to excellence.
Wise Words! The Way is open.
You are called to serve now, so do not lose your sense of purpose. Still yourself and do the inner work. Do not run after impossible desires. You must confront the abuse of nourishment and care now. Gather energy for the decisive new move. (51 Shake/Groundbreaker)
Step 6 Culmination: This inner stripping leads to a breakthrough.
Following, grappled and tied, they are held fast.
The King sacrifices and receives blessings on the Western Mountain.
It is a blunder to make a further move now. Disentangle yourself from the old ways and offer a sacrifice to your real ideals. Help renew the corruption of your predecessors. Complete this and the flow will open for all. Step outside the norms. Gather energy for a decisive new move. (25 Disentangling)