5 Attending XU

Attending. A connection to the spirits will carry you through.
Shining success. Wise Words! The Way is open.
Advantageous to step into the Great Stream.

The Image
The old character shows rain falling from the One above and an old man hidden in a temple whose prayers bring the fertilizing waters.

Circle of Meanings
Wait for, wait on, serve, attend to what is needed; wait for the right moment to act, have patience in view of coming abundance;  waiting for rain, confident while clouds gather. Heart Theme: 38 Diverging, turning conflict into creative tension by dealing with the shadow.

Spirit Helpers
Ghost River restrains Heaven. Middle Son and Father, the Navigator and the Creator, develop inner concentration that can manage outer danger. You are not in control of things now. Do not advance yourself or champion a cause. Think about what is really necessary and find the right moment to provide it. Act this way with confidence. This is a time to wait for things and attend wholeheartedly to the needs at hand. This will bring shining success. Imagine you are a participant in an important ceremony. It is the right time to step into the stream of life with a purpose. Eating and drinking with others helps peace and harmony permeate the situation. Have patience. Do not feel this as an exhausting burden, for it is how to act justly in this situation. It will bring praise and accomplishment.

Voice of the Mothers
Find what is needed. Wait for the right moment to act. Illuminate things through repeated efforts. Inner perseverance now brings you the ability to manage the flow and flux of events. This is a time to equalize things by cutting through pride and complication (15). Do not focus on articulating (60).

With Attending the enveloped spirit of the new enters the sacrificial and ritual world, the ceremonies that are the foundation of religious experience and social institutions. This is the force activated by sacrifice and ritual at work, symbolized by the rites of rainmaking and being stopped by rain. It is positive or receptive waiting, a change in awareness that comes through participating in a great ritual that calls down the spirit. The ritual opens a gap in time that allows us to experience what is going and coming and (wang lai) on the Great Stream of existence. The root of the word “xu, attend” connects it with jade pendants and tablets and the jade bi disc that represents a hole in Heaven and Earth, an entrance to paradise. The bi disc is an ancient jade object of great veneration that can assure good harvest or provoke curses, a protector that connects with the power of the illustrious ancestors. It evokes a feminine, animating presence and suggests putting on a ritual mask. The water motif that runs throughout the figure evokes the master of the waters and the ways, Yu the Great. It suggests the human capacity to follow the Way through rituals and symbols. It is measuring a danger, confidant it can be surmounted with the aid of the spirits. Its shadow is timidity and fear.

Spring (5): Rouse new growth. Follow your true desire and wait for new developments. Don’t make plans, just listen. Changes are coming.
Summer (9): Ripen the fruits by paying special attention to the smallest details. Don’t be timid. Clear away the confusion and return to your flow. Extend the connections.
Fall (57): Harvest the crop through dealing carefully with each thing you encounter. You can grow from your mistakes so don’t look back. Be happy with what is there. Expect real harmony to develop.
Winter (48): Find the seed of the new by emphasizing common human needs and strengths. Don’t worry about things or strive for mastery. If you let yourself be led now, you can liberate the hidden potential.

Voice of the Fathers
This is an Inspiring Figure, an experience of the Centers of Power in the stage of the Symbolic Life when the child seeks to create a world in which to discover a self.

The Situation: A well-organized group and a potentially successful undertaking.

Caring for Others: Plans are in order. Let developments take their own course. Be patient. Make purposeful and constructive use of the time. Create a suitable pace of growth and make wise use of resources, above all human resources. Respect individual needs and balance work with relaxation.

Setting Intentions: Basic approach is sound. Do not waste energy in further planning. A period of rapid development is approaching. Do not take risks or seek further support. Your resources are adequate. Diversify your involvements. Consider each decision carefully.

Communication and Interaction: Be positive. Relax and encourage others. Your creative judgment needs careful consideration.

Change from the Inside Out: Wait for results before making any further commitments. Have a well-worked out plan for future progress.

• Immediate Future: concentrate on fulfilling duties and responsibilities.
• Personal Development: do the inner work without expectations.
• Working within the Family: be patient and wait for the right time to act.
• Expanding the Circle: diversify interests. Take time over decisions.
• Partnership: enjoy both being alone and being together.   

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 5:6 Attending and Arguing develops the patience to wait on events and the courage to express yourself when facing real authority.

Outer to Inner: The process of the pair shifts the Navigator trigram from the outer world of 5 to the inner world of 6. This turns your need to manage the flux of events into a containment of fear and impulse.

Inner to Outer: This interiorisation shifts the energy and intuitive power of the Creator trigram from the inner world of 5 to the outer world of 6. This turns inner perseverance into the ability to connect your actions with the spirit.

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.
Attending at the outskirts.
Advantageous to fix the omen! This is not a mistake.
Though there is heavy going at the beginning, endure in your efforts. You confront a long neglected source of common feeling. Do not let your own doubts oppress you. Do not follow the corrupt old ways. Co-operate with the ongoing process of change. (48 The Well)

Step 2 Inner Center: This inner re-organization leads to harmony with others.
Attending on the sands as the waters recede.
There is the Small, talking. Complete this. Wise Words! The Way opens.
You are closer to your goal but the situation keeps shifting. Keep your eye on what is important. What you have lost will return of itself. You will have the chance to plead your case before a real authority. Your purpose will emerge and gather others around you. This will open a better time. Co-operate with the ongoing process of change. (63 Already Crossing)

Step 3 Threshold: This inner re-balancing lets you make your way in life.
Attending in the bogs and swamps.
Danger! This will attract outlaws in the end.
You are bogged down in negative feelings. This leaves you open to danger. If you do not articulate real needs and desires now you will soon have cause to lament. Retreat and ponder what is really important. Withdraw from the conflict and return to the source.  A hidden mission awaits you. Take in the past. Be open and provide what is needed. (60 Articulating)

Outer World

Step 4 Arrival: This inner preparation leads to what is greater.
Attending in blood. Get out of the cave where this begins!
You are in immediate danger. Get out of this place. You are surrounded by people intent only on greed and power. Hold on to what is great and go on alone. Take in the ancient wisdom. The rain will soon come to clean out the old wound. Be resolute. You are connected to a creative force. (43 Deciding/Breakthrough)

Step 5 Outer Center: This inner re-grouping lets your real purpose shine.
Attending, drinking liquor and eating at the sacred meal.
Trial: Wise Words! The Way opens.
Retreat from conflict and return to where you feel secure. Come out of isolation. Share what you have and gather with others in the spirit of harmony and joy. This is an omen of future happiness and a joyous new time. If you let yourself be led you can realize the hidden potential. Co-operate with the ongoing process of change. (11 Pervading)

Step 6 Culmination: This inner stripping leads to a breakthrough.
Enter the cave. The visitors come without urging.
There are three coming towards you now. Respect them and complete this. Wise Words! The Way opens.
Changes are coming that will bring you help in an unexpected way. Respect them.  Do not set off on an expedition now and do not try to discipline others. Follow your true desire. Act through the receptive and end your involvement with the sorrows of the past. Co-operate with the ongoing process of change. (9 Small Accumulates)