Welcome to this contemplation.
On the Blessings of Limitation.
But first,
Let's arrive in the body,
Let's quieten the mind.
And let's make the self comfortable.
So please do what you need to.
Knowing that when the body is relaxed.
When the nervous system is calm,
Is settled,
It is so much easier.
For the heart to open.
And for one to be receptive.
Receptive.
To a teaching that is external.
And also receptive.
To one's own inner guidance.
Let's use the breath now to release.
And to ground.
Breathe in gently,
And then as you exhale,
Focus on letting go of thoughts that have been with you,
Of distractions.
And then once you have released the out-breath completely,
Pause for a few moments and feel yourself grounding down.
And again.
A gentle breath in.
And extended exhalation.
Letting go.
And then pausing.
In this moment.
And once more.
And once you have completed that,
Allow the breath.
To find its own sweet rhythm.
And now relaxing the body just a little bit more.
And dropping the awareness into the heart center now.
Into the energy sphere in the center of the chest.
Breathe into this area,
Relaxing the cheeks.
Feeling it opening.
And as you keep your awareness here.
Perhaps even placing hands over the chased area.
Let's set our intention together which you can repeat along with me or simply affirm at the end.
I try.
The wisdom I am receiving from this ancient teaching.
Along with my own inner guidance.
Both are aligned with my highest good.
And for the greater good of all.
Breathe in and affirm,
I trust.
Relaxing the body once more.
Relaxing the face.
And in a space of open receiving and trusting.
Let's move our awareness now.
To LA.
Take a moment to connect with the energy of the legs.
And see this large body of water in your mind's eye.
And now notice.
Water above the lake.
This can be in the form of rain.
And imagine this rain coming down and down.
And down and not stopping and perhaps even getting stronger and stronger.
Of course,
The lake can flood.
Now imagine that water above the lake is no more.
And there is no rain.
For weeks and months.
Perhaps even longer.
And this impacts the labor.
So that slowly,
Starts to dry up.
In order for the lake to maintain its shape.
A sufficient amount of water.
The lake needs to manage proper regulation.
Distribution.
And also sensitive restraint.
If it relies purely on the water above.
It will be forever at its beck and call.
This hexagram number 60 of the I Ching is entitled Restraint.
Or limitation.
And really the focus is on moderation.
Flexibility and appropriateness.
Words from the I Ching say,
This is a situation where observing restraint and self-imposed limitations will be necessary in order to avoid the dangers caused by lack of control and poor judgment.
If a certain amount of sensible flexibility is promoted.
Concerning adherence to established standards,
Then you will meet with success in your undertakings.
Constraints and limitations are necessary for balance and good order.
But there must be moderation and flexibility.
Wise discernment and judgment are required.
How does this apply to your life right now?
Are there areas where practicing constraints will be helpful?
Or are there situations where there has been too much constraint and limitation?
What is the next step that you could take to bringing some balance?
We may often see the description limitation as being negative.
And yet it is the limitations that help us to incarnate.
Into a bodily form and also bringing into form new ideas.
Think of the caterpillar in the cocoon.
Turning into a butterfly.
Waiting for that perfect moment.
And then.
.
.
Needing the constraints.
Of the cocoon.
To be its support.
To fulfil its next step of its life journey.
And so when we choose to look at our limitations from this perspective,
We can actually see them as a blessing.
And considering once more.
The elements.
Of water that is featured.
In this hexagram.
The powers of water.
And shape rocks over time.
It doesn't happen overnight.
It happens over a very,
Very long period of time.
And it's this moderation of the right amount at the right time.
Repeated that brings about the transformation.
And so we hear from the I Ching that it is not about severe constraints.
It is about moderate flexibility.
The I Ching says you have to discover for yourself your limitations.
Rigid adherence to strict rules and regulations will be ineffectual.
And will only serve to encourage a destructive and self-defeating lack of thought and judgment.
And if there are limitations that are severe and difficult,
They should not be made permanent.
Let's pause for a moment.
Returning your focus to the body.
Rounding down and remaining in a relaxed way.
So that this wisdom can continue to unfold from your subconscious into your conscious awareness.
This hexagram 60 partners with 59.
Which is entitled Dispersal.
You will find this in the etching playlist.
Available at the bottom of my profile page.
In closing,
Words from the I Ching.
Now is the time that wise discernment is required.
Know and trust that limitations are necessary for balance and good order.
