Welcome to this contemplation on change guided by the I Ching which is filled with Stoicism and Daoism.
As we prepare to receive this teaching.
Take a moment to relax into your physical body.
Softening the breath.
Quietening the mind.
Feeling your nervous system.
Easing.
Let's take a few breaths in and out together as you allow your whole self to relax more and more.
Breathing in together.
And releasing the breath now.
And again,
Breathing in together.
Letting go together.
Breathing in together.
Exhaling together.
Then once more on your own in your own time And now with intention,
Ground your body down.
You can use the breath.
You can notice where your physical body is connecting with the surface beneath you.
And now let's move our awareness into our heart center.
As we prepare to set the intention.
The intention of trust.
As we move into a position of receiving.
You might like to place your hands over heart center or just simply drop your awareness.
Into your heart.
And let's repeat together.
I trust.
The wisdom I am receiving from this ancient teaching.
Along with my own inner guidance.
These are all aligned with my highest good.
And are for the greater good of all.
Breathing into that.
And reaffirming once more with the words,
I trust.
Then on your next exhalation take a moment to return to deep relaxation.
Intentionally keeping the mind quiet.
And being available to notice.
Those first responses that come through.
To the information.
And the wisdom.
That we are receiving right now.
The hexagram connected to change is number 49.
And it's also known as skinning.
Think of a snake that shades its skin.
And leaves it behind.
As it moves forward.
And acquires new skin.
That is perfectly aligned.
For its new way of life.
And for its current environment.
This type of change is natural,
It's inevitable.
And there is a very real and earthly quality to it.
It says the time is now.
In other words,
No matter how we may want to resist the change,
It is happening nonetheless,
For each of us individually,
As well as collectively.
One of the messages from the I Ching is about mastering change.
Because this is what life is all about,
Moving from season to season.
From day to night,
From month to month.
And this message is reiterated.
In this hexagram 49.
Change of course is a natural occurrence in life from moment to moment.
But this particular type of change is a dramatic one in the fact that it is seen.
It is not about inner change.
This time of change is one that is seen.
By the outside world.
For example,
You may be in a group and and some situation in that group needs to change.
Now,
You might be the one that is spearheading the change.
Maybe it's somebody else's.
Either way.
The change is happening.
And when your change directly involves others.
The I Ching reminds us.
To prepare others for the change.
And guide them to see the benefits of the change.
In other words,
To make the change as smooth as possible.
And even when not in a group situation.
Where change is taking place.
Externally one-on-one for you.
This might be in a health matter.
This of course will be seen over time by others.
For example,
If one decides to take up walking or a sport or movement of some kind,
Even if it's done in the privacy of one's home,
Others get to see the effects of that change over time.
And as with the group scenario.
.
.
Even when changing something external of the self.
It is highly recommended to be gentle with the self and prepare the self.
You can do this by writing down the benefits.
Of this new day.
Experience that is coming up or already taking place.
Sometimes when we have resistance,
This can come.
From an aspect of the inner child.
And so in those moments we are called to self-parent.
Call on your wise parent to encourage the part of you that is resisting for whatever reason.
Be understanding,
Be kind,
Be compassionate,
But also be firm.
And let your wise parent lead the way.
It's pause for a moment as you reflect on the areas in your life that are either currently undergoing change or that you know are needing change.
And let's breathe into all the awareness received thus far,
Exhaling out,
Grounding down.
As we now contemplate the imagery.
Of this hexagram.
We have got the elements of fire below the lake.
And whenever a fire appears in a reading.
This means that there is much movement and when there is movement,
There is change.
The elements of the lake is also sometimes referred to as the marsh.
So here we've got fire within the marshes.
Meaning,
Of course,
That major change is imminent.
Fire evaporates water,
Water extinguishes fire.
Fire also indicates clear-sighted intelligence and the lake or the marshes signify to light.
Putting this all together,
We can sum it up as a progressive reformation.
And now let's hear some commentary directly from the I Ching in relation to this type of change.
Dramatic and necessary change is taking place in your life or is about to.
Accept and become involved in making the required changes.
But do make sure that they happen at the right and appropriate time.
Don't let the process of change unbalance your individual way of seeing and doing things.
Act selflessly and with honesty and sincerity when dealing with new situations.
Now looking at line 5 in the hexagram.
Which is a powerful.
Frequency of change in every hexagram,
And in this particular one it is of Yang nature.
And it stays.
The great man produces his changes as the tiger does when he changes his stripes.
Before he divines and proceeds to action.
Faith has been reposed in him.
Please take a moment or a few to Reflect on those aspects that stood out for you.
What is your heart guiding you to?
What is the message for you?
From this teaching.
Breathe into your awareness and give thanks for it just as we also give thanks to the I Ching.
Thousand stoicism.
To all those that came before us making it possible for this reading to take place in this way.
May you be blessed during these times of great change.
And in closing,
A final message from the I Ching on hexagram 49.
As the seasons change,
So must we,
Responding appropriately to what is asked of us.
