Lessons of Change - X - Part One

Part One GOU - Hexagram 44: One powerful Yin encounters or comes to meet the Yang in the Sixth month of the Gregorian Calendar, on the Sixth of June onwards – having associated with five (meaning any number) of them. The symbol of Sun, the eldest daughter, under Qian, the father; Sun, the wind, raging under Qian, the sky. the soft underside of the solid strong edifice: one broken line under five unbroken ones, a veritable open and free orifice that sucks, topples and breaches the closed Yang fortress. When the encounter takes place on the sixth of the sixth month in the century’s sixty-sixth year, for instance, of the last century, then anything may be possible: a whole people’s mores suffer, and general decline sets in through slow rot. According to Richard Lynn and Richard Wilhelm’s translations: It would not do to marry such a woman. It must be brought swiftly under control by tying it to metal brakes, the Fourth Yang. The Yijing’s commentators: Confucius, Wang Bi - take the broken line to signify “woman” as Yin in their male-oriented society. Here, “Yin” may be of either sex, though the “sow”, the “lean pig” rests the book’s cherished image. One such lesson – among many – then would be: Beware beware of the Sixth of June When everything begins to go out of tune Though it be but the fifth month of the moon On which the Yijing decides Yang’s semesterly swoon The dark abusive days diminish at the winter solstice Fresh buds push inexorably under the icy parapet Once again the earth awakens to right itself After the skies close their eyes To take a short nap During the months of leisure When work slows down When Qian withdraws in August Wrong-doers wreak havoc Under the guise of hard-earned reprieve Days lengthen to expose the Yin’s covert covetous doings Under cover of six long rollicking months of shenanigans In June the lean pitiable sow Begins her enticing solo The boars close-eyed ignore And gore This’s the day on the wretched creature sidles up Both pity and compassion nourish her The poor defenceless shivering thing Fatherless misunderstood Victim of strict meanness Faking blind discrimination Unjustly broken forsaken The oddly fascinating Yin willing to be folded within Protective wings (Continued on the next page)