26 – the taming power of the great

“I, I, all I!” – I am standing on the peak, I have achieved something. And now? I rest for a moment, enjoying the spectacular view. And then?

I reached the top. I have achieved something. I enjoy the view… What else do I see? More peaks. Summits which I could set off. And reenter the course of the world.

Conquered peaks are just milestones. No more, no less. Beyond them: more peaks. Peaks that we can only can see from the ones we have already conquered.

So, where is my next peak? I can already see it. When I’m ready, I’ll make my decision: Let go of what I have reached. And start again. Like a novice.

Case Study

Hexagram 26 – the taming power of the great begins with Qian (the heaven) as lower trigram. Qian refers to our own mind, which ideally has a high degree of clarity and coherence, undisturbed by worries, desires, and thought loops. Qian describes a person who is whole and well within himself, someone who knows who he is, what he needs, and what he is capable of doing.

Just like the two users have who both achieved a lot:

• A user who has been working as a freelance software developer wonders what kind of work he should do in the future. He no longer likes his current job, but he has yet to find another one.
• Another user just celebrated her 65th birthday and feels lonely in her neighborhood. She lacks joy and vitality and is looking for a new start, a new home, a new environment.

Both users have achieved a lot in their respective lives: they have reached positions for which they may have worked long and hard. They have finally reached their respective goals: a well-paying job, a well-deserved retirement.

Just like a hiker who has finally climbed the mountain. One more moment to enjoy the spectacular view from the top, and then…? It is nice to have experienced Qian. But Qian is only a way station in the cycle of life that never stops and is constantly evolving.. In hexagram 26 – the taming power of the great Qian (the heaven, lower trigram) evolves into Dui (the lake; first core character).

Dui invites us to open and allow the outside to enter our core. Dui stands for opening, for the interplay of receiving (the outside / environment penetrates our core) and releasing (we express our inner self to the outside). Dui invites us to open the border of our self, to welcome the environment, the “you”, and to enter into a lively exchange with the world around us, with what we encounter. If Qian is the perfectly developed butterfly that has emerged from its chrysalis, Dui the butterfly’s true birth into the living world: its first flap of wings, a gentle breeze, the warmth of the sun, a scent of nectar.

The ideal attitude for Dui is to rest with empty hands, to be ready to receive whatever comes. It is an attitude of openness, of curiosity, of willingness to embrace the unknown completely and without any prior knowledge or prejudice.

As hexagram 26 – the taming power of the great Dui (the lake; first core character) progresses to Zhen, the thunder (second core character): decision, impulse, movement. The encounter with our environment triggers a change in us, something germinates, begins to grow now and we embark on a new journey.

Hexagram 26 – the taming power of the great ends in Gen (the mountain; upper trigram). Once we decide, once we start moving (Zhen), we will separate things into what is to be keept, and what is to be let go of (Gen, the mountain; upper trigram). We have climbed a mountain, but the old peak is now behind us. Before us: a new one.

I admit that this interpretation is quite far beyond from the traditional texts, the image, the judgment. But at the time when the original texts were written, there were other values, other ideals that people lived by. At that time, people were convinced that there was a fixed place in the community for everyone and that life breaks were not accepted. Back then, what we had achieved tamed us, whereas today it encourages us and invites us to move on.

Further Questions on Hexagram 26

• “How should I behave towards my mother in the future?” was another user’s question. The mother is a difficult person, she is in a deplorable condition, needs help, but refuses to accept it. After an episode of massive (own) heart problems, the user has decided to break off contact, but quietly doubts whether this is the right thing to do. Hexagram 26 – the taming power of the great feels like a confirmation to him. Crossing of the great water in his experience feels like crossing the Valley of Tears: A (painful) end to the old, a farewell, a turning to the new.
• One user writes: “I followed my inner calling to accompany people. Now I don’t know how these people will find me. I don’t want to impose myself… How can all this work?”
• A user receives hexagram 26 – the taming power of the great in the following situation: “I’m thinking of moving in with a man, to another state and six hours away from my home. What will our relationship be like?”
• One user asks: “How and when will my life finally become easier and more fulfilling? With a partner and family, with friends and in a good and blessed place?”
• One user is about to make an important decision in her life: Starting a business together with her partner. This is a big step that demands a lot of her, but she is also well prepared and has been planning the venture for many years. Her question to the I Ching was: “Should I be afraid of all that is to come?” The answer of the I Ching, hexagram 26 – the taming power of the great, seems very clear to her, namely that she should listen to her inner voice and her intuition and let go of many things in order to be able to surrender to life and all that is to come. She has experienced in the past that each time she has let go, she has become a little happier and more content. So the answer of the I Ching gives her confidence, and she can even look forward to what is to come with joy.

The overview page for this hexagram can be found here:
https://www.no2do.com/hexagramme_en/777887.htm