The new moon of Feb 27 (7:44pm USA Eastern Time) brings us the great nighttime honoring of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, and Shiva’s heavenly dance of creation, preservation and destruction—here in India many devotees will be partying all night long celebrating the occasion.
This is also the second month of the I Ching calendar cycle: Hexagram 34, The Power of the Great.
In these days where there seems to be more words than ever, with so little capacity to hear or comprehend their meaning, I paste below, without comment, a few portions of this hexagram that resonate for me in this moment.
Wishing you well in the moon to come.
34. Ta Chuang / The Power of the Great
THE JUDGMENT
“THE POWER OF THE GREAT. Perseverance furthers.
The hexagram points to a time when inner worth mounts with great force and comes to power. But its strength has already passed beyond the median line, hence there is danger that one may rely entirely on one’s own power and forget to ask what is right. There is danger too that, being intent on movement, we may not wait for the right time. Therefore the added statement that perseverance furthers. For that is truly great power which does not degenerate into mere force but remains inwardly united with the fundamental principles of right and of justice. When we understand this point – namely, that greatness and justice must be indissolubly united – we understand the true meaning of all that happens in heaven and on earth.”
From The Image:
“…true greatness depends on being in harmony with what is right. Therefore in times of great power the superior man avoids doing anything that is not in harmony with the established order.”
Nine in the third place means: The inferior man works through power. The superior man does not act thus. To continue is dangerous. A goat butts against a hedge And gets its horns entangled.
“Making a boast of power leads to entanglements, just as a goat entangles its horns when it butts against a hedge. Whereas an inferior man revels in power when he comes into possession of it, the superior man never makes this mistake. He is conscious at all times of the danger of pushing ahead regardless of circumstances, and therefore renounces in good time the empty display of force.”
