Inspired by an incredible new paradigm that I have been moving into for some time now, I have finally found a way back to both religion and magic, the mystical practices of both enchantment and divination, or prayer and prophecy if one happens to prefer more Christian terms, have both taken on new significance to me now that I understand the all encompassing importance of the nature of our perception and how we construct reality. Enchantment, or magic spells, can directly effect our perception of reality, or rather what we look for and how we shape the way we, respond and shape the meanings around us, by pointing us in certain directions. Magic spells and guided meditations appear to me now as having some kind of similar functional purpose. Both are willful attempts by the individual to send the mind off in a certain direction through the use of tools.
Divination, which at first might seem slightly less appealing, now appears to me to occupy a position of more significance than enchantment. If one considers the divorce or rift in every person that exists between the conscious and unconscious, or the masculine and feminine, or the above and below, or that which is perceived and that which is, than any practice that can mend, even somewhat, this rift will be a practice that imparts great wisdom and insight.
My first question put forth to the I Ching was this: What can you tell me about my relation to the music I make and what should I know about?
The hexagram the coins delivered to me on this matter was number 3 or Chun which means Difficulty at the Beginning.
The following is a more detailed description of Chun:
The name of the hexagram, Chun, really connotes a blade of grass pushing
against an obstacle as it sprouts out of the earth—hence the meaning,
"difficulty at the beginning." The hexagram indicates the way in which
heaven and earth bring forth individual beings. It is their first meeting,
which is beset with difficulties. The lower trigram Chên is the Arousing; its
motion is upward and its image is thunder. The upper trigram K'an stands
for the Abysmal, the dangerous. Its motion is downward and its image is
rain. The situation points to teeming, chaotic profusion; thunder and rain fill
the air. But the chaos clears up. While the Abysmal sinks, the upward
movement eventually passes beyond the danger. A thunderstorm brings
release from tension, and all things breathe freely again.
THE JUDGMENT
DIFFICULTY AT THE BEGINNING works supreme success,
Furthering through perseverance.
Nothing should be undertaken.
It furthers one to appoint helpers.
Times of growth are beset with difficulties. They resemble a first birth. But
these difficulties arise from the very profusion of all that is struggling to
attain form . Everything is in motion: therefore if one perseveres there is a
prospect of great success, in spite of the existing danger. When it is a man's
fate to undertake such new beginnings, everything is still unformed, dark.
Hence he must hold back, because any premature move might bring disaster.
Likewise, it is very important not to remain alone; in order to overcome the
chaos he needs helpers. This is not to say, however, that he himself should
look on passively at what is happening. He must lend his hand and
participate with inspiration and guidance.
THE IMAGE
Clouds and thunder:
The image of DIFFICULTY AT THE BEGINNING.
Thus the superior man
Brings order out of confusion.
Clouds and thunder are represented by definite decorative lines; this means
that in the chaos of difficulty at the beginning, order is already implicit. So
too the superior man has to arrange and organize the inchoate profusion of
such times of beginning, just as one sorts out silk threads from a knotted
tangle and binds them into skeins. In order to find one's place in the infinity
of being, one must be able both to separate and to unite.
I really could not have thought of a more appropriate answer based on what I already know about the relationship in question and this experience has left much food for thought.
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