A question ...
Which hexagram stands out in your understanding as embodying the principle of MERCY?
... I'm going to do a reading now with this question ... and will write later of the oracle's response ...
... The exquisite image above is called Consolation, created by Stacy Lee. The beauty of her work leaves me speechless ... http://stacyleeart.com/gallery/ ...
Comments
Your response to my query reminds me that I haven't yet posted a "What is the I Ching?" passage ... I will do that!
Take a boo at some of the sites and blogs in the right sidebar ... particularly "I Ching Meditations: A Woman's Book of Change," by Adele Aldridge.
xo
(Tee hee) ... Another hexagram spoke through my reading of this question ... I'm working on a meditation and a poem for it ...
The more I think on Mercy and Hexagram 40, the more it fits ... the relinquishing of judgment(s) ...
I asked the question 'cause I've been centering my mind on the quality of Mercy over the last while. Focusing on it; coming to understand what it means; balming my own life with its presence. This is a first :-)
More soon, and thanks, Hilary, for your thoughts ...
... Maybe Mercy is Hexagram 15, MODESTY, too ... Mercy, when you think of it, is very practical, basic, essential ... It is a seemingly small and simple choice, to behave with merciful intent. But its application can affect us like no other -- one act of mercy can change a life --> move it around and into a new ethical direction. (I received a hug when I was 17 that was so affirming, so in-forming that I was a worthy and good person, that I vowed right then and there that I'd move through my life hugging others like that.)
... and what could be more practical, for the good of our world, than to be merciful to ourselves and others? :-)
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Another thought about the three core qualities -- sincerity, modesty, and perseverance -- is the hexagrams they're represented by:
Sincerity -- Hexagram 61
Modesty -- Hexagram 15
Perseverance -- Hexagram 32
... and there is a fourth quality too, isn't there? ... Benevolence. (Duh me!)
Benevolence = Hexagram 11, PEACE. And -- funny that -- the reading I did for this question? ...
Hexagram 11, PEACE
Changing line 5
Hexagram 5, PATIENCE.
(To anyone new to the oracle, it'll knock your socks off. It has a way of cutting through, like soft butter, all the murk of your mind, right to the quick of a question. Sometimes I keel over laughing from how blind I can be to the *obvious* ...) :-D
(Oh, my, I'm on a roll this morning) ;-)
I look forward to what else you share on your findings of Mercy - a fine focus to meditate on... in terms of language, since I don't know the i ching, I think of compassion and forgiveness as being entwined with mercy...
... What traditional images and art from Chinese culture show the quality we're getting at? ... Do you know of any websites to visit?
Karin ... Hi :-) So glad you came by :-)
Compassion and forgiveness ... absolutely, absolutely ... there are countless ways that we understand that core principle that I'm exploring right now ... It's wonderful ... Everyone has their own way of expressing what I'm coming to know as Mercy ... It is such a restful, gentling quality to contemplate ... and read about (Stephen Levine!!), colour with (thinking of you here -- grin -- ), live from ... I am feeling so soothed by memories of people and moments that have been merciful in my life (I'm blithering with nostalgia here -- am soon turning 50!!) ...
Karin, could you ponder your creations and point us to some that look like Mercy to you? I would love to post something of yours xo
Thanks :-)
Yeah, I'm only a couple years behind you and have found that nostalgia thing has been a persistent bugger of late! even when I'm not looking for it - an elementary school friend surprised me with an email attachment - our class picture from second grade - have MERCY!!
Ah, Steven Levine, he's a good thing!
xoxo Karin
... and now I can have a laugh, and can see that poor kid, me, as being the victim of a hideous perm in grade 6, and of puberty and *zits!* in grade 7!
My hair is straight as a board now; no more tacky curls! ... and, well, I still get zits; now they're just mucked up with wrinkles too :-D C'est la vie ...
... I'm realizing that Mercy is very much an attitude as well as a core principle ...