I am an amateur student of the I-Ching, the Book of Changes, one of the oldest sacred texts in the world, pre-dating Christianity by a few thousand years.
I thought I would ask the I-Ching if it had anything to say to the folks here at Daily Kos. So I tossed the coins (you can use yarrow stalks also, but I find coins easier) and got what I thought was a pretty interesting response.
I have a great respect for this ancient system of divination, which has at its root the simple reality that our lives are always in a state of change, life never stops even for a second, and if one knows how to adapt to this state of constant change, one can be in harmony with the forces of life. And because I do respect the I-Ching, I will say at the outset that although I will attempt to interpret the answer to my question, any flaws in that interpretation are entirely mine.
The hexagram I got when I tossed the coins is number 64:
Wei Chi/Before Completion. The book I refer to is the Wilhelm/Baynes edition. The commentary on this hexagram states, in part:
This hexagram indicates a time when the transition from disorder to order is not yet completed. The change is indeed prepared for ...
The ancient text of the Judgment on this hexagram is as follows:
BEFORE COMPLETION. Success.
But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing,
Gets his tail in the water,
There is nothing that would further.
The commentary on the judgment:
The conditions are difficult. The task is great and full of responsibility. It is nothing less than that of leading the world out of confusion and into order. But it is a task that prommises success, because there is a goal that can unite the forces now tending in different directions. At first, however, one must move warily, like an old fox walking over ice. The caution of a fox walking over ice is proverbial in China. His ears are constantly alert to the cracking of the ice, as he carefully and circumspectly searches out the safest spots. A young fox who as yet has not acquired this caution goes ahead boldly, and it may happen that he falls in and gets his tail wet when he is almost across the water. Then, of course, his effort has been all in vain. Accordingly, in times "before completion," deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.
I think here the I-Ching is cautioning us to think before we act. In our present circumstance, we have been made well aware of the forces opposing us. We know what the other side has planned for us, and it is not pretty. We know the powers they have on their side -- the media, the control of government, and an impressive political machine to both suppress the vote and, most likely, subvert the results if they are not to their liking.
Given this, I think the I-Ching is cautioning us to take seriously this power and not go off half-cocked thinking outrage alone is going to win the day. We must be smart, cautious and persevering, and watch every step as though we are on slippery and dangerous ice. We must not underestimate the difficulty of our task.
The ancient text of the "image" in the I-Ching is as follows:
Fire over water:
The image of the condition before transition.
Thus the superior man is careful
In the differentiation of things,
So that each finds its place.
The commentary says:
When fire, which by nature flames upward, is above, and water, which flows downward, is below, their effects take opposite directions and remain unrelated. If we wish to achieve an effect, we must first investigate the nature of the forces in question and ascertain their proper place. If we can bring these forces to bear in the right place, they will have the desired effect, and completion will be achieved. But in order to handle external forces properly, we must above all arrive at the correct standpoint ourselves, for only from this vantage can we work correctly.
Another commentary puts it like this:
We must separate things in order to unite them.
I think in the present situation the image calls to mind our strategies in the struggle we are undergoing. It is not enough to have a message without a messenger and it is not enough to have a messenger without a message. It is not enough to have energy without a structure, and vice versa. Kid Oakland wrote a diary that I think illustrates this image perfectly:
Outrage and Infrastructure.
In this toss of the coins, there was a changing line, in the fourth place of the six-line hexagram. The ancient text says of this line:
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Remorse disappears.
Shock, thus to discipline the Devil's Country.
For three years, great realms are awarded.
The commentary is as follows (emphasis mine):
Now it is the time of struggle. The transition must be completed. We must make ourselves strong in resolution; this brings good fortune. All misgivings that might arise in such grave times of struggle must be silenced. It is a question of a fierce battle to break and to discipline the Devil's Country, the forces of decadence. But the struggle also has its reward. Now is the time to lay the foundations of power and mastery for the future.
Yes, we all love snark and we all love to rant, there is nothing wrong with that. But I think we all know, deep down, this is a very serious battle, and one with grave consequences far beyond anger and outrage. We are as ready as we will ever be for this fight, and doubt must no longer have a place at the table. We have to give this battle everything we've got.
Well, the I-Ching is a book of changes, so because there was a changing line in the hexagram it morphs into yet another hexagram, this one called Meng/Youthful Folly. Youthful Folly is a state where right after something is born it is wrapped in obtuseness and confusion, after which follows enlightenment. But the enlightenment must be given by a qualified teacher, and the student must be both properly respectful to the teacher as well as take the responsibility of seeking the teacher out.
I take this to mean that there is much we need to understand about how to use this amazing medium of the netroots we have been fortunate enough to access. It is still a very new form of community and there are always perils in the new. Sometimes the very mistakes lead the way to innovation and creativity. Other times they lead to setbacks.
I think the I-Ching is saying we need wisdom to complement the incredible intelligence and energy we see here at Daily Kos.
I know there are others here at DK who study the I-Ching and would be very happy to hear alternate interpretations to the ones I've given. But I did find the message to be both pertinent and interesting.