The I Ching and Political Prophecy
Okay. Now for something a little different. I consulted the I Ching today about the election.
The I Ching or "Book of Changes" is an oracle that's been used by the Chinese for thousands of years. It is undisputedly one of the oldest books ever written. From its pages emerged another classic book of wisdom, the Tao Te Ching. The I Ching is said to hold all answers to all situations in life. Wow. And all in one book. To consult it, you throw either coins or yarrow stalks (for the hardcore enthusiast). A number is determined which points you to a particular hexagram or passage in the I Ching.
The I Ching is chock full of symbolism and metaphors so you really have to get that right brain working when reading it. Then again, in contrast, there those times when the answers are so shockingly literal (I'm thinking this reading I'm going to share with you may have been one of those times).
So what does the I Ching have to say about this election? Keep reading.
Okay. A little mercy here - this is a first diary scenario. Usually I lurk around in the background reading other people's stuff. I've decided to emerge and write about an inspiring thing that happened today.
What the Future Holds
Like most Democrats, I've been stressing over who's going to win this election. Oh, sure - most pundits and polls say Obama, but after the very UNhappy endings of 2000 and 2004, I think we all know better than to start 'counting chickens' just yet.
Well, today I had quite enough of both personal and collective paranoia. So I thought I'd consult the ancient Chinese oracle and see what kernels of wisdom come popping my way. Surely the I Ching could shed some light on all this political hullabaloo.
With all the worrying, I was hesitant to see what might be coming around the corner. But I did and I've included the reply for your perusal. I used the I Ching interpretation by Eyler Robert Coates, Jr., called the The Wisdom of the I Ching.
The Question
I wanted to keep it simple, so in the midst of the election madness, I asked:
"What do I need to know right now?"
I received an interesting answer to the question (which I've edited and highlighted certain passages for those with short attention spans ;-). Okay, here goes:
The Current Situation -
The I Ching discusses the present; in progress; then where things are headed. The hexagram I drew was called, "49: A Time of Revolutionary Change."
"Hexagram 49 - A Time of Revolutionary Change. "A time of revolutionary change finds opposing forces in conflict with one another, and with each trying to replace the other. This represents a very determined opposition, because one of the forces is going out of existence while the other is coming in, and there is no possibility of their co-existence."
Well, I can't think of a better hexagram to describe the emergence of Barack Obama. I think this concept of "opposing forces..." refers not only to the candidates but the conflicting values they represent. A necessary dismantling of the old ways and systems. Hmmm, this "change" thing is sounding familiar.
"Even under the worst of conditions, there will be some who believe that allegiance should predominate over every other sentiment."
Party loyalty over ever other sentiment ("sentiments" i.e., economy, putting the country first). Sounds like a shout-out to Republicans.
"The best time for undertaking revolutionary change is after a long train of abuses have demonstrated that only a drastic change will answer the present need."
Gee - could that mean, like... the economic fallout of the Bush Administration? Wild guess.
The Moving Line - The Changes in Progress
In this reading, there is one moving line, which offers this information:
"When a great man proposes a revolution to his people, his personal greatness expresses itself in a clarity of purpose in all that he does that is obvious to all. There is no ambiguity and no uncertainty. The reasons, the justifications, the purposes, the goals of the revolution -- all these things are clear and unquestioned. Every honest man can see that this is a worthy cause. Such a great man, with such a worthy mission, need not even consult the oracle, because the people immediately enlist themselves in support of this high-minded endeavor."
Here's another translation of the same moving line by Jack Balkin:
"The great person changes like a tiger.
Even before he consults the oracle,
There is confidence.
The tiger is an animal of great energy and purpose. It's skin, with large black stripes on a yellow background is distinctive and easily visible to others. The tiger symbolizes a great leader that inspires confidence and that others instinctively follow. He offers his position in clear, understandable terms - like a tiger's stripes - and the people believe him and follow him."
Sounds like Obama again. He may well end up being both a "distinctive" and an extraordinary leader.
The Future - Hexagram 55. Abundance
The trends of the future:
"THE MAN takes action in accordance with clear insight and understanding, and he is thus able to lead others to the very peak of greatness. But since change is the nature of the Universe, the wise man realizes that this pinnacle of success, once attained, can only be enjoyed briefly and cannot last forever. Achieving the height of success means, inevitably, that decline of one sort or another must eventually follow, just as the sun at its zenith must then begin to move towards its setting.
But the superior man is not discouraged by this realization; he knows that it is futile to try to remain always at a peak. He is grateful to have known true abundance, and rejoices in the present moment of success. Even though he must later descend from the pinnacle of success, his achievement will not vanish. Only a man who pursues what is great can know this level of success, and only a man who can put aside concerns about decline can successfully lead others at a time of great abundance.
Therefore, in his leadership of others, he speaks only of the joy that all should have over the greatness they have achieved, and forbears any mention of the inevitable descent from the heights. Understanding and action are the traits necessary for achieving the pinnacle of success. Although the man's ventures may decline from this pinnacle, by maintaining those traits that got him this far, the decline will not mean a complete reversal.
Thus the superior man must retain active control over the enterprise for which he is responsible. He carefully looks into all matters that affect the enterprise and oversees the administration to be sure that decisions are carried out thoroughly and precisely."
Interesting. Kind of looks like its referring to an Obama administration and how he'd govern.
Well, that's my take on it anyway.