I-Ching Hexagram 41 – Sun – Decrease

Hexagram-41-SunThe trigram above – KEN – Keeping Still, Mountain
The trigram below – TUI – the Joyous, Lake

General: Make sure you use use your resources appropriately apportioned or instability will result.

Love: Go back to basics and focus on nourishing and nurturing your relationship.

Business: Direct your resources to fundamental operations only. Be frugal with your money.

Personal: Direct your energy or finances toward basic concerns only and don’t be impatient or resentful in having to do so.

This hexagram represents a decrease of the lower trigram in favor of the upper, because the third line, originally strong, has moved up to the top, and the top line, originally weak, has replaced it. What is below is decreased to the benefit of what is above. This is out-and-out decrease. If the foundations of a building are decreased in strength and the upper walls are strengthened, the whole structure loses its stability.

Likewise, a decrease in the prosperity of the people in favor of the government is out-and-out decrease. And the entire theme of the hexagram is directed to showing how this shift of wealth can take place without causing the sources of wealth in the nation and its lower classes to fail.

Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad. increase and decrease come in their own time. What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretense. if a time of scanty resources brings out an inner truth, one must not feel ashamed of simplicity. For simplicity is then the very thing needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings. Indeed, there need be no concern if the outward beauty of the civilization, even the elaboration of religious forms., should have to suffer because of simplicity.

One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to compensate for what is lacking in externals; then the power of the content makes up for the simplicity of forms. There is no need of presenting false appearances to God. Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed.

Astredamus

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