Poetry of the I Ching
I. Creative
Lifted up
by what is
pressed down,
the great untangles
the night.
2. Receptive
And in the darkness,
the moon
like a bow –
plays the song
of the sun.
3. Difficult Beginnings
Each day
begins.
A silvery spray –
a washing away;
a strengthening.
4. Youthful Folly
Words,
like the shavings
of a sculpture –
substance is revealed
in silence.
5. Waiting
Time is
perfectly spaced
to hear
the echo
of your sincerity.
6. Conflict
Where the river flows
the wounded
let go.
Holding loosens
this circular turning.
7. Army
The wind excites
a thousand
different instruments –
Each song is played
in its own way.
8. Uniting Inner and outer
in seamless unity –
reflections
upon
the mysterious mirror.
9. Small Restraint
When obstacles
appear
insurmountable –
open to
the teaching.
10. Treading
Discover
the pleasure
of treading
in life’s
mystery.
11. Peace
The moon goes,
the sun comes.
The body
circulates –
small world.
12. Standstill
In a time of standstill
there is no
real blockage
that can withstand
submission.
13. Fellowship
Nature nurtures
unity,
while honoring diversity;
it is a crossing
holding hands.
14. Possession in Great Measure
When the hand opens
to reveal
its unbroken line –
the host
rumbles in the belly.
15. Moderation
This long
upward climb –
with periods of falling.
Balance ensures
a stable footing.
16. Enthusiasm
The earth's power
to thrive
and succeed
resides
in your core.
17. Following
Follow
behind,
tranquil
in your
visionary cave.
18. Decay
Wind over the Mountain.
One chisels away,
the other
inspires
leaders.
19. Approach
Earth's reflection
on a lake;
its hidden depths
coaxed upwards –
where clouds rise.
20. Contemplation
Remove
the red dust.
Arouse the child
to the
endless field.
21. Biting Through
The truth
cannot be silenced.
It is the child
ever asking:
why?
22. Grace
Open
what is closed –
Light the darkness.
Grace is the life
of the lifeless.
23. Splitting Apart
When the seed
falls,
adversity
breaks away
all protective coverings.
24. Return
Turned back,
we are
returned
to
original sincerity.
25. Innocence
Hover
at the
doorway
of
perception.
26. Taming Power of the Great
Become
master
of
your
response.
27. Nourishing Vision
Defensiveness
ensures
that the outcome
is
relentless.
28. Overwhelming of the Great
Erosion
creates the perpetual
gusts and storms
that soften
a hardened landscape.
29. The Abysmal
And the freedom
of dispersion:
life’s
energetic elixir.
Scatter your fog.
30. Clinging
Witness
the unchanging:
cling to
the
unfathomable.
31. Wooing
Experience courts
the
abundance
of the
chaste mind.
32. Duration
Nature teaches constancy
in relentless
adaptations.
Never complete
and without extremes.
33. Retreat
The joy of stillness:
Nothing held.
Nothing lost.
The ease
of transparency.
34. Power of the Great
The thunder
startles wakefulness.
A vigorous stroke
self-realized
in the sleeping seed.
35. Progress
Illumination
grows by day.
Innate knowledge
received
as truthfulness.
36. Brightness Hiding
This light
that shines
in darkness:
it cannot be concealed;
it illuminates the eyes.
37. Family
In the contrast
of our differences,
life
reveals
its solitary line.
38. Opposition
Honor
the evolutionary tension
that keeps
all of life
evolving.
39. Obstruction
Danger, opportunity
and the cracking of ice.
This path
of closed eyes –
fulfillment falls like rain.
40. Deliverance
To arrive
return
without going.
Find the medicine
of forgiveness.
41. Decrease
Harvest
comes
from pruning and drainage –
by what
is taken away.
42. Increase
The wise detect
and prepare for
the sun’s march
across
an empty sky.
43. Determination
Fear stalks
its own reflection –
Remove
the window dressing
of your prison.
44. Coming to Meet
The unexpected
draws the breath in –
It is a wind that tugs
with a million teeth
on the uninhabited.
45. Gathering Together
Wearing
a cloak
of woven grass,
become a rainmaker
for the living.
46. Pushing Upward
The rain comes
and what bends
will rise.
It is a purposeful
journey.
47. Oppression
Life's gentle prodding
whittles away
the unnecessary –
until only the necessary
remains.
48. The Well
Untie the rope,
discard the bucket.
The inexhaustible source
is the water
of an endless stream.
49. Revolution
All that
rises
also falls –
it is the way
of change.
50. The Cauldron
Initiation.
Tranquility
in disturbance –
Balance your basket
on the winding path.
51. Shocking
Thunderstorms
and rainbows
are born of the same
rattling sounds –
and promises.
52. Keeping Still
Travel below
your
obvious foliage.
Turn backwards –
harvest the unseen.
53. Development
Plant yourself
in the same silence
where a thousand seeds
are becoming
the landscape of spring.
54. Subordinate
Give your carved block
to the Woodcarver.
Let the cutting
shape
your gift.
55. Abundance
All of nature
is the participation
and sharing
of each
unique offering.
56. The Wanderer
The greatest traveler
has no itinerary.
When traveling,
be a gardener
of people.
57. Penetrating Wind
Move like
the wind –
its soft lullaby,
sculpting
mountains.
58. Joy
Unhappiness
is the hunger pain
for change.
Joy –
its constant companion.
59. Dispersion
LIfe scatters to reunite
in seeds
upon the wind.
Be lifted up
by the unknown.
60. Limitation
Limitations
are the
breeding ground
for
nature’s strength.
61. Inner Truth
Throw the rock,
the water ripples.
Life’s energy flows
through you in waves.
Reverberate to your center.
62. Development of the Small
When the heart
soars like a bird,
and the mind tumbles
in endless curiosity –
the small exceeds itself.
63. After Completion
Order, chaos,
then order again.
Such is the way
of the great
untangling.
64. Before Completion
Therefore, when the end
is near,
open
to the new
beginning.