CHAPTER 5
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Figure 5.1: Lines in The Eight Trigrams
In this way of viewing the sequence, the inner ring represents the bottom lines of the trigrams. Let’s concentrate just on that innermost ring for the moment. On the let side you see all yang lines ( ); on the right side are yin lines ( ).
Figure 5.2: Significance of Bottom Lines
In a neat relection of the simple sundial that the ancient Chinese cre-ated, the yang lines on the let represent the days getting longer, and yin lines on the right show days getting shorter. hese bottom lines do not literally identify the exact length of the day but symbolize an action --
the increase or decrease in the length of the day.
A yang line in the bottom position represents the action of heaven.
Because heaven gives energy to the earth and, as perceived by the an-cients, orbits the earth, the characteristics of a yang action may be active, ofensive, aggressive, advancing, expanding, vigorous, or energetic. Since the earth receives energy from heaven and was believed to be standing still, a yin action, represented by a yin line at the bottom, may be pas-sive, defenpas-sive, receding, contracting, stopping, or at rest.
Within the context of a relationship, yang action may refer to initiating, developing, or improving the bond. A yin action may refer to defend-ing, waitdefend-ing, hesitatdefend-ing, withdrawing from or ending the liaison. When we spoke of Harry’s career in Chapter 4, his action was yang when he started a new job and improved in his work. When he lost interest in it, then resigned and let AFR, his action was yin.
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Middle Line: EssenceNow concentrate only on the middle lines, which comprise the center ring of the eight trigrams.
Figure 5.3: Mirror Image of Middle Lines
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he lines to the let of the vertical axis are a mirror image of the lines on the right, but those on either side of the horizontal axis are in oppo-sition. In trigrams 6 ( ), 7 ( ), 3 ( ), and 2 ( ), all the middle lines are yang lines ( ), representing the time of year when the days are long. In trigrams 1 ( ), Ø ( ), 4 ( ), and 5 ( ), all the middle lines are yin lines ( ) representing the time of year when the days are short. A yang line in the middle position of a trigram denotes a long day, and a yin line indicates a short day.
Figure 5.4: Significance of Middle Lines
he middle line of a trigram represents the essential nature, or essence, of a thing or person. A yang essence represents the traits of heaven.
Since heaven has great power and strength, a yang essence indicates power and strength. Compared to heaven, the earth has less power and strength, but it is a wellspring for living things whose environment con-verts heaven’s energy into nurturing food. A yin essence represents the
traits of the earth, which are not as powerful or strong as heaven’s, but are adaptable to the environment and have the potential for supporting and nurturing others.
In regard to a relationship, a yang essence suggests good character, good health, wealth, education, inancial strength, suicient informa-tion, and so on. A yin essence refers to undeveloped potential ability: a weak body, insuicient inances, a lack of information, etc.
Note that this essence must be considered in reference to a particular relationship, not to a person, in general. Good personal character, ro-bust health, or wealth may be a yang essence vital in one relationship but may not be signiicant in another situation. In a relationship, a yang essence usually indicates the person who is in the stronger position, and a yin essence indicates the weaker status. In this way, a conident, well-of athlete who is pining away for a woman who doesn’t care for him would have a yin essence in their relationship, regardless of his hardy personal qualities.
Consider Harry’s situations during his career at AFR. In the stages represented by trigrams 6 ( ), 7 ( ), 3 ( ), and 2 ( ), he was competent in his work and dedicated to his job; he was respected and promoted. In these instances his essence was yang. In the stages repre-sented by trigrams 1 ( ), Ø ( ), 4 ( ), and 5 ( ), he was either out of work, inexperienced at his new job, or tired of his old job. hrough these stages he was still Harry -- smart, well educated, and competent -- but these characteristics were in a potential form, not apparent in his situation. At these stages his essence was yin.
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Top Line: AttitudeFinally we come to the outer ring of the eight trigrams, which consists of the top lines of the eight trigrams.
Figure 5.5: Mirror Image of the Top Lines
You see that the arrangement of the top lines on the let of the vertical axis is a mirror image of the top lines on the right; on either side of the horizontal axis, they oppose each other. hat arrangement is similar to the coniguration of the middle lines, but here the top lines alternate between yin and yang in every quarter of the circle.
Where the middle line of a trigram dictates whether the day is long or short, the top line augments this information by telling us whether the day is the longest, the shortest, or in between, as shown below.
Figure 5.6: Significance of Top Lines
When the day is long, as determined by a yang middle line, a yang line on top identiies it as the longest day; a yin line on the top indicates the day is long, but not the longest. When the day is short, signiied by a yin middle line, a second yin line on top tells you it is the shortest. A yang top line indicates the day is short but not the shortest.
he top line of a trigram represents a feature that is not essential; it fur-ther deines a unique nature by providing nuance. When a trigram rep-resents a person in a relationship, this nature refers to his or her attitude.
A yang attitude represents the supplementary quality of heaven -- hot, bright, remote, unpredictable, and mysterious. A yin attitude represents the supplementary characteristics of earth -- stable, gentle, graceful, tangible, kind, and subordinate.
In terms of a relationship, a yang attitude can be tough, vacillating, arrogant, reckless, demanding, bossy, irm, and so on. A yin attitude might be agreeable, humble, stable, graceful, gentle, introverted, quiet, kind, open, respectful, or lexible.
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Again, keep in mind that the attitude must be viewed in reference to a particular relationship. A person may be dominant in one relationship but humble in another situation. You may be naturally very aggressive, but in circumstances where you are less sure of yourself, your attitude can be yin.
We have seen the diferent stages of Harry’s work at AFR. In the ig-ure below, notice on the let the arrangement of the top lines, and on the right the Eight Trigrams rotated a half-space counterclockwise for comparison. he top lines of trigrams 5, 7, 3, and 1 are yang lines ( ).
Figure 5.7: Top Lines & Eight Trigrams
In the Spring Equinox season represented by Trigram 5 ( ), Fire, Harry was displaying his talent and education. At Trigram 7 ( ), Heaven, he was bossy because of his higher position and at Trigram 3 ( ), Wind, he was not actively seeking change because he was arrogant, assessing his own job performance as superior, or complacent about his success. At Trigram 1 ( ), Mountain, he was bold in his decision to
re-sign from AFR. In these four very diferent stages, his attitude was yang.
Now look at the other points of Harry’s time with AFR: he top lines of trigram 4, 6, 2, and Ø are all yin ( ). At Trigram 4 ( ), hunder, he was just beginning the job and uncertain about how well he would do; at Trigram 6 ( ), Lake, he received an important promotion and was modestly trying his best. At Trigram 2 ( ), Water, he was unen-thusiastic about his work, and with the return of Trigram Ø ( ), he once more became humble and lexible in hunting for a new job. In these four stages, his attitude was yin.
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The Personal Trigrams in RealityWhen a trigram represents a person, its three lines represent his or her three aspects: action, essence, and attitude. A trigram representing a person is constructed from the bottom up, by identifying the yin or yang nature of each of the three aspects.
Remember that each of these three aspects is determined in reference to the relationship about which you are consulting the I Ching. Action refers to what the person is doing for the relationship. Essence describes what kind of person he or she is within the boundaries of this relationship.
Attitude is the way he or she is dealing with others in the relationship.
When constructing a trigram, you must evaluate each of the three aspects according to the facts. Once you have accurately evaluated the circumstances, the three lines are identiied as yin or yang, and the tri-gram is built.
Aware that George has noticed her, Cathy hopes that he can help her get ahead at the company, and she approaches him to ask for his help with a presentation on which she’s working. his action is yang, so the bottom line of Cathy’s trigram is yang.
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Because she is immature and inexperienced, Cathy is socially awkward in contrast to George’s smooth conidence, and she has little power in the workplace where his status is secure. So her essence is yin, as rep-resented by a yin middle line in her trigram.
When Cathy approaches George, she is careful to come across as po-lite and respectful. She knows that George can help her, but he might misunderstand or take advantage of her boldness in coming forward.
So her attitude is tentative and cautious, represented by a yin top line.
So the trigram representing Cathy’s situation is Trigram 4 ( ), hunder.
Now let us consider the other side of the relationship; i.e., George’s role.
Since he is attracted to Cathy and made the irst move to show his inter-est, his action is yang. He is a leader in the organization where Cathy works and derives power from his position, so his essence is yang. When Cathy approaches him, she inds that he is demanding and arrogant, with an attitude that is decidedly yang. his evaluation results in the tri-gram representing George’s situation, which is Tritri-gram 7 ( ), Heaven.
In Chapter 8, “Changes,” we will discover whether or not a relation-ship with George would be advantageous for Cathy. For now, remember that in building these trigrams we are evaluating Cathy and George in relationship to each other and within the context of their workplace. If they met elsewhere -- at the beach, for instance, where Cathy wears a bathing suit with conidence and George is an out-of-shape older man sitting on a blanket with his wife and children -- the dynamics of their relationship would be very diferent, and other aspects of their person-alities might dominate the situation. For the beach scenario, we would evaluate their actions, essences, and attitudes accordingly, and very dif-ferent trigrams would result.
he key to building trigrams lies in the ability to make a correct assess-ment of the parties involved, without exaggeration or wishful thinking.
Remember, a trigram is only as accurate as the honesty of your input.
Keep in mind the role of the three lines in relationship:
• Bottom line represents action
• Middle line represents essence
• Top line represents attitude
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