Michael Sternbach

I would recommend you study Alchemy.

An image of the atom in the view of modern quantum physics:

Here's a lovely old image showing the cosmos in the view of the ancients... Geocentric alright, but timelessly valid from a relativistic perspective!

It's actually better represented by spheres within spheres. Here is a neat example as regards planet Earth... https://earthhow.com/spheres-of-earth/

No need, it's fine where it is. As the article also talks about discoveries close to the shore of the American continent anyway. The part about now submerged land that once used to be part of Australia (more properly, Sahul) is intriguing. We have touched on the question of Sahul/Sundaland before... He will probably "post as he likes" anyway . No need to remind him...

Overall, quantum physics is indeed on the cutting edge where science (in the modern sense) meets spirituality. It is to be hoped that other natural sciences will catch up in due course. I am right there with you. The galaxy with its central "star"; the solar system with the sun at its centre; the earth with its central core; the human being with its heart; the cell with its nucleus; and also the atom with its nucleus - all these are indeed manifestations of a divine archetype, each representing the latter in their own way specific to their respective level.

I want my money back in that case.

Have you got a vegetarian alternative for me in your offer? 😋

Me too. I am back to using an external host every time I wish to post an image.

I reached that conclusion based on context - you mentioned that you physically hurt yourself by your exercises before. So the Yijing's reply must be read in that light. Does that make sense to you?

Let's get back on topic please.

I talked about your last question only. And I emphasized the stretching part because that's the really tricky one, in my understanding of the Yijing's response. Hexagram 24 was the first one. It transforms into hexagram 2, hence that's the second one. Doing nothing, or just meditation, is fine for awhile until you feel fit physically and mentally to resume the physical practice as well. And then you should do so with great care and attention to how it affects you. But yes, you should persevere in it. And that's how I read them. Hope that my interpretation became intelligible now.

My way of thinking exactly. Ancient Hermetics already provided a union of natural science and metaphysics. Neo-Hermetics is meant to be a revival of that. It promises to integrate modern knowledge (as gained by the kind of instruments shown in your post) with ancient wisdom. And this will be akin to a (re)union of the analytical and the intuitive mind.

Let's keep things sweet and simple please. Keep in mind that the Yijing already advised you not to get caught up in sophistries! Along these lines (notice the pun ), let's just take a look at your latest reading for now. The first hexagram clearly suggests that, in regards to your stretching practice, you should take things really easy initially. In case your body still needs to fully recover from injury sustained due to prior practice, make sure to factor in the required time. Then cautiously take up or continue a routine that respects your current limitations. Be sensitive to your body at all times during your practice. Increase pressure very gradually only. Following your current routine may be a good idea if it suits you overall. The thing to keep in mind is the guidelines already given. And to patiently persevere in your efforts. Interestingly, the second hexagram serves to underline all that. Hope this helps.

Interestingly, the view presented here seems in accordance also with modern physics! Roger Penrose's Conformal Cyclic Cosmology rests on the assumption that after a very long time (the number of years equals something like 10 to the 100th power), all matter in the universe will have turned into light. Both spatial and temporal measurement become impossible. Paradoxically, such a universe extends to infinity and contracts to a singularity at once (that's where the 'conformal' part comes into play). You may want to call this state a moment of pure divine consciousness. From that singularity, another Big Bang ensues, and the story repeats itself - ad infinitum (and yes,you guessed it - that's what the 'cyclic' bit refers to). I informed Mr Penrose and some of his colleagues about the parallels I saw between CCC and certain metaphysical traditions (for instance, the manifest universe is born from en soph aur or 'infinite light' according to the Kabbalah) on a physics congress, but earned little more than blank looks and an admission that such considerations were "outside the scope of science". Showing once again what a long way we have come since the days of scientist-philosophers like Plato und Aristotle...

Yes. And well said, by the way. It is this metaphysical perspective which is absent from so much of the current pandemic discussion, even on this forum. Most of the debate focusses on external causes of covid-19 and how to handle those. This thread is intended to contribute whatever it can to the establishment of that 'missing link'. Thank you all for your contributions.

It is indeed remarkable what feats of energetic healing even beginners can sometimes accomplish. Anybody who has attended a basic seminar in the Silva Mind Control method or a comparable non-traditional approach to healing and visualization will know exactly what I am talking about. The refinement of such skills requires years of practice, however. And yet, there is never any guarantee that a given case responds as well as others did before. Then again, this holds true for any kind of therapy, including orthodox medical ones.

Yes and no. The Daoist approach to 'perceived flaws' is to continue perceiving them, giving them room, becoming familiar with them, understanding their roots. Change can ensue quite naturally from there. It's the principle of non-resistance... What has been called the water course way.

I think this diagram is missing the mark in some ways. For instance, self-pity can easily go hand in hand with blaming others. They belong on the same side, really. The actual 'yin opposite' of blaming others would not be self-pity, but blaming self; put differently, guilt. Which is in fact another way of avoiding acceptance and 'the universal lesson'.

Contradictions as opportunities for discovery; I like that! I sometimes say that wisdom is always contextual. Some have stated that truth is dualistic. Crowley insisted that every thought needs to be balanced by its exact opposite. I am not sure how practical that kind of mind set is going to be while handling the necessities of daily living , but the idea holds true nevertheless - well, at least half of the time! At least as long as we don't find ourselves in the region above the Abyss in Kabbalistic terms, where all opposites are reconciled and all seemingly contradictory views melt into one.

Very well. You asked for it! The general text of hexagram 61 encourages you to connect with the fundamental wisdom found within you. Reproducing some of the most obviously relevant statements from my preferred online Yijing version on divination.com: "Truth becomes power when you let go of prejudice and make yourself receptive to the world as it really is ... It is achieved only by those who cultivate a genuine openness to the way things are and possess a willingness to see into the heart of things, rather than to merely looking at appearances." And a bit further down the page: "...if you cloak mysteries with dogma, opportunities for insight will be lost. If you waver in upholding your principles, you will be tested. Yet when you are firm and strong, the power of truth can break through even the most stubborn minds (including your own)." The third line provides further hints: "The life of a person who looks to others for truth and purpose is like a ship tossing on the sea: until the ship’s anchor is dropped to the ocean floor, there will be no stability in the rolling waves ...Inner truth must be rooted in your own perceptions and experience. At the gate of the palace of truth, each of us stands alone. Dare to know your own mind—and speak it when the time is right!" This again is clear advice to more look inside yourself rather than to turn to others for advice! Line 5 however suggests that there is benefit to be gained from coming in touch with people that can provide genuine guidance in this matter: "Unity is possible when the force of an integrated personality can radiate influence. Such a person guides through the power of suggestion: the prosperity that resides in this leader’s heart affects others through his or her very existence. If such a person is true at heart, coming into his or her circle of influence brings great good fortune." Well, initially, it was the following quote which you presented yourself that led me to my conclusion: The way I read this was that, in regards to your repeated question, the Yijing characterizes you as a "cockcrow" (with the obvious implication of a certain self-centeredness and being a bit 'noisy' ) aspiring to higher understanding ("heaven"), however, your approach won't get you any positive results because you dwell on sophistries rather than attempting to intuitively grasp the essence of what has been shared. A mere play with words... However, the second hexagram suggests that there is a real potential for coming to greater peace of mind and composure in your approach towards reading the oracle. I don't pay attention to the "hidden hexagram" in a reading. Now why do I read the reply this way? Simply because it makes the most sense! As you noted yourself, taken verbatim, it just doesn't seem applicable to your actual query. And trust me, I have seen it happen before - both with the Yijing and other methods of divination - that when our mind is too busy analyzing and questioning the answers it receives, the oracle simply starts reflecting our own mental state. By the way, the same can happen when we are generally in too anxious a state during a reading. Hope this helps. Oh, and let me know if you wish me to have a go at interpreting the original answer you received.

The Yijing commented on your attitude towards the issue rather than on the issue itself. This is because you dismissed the correct answer you originally received as irrelevant, since you assumed the question you had asked to be invalid. Further, you said you wanted to "test" the Yijing. But as a matter of fact, it kind of tested you!

I know that some of you had first-hand encounters with covid-19 and therefore tend to become rather emotional about the topic. Rest assured, I sympathize with all of you! The focus of this thread is not intended to be on the pros and cons of wearing masks, however, or the correct way of doing so. Nor on any other rules of conduct implemented at one time or another and assumed to help contain the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2. As those only touch on the material cause of the epidemic anyway. For most readers, being followers of various spiritual paths, it should be a matter of course that there is so much more at play here than meets the eye! It is those invisible factors that I am hoping to discuss. It has been said that, on one level, the occurence of an epidemic is a statement about an unsustainable , but ongoing condition - quite possibly by bringing the latter to a head! Read in this light, the social ramifications of this disease - the imperative of wearing masks, avoiding close contact with others, seeing them and ourselves as a potential threat at all times - suggest as underlying theme the loss of intimacy and alienation that alot of people have noted in regards to the increasing shift of our social life to the anonymity and unbinding nature of the virtual realm called the Internet. It should be understood that, once a certain threshold has been breached, despondency can spread and take hold of a collective ahead of any infectious germ. In fact, it is that kind of psychological condition gone viral that lowers the natural resistance of those resonant with it and renders them susceptible to the energetic imprint of a subsequent infectious agent to begin with. That being said, that kind of event is sure to carry multiple meanings, and for some the pandemic will offer a welcome opportunity to slow down in their tracks, to regain a bit of peace and rest, to come home, to come into their own. These are just some of the general patterns at work behind the scenes. Of course, each individual affected directly or indirectly will have its own specific reasons for taking part in a mass event of thst kind. At the end of the day, we all are the authors of our own life story. And that even includes those comparatively few amongst us to whom the pandemic will be a way to leave the physical system behind altogether. Your thoughts and observations regarding the deeper meaning of this unprecedented mass event would be welcome. Michael

The Yijing typically reacts this way when we become too cheeky with it. At the same time, it offers a perspective of finding peace of mind with what has happened.