Ell

Step one: we're on a message board that at times discusses healing oneself using only the mind.

It's something that I know, and then forget, know, and then forget.... And that's that, no matter the path you follow, you have to be a human being first. And understand what I mean: I'm not saying "have to" in the sense of me giving out my own advice on right living; I'm saying "have to" as in we have no other choice, much as we spiritual people may sometimes fight it. We are here in the world. One can read the bible, or the Tao Te Ching, until they're blue in the face, and they will still want to have sex with those they find to be attractive, and still do damn near anything to eat when they get hungry. This community is filled with people who have made great strides in their personal and spiritual developments, but it is no refuge from people definitively shaped by their environments, the opinions of their parents, the biases they've come to own (and I shouldn't have expected it to be....nor should I be disappointed that it is). I include myself in all of this, by the way. The only counterargument that I see is to talk of some type of transcendence. But I'm starting to believe that transcending is even more fleeting than I ever believed it to be before. That's not to say it's not worth striving for, but instead to say that the vast, vast majority of people who taste it....just end up back here....back here in the world.

I got Dan Brown, some guy named Cory Doctorow, and then JK Rowling. ....when do I get my money?

This guy in this discussion group I used to attend would always use the simile "like an ant trying to understand a computer." And that kind of sums up how I feel about me trying to protect nature.

"Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery -- subordination to the superior race -- is his natural and normal condition. [Applause.] This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth." -Alexander Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America Furthermore, who is paying who's bills now? http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/top-10-states-rely-most-federal-aid

If I could get some kind of divine assurance, like God with his long white beard to come out of the sky, have lunch, and level with me, that Trump was saying the shit he was saying, and acting the way he's been acting, for the sake of getting votes and then was going to really turn on the practicality and hire a staff full of experts that know what they are doing once he got in office, I would vote for Trump, absolutely. Unfortunately, I only feel comfortable taking the guy at face value. And the guy at face value is dangerous. The way people justify the Muslim ban comments really trips me out. I equate it in many ways with the way people justify the flying of the Confederate flag. Both - his comments and the act of flying the flag - are literally, by any rational definition, top five most unAmerican things you could ever do. Furthermore, and this part I truly don't mean at all facetiously or in a confrontational way, I want to throw out something to any of those who are vehement in their dislike for or fear of Bernie (and note that I'm not a rabid supporter of his - I would have liked to see him do better, but I will take my medicine and vote for Clinton). Explain to me why or what about the attached video is misleading or wrong. And for the sake of a good debate, try to steer away from personal feelings for Maher or paranoia over the historical meaning you assign to the word "socialist" - in other words take Bernie as an entity for what all real signs point to him doing are and not the imaginary monster you foresee him turning into down the line for whatever reason.

Everything's a racket.

65% chance we have people following us tomorrow.

Check out this course. Does anyone know anything further about the speaker and/or school? I've been kind of on the lookout for a barebones, historical i-Ching "class" so to speak. I think, being used to the format, it'd be a good way for me personally to delve a little deeper. Actually, their entire programs look really interesting (screw it, I need a Masters Degree, right?).

L. Ron did.

Cartoons usually don't do anything for me but this looks very interesting, very different...

I'm currently entering a time of great change....new job, possibly a new location, a risky health decision (not life threatening)....These were all things that I chose and I am excited for them. That being said, I'm cognizant that my critics (including myself) might say the time is not right for these things. My thought process - gained via experience - is that there is no such thing as the perfect time. That's why I pulled the trigger on them. When inquiring about these areas with the I-Ching, I've been often getting the reading 28. Great Exceeding. Either as my main hexagram or where my changing line is headed. I'm having trouble interpreting this. The line from my copy that throws me off is the very first: "This indicates a situation that is out of balance." All I seem to be able to take away is a negative connotation - that perhaps my doubts were right, that the time is not favorable for change. It's also maybe a case of my stubbornness vs. the I-Ching. Because, deep down, I know I'm making these changes, I-Ching be damned. But before I twist myself into knots over it, I wanted to see if anybody had any alternate interpretations of Hexagram #28? If you'd be so kind, help me see the good in it....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5vnpOp0U_g

I'd be interested in hearing different interpretations of this hexagram. As a relative newcomer to the I-Ching, I have been doing a reading every morning to try and better learn the book - and I think I've been having a lot of success - but this morning's reading is really tripping me up. It's the first time I've gotten "22. Adorning," and I feel as though an important lesson is staring me in the face but I'm just not able to pin it down. This can be a general discussion, of course, but just to fan the flames a little I'm going to include my personal details. I asked the book about myself as an entrepreneur. This has been a constant internal battle for me for many years -something ingrained in my creative side and personality: I think up wild ideas to "launch," creative projects, next big things, new missions, etc. almost as get-rich-quick schemes, things that will for sure hit it big for me and lead me to the life of my dreams in hardly any time at all. But then they either fail or I lose interest quickly....and it's on to the next thing. And repeat. It has at times been rewarding, but it's also often very exhausting. Lately, I've been wondering if letting go of this trait of mine, perhaps being more in the moment in my "regular person job" (or putting more effort into finding a new one), and not heaping all these expectations on myself, might actually lead to me being happier, even if it goes against my first instincts. Essentially, I've been exploring the idea that "entrepreneurship not being for everyone" does not equate to a creative person "giving up." And so it was with this background that I drew Adorning. Here are three pieces of the reading/different interpretations that jumped out at me and my reactions to them in order to provide you all an example of why I feel all over the map with this one: From a supplemental online source: Outwardly, everything is good. But it is not time for great things. At the moment content with little. Do not obsess over visual appeal. Look at what's happening and choose goals for the future according to the dictates of the soul. Furnishing our external, do not forget to take care of the internal, true beauty is inside. My number one New Year's Resolution to myself for 2016 was, "Start small." This seems to fit with letting go of the pressures of entrepreneurship. It doesn't dismiss the urge altogether, but rather suggests I might be rushing things. Now is not the time. It kind of puts me at ease. From my Huang translation: Form and essence - yin and yang - should always compliment each other. This was the sentence that immediately commandeered my attention and one that could go either way - fitting perfectly with the above or playing to my fears. I'm really on the fence about it. Is my essence that free-spirited leader mentality and my discontent a result of my projects not having been successful? Or are these lofty projects betraying my more serene essence? Finally: My moving line was Second Six alternates to 26. Great Accumulation. Same as above. Should I read that continued determination will pay off? Or that it is letting go that is auspicious? Anyways, I understand the varying nature of readings/interpretations. Just thought I'd throw this out to open up the dialogue about this particular hexagram (and maybe open my mind a little in the process). I'm certainly not treating it as life or death and I do have confidence I'll figure my situation out eventually. That being said, there's my troubles, so figure them out for me

Dauluin, I especially love your interpretations of my yield here. You're obviously quite skilled at this. What a fascinating, powerful book that the four of us can take away such a range of things from the chapter and I can find real value in each.... A few thoughts for each of you: First, just to clarify one broad point that maybe wasn't clear: the idea of "failing" in these creative pursuits of mine wasn't so much causing me angst as was me being a little baffled why things never seem "right." Why do things feel like a fit for me only fleetingly? In other words, I sincerely wasn't pulling to be an entrepreneur or not an entrepreneur - or looking at one or the other as "better" or more indicative of success - but rather just to be helped steered to a place of contentment with my creativity. Taomeow: For my morning reading this morning, I tried rephrasing my inquiry as you suggested, albeit, taking into consideration the above, prefaced by "If I was to commit to entrepreneurship" (which I hope doesn't dilute the magic!). I drew 27. Nourishing with Second Six alternating to 41. Decreasing. Believe it or not, I took some similar notions to my previous draw & also to Michael & Daeluin's interpretations which I expand on below. Michael: Interestingly - and perhaps indicative of what's in my heart - different things from your chosen selections jumped out at me than jumped out at you. First, could I not read the fire (my creativity) as being "pure" in a sense and the mountain, what that fire illuminates (and the thresholds I continuously imagine my creativity taking me), as being something of an illusion? In other words, I need to commit to the fire, because the fire is what is real. Does that follow at all? Another really interesting excerpt for me was the line from your third quote, " ....it is an advantage not to eat at home but rather to earn one's bread by entering upon public office." I find that I succeed out in the "real world," with people, in public view, but I'm most naturally inclined to isolated pursuits/solo business ventures/et cetera (which do not usually succeed). I've wondered about this often....if the answer for me is somewhat counter-intuitive as are so many things in life.... Along those same lines, Daeluin: You wrote, "...while you do other things in the outside world like your day job." Another huge theme for me and this really hit home. I've often wondered about this, thinking of it as a kind of a distraction necessary to success. Like that it is far from advantageous to obsess over one thing, put all your eggs in one basket, etc. I found the last part of your response very Tao. Thanks again for playing along guys....many pieces staring to come together....

Taomeow, Michael, you've both given me many new angles to think about. After doing so for a bit, I may return with thoughts....Thank you.

He could be from Vatican City.

Yikes, man. I didn't pee on her grave or anything...

Reading a book right now which suggests her predecessor Victoria was a real bad lady.

My sister got me a projector so now I can blow up movies & stuff on my wall real big.

I like the analogy of hate keeping you locked in a cage. It's like condemning someone or something to a prison sentence, but then you yourself serving the term. That's not to say I'm free from the emotion or that I haven't grown from it in the past. Or even that I don't believe it to be important. I've just come to know that it usually ain't doing anything to the person or thing towards which it's aimed.

I never said that. People like sex and everybody is different. Anyways, welcome to the forum.

Hi all, looking for a bit of help once again.... Long story short, I'm rolling around an idea for a new creative project right now in which it'd be helpful to have an English translation of the TTC that was in the public domain for me to kind of attach to a separate but inspired work. Any recommendations? And for any very practiced students (i.e. if you know of many different p.d. translations): -what would you say is the best translation? -What would you say is the most accessible translation (in terms of language for the everyday American)?

Pro wrestling is Tao.