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Grace22
Refinement and grace enhance your presence. Focus on beauty and elegance in actions, but do not let appearance overshadow substance. Simplicity often holds the truest value.
↓ Line 1
Simple grace is best. Avoid ostentation and proceed with humility.
↓ Line 3
Maintain inner grace and integrity; this will lead to success.
↓ Line 5
Even small efforts can lead to success if pursued with sincerity.
↓ Line 6
True grace is simple and unadorned. Avoid excess and remain true to oneself.
↓ Union8
Collaboration and uniting with others bring strength. Commit to shared goals and build alliances.
Original Readings
22 Grace
Other titles: Grace, The Symbol of Decoration, Elegance, Gracefulness, Luxuriance, Adorning, Public Image, Adornment, Beauty, Conceit, Vanity, Veneer, Façade, Manners, Embellishment, Superficiality, Superficial Appearances, Form vs. Function, "Art," Ego-trips, "Often refers to conceit, vanity or beauty. It stresses that the content is more important than the outward appearance." -- D.F. Hook
Judgment
Legge: Persona should be given its due, but there is no advantage in allowing it to advance and take the lead.
Wilhelm/Baynes:Grace has success. In small matters it is favorable to undertake something.
Blofeld: Elegance. Success! Some small advantage can be derived from having a particular goal (or destination). [The implication is that the advantage is not sufficient to make it worth while to seek that goal or destination unless no special difficulty or inconvenience is involved. The arrangement of the lines in this hexagram is very similar to that in the previous one, but it is adjudged much more suitable. The general idea is that, like nature, we should conform to a regular and well ordered pattern of behavior which, since we are human beings and not mere animals, involves a high degree of refinement. From the point of view of divination, it would seem that this is a time to watch carefully so as to learn how those involved in the situation think and behave, the better to influence them for the good when the opportunity arises.]
Liu:Gracefulness, success. Small undertakings benefit.
Ritsema/Karcher: Adorning , Growing. The small, Harvesting: possessing directed going. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of its outward presentation. It emphasizes that building intrinsic value by embellishing appearance and displaying valor is the adequate way to handle it...]
Shaughnessy: Luxuriance : Receipt; a little beneficial to have someplace to go.
Cleary (1):Adornment is developmental. It is beneficial to go somewhere in a minimal way.
Cleary (2):Adornment is successful. It is beneficial to go somewhere in a small way.
Wu:Adornment is pervasive and shows small advantage of an undertaking. [Adornment does not change the nature of what it adorns, but merely makes what it adorns appear more attractive. In other words, the change is mostly superficial but not substantive…]
The Image
Legge: Fire at the foot of the mountain -- the image of Persona. Thus the superior man adorns his rule with grace, but makes important decisions in conformance with higher laws.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Fire at the foot of the mountain: the image of Grace. Thus does the superior man proceed when clearing up current affairs. But he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes fire at the foot of a mountain. The Superior Man, desiring to ensure the enlightened functioning of the various departments of state, dare not make light decisions regarding legal matters. [The component trigrams, fire below mountain, suggest a brilliance which cannot be perceived from afar. The Chinese commentators go on to suggest that this symbolizes a firm and somewhat severe exterior which hides brilliance and the beauty within. For purposes of divination, this should be taken as a pattern for our comportment in the matter at issue.]
Liu: Fire illuminates the base of the mountain symbolizing Gracefulness. Thus the superior man clarifies ordinary affairs, but does not judge lawsuits.
Ritsema/Karcher: Below mountain possessing fire. Adorning. A chun tzu uses brightening the multitudinous standards without daring to sever litigating.
Cleary (1): There is fire below the mountain, adorning it. Thus do superior people clarify governmental affairs, without presumptuous adjudication. [What superior people see in this is that just as the light of a fire below a mountain is not great, when people are lacking in capacity their vision is not far reaching; therefore the superior people administer and clarify the simple matters of governmental affairs, and do not act presumptuously in difficult matters of adjudication… Not judging presumptuously thus has the meaning of respect for life.]
Wu: There is fire at the foot of the mountain; this is Adornment. The jun zi brings openness to administering civil affairs, but refrains from judging cases in criminal litigation.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: In Persona we see the magnetic central line ornamenting the dynamic lines of the lower trigram, and hence it is said that ornament should have free course. On the other hand, the dynamic top line ornaments the magnetic lines of the upper trigram, and hence it is said that there will be little advantage if ornament is allowed to advance and take the lead. The elegance and intelligence of the lower trigram is regulated by the restraint of the upper trigram. This suggests the observances which adorn human society. We observe the ornamental figures of the sky, and thereby ascertain the changes of the seasons. We observe the ceremonial customs of society, and understand how transformation is accomplished in the world.
Legge: Persona is the symbol of what is ornamental and of the act of adorning. As there is adornment in nature, so should there be in society, but its place is secondary to that which is substantial.
The K'ang-hsi editors say that the magnetic line coming and ornamenting the two dynamic lines in the lower trigram shows how substantiality should have the benefit of ornamentation. The dynamic line ornamenting the two magnetic lines in the upper trigram shows how ornamentation should be restrained by substantiality. Ornament has its use, but it should be kept in check.
The figures of the sky are all the heavenly bodies in their relative positions and various movements, producing day and night, heat and cold, etc. The observances of society are the ceremonies and performances which regulate and beautify the intercourse of men.
"A mountain," says Ch'eng-tzu, "is a place where we find grass, trees, and a hundred other things. A fire burning below it throws up its light, and brings them all out in beauty. This gives the idea of ornament, or being ornamented. The various processes of government are small matters, and elegance and ornament help their course, but great matters of judgment demand the simple, unadorned truth.”
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Judgment: There's nothing wrong with showing a little style, but don't become so identified with a role that it makes your decisions for you.
The Superior Man displays wit and charm when that is appropriate, but relies upon shrewd discernment when making serious choices.
Confucius points out the correct attitude for this hexagram in his third sentence -- the elegant intelligence, or "brilliant wit" of the lower trigram is being "sat on" by the mountain of the upper trigram. Brilliant wit is often just an "ornament" to make one look clever in the company of others. Like seasoning on food, a little bit ofPersona or ornamentation is life-enhancing, but too much curry powder overwhelms the meal.
Jung's conception of the Persona points out the fact that it is a major vehicle for the complexes to express themselves under the guise of social interaction:
(The Persona) is only a mask for the collective psyche, a mask that feigns individuality, and tries to make others and oneself believe that one is individual, whereas one is simply playing a part in which the collective psyche speaks. Jung -- The Relations between the Ego and the Unconscious
For an urban shipping clerk to wear cowboy clothes may be a legitimate expression of his personality, or it may be the only outlet available for repressed portions of his psyche. When he begins driving a pickup truck and frequenting Country-Western bars we might suspect that his role is playing him and the real Self is being masked by excessive ornamentation orPersona.
The person cannot be more than an instrument for the manifestation of the self. But people get so attached to their mask that they cannot free themselves from it any more ... They make a king out of the servant and separate themselves from their true being. They force their higher self into exile, into the unconscious. Elisabeth Haich --Initiation
To receive this hexagram without changing lines suggests that perhaps you are more focused on form than meaning, or that superficial appearances are concealing something more substantive in the situation. Look deeper – what’s really going on?
Line 1
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows one adorning the way of his feet. He can discard a carriage and walk on foot.
Wilhelm/Baynes: He lends grace to his toes, leaves the carriage and walks.
Blofeld: Elegantly shod, he leaves his carriage and proceeds on foot.
Liu: He decorates his toes and leaves the carriage. He would rather walk. [Activity benefits, but stagnation does not.]
Ritsema/Karcher: Adorning one's feet. Stowing-away the chariot and-also afoot.
Shaughnessy: Making luxurious his feet; discarding the chariot and going on foot.
Cleary (1): Adorning the feet, leaving the car and walking.
Cleary (2): Adorn the feet; leave the car and walk.
Wu: He adorns his toes, leaves the carriage behind and walks.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: Righteousness requires that he should not ride. Wilhelm/ Baynes: It accords with duty not to ride. Blofeld: He declines to make use of the carriage at his disposal. [This implies progressing in the way we know to be right and declining the help of those who are anxious to lead us from the path of rectitude.] Ritsema/Karcher: Righteously nothing to ride indeed. Cleary (2): It is right not to ride. Wu: Because it is right not to ride in it.
Legge: Line one is dynamic in a dynamic place at the bottom of the hexagram. He is also the first line in the trigram of fire or light, suggesting what is elegant and bright. He has nothing to do but to attend to himself; therefore he cultivates (adorns) himself in his humble position. If righteousness demands it he can give up every luxury and indulgence. He neither cares for nor needs adornment, and will walk in the way of righteousness without it.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: At the outset, the man is tempted to create a falsely flattering public image for himself. A simple demeanor is more gracious and fitting to his position.
Wing: Move forward under your own power and avoid false appearances, dubious shortcuts, or ostentatious behavior. It is most important now that you rely upon your own worth.
Wilhelm: (from Lectures on the I Ching): Now the attribute of art, or grace, consists of discarding all nonessential adornments. It consists of leaving out everything superfluous and of confining art to its appointed place.
Editor: The feet here are regarded as more substantive than the carriage, suggesting that one must rely on one's own inner worth rather than a "vehicle" of ostentatious superficiality. Suggested is the need to abandon a crutch of some kind.
The Self is the entity, then, that "plots" the way for an individual life, that directs and demands in an individual fashion. But the Self also insists that the ego take responsibility within the limits that are set for it. The wisdom of life lies in discovering where individual will and choice can operate, where limitations and responsibility begin and end. E.C. Whitmont -- The Symbolic Quest
A. You are able to make your own decisions: you can "stand on your own two feet." Rely now upon your own resources and initiative. (Could be a test.)
Line 3
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows its subject with the appearance of being adorned and bedewed with rich favors. But let him ever maintain his firm correctness, and there will be good fortune.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Graceful and moist. Constant perseverance brings good fortune.
Blofeld: His adornments are such that he appears to glisten -- righteous determination maintained up to the very end brings good fortune.
Liu: Decoration with moisture. If you continue, you will have good fortune.
Wu: He appears to have adorned and moisturized himself. Perseverance will bring good fortune.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: If he maintains his firm correctness, in the end no one will insult him. Wilhelm/Baynes: The good fortune of constant perseverance cannot, in the end, be put to shame. Blofeld: This implies that, to the very end, no one will thwart our purposes. Ritsema/Karcher: Perpetual Trial's significance. Completing absolutely-nothing: having a mound indeed. Cleary (2): No one can ever slight you. Wu: No one would dare to humiliate him.
Legge: The third line is dynamic, and between two magnetic lines which adorn and bestow their favors on him. But this happy condition is due to the accident of place -- he must maintain his correctness to ensure its continuance. It is not ornament, but correct firmness which secures the respect of others.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man is enjoying a charmed life, and is given many honors. He should guard against convivial indolence and be aware of its consequences.
Wing: You are in a moment of perfect grace, living a charmed existence. Do not allow such good fortune to make you indolent, for this would bring unhappiness. Continue to persevere in your endeavors and principles.
Wilhelm (from Lectures on the I Ching): When form and its meaning penetrate each other completely, when the work of art is rendered totally transparent, this is only a transitory state, which will necessarily pass.
Editor: The image suggests that circumstances are in your favor, though they may not be due to any particular virtue on your part. Following Wilhelm's insight (see his commentary on the preceding line), that the second and third places in this hexagram are closely interdependent, a Jungian interpretation of their alliance suggests itself: line 2 being the Persona and line 3 being the Ego through which it acts as conditions require. This implies that ego and persona are here coordinated with the Self's agenda -- even if that may be unclear at the moment.
For someone who adheres to [the goal of the knowledge of God] will not be moved to decorate walls with gold or to put a gold border on his garment – unless he intends thereby to give delight to his soul for the sake of its health and to drive sickness from it, so that it will be clear and pure to receive the sciences. Maimonides
A. You're sitting pretty -- don't blow it!
Line 5
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows its subject adorned by the occupants of the heights and gardens. She bears her roll of silk, small and slight. She may appear stingy, but there will be good fortune in the end.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Grace in hills and gardens. The roll of silk is meager and small. Humiliation, but in the end good fortune.
Blofeld: Elegantly he strolls amidst the garden of hillocks, but his silk girdle is of the poorest quality -- disgrace followed ultimately by good fortune. [The Chinese love landscape gardens. Here, obviously, someone improperly dressed is visiting a person of consequence and has to suffer for his carelessness. This should be taken figuratively to indicate a setback due to our own carelessness. Fortunately all ends well.]
Liu: Decoration in hills and gardens. A small roll of silk. Humiliation, then good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Luxuriant in the mound garden; the bolt of silk is so fragmentary; distress; in the end auspicious.
Cleary (1): Adornment in the hills and groves, the roll of silk is small; there is shame, but it turns out well.
Cleary (2): … There is regret, but the end is auspicious.
Wu: He adorns himself with ragged cloth in a hillside garden. He appears parsimonious, but will have good fortune in the end.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: The good fortune falling to the fifth line affords occasion for joy. Wilhelm/Baynes: The good fortune of the [fifth line] has joy. Blofeld: This good fortune comes in the form of blessings. ["Blessings" implies good fortune which comes, as it were, by chance and not obviously as a result of our own merits or efforts.]Ritsema/Karcher: Possessing rejoicing indeed. Cleary (2): There is joy. Wu: His good fortune comes with jubilation.
Legge: Line five is in the place of honor, but has no proper correlate in line two. She therefore associates with the dynamic line six above her, symbolized by the heights and gardens around a city which serve to both protect and to beautify it. Thus the subject of the line receives adornment from without, and does not of herself try to manifest it. Moreover, in her weakness, her offerings of ceremony are poor and mean. But, as Confucius said: "In ceremonies it is better to be sparing than extravagant." Hence stinginess doesn't prevent a good auspice. The K'ang-hsi editors say: "Line five occupies the place of honor, yet prefers simplicity and exalts economy. She might change and transform manners and customs." It is a small matter to say of her that she affords occasion for joy.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man meets someone whom he wishes to befriend and feels ashamed at his meager gifts. But his natural sincerity overcomes the difficulties and good fortune ensues.
Wing: You may wish to strengthen your connection with someone you admire, but you feel that what you have to offer is not grand enough to merit attention. However, your internal desires and sincere feelings of friendliness are all that truly matter. Your worth will be recognized and you will meet with good fortune.
Wilhelm (from Lectures on the I Ching): Thus Tao and law are also found where man, the personal element, the human mask, as it were, is no longer visible.
Editor: The theme of Persona here contrasts “simplicity” with Haute Couture – I visualize a ragged Taoist sage in the emperor’s palace garden. Stingy, small, meager, plain, ragged, parsimonious, all suggest some sort of impoverishment. To be “adorned” by “poverty” can suggest a morally superior but weak position in relationship to a strong one: the intimidating “hills and gardens” of the aristocracy which define the situation. Thus: your position is weak but correct and should prevail if you serve the Tao. There is also the idea of a small but sincere sacrifice which brings an eventual reward in excess of the original offering. The alliance with the top line suggests a connection with superior forces from whom, despite our humble station, we are adorned via our inner grace.
[Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on." Mark 12: 41-44
A. Less is more.
B. A small sacrifice is appropriate. The reward will exceed the loss.
Line 6
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows one with white as his only ornament. There will be no error.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Simple grace. No blame.
Blofeld: Simple elegance. No error!
Liu: Simple decoration. No blame.
Ritsema/Karcher: White adorning. Without fault.
Shaughnessy: White luxury; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Adornment by simplicity is impeccable.
Wu: He is unadorned and there will be no error.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: The line shows how he has attained his aim. Wilhelm/ Baynes: The one above attains his will. Blofeld: This top line indicates the fulfillment of our will. Ritsema/Karcher: Acquiring purpose above indeed. Cleary (2): One attains one’s aspiration above. Wu: His aspiration has prevailed.
Legge: At the top of the hexagram ornament has run its course and there is a return to pure white simplicity. Substantiality is better than ornament. The subject of the sixth line shows more of the spirit of the hexagram than most. His being clothed in simple white crowns the lesson that ornament must be kept in a secondary place.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man reaches the peak of his development, and displays perfect grace through the true expression of his character without pretensions. He understands the patterns of human frailties.
Wing: You can rely now upon the sincerity of your true nature to supply your external radiance. Pretensions, form, and adornments are no longer necessary to achieve your aims. Simplicity is the path you must take. In this way you will make no mistakes.
Wilhelm (from Lectures on the I Ching): Highest spirituality is connected with complete absence of outward pretense.
Editor: Questions concerning artistic creativity are sometimes addressed by this line -- differentiating the intent of the muse (Self) from the ambitions of the artist (ego). We are reminded of the difference between unity and multiplicity -- unity being one simple whole, multiplicity being many diverse complexities or "ornaments."
Only the truly intelligent understand this principle of the leveling of all things into One. They discard the distinctions and take refuge in the common and ordinary things. The common and ordinary things serve certain functions and therefore retain the wholeness of nature. From this wholeness, one comprehends, and from comprehension, one comes near to Tao. There one stops. To stop without knowing how one stops -- this is Tao. Chuangtse
A. "Keep it simple."
8 Union
Other titles: The Symbol of Subaltern Assistance, Union, Unity, Grouping, Alliance, Co-ordination, Leadership, Merging (as with tributaries of a river), Seeking Union, Unification, Accord, Subservience, Individuation, Integration
Judgment
Legge:Holding Together indicates good fortune, but let the querent re-examine himself by divination whether his virtue is great, un-intermitting and firm. If so, there will be no error. Those who are ready will then join him, but those who delay will meet with misfortune.
Wilhelm/Baynes:Holding Together brings good fortune. Inquire of the oracle once again whether you possess sublimity, constancy, and perseverance; then there is no blame. Those who are uncertain gradually join. Whoever comes too late meets with misfortune.
Blofeld:Unity (or co-ordination). Good fortune! Further consultation of the oracle will provide an omen of great and lasting value. No error! Those whose hearts are troubled assemble. The laggards suffer disaster. [Just as the last hexagram deals ostensibly with military affairs, so does this one largely concern administration. For divination purposes, it should be regarded figuratively -- unless a problem of administration is actually involved in the enquiry.]
Liu: Union. Good fortune. The prediction for one attempting union should be greatness, continuation, and constancy; no blame. If one hesitates, then joins late: misfortune.
Ritsema/Karcher:Grouping, significant. Retracing the oracle-consulting: Spring, perpetual Trial. Without fault. Not soothing, on-all-sides coming. Afterwards, husbanding: pitfall. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of how you categorize people and things and how you relate to these categories. It emphasizes that joining people and things through recognizing their essential qualities is the adequate way to handle it.]
Shaughnessy:Alliance: auspicious. The original milfoil divination: prime; permanent determination is no trouble. The un-tranquil land comes; for the latter fellow inauspicious.
Cleary (1):Accord is auspicious. Investigating and ascertaining, if the basis is always right, there is no error: Then the uneasy will come; but the dilatory are unfortunate.
Cleary (2): Accord bodes well. Make sure the basis is always right, so that there will be no fault. Then the uneasy will come. Latecomers are unfortunate.
Wu: Subservience indicates auspiciousness. Seeking to confirm the intent and motivation of allegiance by divination is without fault. Those who seek peace can all come, but those who hesitate and come late will have ill fortune.
The Image
Legge: The image of the earth, and over it water, form Holding Together. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, established the various states and maintained an affectionate relation to their princes.
Wilhelm/Baynes: On the earth is water: the image of Holding Together. Thus the kings of antiquity bestowed the different states as fiefs and cultivated friendly relations with the feudal lords.
Blofeld: The hexagram symbolizes water lying upon the land -- co-ordination. [This is indicated by the nature of the component trigrams. It is by co-operation between the fertile earth and the water which irrigates it that growth is achieved.] The ancient rulers strengthened the realm by being on affectionate terms with the feudal lords. [This may suggest dealing kindly with immediate subordinates.]
Liu: Water over the earth symbolizes Union. The ancient kings established many states and were friendly with the feudal lords.
Ritsema/Karcher: Above earth possessing stream. Grouping. The Earlier Kings used installing myriad cities to connect the connoted feudatories.
Cleary (1): There is water on the earth, in accord. Thus did the kings of yore establish myriad realms and associate with their representatives.
Wu: There is water on the ground; this is Subservience. Thus the late kings founded the states and kept a personal relationship with all the princes.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: Holding Together denotes help, and we see in the figure inferiors docilely following their superior. All that is said in the Judgment follows from the position of the dynamic line in the center of the upper trigram. Those who do not respond to him have exhausted their good fortune.
Legge: The idea of union between the different members and classes of a state and how it can be secured, is the subject of Holding Together. The dynamic line in the fifth place of authority represents the ruler to whom the subjects of all the other lines offer a ready submission. Generally, the second line is the proper correlate of the fifth, but here all of the other lines are also his subjects. Harmonious union is secured by the sovereign authority of the ruler, but he is warned to see that his virtue is worthy of his position, and his subjects are warned not to delay in submitting to him. Those who do not seek to promote and enjoy union until it is too late are left out in the cold. The sentiment is the same as that in the lines of Shakespeare about the tide in the affairs of men. In the Image, "water upon the face of the earth" suggests an emblem of close union.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Judgment: The success of the Work is determined by the proper integration of intrapsychic forces. Separated and disparate forces are an index of its failure. Unremitting willpower is the catalyst for unity. Do you have the requisite will to facilitate this goal? Ask the oracle.
The Image: Archetypal intelligences (the gods) created many dimensions of awareness (Jung's collective unconscious or objective psyche), maintaining benevolent contact with them all. ("Benevolent" refers to original intent -- Plato's realm of ideal forms -- "The Good." This is the image of an evolving multiverse of awareness – a human psyche.)
Psychologically interpreted,Holding Together depicts the Self as the fifth-line ruler surrounded by its satellite complexes. Astrologically rendered, we see the same image in the solar system with its Sun surrounded by planets -- each symbolizing a faculty within the psyche (e.g., Mercury is intellect, Mars is aggression, etc). Viewed this way, the eighth hexagram portrays the functioning of a divine process. (Whenever the "ancient kings" are mentioned in the I Ching,we can take them as the symbolic architects of a primordial ideal of perfection.)
The Image in Holding Together is an allegory of the Self establishing the various complexes within the psyche (the Sun establishing its planets) so that they can evolve into a reflection of the ideal intent of the Work. (In the timeless realms of hyperspace, the Garden of Eden and the New Jerusalem exist simultaneously, although here in spacetime, as key facilitators in a “work in progress,” we labor somewhere between cause and effect.)
Although the psyche of a functional human being is held together relatively coherently, its inner relationships are continuously orbiting each other in cycles of change. (Astrological transits symbolize such changes.) The Tao of psychic evolution (the Work) is to respond to the changes consciously and coherently so that all forces eventually become synchronized with the will of their source. The ego’s sole responsibility is to do this in the spacetime dimension for the benefit of the Self.
In whatever way one may conceive the relationship between the individual self and the universal Self, be they regarded as identical or similar, distinct or united, it is most important to recognize clearly, and to retain ever present in theory and practice, the difference that exists between the Self in its essential nature -- that which has been called the ‘fount', the ‘center', the ‘deeper being', the ‘apex' of ourselves -- and the small ordinary personality, the little ‘self' or ego, of which we are normally conscious. The disregard of this vital distinction leads to absurd and dangerous consequences. Roberto Assagioli – Psychosynthesis
The message for the superior man in this hexagram is the only injunction in the Book of Changesto re-consult the oracle. Implicit in this curious challenge is a need to evaluate your competence to further the Work. The answer should tell you the condition of your will.
The will is, curiously, not recognized as the central and fundamental function of the ego. It has often been depreciated as being ineffective against the various drives and the power of the imagination, or it has been considered with suspicion as leading to self-assertion (will-to-power). But the latter is only a perverted use of the will, while the apparent futility of the will is due only to a faulty and unintelligent use. The will is ineffective only when it attempts to act in oppositionto the imagination and to the other psychological functions, while its skillful and consequently successful use consists in regulating and directing all other functions toward a deliberately chosen and affirmed aim. Roberto Assagioli – Psychosynthesis
The differences between hexagrams number seven and number eight are the differences between a geocentric and a heliocentric frame of reference – emphasizing the fact that the ego and the Self each perceive the psyche from an entirely different point of view.