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40 Relaxed Structuring, Tension Release Through Relaxed Structure
Within a context of containment we utilise (sudden) awareness.

Trigrams : containment (bottom), awareness (top) : with/from containment comes awareness. [thunder over water]

The mud from which 40 has emerged is best described by analogy to the under-stated qualities of hexagram 38 - mirroring, dealing with opposition. (tension release)

A situation of sudden tension release (loss of containment - like a summer thunderstorm breaking the heat)

Commentary :

Cooperative Format : In hexagram 40 we have the explicit form of release from tension; the loosening of structure. The first flash of lightning and crack of thunder signaling the break of a storm. In the image, from a position of security one is able to forgive generously, and thus reduce tension. This is an explicit act of tension release, compared to the hexagram's complement, hexagram 37 The Family, where the implicit nature of the structured environment is relaxing; here it is the release of structure that works. Contextually, from a position 180 degrees apart, we develop through compromise and thus deliverance - the relaxing of structure.

Oppositional Format : Hexagram 40 manifests thunder against constraint.

Structural Relationship (Being) : Hexagram 40 is the opposite of hexagram 37. Both hexagrams deal with tension release but 40 covers the release through relaxing of structure, whereas 37 deals with tension release through maintaining of rigid structure.

Temporal Relationship (Doing) : The Goal of 40 is hexagram 51 (or 'how do I 51? - 40' How do I enlighten, become more aware? Sudden release of tensions)

Five-Phase Relationships : The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Thunder reflects raw Production. Consumption (containment aspect) expressed through 'sudden' production is expressed as a sudden relaxation of tension.

40 is the goal of 54 (or 'how do I 40? - 54 - How do I release tensions? high, intense output of energy)

 

The I Ching tells us about hexagram 40:

Genotype

Description

Phenotype

(01)

 How does this hexagram express singlemindedness, competitiveness?

37

(02)

 What is this hexagram's potential form?

40

(03)

 How does this hexagram 'sprout'?

58

(04)

 How does this hexagram learn social skills?

35

(05)

 How does this hexagram wait for opportunity to come?

49

(06)

 How does this hexagram compromise, meet half way?

20

(07)

 How does this hexagram express uniformity, establishment of?

16

(08)

 How does this hexagram passively attract?

47

(09)

 How does this hexagram express making small gains to be noticed?

13

(10)

 How does this hexagram traverse a path carefully?

42

(11)

 How does this hexagram balance/harmonise, mediate?

55

(12)

 How does this hexagram neutralise attacks on its core beliefs?

59

(13)

 How does this hexagram express association with the likeminded?

9

(14)

 How does this hexagram manage from the centre? Direct operations? Push ideology?

22

(15)

 How does this hexagram level things out, keep words close to facts?

32

(16)

 How does this hexagram express foresight/planning?

7

(17)

 How does this hexagram find a faith? What is its faith?

60

(18)

 How does this hexagram correct corruption, express that correction?

56

(19)

 How does this hexagram express approaching the 'high'; defer to the 'low'?

51

(20)

 How does this hexagram elicit admiration and so invigorate others passively?

6

(21)

 How does this hexagram resolve problems?

41

(22)

 What does this hexagram look like, how does it present itself to the outside?

14

(23)

 How does this hexagram 'housekeep', clear chaff to bring out the wheat?

64

(24)

 How does this hexagram 'start', express 'beginning'?

54

(25)

 How does this hexagram stand up to say its piece, ignoring consequences, disentangle?

61

(26)

 How does this hexagram express 'holding firm' to traditions?

30

(27)

 What is the basic, skeletal form of this hexagram, The mud from which it has emerged?

38

(28)

 How does this hexagram express excess, go beyond what is required?

39

(29)

 How does this hexagram assert containment/control?

45

(30)

 How does this hexagram express guidance/direction setting?

26

(31)

 How does this hexagram 'woo', express restrained enticement?

48

(32)

 How does this hexagram express commitment?

15

(33)

 How does this hexagram draw-in its enemies, competitively entice?

57

(34)

 How does this hexagram actively invigorate others?

36

(35)

 How does this hexagram bring something into the 'light'?

4

(36)

 How does this hexagram protect its 'light' when not its time?

34

(37)

 How does this hexagram reflect rigid structure as a form of tension release?

1

(38)

 How does this hexagram 'mirror', deal with opposition?

27

(39)

 How does this hexagram obstruct, go against, stand up to, the flow?

28

(40)

 How does this hexagram express tension release through relaxing structure?

2

(41)

 How does this hexagram achieve clarity, concentration, distillation?

21

(42)

 How does this hexagram reflect augmentation?

10

(43)

 How does this hexagram 'seed', spread the word?

63

(44)

 How does this hexagram persuade/seduce?

53

(45)

 How does this hexagram celebrate its 'faith'?

29

(46)

 How does this hexagram become more entangled with something/someone?

62

(47)

 How does this hexagram integrate with the context, be it by choice or otherwise?

8

(48)

 Where does this hexagram get its nutrition, what sustains it, keeps it going?

31

(49)

 How does this hexagram reveal, unmask?

5

(50)

 How does this hexagram express conversion of the raw to the cooked, transformation?

52

(51)

 How does this hexagram express surprise, enlightenment, shock?

19

(52)

 How does this hexagram express blocking, discernment?

50

(53)

 How does this hexagram express gradual development, maturity?

44

(54)

 How does this hexagram expend early energy, immaturity?

24

(55)

 How does this hexagram deal with abundance/overflowing?

11

(56)

 How does this hexagram demonstrate conditional loyalty; loyalty at a distance?

18

(57)

 How does this hexagram cultivate and become influential?

33

(58)

 How does this hexagram express itself intensely, self-reflect?

3

(59)

 How does this hexagram make things clear, dispel illusions? lift the fog?

12

(60)

 How does this hexagram standardise?

17

(61)

 How does this hexagram express empathy? yielding, soft core, hard exterior?

25

(62)

 How does this hexagram express overacting to establish unconditional loyalty?

46

(63)

 How does this hexagram complete, 'get it right'?

43

(64)

 How does this hexagram remain 'open', mis-sequence?

23

 

Some PAIRINGS of hexagram 40 with other hexagrams:

LOOSEN (TENSION RELEASE):

39 : loosen - through bypassing obstacles, going against the flow; 39 bypassing comes from a context described by hexagram 37 - rigid structure (family)

40 : loosen - through relaxing structure; 40 relaxed structure (releasing) comes from a context described by hexagram 38 - mirroring, obstructions
This pairing reflects an overall focus on relaxed structure where the relaxation in 64 can lead to an 'error' occurring, and so an increase in tension, whereas relaxation in 40 leads to a release of tension. The overall focus is on open-ness - be it through total release of tension (40) or the delay of closure (64).
The main theme is tension release with the hexagrams manifesting different approaches, thus 40 focuses on tension release through release of structure, whereas 37 focuses on tension release through an imposition of structure.

At the LOCAL level we are dealing with an octet of hexagrams with WATER as base. The association is between 40 and 59 where the exaggerated sense of loosening structure is reflected in a more balanced format through the dispelling of illusions.

A combination of remaining open, avoiding closure (64) with a focus on dealing with oppositions (38) is reflected in the relaxation of structure manifest in hexagram 40.
 

Copyright © 2003-2009 C. J. Lofting