63 Correct Sequencing, Completing In a context of guidance we utilise control.

Trigrams : guidance (bottom), control (top) : with/from guidance comes control. [water over fire]

The mud from which 63 has emerged is best described by analogy to the under-stated qualities of hexagram 53, maturing.

A situation covering completion and getting things 'right' (the 'right' mix). This can be used with other hexagrams to identify their outcomes and even identify the context necessary to 'nip things in the bud' - complete prematurely (equivalent to game theory's "Nash Equilibrium").

Commentary :

Cooperative format : In hexagram 63 we find the successful end of a journey masks the beginning of another. The mask of completion helps memory to distinguish events and some form of guide is useful for the new dangers ahead. The emphasis is on 'correctness' and completion. At the same time, although one has completed a path, one recollects the bad times and is determined to be ready for them next time; the overall emphasis is getting things done in the correct order for completion.

Oppositional format : water against fire.

Template/Persona format : Contractive bounding in a context of expansive bounding. Control (preservation/conservation) in a context of guidance.

Five-Phase Relationships : The trigram of Fire reflects Distribution. The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. Distribution through consumption represents completion.

Goal of 63 - hexagram 39 (or 'how do I 39? - 63' How do I obstruct things? Through assertions of begin/end, correct sequencing, closure)

63 is the goal of 48 (or 'how do I 63? - 48' How do I assert begin/end (and so completions)? Through establishing a foundation upon which to build)

The I Ching tells us about hexagram 63:

Some PAIRS of hexagram 63 and other hexagrams:

• In the traditional sequence hexagram 63 pairs with hexagram 64.

MIXING:

63 : mixing - through closure, completion, correct sequence; 63 completion, closure, comes from a context described by hexagram 53 - maturing

64 : mixing - through open, non-closure, incorrect sequence; 64 non-completion, remain open comes from a context described by hexagram 54 - immaturing

• In the binary sequence hexagram 63 pairs with hexagram 37.

This pairing reflects an overall focus on completion in the form of 'correct structure'. In hexagram 37 the differentiating bias is to a particular in the form of tension release where "a first daughter is a first daughter" and a "third son is a third son", in other words there is no competition and the context overall acts as a cause of tension release, that context being ANY collective but the metaphor of a family is used to get the point across.. Hexagram 63 focuses on correctness leading to the completion of something, of getting the sequence of events 'right' and so we also see a focus on 'correct structure'.

• In the binary sequence hexagram 63 opposes hexagram 64.

This pairing reflects the differences in (a) remaining open (64) vs (b) focusing on closure and 'correct' ordering (63).

At the LOCAL level we are dealing with an octet of hexagrams with the FIRE trigram as base. In this sequence hexagram 30, the focus upon guidance and direction-setting, 'opposes' hexagram 63, a focus on closure, completion, on 'correct' sequencing. The issue here is on the degree, where 30 has a 'wide' boundary of yin/yang differentiations, it is clearly 'fire', whereas 63 is tighter, more mixed in yin/yang differentiations where we have the opposite of fire, water, present in the top trigram position and so limiting the exaggeration.

• In the traditional sequence hexagram 63 opposes hexagram 02.

This pairing of 02/63 reflects the absolute differences between pure/individual expression and mixed/group expression. As such, when compared to hexagram 02, hexagram 63 reflects the overall sense of 'groupness', and so of mixing (reflected in the yin/yang line orderings as well) that here must include a sense of closure from a mixed/group focus. In the traditional sequence the pairings reflect a focus on the individual/group, pure/mixed, closed/open, characteristics reflected in the root 01/64 pair that form the 'poles' of the sequence. Thus the relationship of 01 to 02 reflects at the local level the relationship of 01 to 64 as does the local relationship of 63 to 64 reflect the 01/64 relationship. In fact, all pairs in the traditional sequence reflect this general pattern of filtering interpretations through the notions covered in hexagram 01 and hexagram 64.

• The generic properties of hexagram 63 reflect the mixing of the generic properties of hexagram 37 with the generic properties of hexagram 53.

A combination of rigid structure (37) and maturing (53) is reflected in the overall focus on 'correct order', on completion and so closure (63).

• In the variations on a theme sequence, hexagram 63 complements hexagram 39.

Copyright © 2003-2009 C. J. Lofting