Emotional I Ching : Hexagram 26

26 Holding Firm
In a context of perseverance we utilise discernment.

Trigrams : perseverance (bottom), discernment (top) : with/from perseverance comes discernment. [mountain over heaven]

The mud from which 26 has emerged is best described by analogy to the under-stated qualities of hexagram 46, getting more entangled, pushing upwards

Commentary :

In hexagram 26 we recognize that by studying and accumulating things of the past, one is able to develop a sense of balance; the power of tradition. This, however, forms a restraint, but of the social kind rather than self restraint (52). Contextually, from a 'drive' to ascend (46) we wait and serve (5), thus cultivating and gaining influence - this acts as a sort 'glue', allowing us to 'hold firm' to our way.

Five-Phase Relationships: The trigram of Heaven reflects competitive/oppositional Exchange. The trigram of Mountain reflects Filtration (through discernment). Competitive Exchange through Filtration is expressed in holding firm to traditions etc.

Goal of 26 - hexagram 18 (or 'how do I 18? - 26')

26 is the goal of 35 (or 'how do I 26? - 35' How do I hold firm (to traditions etc)? By bringing things into the light)

The I Ching tells us about hexagram 26:

Genotype	Description	Phenotype
(01)	How does this hexagram express singlemindedness, competitiveness?	45
(02)	What is this hexagram's potential form?	26
(03)	How does this hexagram 'sprout'?	57
(04)	How does this hexagram learn social skills?	36
(05)	How does this hexagram wait for opportunity to come?	20
(06)	How does this hexagram compromise, meet half way?	49
(07)	How does this hexagram express uniformity, establishment of?	22
(08)	How does this hexagram passively attract?	9
(09)	How does this hexagram express making small gains to be noticed?	8
(10)	How does this hexagram traverse a path carefully?	31
(11)	How does this hexagram balance/harmonise, mediate?	23
(12)	How does this hexagram neutralise attacks on its core beliefs?	43
(13)	How does this hexagram express association with the likeminded?	47
(14)	How does this hexagram manage from the centre? Direct operations? Push ideology?	16
(15)	How does this hexagram level things out, keep words close to facts?	41
(16)	How does this hexagram express foresight/planning?	14
(17)	How does this hexagram find a faith? What is its faith?	44
(18)	How does this hexagram correct corruption, express that correction?	24
(19)	How does this hexagram express approaching the 'high'; defer to the 'low'?	52
(20)	How does this hexagram elicit admiration and so invigorate others passively?	5
(21)	How does this hexagram resolve problems?	32
(22)	What does this hexagram look like, how does it present itself to the outside?	7
(23)	How does this hexagram 'housekeep', clear chaff to bring out the wheat?	11
(24)	How does this hexagram 'start', express 'beginning'?	18
(25)	How does this hexagram stand up to say its piece, ignoring consequences, disentangle?	28
(26)	How does this hexagram express 'holding firm' to traditions?	2
(27)	What is the basic, skeletal form of this hexagram, The mud from which it has emerged?	46
(28)	How does this hexagram express excess, go beyond what is required?	25
(29)	How does this hexagram assert containment/control?	37
(30)	How does this hexagram express guidance/direction setting?	40
(31)	How does this hexagram 'woo', express restrained enticement?	10
(32)	How does this hexagram express commitment?	21
(33)	How does this hexagram draw-in its enemies, competitively entice?	58
(34)	How does this hexagram actively invigorate others?	35
(35)	How does this hexagram bring something into the 'light'?	34
(36)	How does this hexagram protect its 'light' when not its time?	4
(37)	How does this hexagram reflect rigid structure as a form of tension release?	29
(38)	How does this hexagram 'mirror', deal with opposition?	62
(39)	How does this hexagram obstruct, go against, stand up to, the flow?	61
(40)	How does this hexagram express tension release through relaxing structure?	30
(41)	How does this hexagram achieve clarity, concentration, distillation?	15
(42)	How does this hexagram reflect augmentation?	48
(43)	How does this hexagram 'seed', spread the word?	12
(44)	How does this hexagram persuade/seduce?	17
(45)	How does this hexagram celebrate its 'faith'?	1
(46)	How does this hexagram become more entangled with something/someone?	27
(47)	How does this hexagram integrate with the context, be it by choice or otherwise?	13
(48)	Where does this hexagram get its nutrition, what sustains it, keeps it going?	42
(49)	How does this hexagram reveal, unmask?	6
(50)	How does this hexagram express conversion of the raw to the cooked, transformation?	51
(51)	How does this hexagram express surprise, enlightenment, shock?	50
(52)	How does this hexagram express blocking, discernment?	19
(53)	How does this hexagram express gradual development, maturity?	60
(54)	How does this hexagram expend early energy, immaturity?	56
(55)	How does this hexagram deal with abundance/overflowing?	64
(56)	How does this hexagram demonstrate conditional loyalty; loyalty at a distance?	54
(57)	How does this hexagram cultivate and become influential?	3
(58)	How does this hexagram express itself intensely, self-reflect?	33
(59)	How does this hexagram make things clear, dispel illusions? lift the fog?	63
(60)	How does this hexagram standardise?	53
(61)	How does this hexagram express empathy? yielding, soft core, hard exterior?	39
(62)	How does this hexagram express overacting to establish unconditional loyalty?	38
(63)	How does this hexagram complete, 'get it right'?	59
(64)	How does this hexagram remain 'open', mis-sequence?	55

Some PAIRINGS of hexagram 26 with other hexagrams:

In the binary sequence hexagram 26 pairs with hexagram 11.

This pair focuses on issues of balance in a context of exaggeration, the exaggeration being in singlemindedness expressed by the trigram of heaven. Hexagram 11 has a focus on balance through harmonising through integrating. Hexagram 26 covers issues of differentiating where the focus is on retaining the elements of the past, traditions etc,, and so a focus on quality, on values (as reflected in the nature of the top trigram of 26, mountain) BUT with a warning in not becoming the past, the values as such are useful but should not replace or block development.

In the binary sequence hexagram 26 opposes hexagram 45.

In this pairing the 'big restraint' of 26 opposes the 'exaggeration' in celebration of 45.

At the LOCAL level we are dealing with an octet of hexagrams with the HEAVEN trigram as base. In this sequence hexagram 26, the focus upon holding firm, 'opposes' hexagram 43, spreading the word. More so, the hard core, sharp focus on 'spreading the word' is reflected in a more balanced format by the more 'subtle' focus on holding firm to traditions, a generally integrating nature in 26. ( I say general in that, when we zoom-in further to pairs so 11, 26 form a pair with 11 being integrating, 26 more differentiating).

In the traditional sequence hexagram 26 pairs with hexagram 25.

This pairing focuses on holding to one's convictions, be it by asserting them regardless of the consequences (25) or on a general sense of 'holding firm' to traditional perspectives (26). As such 25 is more 'personal', 26 more 'social'.

HOLDING FIRM:

25 : holding firm - through expressing personal beliefs, disentangle; 25 disentangling comes from a context described by hexagram 45 - congregating, celebrating

26 : holding firm - through staying with traditional beliefs; 26 hold firm comes out of a context described by hexagram 46 - entangling, pushing upwards

In the traditional sequence hexagram 26 opposes hexagram 39.

In going against the flow of things we often have to go against traditions (the obstructions of 39) as compared to holding firm to them (26 - and in so doing 'go against the flow of 'mindless' nature).

The generic properties of hexagram 26 reflect the mixing of the generic properties of hexagram 11 with the generic properties of hexagram 46.

A combination of a focus on harmonising (11) with a sense of becoming more entangled with things (46) is reflected in the 'holding firm' attitude of hexagram 26.

In the variations on a theme sequence, hexagram 26 complements hexagram 18.

In this pairing the overall focus is on traditions, where in 26 we hold firm to them and in 18 we ensure they are not corrupted.