Emotional I Ching : Hexagram 38

38 Opposing, Mirroring
In a context of self-reflection we utilise a sense of direction (an ideology).

Trigrams : self-reflection (bottom), direction (top) : with/from self-reflection comes direction. [fire over lake]

The mud from which 38 has emerged is best described by analogy to the under-stated qualities of hexagram 40, relax structuring, tension release.

Commentary :

In hexagram 38 we find that the adoption of a facade can ensure that one can follow their own path (which is here in direct opposition to 'out there') whilst appearing socially acceptable. Here a mirror is thrown-up such that those opposing see the individual as a reflection of themselves and the opposition diminishes. This is not a limitation imposed for development but more for survival. This can however lead to a degree of personal isolation; whereupon the mirror starts to work inwards (see line 6 comments below). Contextually, we develop from a loosening of structure into intense self-reflection and opposition that we deal with by reflection.

Goal of 38 - hexagram 64 (or 'how do I 64? - 38')

Five-Phase Relationships : The trigram of Lake reflects Exchange (cooperative). The trigram of Fire reflects Distribution. Cooperative Exchange through Distribution is expressed as 'mirroring' - to deal with opposition one 'reflects' others and so they see you as if themselves.

38 is the goal of 56 (or 'how do I 38? - 56' How do I deal with oppositions, with mirroring? Remain loyal to your belief)

The I Ching tells us about hexagram 38:

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

Some PAIRINGS of hexagram 38 with other hexagrams:

In the binary sequence hexagram 38 pairs with hexagram 54.

This pairing focuses on the general nature of demands on one to be seen to be in 'agreement' with external requirements. In 54 we have the integrating demand to 'fit in' to a position possibly too soon, whereas in 38 the focus is differentiation through dealing with oppositions by letting 'them' see themselves 'in' you. Both hexagrams reflect instants of 'going against the grain'; hexagram 54 is unconditional whereas 38 is conditional.

In the binary sequence hexagram 38 opposes hexagram 39.

In this pairing we see that just as hexagram 39 can stand its ground against the flow, so hexagram 38 stands its ground through pretence, to appear to go with the flow by letting others see themselves in one, where one acts like a mirror and so oppositions can be dealt-with. The reflective nature of the trigram of lake in hexagram 38 is complemented by the restraining nature of the trigram of mountain in hexagram 39.

At the LOCAL level we are dealing with an octet of hexagrams with the LAKE trigram as base. In this sequence hexagram 38, the focus upon opposing (mirroring), 'opposes' hexagram 60, standardisations. More so, the sharp issues of dealing with opposition, as covered in 38, is reflected in a more balanced format by the use of standardisations, as reflected in 60.

In the traditional sequence hexagram 38 pairs with hexagram 37.

The overall emphasis here is on rigid structure, in 37 this is in the form of a collective that serves to reduce tension, in 38 the focus is on 'going against the flow', both for benefit but also as a cost.

RIGIDITY:

37 : rigidity - through structure (tension releasing); 37 rigid structure (family) comes from a context described by hexagram 39 - obstacles, bypassing

38 : rigidity - through perspective (tension reducing); 38 mirroring comes from a context described by hexagram 40 - relaxed structuring

In the traditional sequence hexagram 38 opposes hexagram 27.

The generic properties of hexagram 38 reflect the mixing of the generic properties of hexagram 54 with the generic properties of hexagram 40.

A combination of a high, possibly immature, release of energy (54), combined with a focus on tension release through relaxing structure (40) is reflected in the issues of opposition and its neutralising expressed in hexagram 38.

In the variations on a theme sequence, hexagram 38 complements hexagram 64.