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12 Neutralizing, Blocking, Firming
In a context of devotion we utilise singlemindedness.

Trigrams : devotion (bottom), singlemindedness (top) : with/from devotion comes singlemindedness. [heaven over earth]

The mud from which 12 has emerged is best described by analogy to the under-stated qualities of hexagram 17, following.

Commentary :

In hexagram 12 we find that there are those who do not seek to change but more to keep the status quo; To those who seek change, this is stagnation; a hindrance. The context is a firming sense of belief and parrying (by foreseeing) the thrusts of those against you.

Goal of 12 - hexagram 09 (or 'how do I 09? - 12')

Five-Phase Relationships : The trigram of Earth reflects Filtration (by faith, given rules). The trigram of Heaven reflects Exchange (through competition). Faith expressed through competitive exchange reflects the neutralising of attacks on one's beliefs (and so validating the belief).


12 is the goal of 25 (or 'how do I 12? - 25' How do I neutralise? By standing up to things, by fearlessly saying what you feel needs to be said regardless of considering consequences, and so get around any 'blocks')

 

The I Ching tells us about hexagram 12:

Genotype

Description

Phenotype

(01)

 How does this hexagram express singlemindedness, competitiveness?

11

(02)

 What is this hexagrams's potential form?

12

(03)

 How does this hexagram 'sprout'?

21

(04)

 How does this hexagram learn social skills?

47

(05)

 How does this hexagram wait for opportunity to come?

14

(06)

 How does this hexagram compromise, meet half way?

7

(07)

 How does this hexagram express uniformity, establishment of?

6

(08)

 How does this hexagram passively attract?

35

(09)

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

34

(10)

 How does this hexagram traverse a path carefully?

19

(11)

 How does this hexagram balance/harmonise, mediate?

1

(12)

 How does this hexagram neutralise attacks on its core beliefs?

2

(13)

 How does this hexagram express association with the likeminded?

36

(14)

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

5

(15)

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

33

(16)

 How does this hexagram express foresight/planning?

20

(17)

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

27

(18)

 How does this hexagram correct corruption, express that correction?

28

(19)

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

10

(20)

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

16

(21)

 How does this hexagram resolve problems?

3

(22)

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

49

(23)

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

45

(24)

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

25

(25)

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

24

(26)

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

43

(27)

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

17

(28)

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

18

(29)

 How does this hexagram assert containment/control?

64

(30)

 How does this hexagram express guidance/direction setting?

63

(31)

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

52

(32)

 How does this hexagram express commitment?

57

(33)

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

15

(34)

 How does this hexagram actively invigorate others?

9

(35)

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

8

(36)

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

13

(37)

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

55

(38)

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

60

(39)

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

56

(40)

 How does this hexagram express tension release through relaxing structure?

59

(41)

 How does this hexagram achieve clarity, concentration, distillation?

58

(42)

 How does this hexagram reflect augmentation?

51

(43)

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

26

(44)

 How does this hexagram persuade/seduce?

46

(45)

 How does this hexagram celebrate its 'faith'?

23

(46)

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

44

(47)

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

4

(48)

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

50

(49)

 How does this hexagram reveal, unmask?

22

(50)

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

48

(51)

 How does this hexagram express surprise, enlightenment, shock?

42

(52)

 How does this hexagram express blocking, discernment?

31

(53)

 How does this hexagram express gradual development, maturity?

62

(54)

 How does this hexagram expend early energy, immaturity?

61

(55)

 How does this hexagram deal with abundance/overflowing?

37

(56)

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

39

(57)

 How does this hexagram cultivate and become influential?

32

(58)

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

41

(59)

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

40

(60)

 How does this hexagram standardise?

38

(61)

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

54

(62)

 How does this hexagram express overacting to establish unconditional loyalty?

53

(63)

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

30

(64)

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

29

 

Some PAIRINGS of hexagram 12 with other hexagrams:

This paring focuses on the validation of one's belief, be it through the celebration in the form of a congregating (hexagram 45) or else in neutralising the attacks of others upon one's faith (hexagram 12), and in doing so firming one's beliefs.
The main focus in this pairing is on balance. Hexagram 12 achieves balance through neutralising the attacks of others upon one's faith/beliefs. Hexagram 11 achieves balance through working on establishing harmony between things/people etc. Also see previous entry.

At the LOCAL level we are dealing with an octet of hexagrams with the EARTH trigram as base. In this sequence hexagram 02, the dual-mindedness, exaggerated devotional bias nature of yinness, 'opposes' hexagram 12, the focus on neutralising as a force of balance. More so, the exaggerated sense of neutralising the attacks of other upon one's belief is reflected in a more balanced format through one's simple but sturdy, unconditional, devotion.

This pairing reflects that of the binary sequence, where the overall focus is on balance, but in the context of the actions of the individual (11) vs that of the group (12). As such the balancing of 11, associated with the concept of harmonising, is subtly different from that of 12 where the focus is more on preservation of the group/faith. The yin nature overall serves as an agent of integration, of cooperation, and that is expressed in hexagram 11 where the focus is on an individual 'linking' things in harmony - the hexagram reflecting yin characteristics expressed in a yang context. The yang nature is more competitive and that is reflected in the yin context as a use of force, of competitiveness, to stop the attacks from outside. Note that the goal is to STOP rather than destroy others and so reflects the yin element of not being too competitive. With that in mind, notice that the goal in 11 is to BE the source of, the agent of, harmony, and as such be recognised for it and so assert one's perspective through one's acts of harmonising.

BALANCING/MEDIATING:

11 : balance - through (non development) - harmonise; 11 harmonising comes out of a context described by hexagram 18 - correcting (restore balance)

12 ; balance - through (non development) - neutralise; 12 neutralising comes out of a context described by hexagram 17 - following, gain a belief

In this pair we have the recognition of change as expressing maturing (53) compared to the refusal to change (12).
Hexagram 45 focuses on gathering with other 'likeminded' persons to celebrate one's faith. Hexagram 17 focuses on establishing a belief, to follow someone/something. Mix these and we get the generic properties of hexagram 12.
The focus in this pair is on neutralising, be it through parrying the attacks of others upon one's faith (hexagram 12) or on standing-up to assert one's perspective without consideration of consequences of that action (or intentionally making the assertion ignoring the consequences). As such hexagram 25 reflects acts of disentanglement, breaking free of any 'social norm' to make oneself heard.
 

 

Copyright © 2003-2009 C. J. Lofting