A note on Hexagram 2 Kun and its top line

Currently, there are two ongoing discussions on this sixth or top line of Kun / The Receptive. The first is at the ‘I Ching Forum’. To join in the interesting discussion, readers can post their comments in Hilary’s ‘Answers’ blog. The other discussion is at ‘The Useless Tree’ between this author and Professor Sam Crane. (All sites can be accessed through the Links section.)

The Professor concerned about the disaster and human misery in New Orleans has asked the I Ching: "What can we expect there in the coming months"? The prognostication (posted last Friday) came in the form of Kun with moving third, fifth and sixth lines changing Hexagram 2 to Hexagram 53 Chien / Development. Agreeing with his interpretation, one ventured to say that the Yi has given an apt answer to his question and has provided a guide to the Mayor of NO whom one considered a Da Ren because of his benevolent acts. The Professor then set this student (for trying to be too clever) a few assignments for further interpretation. This time it was on who is in the ‘subordinate’ position in relation to the prognostication – the Mayor of NO, the Governor, the head of FEMA or the head of Homeland Security.

To do the assignment and answer his questions, one made the assumption that the moving third line represents the Mayor, the fifth line represents the Governor to whom the Mayor reports. With FEMA being absorbed by Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security will take the sage or adviser’s position of the top line of Kun. And the US President, the real dragon, represented by Qian / The Creative. With that the Mayor’s friends and helpers are in the South and West (the Governor and local leaders), and not in the East and North (the ministers and the President).

Seeming satisfied with the answers, the Professor has set yet another assignment which is on the top line of Kun where the false dragon supposedly fights with the real dragon. As we know that political infighting can affect the people’s welfare and the orderly rebuilding of NO, it is worthwhile to contribute thoughts on the issues at hand. Here goes the note based on my simple understanding of the top line.

Kun relates to humanity and the masses. The doubling of the trigram Kun means people above people – forming a hierarchy. Another attribute of the trigram is that of sincerity. Therefore leaders all the way up to ministers rule by serving the people with sincerity. Kun is represented by the mare. And these leaders or Da Ren receive their guidance or orders from Hexagram 1 Qian / The Creative (therefore the President is the real dragon – in ancient times, the King). Following the guidance, in this case the President’s declaration of a National disaster when Hurricane Katrina struck a week ago, the Da Ren – the Secretary of Homeland Security and his ‘subordinate’, the head of FEMA - could have saved many more human lives, protected them from harm and alleviated their misery earlier, if they had acted promptly. An undue delay without valid reasons shows ‘insubordination’, so to speak, and their insincerity in the rescue and protection of those left destitute. Probably they have forgotten that they are not the real ruler, but a false dragon as depicted in the top line of Kun. (For how could a mare ever become a dragon?) They had also caused confusion among those who expected urgent aid from the Federal Government but the ‘cavalry’ never arrived for the rescue until the Mayor’s public remonstration on TV. The world sat up and took notice. And humanitarian aid pours in.

With much bad blood splattered around in the form of shifting responsibilities and throwing accusations in full public view by ministers and local authorities, it will be difficult for them to work together towards rebuilding NO. However it is important for both the Mayor and Governor to sincerely and humbly work with the appointed Federal ministers to rebuild the devastated areas. If not, they can also progress up to the top line of Kun and just like the adviser, become far removed from serving the local people well. For an efficient and effective rebuilding of NO, perhaps, someone occupying the top line has to go, replaced or shunted aside. Who that someone is will be for the real dragon, the President to decide. There could be a fight on his hands with the false dragon (a struggle between light and darkness), but we already know the outcome of that battle.

Rests assure, for if each Da Ren involved acts with sincerity, the rebuilding could start by November or the first week of December 2005 and progress gradually thereafter.