6/10/2018 6:42 am cst. In the news – the meeting between the US and NK. I am asking the I Ching this question: What of the meeting between the United States and North Korea, between Kim and Trump? I just discovered that Wikipedia has an entry on the summit –2018 North Korea–United States summit

6/10/2018 7:14 am cst. I am listening the MSNBC on the coverage – Kim is already on the ground in Singapore and Trump is about to land. One person was just challenged about his pessimistic view of what could come from this meeting. His point was how can we expect NK after putting 60 years into producing a Bomb, to give it up as it appears the US is demanding. I then realized that the South has put the same 60 years into becoming a member of the global economy, which produces some fine products in the world resulting in a living standards far beyond NK’s. There seems to be a large imbalance in this meeting where the art of the bluff will be active.

6/10/2018 7:22 am cst. Air Force One has just touched down in Singapore. Okay now I will ask the I Ching this question, present its response, and then a comment.

Question: What of the meeting between the North Korea and the United States, between Kim and Trump?

Response: 26. Ta Chu / The Taming Power of the Great with changing lines giving hexagram 51. Chen / The Arousing (Shock, Thunder)

26. Ta Ch’u / The Taming Power of the Great
_________
____  ____  above Ken Keeping Still, Mountain
____  ____
_________
_________  below Ch/ien The Creative, Heaven
_________

The creative is tamed by Ken, Keeping Still. This produces great power, a situation in contrast to that of the ninth hexagram, Hsiao Chu, The Taming of the Small, in which the creative is tamed by the Gentle alone. There one weak line must tame five strong lines, but here four strong lines are constrained by two weak lines; in addition to a minister, there is a prince, and the restraining power therefore is far stronger.
The hexagram has a threefold meaning, expressing different aspects of the concept “holding firm.” Heaven within the mountain gives the idea of holding firm in the sense of holding together; the trigram Ken which holds the trigram Chien still, gives the idea of holding firm in the sense of holding back; the third idea is that of holding firm in the sense of caring for and nourishing. This last is suggested by the fact that the strong line at the top, which is the ruler of the hexagram, is honored and tended as a sage. The third of these meetings also attaches specifically to this strong line at the top, which represents the sage.

THE JUDGEMENT
The Taming Power of the Great.
Perseverance furthers.
Not eating at home brings good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.

To hold to great creative powers and store them up, as set forth in this hexagram, there is need of a strong, clearheaded man who is honored by the ruler. The trigram Chien points to strong creative power: Ken indicates firmness and points to strong creative power; Ken indicates firmness and truth. Both point to light and clarity and to the daily renewal of character. Only through such daily self-renewal can a man continue at the height of his powers. Force of habit helps to keep order in quiet times; but in periods when there is a great storing up of energy, everything depends on the power of the personality. However, since the worthy are honored, as in the ruler, it is an advantage not to eat at home but rather to earn one’s bread by entering upon public office. Such a man is in harmony with heaven; therefore even great and difficult undertakings, such as crossing the great waters, succeed.

THE IMAGE
Heaven within the mountain:
The image of The Taming Power Of The Great.
Thus the superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity
And many deeds of the past,
In order to strengthen his character thereby.

Heaven within the mountain points to hidden treasures. In the words and deeds of the past and there lies hidden a treasure that men may use to strengthen and elevate their own characters. The way to study the past is not to confine oneself to mere knowledge of history, but through application of this knowledge, to give actuality to the past.

THE LINES
Nine at the beginning means:
Danger is at hand. It furthers one to desist.

A man wishes to make vigorous advance, but circumstances present an obstacle. He sees himself held back firmly. If he should attempt to force an advance, it would lead him into misfortune. Therefore it is better for him to compose himself and to wait until an outlet is offered for release of his storeed-up energies.

Nine in the second place means:
The axletrees are taken from the wagon.

Here advance is checked just as in the third line of The Taming Power Of The Small (9). However, in the latter the restraining force is slight; thus a conflict arises between the propulsive and the restraining movement, as a result of which the spokes fall out of the wagon wheels, while here the restraining force is absolutely superior; hence no struggle takes place. One submits and removes the axletrees from the wagon – in other words, contents himself with weighting. In this way energy accumulates for a vigorous advance later on.

Nine in the third place means:
A good horse that follows others
Awareness of danger,
With perseverance, furthers.
Practice chariot driving and armed defense daily.
It furthers one to have somewhere to go.

The way opens; the hindrance has been cleared away. A man is in contact with a strong will acting in the same direction as his own, and goes forward like one good horse following another. But the danger still threatens, and he must remain aware of it, or you will be robbed of his firmness. Thus he must acquire skill on the one hand in what will take him forward, and on the other in what will protect him against on foreseen attacks. It is good in such a pass to have a goal toward which to strive.

Six in the fourth place means:
The headboard of a young bull.
Great good fortune.

This line and the one following it are the two that tame the forward-pushing lower lines. Before a bulls horns grow out, the headboard is fastened to its forehead, so that later when the horns appear they cannot do harm. A good way to restrain wild forces is to forestall it. By so doing one achieves an easy and a great success.

Six in the fifth place means:
The task of a gelded boar.
Good fortune.

Here the restraining of the impetuous forward drive is achieved in an indirect way. The boar’s tusk is in itself dangerous, but if the boar’s nature is altered, the task is no longer a menace. Thus also where a man is concerned, wild force should not be combated directly; instead, it roots should be eradicated.

Nine at the top means:
One obtains the way of heaven. Success.

The time of obstruction is passed. The energy long been up by innovation forces its way out and achieves great success. This refers to a man who is honored by the ruler and whose principles now prevail and shape the world.

Changing Lines Result in hexagram 51. Chen / The Arousing

51. Chen / The Arousing (Shock, Thunder)
____  ____
____  ____   above Chen The Arousing, Thunder
_________
____  ____
____  ____   below Chen The Arousing, Thunder
_________

The hexagram Chen represents eldest son, who seizes rule with energy and power. A yang line develops below two yin lines and presses upward forcibly. this movement is so violent that it arouses terror. It is symbolized by thunder, which bursts froth from the earth and by its shock causes fear and trembling.

THE JUDGEMENT
Shock brings success.
Shock comes – oh, oh!
Laughing words – ha, ha!
The shock terrifies for a hundred miles,
And he does not let fall the sacrificial spoon and chalice.

The shock that comes from the manifestation of God within the depths of the earth makes man afraid, but this fear of God is good, for joy and merriment can follow upon it.
When a man has learned within his heart what fear and trembling mean, he is safeguarded against any terror produced by outside influences. Let the thunder roll and spread terror a hundred miles around: he remains so composed and reverent in spirit that the sacrificial rite is not interrupted. This is the spirit that must animate leader and rulers of men – a profound inner seriousness from which all outer terrors glance off harmlessly.

THE IMAGE
Thunder repeated: the image of shock.
Thus in fear and trembling
The superior man sets his life in order
And examines himself

The shock of continuing thunder brings fear and trembling. The superior man is always filled with reverence at the manifestation of God; he sets his life in order and searches his heart, lest it harbor any secret opposition to the will of God. Thus reverence is the foundation of true culture.

6/10/2018 9:25 am cst. I have read these two responses, will reflect and comment on them in the midst of what is now unfolding in the Singapore Summit.

COMMENT: 

6.11.2018 8:30 am cst. I have been listening to just a little of the news with the World anxiously waiting this meeting. I will now re-read the I Ching’s responses and comment on what it senses about this summit.

6/11/2018 9:19 am cst.  The Taming Power of the Great seems very appropriate to what is currently unfolding in the Singapore Summit. In order for this Summit to produce a Creative outcome, the power of Trump will need to keep still. This keeping still is further outlined by the hexagram’s threefold meanings: first is the “idea of holding firm in the sense of holding together”; this is further developed in that the idea of holding firm is the sense of holding back; the third idea of holding firm is “that of holding firm in the sense of caring for and nourishing”. This is then pulled together with the strong line at the top, which is the ruler of the hexagram, honored and tended as a sage.” This beginning introduction ends by stating that this third meaning, “of caring for and nourishing” attaches specifically to this “strong line at the top, which represents the sage”. If Donald Trump is the sage, how prepared is he to carry out what is now unfolding? Within the first minute, Trump says he will size-up the sincerity in Kin – only he can do this.

The Judgment is quite clear that the great creative powers Trump and Kim both need – are that of being clear-headed, honored rulers, having a presence of “firmness and truth”. We are then told that a man in order to continue to be at the height of his powers, can acquire firmness and truth only through daily self-renewal. The key judgment here is that “in periods when there is a great storing up of energy, everything depends on the power of the personality.” What do we see in regards to Trump and Kim’s personalities? Despite the differences in age, I think Kim’s personality is better prepared than Trump’s for this encounter.

The Image is most foreboding for the United States. Heaven within the mountain is the creative force and is the taming power of the great. It is “the superior man that acquaints himself with may sayings of antiquity, And many deeds of the past, In order to strengthen his character thereby.” Kim has been to the Heaven within the mountain and seen what is pointing to hidden treasures – treasures that men may use to strengthen and elevate their own characters. The way Kin has studied the past was “not to confine oneself to mere knowledge of history but, through application of this knowledge, to give actuality to the past.” When Kim sits across the table from Trump, surrounding and advising Kim will be his father, grandfather, great grandfather. Around Trump’s side of the table will also be his father and grandfather. Which ancestors would you prefer?

6.11.2018 3:00 pm cst. There are four changing lines that give us additional information on the inner dynamics of what is occurring within the overall unfolding experience.

Nine in the second place means The axletrees are taken from the wagon.  There is a absolutely superior restraining force and so there is no struggle taking place. There is a simple submission, while the impediment is being removed, one has to be content with waiting – “In this way energy accumulates for a vigorous advance later on.”

Nine in the third place means that the hindrance is cleared and a way forward opens. The clearance occurs when two men, with strong wills, begin acting in the same direction.  However, “a danger can still threaten and one must remain aware or he will be robbed of his firmness.” A skill is required that will take a  man forward and also protect him against an unforeseen attack. Of course, it is good to have a realistic goal to strive for. Trump says he has been preparing all his life for this moment – we will soon be able to judge how well he has been trained.

Six in the fourth place means to address the headboard of a young bull and this line indicates ‘good fortune’ to be coming. Of course, the young bull is Kim and before his nucellar horns more fully grow out, a headboard needs to be fastened to his forehead, such that when horns appear they cannot do harm. To restrain such a wild force is to forestall it and thereby achieve success.

Finally, a nine at the top means one attains the way to heaven – success! The response is: “The time of obstruction is past. The energy long dammed up by inhibition forces its way out and achieves great success. This refers to a man who is honored by the ruler and whose principles now prevail and shape the world.”

51. Chen / The Arousing (Shock, Thunder)

The changing lines of hexagram 26 Ta Chu presented above describe the initial meeting between Kim and Trump. These lines in turn generate hexagram 51. Chen / The Arousing (Shock, Thunder) that adds further knowledge occurring in the future – we are being forewarned that a violent upward force that arouses terror will burst forth from the earth causing fear and trembling. This coming from the eldest son, who seizes rule with energy and power.

The Judgment itself is shocking.
Shock brings success.
Shock comes – oh, oh!
Laughing words – ha, ha!
The shock terrifies for a hundred miles,
And he does not let fall the sacrificial spoon and chalice.

When a man has learned within his heart what fear and trembling mean, he is safeguarded against any terror produced by outside influences. Let the thunder roll and spread terror a hundred miles around: he remains so composed and reverent in spirit that the sacrificial rite is not interrupted. His is the spirit that must animate leaders and rulers of men – a profound inner seriousness from which all outer terrors glance off harmlessly.

THE IMAGE
Thunder repeated: the image of shock.
Thus in fear and trembling
The superior man sets his life in order
And examines himself

The shock of continuing thunder brings fear and trembling. The superior man is always filled with reverence at the manifestation of God; he sets his life in order and searches his heart, lest it harbor any secret opposition to the will of God. Thus reverence is the foundation of true culture.

6.11.2018 5:40 pm cst. Sweet Dreams!