I Ching: Tuesday, September 22

One of the sixty-four hexagrams

This is an archived reading, kept as it was published.

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The Army

Hexagram 7 is water gathered inside the earth, an unseen mass held in one place: collective force. The Judgment turns on one word, a seasoned leader brings good fortune, because mass force is only as good as the judgement directing it. The Image is the other half: the noble person is generous to the people and gathers a following. Today, if you are directing anything, ask whether you are the seasoned one or merely the one at the front. If you are being directed, check the direction comes from experience. And be generous now, when you need nothing; the numbers you need later are decided today.

For your star sign

The same reading, taken through each sign of the zodiac.

Aries

You will command because you are loudest. The hexagram wants the seasoned leader, not the first one up. Today, if you have not done this before, follow someone who has.

Taurus

You are the water inside the earth: the mass that holds. Today the army needs that more than it needs a general. Be the force that stays gathered when others scatter.

Gemini

You will direct three fronts at once and none of them well. One. Today the army moves as one mass or it is not an army, and the seasoned leader picks a single objective.

Cancer

You gather a following by caring for it, which is the Image exactly. Today keep doing that, and add the Judgment: someone experienced has to point the following somewhere.

Leo

You want to lead the army and the hexagram asks whether you are seasoned. If not, today is for being generous to the people, which is how the following is built before the command.

Virgo

You will organise the army and never march it. Today the seasoned leader is the one who moves the mass, not the one who inventories it. Point it and go.

Libra

You will consult the army about where to march. An army does not vote. Today somebody experienced decides, and if that is you, decide; if not, follow.

Scorpio

You command from behind and nobody sees the direction come from you. The hexagram is fine with that. Today just make sure the judgement is seasoned, not merely hidden.

Sagittarius

You will march the army toward the horizon with no objective. Today the seasoned leader has one. Name it before the first step or the mass dissolves in the field.

Capricorn

You are the seasoned leader by temperament and the Image asks the other thing: generosity when you need nothing. Today be open-handed with people whose help you do not yet require.

Aquarius

You will lead the army by principle and it will not follow a principle. Today it follows a person. Be that, or find the one who is, and let the idea march behind.

Pisces

You feel the mass of the army and cannot direct it. Today find the seasoned one and give them the feeling. Water inside the earth needs someone to say where the well goes.

For your Chinese animal

The same reading, taken through each animal of the Chinese zodiac.

Rat

You will lead the army where the advantage is. Today the seasoned leader leads where the ground holds. Steadfastness, the Judgment says, and it is not the same as opportunity.

Ox

You are the mass inside the earth: gathered, steady, unseen. Today the hexagram asks you to stay that way while someone experienced directs. Do not disperse to prove you are there.

Tiger

You will charge with the army before the seasoned leader gives the word. Wait for the word today. A mass that moves early is a crowd, and crowds lose.

Rabbit

You will hide inside the army and hope not to be needed. Today you are needed, as part of the mass. Hold your place and the whole holds.

Dragon

You assume you are the seasoned leader. Today check. The hexagram gives good fortune to experience, not to rank, and the army knows the difference.

Snake

You direct the army by whispering to its general. Today whisper judgement, not tactics. The seasoned leader is what brings good fortune, and you can make one.

Horse

You will run ahead of the army and call it scouting. Today stay with the mass. An army is force held together, and the runner ahead is just a target.

Goat

You will follow whoever is nearest. Today follow whoever is seasoned. The Judgment is specific, and the nearest person is not always the experienced one.

Monkey

You will reorganise the army mid-march. Today march it. The seasoned leader's judgement is worth more than your improvement, and the improvement can wait for camp.

Rooster

You will inspect the army's discipline and find it wanting. Today be generous to it instead. The Image says the following is gathered by generosity, not by inspection.

Dog

You will guard the army and never lead it. Today, if you are the seasoned one, lead. Loyalty to the mass sometimes means being the judgement it needs.

Pig

You will feed the army and let someone else direct it. Good. Today the Image is about you: generosity in peacetime is what makes the numbers available later.

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