Welcome to this I Ching teaching on power.
Let's use the breath for a few moments just to arrive and settle and center.
So find a rhythm that feels in tune,
In harmony with your essence right now and allow yourself to make some mental space,
Soften the body and feel into the tips of your fingers and the tips of your toes.
Rooting down perhaps through the soles of your feet or through your legs or through your spine and now breathing into your crown and becoming aware of the space around you and let's bring our focus now into heart center,
Perhaps with hands over heart as we set our intention together.
I trust the wisdom I am receiving from these ancient teachings of the Tao are in alignment with my highest good and I trust that my own inner guidance is also for my highest good and for the greater good of all.
As we breathe into that you can simply affirm that by saying I trust and as you release exhale expectations,
Allowing the mind to open,
To expand,
To be receptive.
So with our hands in a palms up position,
Take a moment to breathe into your power,
Feeling the power in your physical body at whatever level it is right now,
Being aware of your mental strength,
Your emotional power and sense into your spiritual power and the power of your essence.
And no matter what levels,
Physical,
Mental,
Emotional,
Even spiritual bodies are at in their position of power,
The power of one's essence is always complete.
And the Tao reminds us to use our power wisely.
We are always in positions where power is expressed directly or indirectly,
Whether it be in a large group of people or even when we are on our own.
Take a moment to acknowledge any power plays that you are currently aware of,
Maybe in your own life or maybe that you are observing in others.
Notice and recall times of power being used for the greater good,
Power that is expressed in harmony.
What does that look like?
And recall a time,
An experience of power perhaps not expressed fully,
Overexpressed or misused.
And just notice the difference between these two scenarios.
How did you feel in your body thinking about the first one?
Power in harmony versus power in discord.
And remember these type of signals that your body has just given you.
Because one's physical body and one's subtle bodies tend to use a similar language.
And so we know very quickly when we are in alignment with our own power or not.
Are you speaking up enough,
Clearly,
Audibly?
And this might be literally,
But it might be metaphorically.
Or are you perhaps over speaking,
Speaking too loud?
And this speaking connects to our actions as well.
Are we acting on our intentions in the right way at the right time?
Are we knowing the time when to move forward and when not to?
Are you able to sense into that?
Or do you tend to rush forward perhaps from fear,
Perhaps from enthusiasm?
The Tao reminds us to use our power wisely,
For the benefit of all,
Not just yourself.
Don't get obsessed with power for its own sake,
Or your ego.
Use it selflessly for good ends and make sure that you stay in harmony with yourself and those around you.
Be strong of character when wielding this power and use it correctly.
And then anything will be possible.
Take a moment to allow this reading from the I Ching to settle.
Noticing the words,
The points,
The themes that stood out for you right now.
Then as you release your focus on that,
We consider the symbology that is linked to this hexagram 34,
Sometimes entitled the power of the great,
And also be known as the great invigorating.
And there is much yang frequency in this hexagram.
The lower trigram is completely yang,
Three yang lines.
So much movement and activity in this current phase.
However,
When we have a complete yang experience,
It means that it is inviting in and ready for the transformation into yin.
And we see this showing in the upper trigram of yang,
Yin,
Yin.
In other words,
Thunder is above heaven.
And heaven is all about one's creative power,
One's vision,
One's drive.
Drive to success,
To achieve,
To do,
To be productive.
And yet in these times when we feel so driven,
We are called by the energy of the divine yin to be cautious.
Sometimes the best way forward is to pause and wait for a while.
The thunder resounding above the heavens strengthens the power of heaven.
But the balance and the effectiveness of the strength is in the ability to use it correctly and timeously.
This teaching can show up for one when we have an idea and we are feeling inspired.
This could be in one's work life,
In one's family life,
In one's health,
Or even spiritual life.
Where are you drawn to widen your scope or strengthen your intentions or perhaps initiate new ones,
Wherever that drive is coming from.
Now we are asked to channel that direction carefully and with wisdom,
Not only through action.
Action follows on the spiritual guidance.
So take the time you need to check in,
To ask the questions that need to be asked.
And then when you know that the time is right,
Then act completely with your heart open and your essence alive in this expression.
Consider for yourself now the takeaway message for you.
And if you feel you are needing more guidance with what you are going through,
Please consider listening to the partner hexagram number 33 known as withdrawing or retiring.
Because the two together create a transformational experience which helps one to develop the ability to advance in a way that is in alignment with your essence.
So maybe for you it is first withdrawing,
Stepping back,
Pausing,
Waiting,
Observing,
Contemplating.
And if you feel that then do engage with the message from the previous hexagram.
And then trust,
Trust when your gatekeeper is ready to become the ground breaker and allow that transformation to evolve in a way that is natural and harmonious for your life and for others in your life as well.
Breathing into the whole body as we create space once again,
Bringing the self into presence,
Widening the mind,
Grounding down,
Connecting with the earth and connecting with the heavens while acknowledging all in between.
If you would like to explore this ancient technology of the I Ching and the yin-yang symbols guiding us through the wisdom of the Tao and supporting our essence through these great times of change,
If you would like to understand and explore that some more,
Please do consider the Divination with the I Ching course I have for you on this platform.
My name is Helen Hansen and I'm so grateful to have journeyed through this groundbreaking hexagram with you.
And in closing,
Words from the I Ching.
Remain on your path,
Focused on your worthy cause,
And success is yours.
