The fourth month and Hexagram 1

I was mistaken in some of my previous posts when I was talking about the months and the corresponding hexagrams. As it turns out, the hexagrams and months are more appropriately tied to the cycles of the 24 jie qi as opposed to that of the moon. This makes sense actually, because the hexagrams have many agricultural interpretations that are more relevant to the jie qi.

So this means that the fourth month started on 立 夏, "the beginning of summer," which was on Tuesday May 5. This month will include this seasonal qi as well as the next one 小 满, "lesser (grain) fullness" which begins on May 21 and continues until June 4. During this time, we also experience the energy of the auspicious hexagram 1, 乾 which is often translated as "The Creative" and is all 6 yang lines.


The Yi Jing text:
大哉「乾元」，萬物資始，乃統天。

Great! The beginning of all material things, all are ordered under heaven. 



雲行雨施，品物流形。

Clouds move and rain falls, giving rise to the movement and form of all things.



大明終始，六位時成。

Great brightness from beginning to end, 6 positions of successful times. 



時乘六龍以御天。

It is time to ride the cart pulled by the 6 heavenly dragons.



乾道變化，各正性命。

Qian is the dao of change and transformation, supporting the correctness and truth of every life. 



保合大和，乃「利貞」。

Safely coming together ensures great harmony, auspicious. 



首出庶物，萬國咸寧。

Every creature's head emerges, and all nations are peaceful.

Of all the hexagrams this is the most auspicious, most grand, most promising. Under normal circumstances this is a time when all things can be achieved. However, at this particular moment in time there are some crazy western astrological trends afoot that indicate that we should be a little cautious. If you tend to be a bit lazy (like me recently) this month things will generally be a bit easier for you to get things done, meet new people, and proceed on some goals you have set. If you're a busy little bee that tends to not rest, relax, or find your center on a regular basis, this could be a month of burnout of both the mental and physical. But because of the way these things work, you probably won't notice the fallout or rewards until sometime in June. In a phrase: stay balanced, but enjoy the precious creative movement forward.

Stephen Karcher translates Hexagram 1 as "Dragon" or "Inspiring Force"

Force or Inspiring describes the situation in terms of primal power of spirit to create and destroy. Its symbols are the inspiring power of Heaven, the light of the sun that causes everything to grow, the fertilizing rain and the creative energy of the Dragon that breaks through boundaries. You are confronted with many obstacles. The way to deal with them is to persist, for you are in contact with fundamental creative energy. Take action. Be dynamic, strong, untiring, tenacious and enduring. Continue on your path and don't be dismayed. Ride the power of the Dragon and bring the fertilizing rain. Your situation contains great creative potential. It can open up a whole new cycle of time.