Pathfinder
Hexagram 20 Perspective
The model of the moment: Closed minds make for dead ends. If you allow nothing new to enter your thoughts, how can anything new come out of them? GIGO ( Garbage In, Garbage Out ) is a common expression among computer aficionados. NINO ( Nothing In, Nothing Out ) could be applied to closed minded persons. Even the most brilliant of us cannot hope to always have the best idea concerning a particular subject. But even the most ignorant of us can strive to learn all we can, and actively seek better ideas with which to improve ourselves and the world. If you shut yourself off from the ideas, insight, and genius of the billions of other people on the planet, you are left with very little indeed to go on. The course usually recommended for such times: This is not a time for action, child, but rather of observation. And careful consideration. A time to search for ideas concerning how future improvements might be made in one's own character, or surrounding environment. This should be done without prejudice. Only impartiality will provide the best answers.
Fixed (no changing lines);
This is a plateau process or event; the given model will hold true for an extended period of time. Attempts to manipulate events away from the present course could prove frustrating and fruitless, until destiny is satisfied. Consider the following as well as the above: You are out of touch with the situation. Though you may think you know what's going on, you don't. The truth of things lies hidden under a mask of your own expectations and perspective. There is more to the world than your own narrow, specialized view. You'll continue to be frustrated in your efforts until you can see beyond yourself.
Changing Lines:
1
Those in responsible positions cannot afford to be naive.
2
Your view of the world can only be narrowed and dimmed through the lens of egotism. Such a viewpoint requires changing if you would work with others. Usually only those leading highly sheltered lives can afford the viewpoint you currently hold.
3
Consider well the present situation. One way to do this is by consciously adjusting your behavior to fit the circumstances. This path will pave the way for realizing what improvements you can make in the future.
4
Careful observation will uncover both the good and the bad in a situation. Focus on the good, expanding its reach and depth. This is often the most effective route in truly changing things for the better. The alternatives, such as merely ignoring or declaring as unacceptable unwanted elements you find, often play right into the hands of the very forces you seek to weaken. For instance, America's prohibition of alcohol in 1919 only drove liquor sales underground, allowing bootleggers to prosper as never before. This massive infusion of wealth into illegal operations provided reason and resources for national coordination of activities among the participants, leading directly to the entity we refer to today as "organized crime". Now, after decades of consolidation and further growth, it functions literally as a shadow government in some sectors of the world economy, as ruthless, powerful, and dictatorial as any outright nation that ever existed in the past.
5
Periodic self-examination is necessary to prevent inferior elements from arising within ourselves. These forces are often the hardest to deal with, and present the most powerful obstacles to our efforts. These elements can easily pervert one's attempts to improve a situation, rendering them detrimental instead. Periodic self-examination helps expose such warping of our attitudes, and allow us to correct our conduct as needed, much like the course corrections a boat undergoes, to cope with changing wind and current.
6
You can expect others to observe you even as you observe them. If you would have them allow you to make judgments in their behalf, you must yourself first be judged by them as being capable of such a task. This means your motives and actions must be above reproach. So you must make them so.
When all lines are changing;
This is a time of change that you either did not notice coming, neglected to consider, or simply glossed over with your own misconceptions. Failing to see things for what they really are will cause your mistakes to multiply.