Pathfinder
Hexagram 22 Perfection
The model of the moment: Enthusiasm and ornamentation have their place, especially in traditional rituals. But care must be taken that the superficial behavior and fragile beauty of the moment are not mistaken for ultimate truth. For they are not. Outward beauty and grace do not necessarily signify inner virtues to match. In Nature appearances can often be deceiving. Many creatures present outward attractiveness only to lure others to their death or other undesirable ends. As mankind is one of the highest examples of Nature's art, so too can he be a master at such deception, illusion, and seduction. Even in cases where inner beauty matches outer, there will still tend to be a concentration of conflict and danger in the surrounding circumstances, due to pleasing patterns being a relative rarity as such things go. Such appearances attract other forces about them to form a situation akin to the eye of a hurricane. So there can be danger in attaining, or even approaching, such an object of beauty. And there can be danger if you yourself are that object, due to the storm of outside forces you attract, and the egotism that such external reactions to your appearance can generate within you. Those who grow dependent on an outward beauty are doomed to lose their greatest treasure to time, accident, or changing tastes. The course usually recommended for such times: In the daily grind of normal life, do not forget that the illusion of perfection is the very image powerful influences will dangle before us ( Some hapless souls do this even to themselves; thus becoming their own worst enemy.). In such dazzling instances, remember that all that glitters is not necessarily precious. Much is merely plated.
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: Though perfection may seem within your grasp, it is not. What you see is a mirage of idealism imposed over reality. This is a fleeting moment of beauty. Enjoy it, but be wary of basing significant decisions upon what you perceive in the moment.
Changing Lines:
1
You are suitably prepared now to advance. Purely ornamental affairs can now be safely dispensed with, without harming your progress.
2
If you base your judgments of situations solely on appearances, you should expect to make mistakes.
3
Your attractive outward appearance influences others in your favor. Be careful that this fact does not weaken your inner self, by making you overly dependent on your looks.
4
Excessive ornamentation in appearance may bring doubts of sincerity, even when intentions are correct and true.
5
Working to improve your inner self may detract from your maintenance of outer appearances, and bring on the misunderstanding of others. But good fortune will be the eventual result.
6
The perfection of inner virtues takes precedence over outward behavior and appearances. This is no mistake, as you take on new tasks to perform.
When all lines are changing;
Utopian or idealistic visions are fine as long as they do not blind one to reality. Living only on fine desserts would make for poor health and an unhappy life, in the long run. Sustenance in reality requires more than the ornamental or superficial, and sensual indulgence.