The Abyss Over The Clinging 
The Deep/Water Above, Fire/Sun Below


ATTRIBUTESANATOMYELEMENTCOLORSEASONDIRECTIONFAMILY
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——–DangerEarWoodRedWinterNorthMiddle Son
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— x —Clarity/LightEyeFireYellowSummerSouthMiddle Daughter
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Water above the fire.
The great man anticipates misfortune
And prepares himself for its approach.
Beyond Completion. Success in modest undertakings.
Determination brings about achievements.
Auspicious in the beginning.
Ominous in the end.

When water is heated by fire, it turns to steam and can be used to produce energy. However one must be careful when handling this type of system because of its heat and of the high pressure which is being generated. If the water is allowed to boil over, the fire will then be doused and the resulting energy will be lost. It the fire is too hot, the water will dissipate itself into the air of the pressure will build too high and blow up its container. Only through utmost prudence can such a system safely be used to generate energy without causing destruction. In certain life situations, all seems to be working in harmony and everything looks as if it is in its proper place but one should nevertheless be cautious in order to prevent potential threats. Once an ideal state of balance has been attained, it can do nothing else but to regress back into a state of instability. Once a man has reached the top of a mountain, his movement can bring him nowhere else but down. It is a simple law of nature which states that what goes up must inevitably come back down. In this situation, a passage of some kind has come to its successful conclusion. Everything seems to be in the right place and at the right time. However the wise man understands the transient nature of the world and remains prudent when it comes to rejoicing about any of his achievements. He remains discreet in his excitement and maintains the proper attitude which is one of modesty. Since all is going so well, he might be tempted to simply let nature take its course but he must be determined to insure that even the smallest details have been tended to. Only through his meticulous and cautious approach towards the situation can he prevent it from reverting back to a chaotic state.


1 –0– He puts on the brakes. He wets his tail. No blame. 

When things are quickly changing, advancing movements push towards evolution and growth. When this movement is still in its embryonic form, this type of movement can prove to be detrimental. To try to move forward too quickly without first insuring that there is a strong foundation to grow upon will only lead to the eventual fall of what is being erected. A great man understands this fact and does not let himself be swayed by the frenzy of those around him. He knows that it takes time to build something of lasting value and set forth slowly and carefully in order not to overlook any of the significant factors. the man might still, in the end, be affected by this situation but at least if he has taken the proper precautions and attitude he will not withstand any enduring damage. 

2 –X– She loses the screen of her coach. She should not run after it. It will be returned to her on the seventh day. 

This is a situation where those who hold power become pompous and vain. A person is not able to gain the confidence from the others and find that he can not fulfill his duties properly. He should not try to draw attention towards himself in order to gain the trust of others but rather should wait quietly for times to get better suited for his actions while inwardly cultivating his own character. In due time he will be able to gain the confidence of others and accomplish his task. For now all he can do is wait for conditions to change in his favour. 

3 –0– The great ruler assaulted hell’s domain. He defeated it after three years. Mediocre men must not be used in this battle. 

When dealing with a situation where expansion is called for after a strong base has been established one should not use mediocre people for this task. In order for the center to remain strong those who are used to administer in post which are at a distance from the canter must have a strong allegiance to the central organization. One must place men of trust in the outer regions of the structure if its canter is to remain strong. Establishing such a large and lasting arrangement takes time and men of character. 

4 –X– His most refined garments turn to rags. All day long, he must remain extremely cautious. 

In times of growth, minor setback are bound to happen. These should be looked at very carefully because they point to the weaknesses which will later become great faults if not dealt with appropriately. If these deficiencies are simply covered up for the time being they will later resurface with much greater strength. The wise man understands that the roots of these deficiencies must be eliminated now, even if this means that he must pause in his forward movement for some time, in order for his growth to take the proper course in the future. 

5 –0– The neighbour from the east sacrifices an ox But does not obtain genuine happiness. The neighbour from the west makes a modest offering And receives the blessing of the divine forces. 

Spiritual homage and beliefs are most often a product of ones environment. The more complex a society becomes the more complex will become their form of spiritual worship. The divine powers do not require intricate forms of adulation in order to be heard. When worship becomes too complicated men will tend to loose part of their inner sincerity. Human eccentricity and pomp will tend to replace the simple acceptance of the universal will of the divine. The important factor when paying homage to the divine is what lies deep within the heart. The divine spirit can not be fooled by exterior demonstrations of faith if one does not truly believe. Only men can be deceived by such a crude distortion. If a man truly hold deep within his heart the will of the divine his homage although very simple will surpass any homage however grandiose which is given without genuine acceptance of the divine laws of the universe. 

6 –X– His is submerged under water. Danger. 

In this situation, the troubled waters are behind the man. He will meet with difficulties only if he decides to turn back and fixes his attention on the wonderful feat he has just accomplished by getting himself out of this complication. This type of conceit and immodesty will bring misfortune upon him. He must move forward not that the danger has passed if he is not to fall prey to the same perils he has just overcome. He should not look back upon his triumphs and failures but simply move on to the next phase of his life.