soars like a bird,

and the mind tumbles

in endless curiosity -

the small exceeds itself.

In times of small excess err on the side of caution. Honest discipline.

6 Too high from the nest: a light lunch for peregrines. Willful ignorance.

5 Dense clouds but no rain. Dressed up but don’t know where to go. Wrong place, wrong time.

4 Proceed with caution, Responding to the moment, making haste slowly.

3 Small indulgences grow into shameful vices. Nip them in the bud.

2 Falling short of your goal, you do the best you can. Who can criticize?

1 Flying the nest too soon, breakfast for a lucky cat. Vain imaginings.

Thunder over Mountain raises the expectation of bombast and powerful display, but the received interpretation is quite the opposite. Visually, the hexagram recalls (to the ancient Chinese, at least) a bird in flight. This logically pairs with Hexagram 61 — the egg in its nest. The traditional title, Predominance (or Preponderance) of the Small feels a bit ponderous for a lesson on stepping carefully in matters of correct conduct, of being neither bound by traditional rules of behavior nor wholly inconsiderate of them. In other words, living in the Tao, being in the moment, acting in accord with every situation as it presents itself in this moment. Perhaps R. L. Wing titles it best with Conscientiousness.

The hexagram presents a remarkable visual image, but it is not well-balanced. Yin lines predominate; thus, the importance of flexibility, of concentrating on small matters, of maintaining considerable caution. The yang lines in the center are poorly matched; ergo, rigidity is not appropriate to this time. This is not the moment to soar over Mountains. Rather, the flying bird should stay near the ground, where its cry may be heard by others. Its voice is no match for Thunder.

Flying bird imagery follows in the judgement and several of the lines, though not in a positive sense. Flying upward in first line, it is overwhelmed by the elements. The second line is a bit of a mystery to decode. Apparently Confucian in origin, it concerns trying to meet with the big boss, but settling for her secretary instead. There is no blame in this attempt. The third line shows one acting out of a misplaced sense of strength, of ego predominating. Bad fortune!

The fourth line indicates someone with better sense –perhaps having some authentic power in a situation, but taking the low (and safe) road rather than gambling on success. The fifth line: a weak ruler, his authority undercut by underlings, makes an ostentatious show of force. No one is impressed. The flying bird re-appears in the sixth line — flying too high this time, and wholly out of its element. Or perhaps caught in a net. Either way, a sad ending.

A willful little poem that was supposed to be about Hexagram 62, line 5:

In times of small excess

err on the side of caution.

Honest discipline.

6 Too high from the nest: a light lunch for peregrines. Willful ignorance.

5 Dense clouds but no rain. Dressed up but don’t know where to go. Wrong place, wrong time.

4 Proceed with caution, Responding to the moment, making haste slowly.

3 Small indulgences grow into shameful vices. Nip them in the bud.

2 Falling short of your goal, you do the best you can. Who can criticize?

1 Flying the nest too soon, breakfast for a lucky cat. Vain imaginings.

Thunder over Mountain raises the expectation of bombast and powerful display, but the received interpretation is quite the opposite. Visually, the hexagram recalls (to the ancient Chinese, at least) a bird in flight. This logically pairs with Hexagram 61 — the egg in its nest. The traditional title, Predominance (or Preponderance) of the Small feels a bit ponderous for a lesson on stepping carefully in matters of correct conduct, of being neither bound by traditional rules of behavior nor wholly inconsiderate of them. In other words, living in the Tao, being in the moment, acting in accord with every situation as it presents itself in this moment. Perhaps R. L. Wing titles it best with Conscientiousness.

The hexagram presents a remarkable visual image, but it is not well-balanced. Yin lines predominate; thus, the importance of flexibility, of concentrating on small matters, of maintaining considerable caution. The yang lines in the center are poorly matched; ergo, rigidity is not appropriate to this time. This is not the moment to soar over Mountains. Rather, the flying bird should stay near the ground, where its cry may be heard by others. Its voice is no match for Thunder.

Flying bird imagery follows in the judgement and several of the lines, though not in a positive sense. Flying upward in first line, it is overwhelmed by the elements. The second line is a bit of a mystery to decode. Apparently Confucian in origin, it concerns trying to meet with the big boss, but settling for her secretary instead. There is no blame in this attempt. The third line shows one acting out of a misplaced sense of strength, of ego predominating. Bad fortune!

The fourth line indicates someone with better sense –perhaps having some authentic power in a situation, but taking the low (and safe) road rather than gambling on success. The fifth line: a weak ruler, his authority undercut by underlings, makes an ostentatious show of force. No one is impressed. The flying bird re-appears in the sixth line — flying too high this time, and wholly out of its element. Or perhaps caught in a net. Either way, a sad ending.

A willful little poem that was supposed to be about Hexagram 62, line 5: