Seven

师 :: Multitude :: Earth over Water

Channelled Mandala for Hexagram 7 of the I-Ching

The elementals for this gate are Earth over Water. Water that flows deep within the Earth. The imagery that comes to mind is the ancient art of dowsing for water. No one knows how deep Earth really is, but it’s been said that inner-earth extends far deeper than we think. Water runs all the way through, not just in the rivers and oceans. The Earth guides the Flow of the Water, the Water shapes and helps us understand the Earth lines. Understanding that helps us perceive the Dragon Lines or the Leylines of the Earth, for the flow of Water shows us her meridians and the flow of her Qi (Prana/Lifeforce energy). Still waters run deep; there is much power, strength, and wisdom to draw from, yet it’s not always the most easily accessible nor to harness.

As i meditate upon this hexagram, i find myself contemplating a different understanding from that of the traditional scholarly texts, all of which are summarised below. One of the meanings of the character 师 is an advisor and a guide. Following the above elemental imagery, the Earth and Water lines remind me so much of the concept of Flesh and Blood, each a guide to the other. Taking care of one benefits the other, and understanding one gives a greater depth of perception of the other. We are all interconnected, but we live now in a separatist materialist world and have forgotten how intertwined we are.

The etymology of the word Multitude means:

• A large number of people or things

• The mass of ordinary people without power or influence

• The state of being numerous (archaic meaning)

The story that comes to mind is one that all little children grew up knowing. A single chopstick is easily broken. A bunch of chopsticks is almost impossible to break though. There is another Chinese idiom 唇亡齿寒 that translates to when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, which signifies the interdependent nature of things, and how the fate of one is inextricably linked to the other.

There is power in the gathering together of resource, while this reminds me also of how the collective mind worked during Lemurian times, where we were less individuated and shared more of a collective consciousness. Harmony ensued because the society functioned in a manner that fostered something more resonant with Unity Consciousness. Earth and Water form the Meridien Lines of Mother Earth, it would be wise for us to learn to work with her energetic system and live with her, as opposed to thinking we can control and use her however we want to. The same applies with our collective - while we are individuating as a part of our personal development, we also need to remember that we are living with each other as a part of one humanity, weakening one eventually leads to the weakening of the whole. On the other hand, if we can learn to not only harmonise with, but uplift one another, we will not only strengthen each other, which eventually leads to a fortification of the whole.

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According to ancient dictionaries, 师 denotes 2500 people.

In ancient China, the belief is that keeping an army carries the potentials of danger, like running waters, it risked raging out of control, and so there was no army. Peasants worked in the field, and in the slack season they trained, coming together as an army only during wartime if they were called to defend their country.

"Originally 师 meant multitude. At present, it means teacher as well as troops or army…

… a new character is formed, presenting the picture of a multitude of people gathered together and circling a pivot. When the pivot is emphasized, shi indicates a teacher, a master or a person who deserves respect from society.

Thus, water under earth is the symbol of this gua, indicating that military strength should not be stored in the army but in the multitude of people, as water is stored in the earth. To the ancients, war was evil. It should not be undertaken lightly, but only when absolutely necessary. And the purpose of military affairs should be righteous. Only a person of noble character and high prestige could take charge of military affairs."

- The Complete I Ching, Taoist Master Alfred Huang

In terms of divination, it calls for focus before forward motion, favouring pushing ahead with one’s endeavours.

The army is gathered together to protect their welfare, as opposed to being for wars and expansion. The commander’s focus is on increasing people and livestock; when this increases, one’s army increases in strength, which in turn promises a greater chance for one’s preservation. The commander represents one’s mind and will; Preservation depends on how disciplined the army is. The army and its soldiers are the sum of one’s skills and capabilities.

"Your ambitions are too scattered. The ego is a tenacious general. This general needs to enforce discipline. Your ambitions must serve as a unit, obeying the command of its general. Once you can march with a single, unified sense of purpose, nothing will stop you from accomplishing your goal. Auspicious for rallying the troops and marching forward.

There is water deep within the center of the earth. Be like water flowing beneath the earth; be like the hollowed pit beneath the earth. The water flowing beneath the earth is your influence and the control you are able to exert.

Conditions are auspicious when the army marches with a single, unified purpose, when the army is in proper order.

- I Ching, the Oracle, Benebell Wen

In the Rave I-Ching, Hexagram 7 is located on The Gate of the Role of the Self, a part of the Sphinx Cross, a gateway of logical direction. Described as The point of convergence. By Design, the need for leadership to guide and order society the 7th hexagram is easily understood as the power behind the throne.

This is the gate of the role of the Self in interaction. The Channel of the 'Alpha' is a design of Leadership. It is the Understanding Circuit which leads us into the future. It is a rule of all forms, that only logic, only the tested and established patterns, can be followed with any certainty.

What is significant, is that the Self is unaware. The role is genetic and mechanical and it does not respond to a concept of role. An Authoritarian will always be one, regardless. However, the conditioning power of this gate is enormous and has had profound effects on our collective history.

- The Complete Rave I-Ching, Ra Ura Hu

In the Gene Keys, the chapter begins with “A WORLD DIVIDED”, which seems apt to begin with the shadowy, which perhaps is a good entry point for understanding the energies of hexagram 7. This has been a thread running through different civilisations all through history and given the current social-political scene of our world today, it does make one think about how bringing back the ancient wisdoms of the I-Ching (and other modalities) may be part of the solution to our current issues.

“The 7th Shadow of Division is one of the main reasons human society operates in hierarchies. Not only is this Shadow responsible for the manifestation of hierarchy, but it also makes you think in terms of hierarchy. We have become so used to thinking this way that we no longer conceive that another way might exist. Hierarchy is based upon division — it divides human beings into social classes, economic classes, racial castes and political wings. The reason for this division is rooted far more deeply than our psychology — it is actually stamped upon our genes. It is through the 7th Shadow that we are programmed to follow leaders, and it is also through this Shadow that certain people are programmed to behave as leaders.

The entire issue of leadership and power are contained within this Shadow. The ancient Chinese named this 7th hexagram of the I Ching The Army, which is extremely fitting. The army represents the real power in a country on a political level and if you don’t control the army you have no real power. This symbol of an army also represents the idea of power through force, rather than power through inspiration, “which is the true nature of leadership expressed through the 7th Gift and Siddhi. This Shadow always rules by force, and today it runs the political systems across the whole expanse of our planet. Even modern democracy, which has at its heart a high ideal, does not entirely eradicate the concept of leadership through force.

On a subtle level, even democracy encourages division. Modern political leaders can still force their way to the top — they can cheat, spin or bend the truth, manipulate and even buy their way into leadership. Until leadership demands its highest frequency, that of the 7th Siddhi of Virtue, we will never fully see the end of political division and hierarchy. The 7th Shadow cannot command true respect or loyalty because it has at its core the lust for power rather than the good of others. Those who are elected as our leaders are chosen because they have a genetic imprinting that marks them as the alphas. However, this does not necessarily make them good leaders. Just as there are leaders, so there must also be followers, and these followers are equally influenced by the 7th Shadow. Since the mass consciousness of humanity operates at a low frequency, it does not recognise high frequency leaders, so it does not elect them to power.”

- Gene Keys, Richard Rudd

A quick snapshot of the description of the hexagram from various sources:

The Oracle: Army

The Rave I-Ching, Human Design: The Gate of the Role of the Self - Army - The point of convergence. By Design, the need for leadership to guide and order society

Book of Lines: Uniformity - Finding common intent: Moving forward in life is made possible through establishing comon consent and promoting shared interests among those involved

Gene Keys: Division | Guidance | Virtue

You can find most of my work-in-progress artwork and astrological musings on my daily posts on Instagram @lemuriandreamweaver and personal contemplation and applications @numinous_reverie

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i so appreciate your presence, for taking this walk around the I-Ching wheel together. Thank you for being here.