12 - Standstill

no2DO - eine Annäherung aus Westen

Contemporary Interpretation

12 - Standstill

Nurturing is like
kindling a small fire.

Nurturing is like
Kindling
A small fire:
Some burn well.
And others
Are not meant for us.
[disengage;
then grow
until passion
flares.]

The Changes

yin yin yin yin yin yin

Upper Trigram: Qian, Heaven

2nd Core Character: Sun, Wind (Tree)

1st Core Character: Gen, Mountain

Lower Trigram: Kun, Earth

Information regarding the interpretation model

Classical Interpretation

The characters »stagnation« (12) and »peace« are opposites by their nature.

The image

Heaven and earth do not unite: the image of stagnation. Thus the superior man withdraws to his inner qualities to avoid difficulties. He does not permit himself to be honoured with revenue.

The judgement

Stagnation.vil people do not further the the perseverance of the superior man. The great departs, the small approaches. Full text of Richard Wilhelm's 1924 translation by Cary F. Baynes

Dynamics of the Hexagram

The Changes: 12 - standstill

Lower Trigram: Kun, the Earth

The following image is often chosen to describe Kun: soil in which a seedling is growing. Soil is unstructured matter: in soil a ... Read more seedling finds everything it needs to grow; dead plants decay to soil. Kun's meaning, however, goes beyond unstructured matter (such as soil): Kun is unstructured potential, including tangible and non-tangible matter.
When interpreting a hexagram, Kun points at the place which we are at, here and now. Kun invites us to calm down and to use this place / moment as a source of strength. Like a wave rolling back into the sea, its origin, focusing and drawing new energies. Hide

First Change: Kun → Gen, the Mountain

During the phase of growth (Kun), while something concrete emerged from unstructured potential, we may have noticed things that are ... Read more unnecessary ballast and block our energies. When Gen evolves from Kun, we can confidingly let go of ballast and entrust ourselves to earth's gravity. This way we not only release muscles and tendons, but our entire being. Hide

Second Change: Gen → Sun, the Wind / Tree

Sun develops when a (solid) yang line is added (red arrow; yang symbolizes energy, activity). Initial disengagement (Gen) results ... Read more in forward thrusting growth (Sun). We disengaged, we released unnecessary ballast, we concentrated our energies. This way we drew the bow. Until our arrow, Sun, is shot off: unstoppable, unrelenting, heading for our goal. Hide

Third Change: Sun → Qian, the Heaven

Qian develops when a (solid) yang line is added (red arrow; yang symbolizes energy, activity). Sun represents a powerful forward ... Read more thrusting from within ourselves: self-assured, unstoppable, unrelenting, following an invisible, very own, perfect path. This growth reaches its peak in Qian: our clear and coherent self, our true nature. Hide

Upper Trigram: Qian, the Heaven

Qian represents the zenith of our human potential, a state of mind of clarity and coherence, undisturbed by worries, desires, ... Read more thought loops. When our mind is clear, if we are simultaneously one with ourselves and with our goal, we become creator: the constellating power of our coherent mind, our own living consciousness is able to act upon the unstructured potential that surrounds us, to organize and form it according to our will. Hide

Follow the Path of the Dao: A Western Approximation

The interpretations shown above gradually moved away from Eastern concepts. Let us proceed even a little further. In this section I develop a model of interpretation from a Western perspective, more precisely: from the perspective of philosophical anthropology.
A detailed article on the subject can be found here: A Western Approximation

Dem Weg des Dao folgen: Annäherung aus Westen

Exemplary Experiences

Support no2DO: Give me feedback!

You can help the further development of no2DO by sending me the question you asked the I Ching and its response (the hexagram's name and number). Each hexagram's tendencies open up most clearly when examined in the context of a personal situation.

References and Connotations