{"id":1808,"date":"2019-08-06T11:52:28","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T09:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.no2do.com\/synopse\/?p=1808"},"modified":"2025-04-17T20:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T18:39:41","slug":"24-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.no2do.com\/synopse\/en\/archives\/1808","title":{"rendered":"24 – return"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Something is happening in the dark womb of the earth: a decision (Zhen) has been made and is now a long period of growth and materialization (Kun) follows. I do not know which is harder: the decision, or the patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In any case, our decision should be clear, consistent with our deepest self, uninfluenced by our day-to-day mind and\/or our cultural environment. A decision that reflects us as a whole, as the one who we are. And exactly this kind of a decision we then entrust to the world – as if we were planting the perfect seed in the dark womb of the earth. Giving it space and time to materialize and to come to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Case Study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hexagram<\/a> 24 – return<\/em> begins with a yang<\/a> line, followed by the five yin<\/a> lines. The lower trigram<\/a> is Zhen, the thunder<\/a><\/em>, followed by a triple Kun<\/em> (the earth): first and second core character<\/a> and upper trigram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something is happening in the dark womb of the earth: a decision (Zhen<\/em>) has been made, followed by a long period of growth and materialization. Or, to use a more concrete image: something is happening, the embryo is growing, the plant is returning – but yet we see nothing of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we don’t see any of it. It is happening in the dark womb of the earth. And that’s what’s so disturbing – that we can’t see or perceive anything of what’s happening there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This spring I decided to sow basil myself, rather than buy it from the gardener already sprouted. So I prepared a pot and soil, bought some seeds and planted them. Nothing happened. Every day I checked my pot and thought, “Maybe the seeds were no good? Maybe a bird picked the seeds out of the soil? Should I sow again?” I was tempted to poke around in the soil, to see if anything was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did nothing. I suppressed my curiosity and uncertainty (“Thus the kings of antiquity closed the passes at the time of solstice…”). And waited.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Basil<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ten days later the miracle happened: my basil sprouted. Green! (By the way, that’s what it said on the box…)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what advice does the I Ching<\/a> give with hexagram 24 – return<\/em>? I think the first thing is to make a clear decision, to plant the perfect seed, so to speak. A decision that is consistent with our deepest self, unaffected by our day-to-day mind and\/or our cultural environment. A decision that reflects us as a whole, as the one who we are. In other words: choosing the best seed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then we should trust this seed that we have planted, our decision, and give it time and space. So that it can materialize and come to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t know which is more difficult: the decision or the patience. Because here, as with my basil, something is happening here without me seeing it. We, on the other hand, are used to always doing, acting, reacting. And instead of simply waiting, we are all too easily tempted into blind actionism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe because we don’t trust our own decisions? I certainly didn’t trust my basil seeds at first…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not-acting, letting things grow at their own pace, not interfering: that is Wu Wei<\/a>. And it is very difficult for us. But it is probably also the highest and best advice the hexagram gives: not to interfere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PS: Planting basil may be a good idea for several reasons. In India basil is a sacred plant, consecrated to the god Vishnu, symbolizing his wife, the goddess Lakshmi, and representing protection, health and prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further Questions on Hexagram 24<\/h2>\n\n\n\n