Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

289 To become true

   Anything you achieve has no value if you don’t find your own truth, your true soul. Inner truth does not care about worldly accomplishments. Finding your truth is the real purpose of life, everything else is just ‘what you do’, not what you are. Make sure your life is about more than ‘what you do’.

290 Thinking it out

   When you see an opportunity, it will only be one if you grasp it. Or if it is something not good, if you avoid it. Life gives innumerable chances, over and over again. Some people are clever and use them to their advantage, others don’t even notice them when they bark in their face.

291 Lock the doors

   Rumors and tidings will always fly around. Good and bad ones, true and false ones. Make your own decisions, make your life secure so nothing can harm you. Believing everything others say will not only make you insecure but also vulnerable. Keep your eyes and ears open but close your doors.

292 Academy of survival

   Disasters teach you how to deal with them. First of all, not to freeze and not to panic. Both are disastrous in themselves, in any situation. They also teach you about their size, how it is paramount to make sure they cannot happen. It is what nature teaches all creatures, the basics of survival.

293 Geese or ducks

   Small people will emulate great people. So if you wallow in honor, it will teach them to do the same, and the result will be a lot of mutual contention for anything which can bring honor - or what they imagine to. Do what you need to do and move on. Even if everyone sings your praise, move on.

294 A beautiful night

   Everything needs balance, nothing can prosper on its own. Work on your career but don’t postpone the matters of your heart. The two might even boost each other, and they will certainly ally with each other to bring you to a higher plane. A one-sided mind or action can only bring limited results.

295 Immortality

   Renewal is the secret of immortality. Again and again returning to the origin, the pure innocence, the clear and clean starting point. Repair your faults, clean up your act, make amends. Throw the garbage out and let a fresh wind in. Let go of who you think you are and be the real version of yourself.

296 Living now

   The now is always where you are, but where you are depends on your timing. You create your own nows. Be on time, flowers will not wait for you, if you are late, they are gone, and your ‘now’ will just see rain. Being happy and having success both depend on your timing, keep your senses open at all times.

297 Strong roots

   When building something up, then first of all give it a strong base. Then make or let it grow in its own steady pace. It will not collapse easily, and it will survive good and bad seasons. Your work will not make it to the frontpage of the newspapers, but it will be living in health for many years.

298 Raise your head * (Story after 333)

   If you get the chance to find your own road, then do it! You think going into the unknown is too much risk? What about giving your life for a goal which is not yours. Subjected to the ideas of a boss or of a general, you have no say in where you end up. Then the end is certain: everything you ever wanted is gone.

299 Medicine

   Make sure you know what you’re doing. If a pill can cure you, then first find out if that is true. Don’t believe a proposal but make sure you know to what you say yes. Seeing, hearing or experiencing something three times is often a good guideline. Then you know there is at least some truth to it.

300 Heaven’s Hall

   First the start, second the test and trial, and third the completion. Three is the number of the creation of something. A lucky number, heeding it means you do it right, with a real beginning, middle and end. And a triangle is solid, it cannot change its form, you can rely on it.

301 Inner laughter

   Wisdom is often found in unexpected places. The ‘normal’ world is just that, the norm. Which means devoid of any masters. Real masters are free, they like to play, so where you are free yourself you might meet one. They are not difficult to recognize, their sparkling eyes tell about fun and wisdom.

302 Starting a business

The best partner is the one you can get along with as a person, not just for business. Maybe there is no need to seek far away, because with an old friend you don’t need to first find common ground. You can start right away and put all your energy in your work. The Spring Festival might bring luck.

303 Dust everywhere

   People can be compared to the big rivers. One is clear, another is muddy, a third will be dangerous or maybe just adventurous. Look at people the way you would study a river which may be dangerous to cross. Don’t trust, any sign you miss can make the difference between survival or disaster.

304 Submerged dragon

   Don’t rise up impulsively. Wait for the right moment, for the signs that the time is ripe. Once you know, then go for it with all your heart. If you move too early, you destroy your chances, if you move too late or too hesitatingly you miss them. Dragons are the creatures of time, let them be your teachers.

305 Antidote

   Often things cannot be healed or changed by mending or fighting them. Maybe others cannot see how they really are. In those cases exaggeration could be the right way. Showing the ridiculousness or uselessness. The ugliness. How wrong the result. Or making the entire situation laughable.

306 Get on your way

   Don’t stay in a bad place, either physically or mentally. It will always harm you. It is the reason a sage does not read newspapers, watch horror movies or listen to gossip. You become part of it, even if you don’t notice. Your heart is like a child, it learns from anything which comes on its path.

307 The horns of the dragon

   Not everyone can do something grand for the world, but everyone should cherish those who do. They bring the values, the beauty, the things which make life worthwhile and breathtaking. When one of those comes into the world, good fortune accompanies it. Be part of it, cooperate or help.

308 Dragon and snake

   Every dawn and dusk the Dragon of day and the Snake of night fight with each other. When the light wins, clarity appears, when the dark wins, the earth is plunged into obscurity. It is a metaphor for the good which is the better choice. Who chooses the dark will live in darkness.

309 Longing for spring

   You made the preparations, now you have to wait. For favorable circumstances, for the right people, or for the right time. Or maybe the change from preparing to reaping the fruits of your work. Use this in-between to rest and enjoy yourself, waiting may be the moment to repair and prepare yourself.

310 Enjoy your life

   Looking back makes sense if you enjoy the good things which happened. Not if you relive the difficult times or regret lost opportunities or love. Now it is important to make your future a good and happy one. Good memories can help, a content heart attracts happiness and friendship.

311 Got your masters, get your life

   A degree or talent is valuable, but you will have to find a way to make a living with it. Now is the moment to find out. If you can’t, you should find a different career. Or maybe another place or way to use it. If you wait too long, your opportunity will be lost. A talent is not a ticket for a cozy seat in life.

312 Strange events

   When something attracts your attention it might be important. Especially if there is a repeat. Scrutinize it and don’t gloss it over with ‘common sense’, calling it random or coincidence. Someone is suddenly rude? Your intuition hesitates? A number keeps coming up? Always take a good look at it.

313 Plowing and harvesting

   Work hard but also be clever enough to delegate when necessary. If done right, everyone gets a chance to use his or her talents and to share in the profits. You will be able to both work and live, both use your skills and enjoy leisure. It is the recipe for a balanced life.

314 The Qīngpíng sword

   Awarding honor to those, who deserve it, is one of the pillars of a society based on merit. It defines the values and encourages to do the same. People will see the difference between real power and seized power, an acknowledged leader and a self-appointed boss, meritocracy and aristocracy.

315 Entering the world

   Every creature does what it has been made for. The size can be very different, but that doesn’t matter. If you do your thing, you live up to your potential. If you find that your drive is too low, then enhance it. Exercise, learn, eat right, sleep enough and most of all, believe in yourself and go.

316 Smile to the east wind

   Most of what people call extremely bad or good is just a sprinkle. Later, looking back, it seems like a little dip down or a molehill up. Use your own eyes and your own discernment to judge situations. And try to look with a positive mind, it makes everything seem a lot easier and better.

317 The cauldron

   Everything needs balance. Things which are destroying when in high concentration can be beneficial when combined with their counterpart. Fire and water need each other, closed and open depend on each other, soft and strong help each other. Explore the “different”, it might be what your life needs.

318 Securing the boat

   A thief will often escape punishment, but you will certainly be punished for negligence, if you don’t care enough about all which is yours. Make sure nothing can be stolen, catch fire, get hurt or decay. Check things often, like ladders, locks, ties, your finances, your roof and even moods.

319 Concentration

   Thinking and writing are a peculiar business. It seems so straight and logical, but emotions can affect it thoroughly. If you need to solve something by thinking, then make sure you don’t get distracted, and act fast once you know with certainty what to do. Same with writing, it can get lost in seconds.

320 Favorable wind

   Everything is easy at the right time, but difficult at the wrong one. If you get your timing right, it will be as if you work magic. Even with a lack of knowledge, a lack of strength, a lack of skill, many things will still succeed. An intuition about timing is more useful than a long study.

321 Thousand silent flutes

   You may be pure of heart, but there will always be people who don’t trust and who spread bad and difficult to fight rumors. You need a few friends who really know who you are, so you have allies to fight accusations. To be good is not enough to be left alone, the impure cannot see purity, they need proof.

322 Don’t procrastinate *

   It is useful to have silent moments without disturbance. At these moments the things you overlook will come back to you. Often the only moment is in bed. As soon as you hit the pillow, your subconscious gets a chance to talk to you. Listen well, those things are important. (see third story of verse 96)

323 Guard dogs

   Good guard dogs know when to attack, when to defend and when to do nothing. They detect the signs if someone has evil intents or comes as a visitor. Is there something which attacks you without you being able to see it or to defend yourself? Listen well, search for it, find it and fight.

324 Lasting love

   When a relation is based on love or genuine trust, many things can change without any problems. Even in good relations this is sometimes forgotten, people hold on to habits and comfort, and love too has become a habit. Don’t wait for a drama to test your love, rekindle it right now and keep it alive.

325 Just once

   In many circumstances it is not smart to expose oneself. It is better to hold back unless one feels entirely safe. The world can be harsh, everyone needs to eat and to find shelter. The fight for it can be brutal. But even for less essential things many people will harm another.

326 Reading life or living life

   Reading, movies, or any other ‘life on paper’, can be nice as addition to your life, but not as a substitute. Use them to improve your life, to learn or to relax, to broaden your mind and circle of friends. But create your own life yourself, with your own values, your own ideals and your own way to spend it.

327 A leopard change

   Make both yourself and your circumstances the best you can. Those two features of your life decide about success or failure, much more so than luck or setback, finding help or having to do it all alone. Keep your tools in perfect order, so exercise your body and your mind and be alert for opportunities.

328 Yang and yin

   When one person carries the burden for a group, it will take a lot of energy, maybe too much. If you are the one, then find support. If you are not, then support the one who does. Every creature is responsible for her own life. If you get help, then appreciate it but don’t let it be too heavy on the helper.

329 Riches for free

   When one can enjoy the free beauty one encounters, there is no need for envy. Beauty is part of the natural world, it is for free everywhere man didn’t remove it. And even in there it can be found. A small flower at the curb of a road, most people pass without seeing it. Blessed are those who see.

330 Morals of the time

   Living in the world and especially making a living means one has to answer to many rules. They will not go away so make use of them. Work hard, make a career and a name, adapt as far as your heart can agree with. This way you can still carve out a place for yourself and live the way you want.

331 A twisting road

   When you counteract nature, or don’t cooperate with people, or don’t heed warning signs, you will encounter difficulties in every situation. Nature will endanger you, people will be angry or jealous or they simply leave, enterprises will get obstructed. Learn to listen, and learn about cooperation.

332 Lantern in the wind

   Anyone with a brain knows the future might bring threats. It is good to know, to prepare, to learn the skills you will need. But it is useless to entertain fear. It will spoil the time you have now, you spend your energy on anxiety and your life will be filled with worry instead of joy.

333 Poetry and wine *

   Influences can overwhelm your mind. Stay clear enough to use them instead of being their slave. If you can stay master of the situation and yourself, influences can be interesting additions to your life. Enjoy them or learn from them, they widen and enliven the meaning of facts.

334 Follow the dragon

   Doing your best is useful, if fortune arrives you will be ready to answer to her. But being your best is different. Things will come to you on their own accord and you will attain what belongs to you. Being true to who you are in a consistent way will attract the things which are true in the same spirit, your spirit.

335 An arduous journey

   Finally, you are at the point where things change for the better. Life can change thoroughly, so much so that you hardly recognize yourself or the past. After years of worry your problems will be solved. Don’t carry the heaviness with you but remember from where you came and got to here.

336 Guarding prosperousness

   Don’t take it for granted when things go well and your position is safe. If you become complacent, things might slip out of your hands. Don’t let them - or yourself - deteriorate. Even if it seems you didn’t lose anything to the outside, your inner loss will be substantial.