Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

神數

“Shen Shu”, Spirit Numbers 49-72

Numbers
1-24
25-48
49-72
73-96
97-120
121-144
145-168
169-192
193-216
217-240
241-264
265-288
289-312
313-336
337-360
361-384

49 One shock

When one has a very heavy severe disease,
And soes not see the will of Heaven,
One shock from the gate of thunder,
And the body grows strong, life becomes easy.

50 Each their strength

Make haste to acquire both wealth and horses,
Bureaucrats have decisive power.
As a Pig, Sheep, Ox or Dog,
One can own one's own business.

  (I asked Yi what this verse might mean. Answer: 31/1. One of my notes about this line: About how accomplishing something depends on what you are, because that will stay throughout. So give it your all)

51 Empty inside

Empty, hollow, void,
Being empty inside achieves success.
The peach of immortality ripens a thousand years,
No fear of the 5 nightwatches or the wind.

52 The autumn moon

A worried face releases,
A smiling face opens up.
The autumn moon above the high terrace.
People come from a thousand li.

53 Find your treasures right here

You have to put up effort,
And not travel far.
With a long rod you fish in the cave of the moon-toad,
With dedicated desire you get the giant turtle in the center of the clouds.

54 Sailing in the desert

No traces, no marks,
Far and near you see difficulties;
Sailing a boat in the desert,
Unrealism costs much effort..

55 Waiting for the East wind

Drizzling rain, heavy mist, dampness,
The riverside path is obstructed;
Roads and informations are far,
You have to rely on the east wind.

56 Seeking love

On level ground you walk
Like smoke that spreads with the wind,
You cannot find rest now,
On high places you look for the destiny that brings your love..

57 Solid

Stay honest and correct,
Rash actions give birth to disaster,
Achieve the benefit of a name,
Foliage falls and blossoms come loose.

58 News from Chu

The noble man ascends, small people get obstructed,
Going to battle gives birth to separation from hardship,
There are virtuous people ahead to meet you,
News by Horse or Ox people in Chu,
Matters will find their right course.

59 Come sit with me

Over and over, again and again,
Sighing, empty and alone I shut the door;
With raised eyebrows I look at the lights,
Come sit with me in the dusk.

60 Aware

A beautiful beautiful woman,
Stop your concerns,
A person in a carriage,
A boat in flowing water.

61 Murphy's law

The bridge is broken,
The road obstructed,
Embark in a boat, pick up the oars and you encounter a a gale.

62 The moon in a pool

The moon in a pool,
A reflection in a shining mirror,
It is nothing real,
Quietly tell what you really think.

63 More than possessions

Lakes and seas suggest leasure and space,
You are fishing in the mist-covered water.
It is as if you meet a dragon and a rabbit,
And fame and wealth simulteaneously surround you.

64 Be aware of your limitations

Things are not durable,
People break down bridges,
It is important to put in order
Rudeness and pride.

65 Be aware of your limitations

To enter is easy,
to go out is difficult,
rundown over and over again,
cannot bear attention on things which happen simultaneously.

66 Priorities

If your aim is to speed up tardy matters,
and to do so repeatedly,
wait until the cold winter,
flowers are damaged,
fruits are ripe.

67 Your own light

On horseback going forth,
seeking a lucky omen,
always in harmony and perfection,
the small mooncrescent is big and bright.

68 Going ahead

The boat leaves to cross,
the moon leaves the clouds,
a person coming out of Tong Pass may make inquiries about the crossing,
but just going ahead he finds what he seeks,
unnecessary to doubt every move.

69 Worry worry

Not enough not enough,
vast difficulties weighing on your mind,
rain makes a pool in the wild run over,
the moon is like a fishing hook,
a dream cut off,
a rude awakening,
worried eyebrows.

70 Nothing is 'just this'

Beauty has endurance,
endurance has beauty,
beginnings have ends,
ends have beginnings.

71 Things don't work

Endless lakes and seas,
a lonely boat in the waves,
the messenger did not ferry across,
the sun goes down behind the mountainrange.

72 Lock doors

Late at night doors need a solid lock,
be in guard of people entering secretly,
don't say that it will not happen,
negligence absolutely will meet with disaster.