I Ching, Yijing or Zhou Yi
"Oracle of the moon": © 2000 LiSe
Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon
The image of hexagram 21
Shì Hé, biting through
What does it mean, 'inner' and 'outer trigram' (popup)
Thunder below Fire: Thunder has the power to make things happen or change. It knows no doubts or misgivings. Fire shows what is involved, gives insight in facts, separates truth from false. Together they can make things happen in a clear and focused way, showing the borders and limits and the right spot to hit.
Ideogram of the hexagram name: the first (upper) character, Shi, is mouth, bamboo and a shaman's tool (筮 divination by milfoil). Maybe the one who "bites in and picks things apart". The lower, Hé, is a mouth and a vessel with content and a cover: bite through, closing the upper teeth over the lower teeth. The Mawangdui Yi has 筮 instead of 噬. It is possible that this is the old version in the Yi as well, dating from ancient times, when divining took preference over discussion or human advice.
The 'Great Image' says: Thunder and lightning: Biting through. The ancient kings made the penalties clear to enforce the law.
Hex.21 is the contrast of 48, which is about working together in a social way.
Hex.21 is about laws and rules which have to be followed, so a community will be safe and ordered. No one is allowed to harm another, and this is enforced by punishing misdeeds in a clear way.
Make clear decisions about what you accept or not. Stick to them, both in regard to yourself and towards others.
Base them on clear facts – but also use your intuition, the language of the spirits. Life is more than just rational facts, a big part is intangible, and your life’s value and health depend very much on your own hunches. When something feels wrong, then don’t accept it, even when you cannot explain your point of view.
Hex. 21 belongs together with 22, the one about accepting things, people and life the way they are and enjoying them as beauty. Life has to be clean to be beautiful, and it’s beauty tells about its health.