I Ching, Yijing or Zhou Yi
"Oracle of the moon": © 2000 LiSe
Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon
Hexagram 27 and the magic tortoise
I was talking with a friend about hexagram 27. He observed how the lines were connected. The bottom line with the top line, 2 with 5, 3 with 4. It makes sense: when one turns 27 upside down one gets its paired hexagram. Which is not 28 but 27!
Hexagram 27 is about sustenance. The food you need, both physically and spiritually, but also all those things you need in order to stay alive and healthy. They can be 'things', but also intangible stuff like joy or motivation. You have to fight for all those things, because you are the one who is responsible for your own life. But you also have a responsibility for the lives of those you are connected with. Nobody is an island.
Where can you find your magic turtle? In your spirit, your mind, your feelings. The bottom line is close to the earth. Your feet, impulses, the strength to act, nothing very spiritual. You have to look for it high up in your mind, or maybe even beyond that. The tortoise is 'magic', not tangible, like thoughts and inspiration are 'magic'. Invisible and yet very powerful.
When you turn 27 upside down, the bottom line moves to the top. And there you find the answer for the whereabouts of your motivation. Your mind or spirit or feelings are the home of magic.
Fruitful to cross the great stream - new impressions, people or landscapes are a great help in finding inspiration.
Turtles live in the water, but the magical ones can ascend to the moon, which is also connected with water. It is the element of your feelings, which is also the home of motivation and inspiration.
Shenshu poem 053 The moon-toad
須著力
莫遠游
長竿釣向蟾蜍窟
直欲雲中得巨鰲。
You have to put forth effort
Not travel far
With a long rod you fish in the cave of the moon-toad
With dedicated desire you catch the giant turtle Áo in the center of the clouds