The peak

I recently discovered the philosophy of I-Ching, thanks to a dear friend.  I've always been skeptical of such things and, to be honest, avoided them.  So when this friend wrote about it, I inquired, checked out the web-site she used, and that is how I, then, came to I-Ching.  Thank you, Kathryn.

I love how practical I-Ching is, how it is not afraid to take me away from my pompous place, does not always say "life is going to be a 'bed of roses'" yet frequently offers good sound advise.  Like this morning.

It talked about reaching the peak of a mountain, and how the closer you get to the top, the more clear the way becomes.  But, that once you've reached the top, you can not only see where you've been, how hard the trek, you can also see where you need to go.  

The view is beautiful and inspiring, somehow the dangerous snags you encountered on the way up have minimized, and you don't even think of the ones that lie ahead, simply because from this viewpoint you cannot see them.  

I know I'm getting ever closer to my current peak...I'm excited to get there.  Today,I-Ching pulled me back into reality, reminding me that although I'm getting close to my peak, it will not be the end of my journey, so, if you don't mind I would like to end this blog entry with a snippet of my message for today....

"...however, when you do reach the peak, which has been in sight for quite a long period of sustained effort, you will have done only that. You will have reached the top — achieving your initial goal — but you must still descend the other side. This last critical segment is what remains before completion. 

You may have little information and no experience of what it's like descending the other side of the mountain. All your attention may have been focused on the route up. The coming cycle may seem very strange to you, unlike anything that you have experienced before. The backside of the mountain is where all of the true mysteries reside. Proceed carefully, cautiously and alertly — then you will reach your goal."

This, friends and family is why I enjoy visiting my I-Ching every day.