Did you know that every pillar has a matching Hexagram? In a Water Monkey month, the matching hexagram is Number 7 which is called Army or Gathering.

On the left side of the ideograph Shi 師, we see dui 𠂤 (a heap or crowd) and on the right side we see za 帀 (making a circuit).

Shi represents a crowd moving around a pivot point and the power that exists in numbers. In modern terms Shi is a division of an army so you can imagine a lot of marching around. What’s important is the amount of potential energy here that needs to be directed, and not all of it has to be about fighting. Outcomes depend on responsible leadership or the lack thereof. Maybe the best outcomes happen when everyone is deciding for themselves but still there is cooperation.

Visually, Hexagram 7 looks like a trap where you might fall in and get stuck near the bottom. I often think of these broken and solid lines as zeros and ones; a broken line being zero or no, a solid line being one or yes. If you’ve heard of Gottfried William Leibniz this will tend to make more sense. For those of you who like to track such things, Leibniz was born in a Fire Dog year (!).

When you cast Hexagram 7 for yourself, it might be a no to expectations or traditions. Yin Earth over Water in these times might indicate an upset in what we think of as the natural order of things. Many astrologers have been predicting that this month will be the beginning of another/bigger war. I’m not saying they are wrong but there are important and meaningful possibilities with Hexagram 7 that I don’t want you to miss. Hexagram 7 pairs with Hexagram 8, and so Unity could be next; an idealistic potential outcome!

When you see that Hexagram 7 is called Army, I want you to remember the Gua Ci:

SHI The divination: responsible men. Good fortune. No error.*

In terms of the world this month, most of the lines of Hexagram 7 seem to tell the story of what’s happening with Kamala Harris right now. She has gotten to the center of power. Maybe she’s the pivot point of the moment? Now she has to choose a VP candidate, see also, Line 6 “Small men should not be employed”.

I’ll include the translation* of the full text for your consideration. The main advice of the Hexagram might be: if you want to surprise your enemy, don’t do what they expect. Kamala’s laugh draws a lot of attention doesn’t it? I think that works in her favor.

To bring the discussion down to a more personal level, last month we had Hexagram 6 Dispute which consisted of the Qian the Father over Kan the Middle Son. This month it’s Kun the Mother over the Middle Son. With Earth on top of Water, that’s instability; contamination of Water is a possibility, which suggests communication problems and possibly depression, anxiety, or fear. Remember, possibility is not inevitability!

In a family relationship, maybe Hexagram 7 speaks of the outcomes we get when Mothers are too coddling and protective of their boys, or when they are neglectful of them. The difference between these two types of energy sounds obvious but when you see it in real life, sometimes it’s hard to discern. A struggling Mother might overperform to compensate for avoiding a healthy participation in the never-ending emotional process of communication. This is a yin/yang thing and there is no right answer, however, proper parenting and caretaking involves more than meeting material and physical needs and many times that is where the line of success is drawn.

Taking care of someone who is dependent on that care involves walking a very fine line between appropriate support and being too maternal (or paternal). Disregarding the emotions and dignity of the person is a much bigger error than lunch being late. At the same time, it’s important to keep realistic expectations.

At this point in my personal life, I’m engaged in supporting my elders and of course, my children. While I would prefer that they do what I tell them, I’m glad that they are able to make their own choices and they do. If they tell me they know best, it’s hard not to agree. I’m not them and they aren’t me. Maybe this sounds cold but if I’ve got it wrong I don’t want responsibility. It’s their choice. Simple right?

It’s hard not to be attached to the outcome of the help that I want to give to the people I love and the people I work with – that’s the further learning I face now. Giving care, or receiving it, is best approached as a process. Assume everyone is doing their best, that’s almost always true. No one is perfect. Everyone has their ups and downs. It’s not about you. BREATHE!

I write about hexagrams every month in my Monthly Guide. You can become a subscriber if you’re interested!

Hexagram 7 Text*

Gua Ci
SHI The divination: responsible men. Good fortune. No error.

Line 1
The army goes out according to the rules. Not good. Misfortune.

Line 2
Placed in the host’s center, good fortune, no error. The King thrice confers commands.

Line 3
The army perhaps carries corpses, misfortune.

Line 4
The army retreats, no error.

Line 5
The fields have game. Profit by catching them is the word. No error. The eldest son captains the host; the younger son carries corpses. The divination: misfortune.

Line 6
The great prince has commands, founds states, and supports the clans. Small men should not be employed.

*Yi Jing translation by Wu Jing-Nuan ISBN 0-9673272-0-2