07 Uniforming In a context of containment we utilise trust-in-others.

Trigrams : containment (bottom), dual-mindedness (top) : with/from containment comes dual-mindedness. [earth over water]

The mud from which 07 has emerged is best described by analogy to the under-stated qualities of hexagram 41 - concentrating, distilling.

A situation of uniformity and so establishment of uniform thinking to establish social cohesion; all done through external influences upon self.

Commentary :

Cooperative Format : Hexagram 07 is the formalized manifestation of like-mindedness, a degree of uniformity. The like mindedness is imposed by the structure and is therefore sociological and so general rather than psychological and so more particular (as in 13); the only way is the Army's way through the concentration of forces and the dispelling illusions/clearing things away.

Oppositional Format : Hexagram 07 reflects the establishment of containment through the use of a military force.

Structural Relationship (Being) : Hexagram 07 is the opposite of hexagram 13 in that 07 reflects an imposed order, insensitive to the individual's preferences as compared to 13s attraction to associate with the likeminded - there is a degree of casualness in 13 as compared to the rigidity in 07.

Temporal Relationship (Doing) : The goal of 07 is hexagram 24 (or 'how do I 24? - 07' - How do I follow the 'true' path? Uniformity in thinking, regimented.)

Five-Phase Relationships : The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Earth reflects Filtration (through faith). The focus is on the containment (a function of consumption) expressed through devotion as filtration - and so the concept of an Army, a sense of social Uniformity.

07 is the goal of 19 (or 'how do I 07? - 19' - How do I develop uniformity? Allow the high and low to mix but retain some degree of authority (as in the high will defer to the low but still be 'high'))

The I Ching tells us about hexagram 07:

Some PAIRINGS of hexagram 07 and other hexagrams:

• In the traditional sequence hexagram 07 pairs with hexagram 08.

This pairing reflects differences in collectives and the sense of belonging, from the uniformity that is not necessarily accepted in hexagram 07, where the belonging is reflected in uniformity and a sense of containment, to one that focuses upon a collective that is attracting to individuals for its base focus on devotion.

UNIFORMITY:

07 : uniformity - through structure; 07 uniformity comes out of a context described by hexagram 41 - concentrating, distilling

08 : uniformity - through unify; 08 unify (passive attraction) comes out of a context described by hexagram 42 - augmenting

• In the binary sequence hexagram 07 pairs with hexagram 04.

This pairing of 07 and 04 reflects the generic focus on collective formation, either through social education (04) or through enforced uniformity (07). In hexagram 04 the socialisation is in the form of a mask such that one can retain some sense of discernment in decisions. On the otherhand, in hexagram 07 the conformity, the uniformity, is total (unconditional) in that one must also learn to 'think Army' where decision issues are solved by reference to 'standing orders'.

• In the binary sequence hexagram 07 opposes hexagram 13.

This pairing reflects an approach to likemindedness, be it through a mindedness formally imposed (hexagram 07) or one based on casual associations with others (hexagram 13).

At the LOCAL level we are dealing with an octet of hexagrams with the WATER trigram as base. In this sequence hexagram 06, the focus upon compromising, 'opposes' hexagram 07, the focus on uniformity, a military-like solution over a legal solution. More so, the exaggerated sense of compromise, of not giving an inch but nor taking any, is reflected in a more balanced format through a focus on establishing uniformity where the source of 'compromise' is in the form of standing orders rather than any consideration of debating the issue.

• In the traditional sequence hexagram 07 opposes hexagram 58.

This pairing reflects issues of expression, be it in uniformity in expression as identified in hexagram 07 or in the intense expression of self as identified in hexagram 58, where the expression is cooperative in form.

• The generic properties of hexagram 07 reflect the mixing of the generic properties of hexagram 04 mixed with the generic properties of hexagram 41.

In hexagram 07 we see the focus on 'masking' expressed in the generic properties of hexagram 04 mixed with the focus on concentration, on distilling and so 'purity' expressed in the generic properties of hexagram 41.

• In the variations on a theme sequence, hexagram 07 complements hexagram 19.

This pairing reflects issues of command and control, where the rigid ordering of such expressed in hexagram 07 is complemented by the casual focus on approach to the 'high' and the deferring of the high to the 'low' in hexagram 19.

Copyright © 2003-2009 C. J. Lofting