27. I / Providing Nourishment
(Mountain above Thunder)
Description
Beneath the immobile Mountain the arousing Thunder stirs:
The Superior Person preserves his freedom under oppressive conditions by watching what comes out of his mouth, as well as what goes in.
Endure and good fortune will come.
Nurture others in need, as if you were feeding yourself.
Take care not to provide sustenance for those who feed off others.
Stay as high as possible on the food chain.
Analysis
You are a conduit in this instance, able to provide the sustenance needed by others.
Position yourself to nourish the truly needy and worthy.
Avoid situations where you might be coerced into supporting the parasites and vermin who deprive your true charges.
Your own nourishment is an issue here, too.
Remember Lao Tzu's three Great Treasures:
Only the person possessed of Compassion, Modesty and Frugality can remain fit enough to stay free of desperation and keep control of the situation.
Changing Lines
Line 1
You ignore your own succulent dinner to crave the dish set before another.
Misfortune.
Line 2
Climbing steadily toward nourishment,
you stray from the hill path to gather wild fruit.
You wander toward disaster.
Line 3
You gorge yourself on tempting sweets, devoid of nutritional value.
Such heedless compulsiveness carries longlasting consequences.
Line 4
Climbing to the summit to obtain nourishment for others, you are as alert as a tiger ready to spring.
This is the correct path.
Line 5
Unspeakable delights tempt maddeningly from the far bank.
You must not cross this stream.
Line 6
Others depend on you for sustenance.
If you are aware of the great responsibility such a position carries, all will share good fortune.
You may cross to the far shore.