12. P'i / Stagnation
(Heaven above Earth)
Description
Heaven and Earth move away from each other.
In the ensuing void, the small invade where the great have departed.
There is no common meeting ground, so the Superior Person must fall back on his inner worth and decline the rewards offered by the inferior invaders.
Difficult trials as you hold to your course.
Analysis
It is natural to assume that, if Earth above Heaven forms the hexagram for Peace and Paradise, then the opposite configuration, with Heaven over Earth would represent the antithesis of Paradise, Hell.
Not so.
This hexagram is actually the Dark side of Peace, its unsavory byproduct, Stagnation.
In a time when most of our wants are provided, there is little need for the heroes, the artists, the great thinkers and innovators.
As they recede into the shadows, Idleness, Apathy, and Lassitude come to the forefront.
Peace has become boring, bland, unchallenging -- Stagnant.
Now our attention turns to the quick fix, the instant celebrity, the fad, the one-nighter, the current buzz.
There is no room for depth.
If you are a passionate soul, you must wait for a better time to find kindred spirits.
In these times, they are only curious legends, bas-relief, dead poets.
Changing Lines
Line 1
When grass is pulled up the earth in which it is firmly rooted comes up with it.
He remains loyal to those who helped him, and carries them out of harm's way.
Line 2
He knows better than the sycophants how to manipulate the petty rulers; but instead he keeps his integrity and remains among the oppressed.
Line 3
A vague inward feeling of shame remains unrecognized but still succeeds in haunting.
Line 4
He answers a Higher calling.
Whether he survives or whether he falls, he will serve as the inspiration to those who will overthrow the oppressive regime.
Line 5
He turns the tide of oppression, but never allows himself to rest on his laurels.
With every advance, he asks himself, 'What if it should fail? What if it should fail?' He ties his strategy to the lesson of mulberry shoots.
Line 6
The oppressive stagnation rots to the inevitable end that all such corruption must meet.
Its compost nourishes the seeds of great joy and fortune.