Aguas Pluviais.We long for it in times of drought. The next moment, it threatens to engulf us. Water: ally, enemy, benefactor, killer? You name it.
Should we, first and foremost, prepare for a water shortage? Or arm ourselves against that other, diametrically opposed kind of water crisis—that of torrential downpours and flooding? Do you prepare for an impending surplus or for a shortage? Or for both? Vision is required. A forward-looking approach is essential. Before you know it, you might well be letting a Trojan horse in.
The common name for Chapter 7 is The Army. The sum total of a large number of soldiers. A multitude of armed individuals who undoubtedly require leadership and discipline. Before you know it, military power turns against those it is supposed to protect. It easily transforms from being a protector to something from which one must be protected from.
A single raindrop, a single soldier, means nothing. But beware when they unite and form a mass of water, an army. And even more when this process takes place out of sight. In secret. Water beneath the Earth.
The Laws of Change - Jack Balkin
Hidden from view, beneath the road surface, lies a hidden world of tubes and pipes. A project of unimaginable scale. Built over a long period of time, with vision and with military-like tenacity. This is how the torrential downpours of summer and autumn, and the acute water shortages in other seasons, are regulated.
In the middle of the earth is water:
This is the image of the Army.
Thus the superior person marshals his forces
through generosity to the common people
The Laws of Change - Jack Balkin
What does the hexagram show? An abundance of raindrops, an abundance of little soldiers, represented by five broken lines, ten symbolic separate units. These seek each other out and, when joined together, form a mass of water, a veritable army. A situation with great potential, that is certain, but also full of menace and danger. The unbroken line in second place represents morality, discipline, a good commander, and a wise leader. 'Nine on two' stands for the regulating capacity of pipes and conduits, buffers, and drains. All hidden from view, beneath the paving, but no less essential for that.
Earth above Water. The image of Multitude, of an Army, of organising by means of imposed discipline and morality.
The highest good is like water.
Water give life to the ten thousand things
and does not strive.
It flows in places men reject
and so is like the Tao.
In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In daily life, be competent.
In action, be aware of the time and the season.
No fight: No blame.
Tao Te Ching 8 - vertaling Gia Fu-Feng
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