saturday, august 27, 2011

click on image to enlarge

‹› receptiveness ‹›

he was walking along on his path, as one must do, when he happened upon a man in ancient robes and a wide brimmed hat sitting on a rock staring contently at the sky. intrigued, he inquired of the older man if he might sit with him for a moment. "would be my pleasure, young man" replied the genteel elder with a sincere smile, then continued as the young man sat. "i am K'un, the Cloud Gazer. i see you are a student of divination." "you saw that in the clouds?" asked the student incredulously. "no" chuckled K'un, by the book you carry, 'The Art of Ancient Divination.'" "oh, i see..." laughed the younger; "my name is Sanshen. i have heard of you Master K'un, but, forgive me, thought you dead long ago." "someone is always declaring me dead before the fact" K'un muttered, "but no, Sanshen, i am very much alive and by all accounts will be so for a long time to come."

they sat in silence for a while when Sanshen ventured, "Master, would you teach me the art of cloud gazing as divination?" "i am not much of a teacher" offered K'un, "however i will do for you; perhaps therein you may learn...."

the Master looked again at the sky contentedly and began to talk in a reverent voice; clouds are ephemeral, and change quickly or slowly depending upon the winds. "one does not read the clouds for divination. one must become the clouds as they move and speak to each other." at that, and to Sanshen's astonishment, the old man began to grow large and floated into the sky, literally become one with a cloud, and his voice seemed to come from everywhere.

"from here, i can see you on your path, young man, and the clouds speak of you. i see a massive Dragon flying through the sky toward me, and she holds in her mouth the Wheel of Fortune, a treasure which she brings to you, Sanshen. as she flies she speaks to you: 'this treasure is the symbol of cause and consequence and always signifies change. as the Wheel rolls onto your path, your actions will determine what this change reaps in your life. it will bring with it a momentum as do clouds in heavy winds. go with this momentum and be receptive to the changes. if you are receptive you will be able to form the results into positive change and good fortune for you and those around you. if you fight it, clinging to the old energies, you will be impeded on your path and the Great Wheel could roll over you and crush your dreams. be as receptive to this movement as earthly yin energy is receptive to the heavenly yang, or active energy ~ as the soil accepts the rain and absorbs it into its essence. in this way, you will attract the correct and highest form of destiny this treasure offers. allow this Wheel to turn and bring its turning point into your existence. allow it, by receiving it's power,  to help you shape and stabilize the coming change and therefore accomplish and realize the greatest benefit from it.  and know that as a cloud, as a dragon, or as a human, you always have the freedom of your will to move within any destiny offered. be balanced, and do not always let the winds move you, rather move yourself with the help of the winds and the Great Wheel, and you will find great Fortune.'"

the winds then brought change to the clouds and the Dragon and the Master disappeared from the sky. with a sigh of awe, Sanshen turned to look for Master K'un, and found him asleep and snoring softly next to him. the young student decided to stay by the old man for a while and looked up contentedly at the new shapes in the sky....

trusting in yourself, open to the forces of change

saxz ∞