Ride the Tide

From the Tarot by Caro, the Two of Pentacles; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 1:

There is a tide in the affairs of men...

―William Shakespeare

Looks like it's a high tide kind of day, so we better start it with a large cup of caffeine. But above all, we need to prioritize, doing what is most important, what other things hinge on, first. Other tasks that don't really need our oversight can be delegated (let's forget the "but I'm the only one that can do it right" for now). The goal is to get things done while maintaining our sanity and sense of humor. Hexagram 1 has been given several names: the Dynamic, the Receptive and the Creative. Things are constantly in motion and changing, and we would do best to accept things instead of battle them; instead, we focus on creative solutions.

Not on the Couch

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles; from the I Ching Pack, Hexagram 1 (Creative Action):

True contentment is a thing as active as agriculture. It is the power of getting out of any situation all that there is in it. ―Gilbert K. Chesterton

Hard work and discipline have produced contentment in the Nine of Pentacles, which should not be confused with complacency. Complacency is stagnant, a state of self-satisfaction that has lost its curiosity and desire to grow. Contentment, on the other hand, is fully engaged with life; it maintains its inquisitiveness and enjoys adding skills and knowledge. When things go wrong, complacency feels like someone shoved us off our cozy couch. When content, we're just curious about how to deal with it. Hexagram 1 (Creative Action) is dynamic power that guides and inspires. Yet it understands that there is a right time for the right action - it works in harmony with what is - planting in the right season. Such awareness fosters contentment. 

It Needs No Defense

From the Tarot of Caro, the King of Swords; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 1:

Ego takes everything personally. Emotion arises, defensiveness, perhaps even aggression. Are you defending the truth? No, the truth, in any case, needs no defense.

—Eckhart Tolle

The King of Swords is known to be unbiased, intelligent and logical. Yet all the butterflies that surround this man reminds me of another trait - he takes things lightly rather than personally. Like a scientist, he's listening and observing without getting affected by emotional outbursts or drama. He seeks facts and solutions, and he knows that getting entangled in feelings can be distracting and taint his objectivity. Hexagram 1 - known as the Creative or the Dynamic - suggests that the air is ripe with inspiration and energy, which bodes well for creative movement. However, it is meant to be an interplay of the universe and humans; right timing, focus and a lack of arrogance will be required for success. A shift from self-centeredness to wider awareness can show us a beneficial path. 

Be the Soil

From the Brady Tarot, the Six of Horns (Cups); from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 1:

          Do you remember the last time you had a belly laugh or played just for the sheer joy of it? It seems happiness has been a struggle for many people lately (for good reason). However, it also might be because we look on happiness as a destination we reach when our train pulls into the station - when the right candidate is elected, when the check comes in the mail, etc. Once it leaves again, we feel empty. But that's actually a misunderstanding; our 'train' is where we'll find joy, not the station. Every moment we can choose to be content or discontent if we take the time to check the labels and stories we're wrapping around it. Hexagram One is often called The Receptive or The Creative, which suggests a creative force that works with what it receives. It is akin to a seed that falls to the ground, and the soil that nourishes it regardless of what type of seed it is. In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, "If you are aware that you are alive, that you have twenty-four hours to create new joy, this would be enough to make yourself happy and the people around you happy."