At the beginning of each week, we draw a single Tarot card and consult the I Ching. The Tarot card represents the person (you, me, us). The I Ching reading speaks to the nature of the scenario that you, me, us will face throughout the week. Think of it as protagonist (tarot) and plot or theme (I Ching). It is our opinion that neither the I Ching nor the Tarot are tools of prediction, but rather a mechanism to aid in self reflection.
        Before reading further, we recommend you collect your thoughts regarding the state of affairs inside your head as well as what you are involved with externally. Take precise stock of your emotional temperature and your goals for the week. The more preparation and detail, the better the results. 

So, of both the Tarot and the I Ching, we asked the following: for the coming week, what is the best advice for the engaged and sincere person?

Petite Reading
        For one to be exceptional, that is perform at a sincerely high level (whether as an activist, a familial head, as an artist, etc.) you will not be able to please your immediate self or your immediate peers. To be actually helpful (durable in your value to the world and self) you must accept the uncomfortable truth that this is a long term scenario. By its nature this type of life will often make you appear as out of step. This is hard to accept and bear; this is why so few people are remarkable (and actually helpful). To be remarkable you must reduce your world, accept all the various changes, whilst having a long term goal.

Complete Reading
        This week we pulled the Hanged Man. This card is a symbol of capitulation, surrender — but suggests a mature type of yielding, one that is nutritive. Here it is recommended to muse upon giving up to gain — excepting a certain change; it will feel like a loss initially, but ultimately is for greater flow and power. 
        Our first hexagram this week is #55, Abundance (Fullness). In a human’s world, there is very little without a pitch and a fallow; we have a very bi-polar existence (not that it is perpetually only between extremes — but, there is always a back and forth). It states a “condition of abundance cannot be maintained permanently.” Knowing this perhaps oddly it is “only a person who is inwardly free of sorrow and care can lead in a time of abundance.” We feel this suggests what might be called a light touch in all dealings. All is change (triteness be damned) — thus it is wise to be aware, but it is super-wise to be aware and not get caught up. There was one change which specifically states: “To bring about a time of abundance, a union of clarity with energetic movement is needed. Two individuals possessed of these two attributes are suited to each other... it will meet with recognition.”
        Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #62, Preponderance of the Small. There are many statements here of direct use; all center around the importance of maintaining a sophisticated, multilayered sensitivity if one is to be remarkable and not simply a follower. “Exceptional modesty and conscientiousness are sure to be rewarded with success; however, if a person is not to throw themself away, it is important that they should not become empty form and subservience but be combined always with a correct dignity in personal behavior. We must understand the demands of the time in order to find the necessary offset for its deficiencies and damages. In any event we must not count on great success, since the requisite strength is lacking. In this lies the importance of the message that one should not strive after lofty things but hold to lowly things.” “The superior person… must always fix their eyes more closely and more directly on duty than does the ordinary person, even though this might make their behavior seem petty to the outside world. They are exceptionally conscientious in their actions.”