Taoist I Ching Is All About Balance

The more I grow and learn spiritually, the more I realize just how important balance is in my life and development. I almost think it may be the heart of spiritual growth.

Hexagaram #15, MODERATION (or MODESTY in some more literal translations) speaks of this balance. If you think about it, Taoism is really all about attaining greater balance, harmony and equilibrium. Several hexagrams speak of this balanced life. #30, SYNGERGY, also talks about balance, only from a different perspective. Synergy is all about bringing together the various elements of one's life into a harmonious structure wherein each components complements, enhances and strengthens the other.

Consider also hexagram #45, ASSEMBLING, also about balance. Like #30 SYNERGY, ASSEMBLING deals with harmony within the family. It encourages each family member to discovers his most comfortable role within the family system - a role which fosters the growth and enrichment of the other members.

Then there's #50, COSMIC ORDER (also known as THE CAULDRON). This speaks of an auspicous state of affairs where the stars, planets and moons are in perfect harmony. Like a CAULDRON, where many different types of foods are mixed and boiled together, each flavor enhancing and complementing the others; this is an image of togetherness, synergy, the balance of various elements, the bringing together of divers elements into a unified whole.

And let's not forget #16, HARMONIZE. The title of this hexagram speaks for itself. Perhaps this is partly why music is so meaningful, so powerful, to us as human beings: it represents a harmonizing synthesis of notes that soothe the soul and please the ear and potentially melt the heart.

The Taoist I Ching makes it quite clear that harmony, balance, and moderation are kys to a well-ordered, joyful and contented life.