24 / 32 Return (The Turning Point)
Returning
(46->24->25->44)

"FU : go back, turn back to the starting point; recur, reappear, come again; restore, recover, retrace; an earlier time or place. The ideogram: step and retrace a path."ERANOS p301

Image :

"[With enlightenment comes trust].
Thunder in the centre of the earth : Return.
In primal times one closed the gates at noon; merchants did
not move about, and one did not go anywhere. [Until the 'day'
cooled down]".

In a context of enlightenment, a new beginning, we utilise trust.

Commentary

In hexagram 24 we are at a point of crossing, symbolically from the dark(uncomfortable) to the light. This is a 'knowing' lateral movement in that there is no sense of innocence here; we have been somewhere and are coming back to 'the path'. Contextually we seperate chaff from wheat (23) leading to augmentation (42) by a return to the 'correct' path.
The line comments emphasize the tendancy to be easily distracted from our 'way' and thus to be wary of this.

( Structurally, [24,44] symbolize lateral movement whereas [46,25] symbolize vertical movement. Transitional forms can take different directions. Influenced by the transition symbols of their base trigrams)

The Traditional Single Changing Line Comments:

Line 1

" One returns after travelling a short distance down a different path (imbalance,darkness). We learn from our mistakes."

Line 2

"A resigned return. One tries something [develop] and it does not work out.[not social accept.]"

Line 3

"On the verge of returning, danger. This needs to be exorcised before returning. No fault. OR There is danger in returning too many times."

Line 4

"If the path one is on keeps changing, first left and then right, never centered, then one must abandon it and return. OR One travels down a path under the influence of others. Realizing the error, one returns alone."

Line 5

"One returns like a warrior, noble in the recognition of one's mistake but finding no need to change one's attitude. [Attitude being an important part of what makes a warrior]"

Line 6

"A deceitful return [spiritual corruption - equivalent to no return]. Unfortunate. It possesses the seeds of disaster and ruin and attempting to complete this pretense (model/imitate - 'shih') will lead to total destruction." OR "A deceitful return. Unfortunate. Changing the ruler to the opposite position [get him to give way] is the right way ('tao') [for development]. [and thus he will lead. One's pretense/deceit is not the way]"

Extended Commentary

The raw context from which the situation derives is described by hexagram 23 Cutting Back/Pruning. It passes through hexagram 42 Augmenting before reaching here.

Transformative methods

By introducing this hexagram as context, you can change a state described by any other hexagram into a state described by hexagram 27. To make a state associated with another hexagram transform into this state, introduce hexagram 27 as context.

It is important to remember that, when using transformative methods, the more lines requiring change, the more energy required when attempting to introduce a different context. It may therefore be of benefit to work on existing changing lines and achieve your goal in steps rather than attempt, for example, a six-line change all at once.

Further IC+ extensions