By their very nature, crises are harbingers of change, so when I started pondering these wake-up calls, I turned to the I Ching, the “Book of Changes.” This ancient Chinese divination manual offers insight into the fundamental questions that have perplexed human beings since their arrival on this planet. I was particularly drawn to the I Ching hexogram for the Returning (#24), first introduced to me by Fritjof Capra in his influential book, The Turning Point. The Returning symbol offers three pronouncements: 1. After a time of decay comes the turning point. 2. The powerful light that has been banished returns. 3. There is movement, but it is not brought about by force.
These three ancient pronouncements offer valuable insights into our current social and political crises. I would continue further, though that would require at least five more pages. My hope is that over time we will touch on these topics and if anyone is interested in reading more please check into “Healing Our Planet, Healing Our Selves” (The Power of Change Within to Change the World). Tomorrow I will tell you about how my life transformed and learning to understand where we find ourselves today.
