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Bushi Zhengzong · The Orthodox Tradition of Divination
Eighteen Discussions · Source, Avoided and Hostile Spirits
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4. Discussion of Source, Avoided and Hostile Spirits
To identify the Source Spirit in divination, first see which line is the Useful Spirit. The line that generates the Useful Spirit is the Source Spirit.
If the Useful Spirit is in Cycle Void, Month Break, decline or weakness, or is hidden and does not appear, but a moving Source Spirit comes to generate it, or the day or Month Commander acts as Source Spirit and generates it, then wait until the Useful line leaves its cycle or break, receives seasonal command or reaches its own day: what is sought must be fulfilled.
If the Useful Spirit flourishes or is supported, but the Source Spirit rests or is imprisoned and does not move, or moves and changes into Tomb, Extinction, control, break or retreat, or is controlled by the day or Month Commander, none of these can generate the Useful. The root of the Useful Spirit has been injured. This not only fails to help; it instead causes loss.
(Ying [Eagle]: When the Useful Spirit receives generation from the Source Spirit, it is favorable. A Source Spirit that rests or is imprisoned without moving, or is controlled or changes into retreat, cannot generate the Useful Spirit. That is why injury is spoken of.)
To identify the Avoided Spirit in divination, likewise first examine the Useful Spirit. The line that controls the Useful Spirit is the Avoided Spirit.
If the Avoided Spirit moves to control the Useful, and the Useful line appears and is not empty, it receives that control. If another line in the hexagram moves as Source Spirit to generate the Useful, the Avoided Spirit instead generates the Source Spirit. This is called being intent on generation and forgetting control. The Useful Spirit's root is then deeply secure, and the favorable result is doubled.
If only the Avoided Spirit moves while the Useful is in Cycle Void, this is called taking refuge in the Void. If it is hidden and does not appear, this is called avoiding misfortune. If the Month Commander or day generates the Useful, this is called obtaining rescue. These are still favorable signs: what is there to dislike or doubt?
If the Avoided Spirit changes into control turning back upon itself, or the day or Month Commander controls or clashes with it, or a moving line restrains it, this means that a robber wishing to harm me is himself harmed first. How could I be injured?
If the day or Month Commander generates and supports the Avoided Spirit, or repeated Avoided Spirits control the Useful, then even a Useful Spirit taking refuge in the Void or remaining hidden will receive their poison when it leaves the Void or emerges. In the end it is difficult to escape.
To identify the Hostile Spirit in divination, look for that which restrains or controls the Source Spirit while generating and supporting the Avoided Spirit. That is the Hostile Spirit.
If a Hostile Spirit moves in the hexagram, the Source Spirit is injured, the Useful Spirit has no root, and the Avoided Spirit's strength is doubled. Can the resulting misfortune be adequately described?
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