Hexagrams 8, 16, and 45

It’s worth noting how I Ching hexagrams 8 (Holding Together), 16 (Enthusiasm), and 45 (Gathering Together) are similar.

8 deals with how people tend to aggregate with others. This aggregation or proclivity towards association can often be based on something other than the highest energy. It can be a major source of issues in people’s lives, because they get ‘stuck’ around people who are in some way inhibiting their advancement or growth. This is a big problem in the world.

16 indicates enthusiasm, but it’s structure is similar to 8. Just as with aggregation of people in 8, enthusiasm can be based on something that is less-then ideal and can be harmful. This could relate to life choices or propensities which are either beneficial or not. Or it could be things that attract people – for example music, art, or cultural things – that are beneficial or not.

45 indicates aggregation on a greater scale than 8, and in this case again there can also be cases where the aggregation is less than optimal or harmful. For example a country might be following bad leaders, or a company has bad management.

One of the problems with society is the lack of clear, shining examples of what is healthy. A lack of good, outstanding role models so that it is clear to everyone what paths are good to follow and which are destructive.

This also ties into the concept of poisoning a society by its having poisoned or toxic role models or simply an absence of healthy ones. This is a very bad situation for a society and indicates eminent catastrophe.