Today I got to speak with Amy who chose #6 before going into surgery on her back. Loyce joined me as she winds up her trip to France for #11. Julie, who I sent #11 to yesterday chose #32 and we spoke of emptiness quite a bit. MoJoe visited for a bit around #77 and we discussed his recent separation from a formal position offering online ministry.
#6 "The Great Feminine"
Everything is born from the feminine,
Even Heaven and Earth.
The Feminine that births is a Mother,
She nourishes and supports without possessing.
Despite your awareness of it,
You are using it right now.
#11 "Emptiness is Valuable"
Spokes, tire, rim, and hub all make a wheel,
Yet it is the space where the axel goes that makes it worthwhile.
Clay is formed into a vessel,
A vessel’s function is to hold things,
Thus its form includes emptiness.
A house can be built
But if it were solid, it would be useless.
It is easy to see structure,
But structure is there to expose the value of emptiness.
#32 "It is Not What You Can See"
So subtle is Tao it has never been seen
And yet nothing that can be seen is without it.
When beings can remain centered in Tao
All that they perceive is in harmony.
As that harmony inspires action,
The action undoubtedly has a name,
Know that these names are provisional.
If these actions inspire institutions to form,
Know where their functions should end.
Inspired actions, although they can be named,
Those names needn’t be taken too seriously.
Tao is behind it all
Even if you cannot see it.
#77
As it acts in the world, the Tao
is like the bending of a bow.
The top is bent downward;
the bottom is bent up.
It adjusts excess and deficiency
so that there is perfect balance.
It takes from what is too much
and give to what isn't enough.
Those who try to control,
who use force to protect their power,
go against the direction of the Tao.
They take from those who don't have enough
and give to those who have far too much.
The Master can keep giving
because there is no end to her wealth.
She acts without expectation,
succeeds without taking credit,
and doesn't think that she is better
than anyone else.
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