March 7th

Cycles

Dawn is a shimmering of the horizon.
Dusk is a settling of the sky.

Dawn and dusk together represent the measure of a day. When the sun rises, the moon sets. When the moon rises, the sun sets. This represents the cycle of existence, for without such alternation, the power of the universe could not be generated. When the sun reaches its zenith, it will inevitably begin its descent toward its nadir. All events -- including our own plans and activities -- follow the same pattern.It is wisdom to know the cycles of life and where any particular circumstance that we are involved in stands on the curve. If we want to perpetuate something, we should join it to new growth to compound our progress. If we want to destroy something, we need only lead it to its extreme, for all things decline after their zenith.
All too often, people express uncertainty about where they stand in life. It's important to examine both the short-range and the long-range. If you want to go far in a decade, you have to go far each year. If you want to go far each year, you have to make sure that you do something significant each day. Use the cycles of life to establish a measure to your life, and then arrange your plans according to the units that you have chosen. Then there will be no fear of not knowing your own progress.

Personal Interpretation

The cycles of nature are also the cycles that dominate our lives, whether or not we care to admit that they exist. Knowing the cyclical nature of all things gives us more power over our lives than we may imagine. If we wish to do something meaningful with our lives, We must learn to do something meaningful with each and every hour of our days. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Just as we must seek to create, we must also acknowledge that destruction is necessary to make way for new growth. The interchange of these dualistic forces is what shapes our world. We must learn to perceive when to pursue a new path and when to remain on the one we're on. Shifting goals are not an indication of failure. Letting go is a valuable skill. It may take years to cultivate, but it is worth it.