April 19th

Fundamentals


After completion
Come new beginnings.
To gain strength,
Renew the root.

In music, the fundamental tone is the lowest, or root, tone of a chord. Without its presence, no true character is established. Our actions in life are as similarly varied and complex as music. Without a thorough grounding, there is no harmony.Followers of Tao emphasize cycles. This must include a sound understanding of what to do whenever a cycle comes to an end. New ones will begin : Some of them will be engendered by the old one, others may simply be in the background and will now come forward. If we are to properly shape these new movements and if we are to prevent unwanted cycles from beginning, we must take stock and renew our basis in the fundamentals.
Everyone wants to be daring, creative, and original. Everyone wants to do things in new ways. But unless we return over and over again to the basics, we will have no chance to truly soar. Do not forget the root. Without it, we can never issue forth true power.

Personal Interpretation


 Cycles are always beginning and ending. It is the nature of life. There are those things we cannot control, the seasons for instance. The wise know how to adapt to those forces that are beyond their ability to manipulate, and they know what to do when something comes to an end. They recognize that there are things that they can influence, and that these things must be their focus in life. It is the serenity prayer: the wisdom to change the things that cannot be accepted, accept the things that cannot be changed, and know when to do one over the other.

When we start anew, we must remember the basics. If we have no foundation, we will never truly soar. Originality itself originates in the established. The eagle flies, but it is also have a nest to come back to. Returning is essential. If we create a foundation in Tao, we can rest assured that even if our ventures fail, there is a warm and soothing place where we can regroup.