Seems to me most bad breaks happen inside a man’s pattern. He gets out of phase with it and every step he takes is between the steppin’stones. If he can’t phase in, and if he tries to maintain his pace, why there’s a whole row of stones ahead of him laid just exactly where each and every one of them will crack his shins. What he should do is head upstream. It might be unknown territory, and there might be dangers, but there’s a whole row of absolutely certain, planned agonies he is just not going to have to suffer.

Theordore Sturgeon.

Theodore Sturgeon’s statement, “Seems to me most bad breaks happen inside a man’s pattern,” highlights the idea that our decisions and actions can determine whether we experience success or failure. He suggests that when we become out of sync with our life patterns, we are more likely to encounter difficulties and setbacks. This notion is particularly relevant when we consider the ancient Chinese divination system known as the I Ching.

The I Ching, also known as the Book of Changes, is a complex system of divination that dates back over 3,000 years. It uses a set of symbols called hexagrams to interpret the forces and energies at work in the universe. The I Ching teaches that everything in the universe is interconnected and that our actions and decisions have consequences that ripple throughout the universe.

One of the key concepts in the I Ching is that of the Tao, which can be translated as “the way” or “the path.” The Tao is the underlying order of the universe, and it is the source of all wisdom and guidance. The I Ching teaches that if we align ourselves with the Tao, we will be in harmony with the universe, and we will experience success and happiness.

However, if we go against the Tao, we will encounter difficulties and obstacles. This is similar to Sturgeon’s idea that when we become out of phase with our life patterns, we are more likely to encounter setbacks. The I Ching suggests that when we encounter obstacles, we should not try to force our way through them but should instead look for a different path.

This is similar to Sturgeon’s suggestion that when we encounter a row of “absolutely certain, planned agonies,” we should head upstream and look for a different path. In both cases, the idea is to look for a way to get back in sync with the underlying order of the universe.

The I Ching also teaches that our actions and decisions are influenced by our inner state. If we are in a state of confusion or turmoil, our decisions are likely to be misguided, and we are more likely to encounter difficulties. This is similar to Sturgeon’s idea that when we are out of phase with our life patterns, every step we take is between the stepping stones, and we are more likely to stumble and fall.

In conclusion, Sturgeon’s statement that “most bad breaks happen inside a man’s pattern” is relevant to the teachings of the I Ching. The I Ching teaches that our actions and decisions have consequences that ripple throughout the universe, and if we go against the underlying order of the universe, we are more likely to encounter difficulties and obstacles. The I Ching suggests that when we encounter obstacles, we should look for a different path and try to get back in sync with the Tao. Similarly, Sturgeon suggests that when we encounter setbacks, we should head upstream and look for a different path. Both the I Ching and Sturgeon’s statement highlight the importance of being in sync with the underlying order of the universe and the dangers of going against it.