Archetype 28: The Breaking Point
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
—Matthew 27:45–46
The Reading
Jesus has reached the end. Up until now, he has been able to take the torment. Not anymore. He has reached the breaking point.
The Hexagram
This hexagram consists of Wonder above and Spirit below. These trigrams are mirror images of each other. Putting the two together gives four strong lines in the center surrounded by weak lines at the end. This indicates that even though there is great strength in the center, that strength has reached its breaking point.
The Archetype
There is a time...
- To accept that even the greatest strength cannot bear the load any longer.
- To recognize that one is in an extraordinary and momentous time and that extraordinary measures are needed.
- To recognize that things cannot continue, and that a transition must be found if success is to be achieved.
- To understand that force will not be effective; what is needed is understanding.
- To stand firm, even when standing alone.
Now is that time.
Moving Lines
Other interpretations of Archetype 28:
- Tom Christensen's interpretation [click here]
- Cafe Au Soul's interpretation [click here]
- LiSe's interpretation [click here]
- Richard Wilhelm's interpretation [click here]
Internal Links:
- Return to the Hexagram Index Table [click here].
- Return to Consulting the Christian I Ching [click here].
- Purchase a printed copy of Wisdom's Way; The Christian I Ching [click here].
- Learn about our Online Christian I Ching Workshop [click here].
- Find out about personal consultations [click here].
Reproduced with permission from Wisdom's Way; The Christian I Ching copyright (c) 2015 Roger Sessions.