In this episode, Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores the fundamental variables of living as illustrated by the I Ching. He talks about how this knowledge can be used to turbo-charge your ability to make effective choices.
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Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: incompetech.com
Bonus Episode 1 — Spirituality Fast Track Study Guide
Big Idea
Spiritual progress can be fast when you make powerful, appropriate choices. Habit and expectation are the main brakes.
Core Principles
Lead / Follow / Do Nothing (Neutral)
Lead when it’s your responsibility—no one can lead your spiritual development but you.
Follow when someone else is better positioned; be a good follower to enable success.
Sometimes neutrality is wise—it won’t affect the outcome, so conserve energy.
Connection / Neutral / Isolation
Some goals require connection (allies, support).
Some require isolation (do it yourself; others will hinder).
Sometimes it doesn’t matter; don’t over-optimize.
Creation / Neutral / Destruction
Reality cycles: things emerge, stabilize briefly, then end.
Don’t cling to stable states; expect change and respond rather than lament.
The I Ching Lens
Oracular guidance often reduces to: Cease / Change / Progress.
The I Ching also “assigns roles”: sometimes “Lead.” Sometimes “Follow.”
Many failures come from role confusion (followers trying to lead; leaders refusing to lead).
Why People Get Stuck
Acting from habit instead of fit-to-moment judgment.
Designing plans around comfort (“smooth sailing”) rather than real conditions.
Misreading needed social mode (bringing people when you need solitude, or vice versa).
Expectation that the universe should endorse our plan (e.g., waiting for perfect signs).
What to Do Instead (Fast-Track Moves)
Own your agency: for spirituality, you must lead yourself.
Diagnose the triads for your current goal:
Role: Lead / Follow / Neutral?
Social: Connect / Neutral / Isolate?
Cycle: Create / Neutral / Destroy? (What’s being born or ending?)
Adjust quickly: add/remove allies, change roles, change tactics (cease/change/progress).
Enter productive discomfort:
Social butterfly? Practice isolation.
Lone wolf? Recruit connections.
Accept cycles: treat creation/destruction like sunrise/sunset—respond, don’t personalize.
Practical Examples (from the talk)
If meditation “won’t stick,” stop expecting smooth seas; re-plan using the triads (maybe isolate, or add accountability).
If a plan stalls, ask: “Do I need twenty oarsmen—or to kick twenty spectators out of the boat?”
Encouragement & Caution
Rapid gains are possible; limits are mostly chosen.
Ultra-fast paths can be intolerable for some; sustainable pacing still outperforms waiting.
Measure success by responsiveness, not by forcing stability.
10-Second Checklist (use before any spiritual task)
Role? Lead • Follow • Neutral
Social? Connect • Neutral • Isolate
Cycle? Create • Neutral • Destroy
Oracle move? Cease • Change • Progress
Discomfort? What stretch will unlock momentum?
Micro-Practices (today)
Role flip drill (5 min): Pick one task. If you’d usually lead, practice following (or vice versa).
Connection audit (5 min): List the one person whose help would unstick you—or the one distraction to remove.
Cycle naming (1 min): Label one thing in creation, one in destruction, one neutral. Plan accordingly.
TL;DR
Spiritual speed comes from fit-to-moment choice: adopt the right role, the right social mode, and align with the cycle you’re actually in. Drop habit and expectation; respond and move.
FAQ — Spirituality Fast Track, Classics & Cross-Tradition Parallels
What does “lead, follow, or stay neutral” mean in Taoist terms?
It’s a role diagnostic. Lead when your action enables the goal without forcing; follow when another agent is better placed; choose neutrality when action won’t change outcomes. This maps to wu wei (non-forcing) and Yijing role assignments in specific hexagrams.
How does this compare to the Dao De Jing and Zhuangzi?
Dao De Jing emphasizes humble, non-coercive leadership and timing; Zhuangzi shows role fluidity and “fittingness” through stories of sages and artisans. Both stress adapting to the moment rather than clinging to a fixed identity.
Where does the I Ching fit into the “cease, change, progress” idea?
Many Judgments/Lines reduce to those moves: halt to avoid harm, transform your approach, or advance decisively (“cross the great river”). They’re shorthand for reading situation, role, and timing.
Why is neutrality treated as a valid choice and not indecision?
Because some situations are truly outcome-neutral. When added effort won’t shift the result, strategic rest conserves resources and prevents counter-productive forcing.
When should I seek connection versus isolation in practice?
Seek connection when allies unlock resources or feedback; seek isolation when others add coordination drag or bias the work. Reassess regularly—social mode should serve the task, not habit.
How do other traditions echo these triads?
Buddhism balances Sangha with retreat; the Gītā urges duty-aligned action; Christian monastic rules pair obedience with humble leadership; Sufism alternates khalwa (seclusion) with suhba (companionship). The pattern is universal: role, social mode, timing.
What’s the practical test for “creation, neutral, destruction” cycles?
Name one thing currently being born, one stable but short-lived state, and one ending. Plan to nurture the first, maintain the second without clinging, and adapt to or leverage the third.
Can spiritual progress really be fast?
Yes—when choice aligns with timing (shi), correct role, and the real cycle you’re in. “Fast” does not mean frenetic; it means low friction because fit is high.
What causes most plan failures in this model?
Role confusion (follower tries to lead, leader refuses to lead), wrong social mode (too many/few people), and clinging to stability during a destruction or creation phase.
How do I apply this to a stuck meditation routine?
Run the four checks: Role (self-lead with clear commitment); Social (isolate or add accountability); Cycle (are you forcing stability during change?); Move (cease a failing tactic, change structure, or progress with a small daily action).
Related Articles and Podcast Episodes
Living the Tao Podcast – Taoist Wisdom for Modern Life
Episode 2, Acceptance is the Foundation of Spiritual Development
What Is Taoism? A Human Method of Integration
Living the Tao Ep 1: Enlightenment Is Our Natural State
What Does Taoism Say About Fate and Future? Is it Predetermined?