I believe the following is a verse I have not really dealt with in detail:
www.spiritwalk.org...
6.
The valley spirit never dies.
It is called "the mysterious female."
The opening of the mysterious female
Is called "the root of Heaven and Earth."
Continuous, seeming to remain.
Use it without exertion.
I would define a
valley as a large opening, cavernous, carved. Sometimes I think of the bottom of a canyon and other times I think of the
oasis within the mountains. The mind sometimes attributes the "hidden" to the valley, or that which is out of reach. This relates to the
"mysterious".
Mysterious is something which we do not know, or rather "do not understand." The question among hidden answers. The secret waiting to be
unlocked. Or the obvious blocked by our own illusions or insecurities.
When relating this to the traditional "female," there are obvious sexual connotations. Also, one might attribute a variety of qualities:
Virginity, purity, duty, freedom, new life, desire, hardship, sex, rebirth, choice, insecurity, etc.
Now with some definitions out of the way:
The first half:
"The valley spirit never dies.
It is called 'the mysterious female.'
The opening of the mysterious female"
A spirit is often a guide or a something that we assume has died, yet entered another life. If the spirit of the secret never dies, but a spirit is
perhaps already dead, we might say that "any that is dead does not die, but that which is dead isn't really dead." I do not know if this is
accurate, but let's work with it.
We can use the above definitions to describe the "mysterious female." A spirit of birth, life, rebirth, desire, sexuality, coupled with secrecy or
misunderstanding. She seems out of reach, but never inexcessable, assuming she can never die. As an aside, the ninja might call this, "the
shadow," or a reflection of the self or hidden knowledge, also an opponent and a friend (our true nature hidden from ourself, even if it is
ourself).
{Going more PG-13}
The third line can be seen as an entrance into the valley, the secret, or our past, or desires. A woman's valley (vagina) is something she protects,
only opening to those she deems worthy. It is also a place of new life and birth. A man might see this as a challenge (sex), but only if he desires
her (if he desires the secret). He might also care about the woman, not just the secret (sex). Thus, you must understand the valley before you can
reach the secret. You must gain her trust.
Some ideas of "evil" can be introduced here: The secret could be stolen (think rape). The pillaging of a woman, or land, or the robbing of a bank
vault, ... in general, those who possess secrets or infomation they obtained through wrongful action. Evil might possess this secret. A warning, if
nothing else.
{back to PG}
The opening could also be an opening of the heart, a new friendship, a better way through a difficult hike. Would you rather scale the mountain or
walk through the valley? Sometimes, to see the valley you must first climb a mountain, thus describing some of the inherant difficulties found in
life... a process of understanding why the valley exists (perhaps a reference to the Creator or the Earth).
Now we say that Life has a secret, and allows some people in. We exist, so we must be searching for the valley. We desire the secrets, even if they
require hardships. The secrets may require us to analyze ourselves and our relationships. Being a valley, once inside, we may feel trapped, or
encased by the mountains surrounding us (going inside ourselves can be scarey).
Second half:
"Is called 'the root of Heaven and Earth.'
Continuous, seeming to remain.
Use it without exertion."
The opening is referred to as Heaven (our desired place of living) and Earth (where we do live). Finding the path to Heaven seems like a secret, as
does the proper way to live our lives. We continually question our place in the universe and our place in the afterlife.
The root is the source. All other things spring from this and feed from this. The root of Heaven and Earth (happiness and home) are a secret from
within. It is a secret within life, and not given at birth (or why would we search for it... unless we lost or forgot it, somehow).
A root can be dug up, similar to finding a hidden treasure. It feeds off its surroundings, however this root cannot die, being part of the
"mysterious female." Life is born from the root, also the place of the secret (perhaps another reference to the Creator). Sometimes the stems and
leaves and peddles and fruit of a root may die off or get torn off, but many roots can grow again, thus defining a cycle of life.
Roots often come from seeds, but not always, as roots can propagate themselves. A seed is seen as holding a secret inside, and that secret is life.
A seed can live through many hardships, extreme conditions that the plant cannot survive. It sprouts the root when the time is right. We exist
because it is our time to exist.
If the root is a spirit, then our spirit feeds us and holds knowledge as to our development (maybe a reference to the "soul"). Thus, the part of
our soul that is bound by the root cannot die and lives in Heaven, as well as on Earth.
Life is continuous, as is the soul (and/or our connection to the Creator). Life may die off, yet be reborn again, the knowledge still inside. The
truth is hard to reach, or so it seems.
The line, "seeming to remain", leads me to believe that death does exist, perhaps for Heaven and for Earth. But what remains in the root, the
spirit, the secret, ... that which gives rebirth.
"Use it without exertion," might refer to use or misuse/abuse of the secret, life, sex, the Creator, and/or yourself. If it is used, it should be
effortless (a possible link to Wu Wei, passive action). The secret can be abused, again going back to "evil" knowning the secret, thus the secret
is abused through exertion. This exertion probably forces the secret to remove that which is "evil," similar to a flower shedding its withered
peddles or not supporting a branch that requires too many resources.
Life should flow and work as a unit, being a single plant from the root. Unity, simplicity, ease, and knowledge all from the same place
("responsibility" allows it to grow or destroys it if misused).
So, within you lies a link to your secrets, hidden by your barriers, your search for it happening now. It is a link to the Creator, a link to your
soul, a link to truth and life/rebirth. It can be abused and lost, as may be why you are trying to find it now... having lost the previledge. It is
about the journey and gaining the trust of the "Holder of the Secret" or "Mysterious Female". She is waiting for you, perhaps longing for you or
testing you. Look inside to find out.
Good luck. Now it is your turn.
