The next three letters in the I Ching hexagrams are called the ‘observations.’ These observations give you more information about how to apply the changing lines within the hexagram.
The eighth observation, ‘Identify the Animal Phylum,’ asks you to recognize what animal type you are dealing with. This is not literal, but rather an internal recognition of your strengths and weaknesses.
This is an important observation because it asks you to distinguish what kind of creature you are- whether that be a mammal, reptile, amphibian, etc.- and recognize your own weaknesses.
You must also identify your own strengths in order to overcome your weaknesses. Only then can you move forward in life with confidence and success.
Animal
The last letter in the animal kingdom alphabet is used to refer to animals as a whole. All animals are categorized into one of five phyla: Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Mollusca, and Echinoderm.
Each phylum contains different kinds of animals, or species. For example, the Cnidaria includes jellyfish and sea anemones; the Platyhelminthes includes flatworms; nematodes are microscopic worms; mollusks include snails and oysters; and echinoderms include starfish and sea cucumbers.
It is important to know the different animal phyla because this is how scientists study new creatures. By knowing what phylum a creature belongs to, researchers can identify it as new or not.
Xi
The eighth letter in the Greek alphabet is Xi, pronounced Zee. In numerology, Xi represents the number eight.
Xi refers to a grade of wood, or a type of tree. Trees are classified by their genus, family, and species.
Just like trees have different species and families have different genera, animals have different phyla. A phylum is a taxonomic rank used to describe a group of organisms with common characteristics that may include morphology (shape), physiology (function), and genetics.
An animal’s phylum can be identified by its intrinsic properties such as its structure, composition, and function. For example, all animals within the phylum chordata have a dorsal nerve tube and vertebrae.
Yi
The Yi is the last letter in the Greek alphabet, and it represents the smallest unit of life: the cell. At this level, all of life is categorized into different groups based on their characteristics.
These groups are called phyla, and there are five of them: bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi, and animal.
The word “phylum” comes from Greek and means “a kind” or “a group of kinds.” It is related to the word “phlegm” which means “mucus.”
All animals can be divided into these five categories: monophylum (single cell), triphylum (triple cell), quadriphylum (quadruple cell), pentaphylum (pentapular) and hexaphylum (hexapular).
Mammal
The mammal phylum is one of the most well-known and populated phyla. There are many species of mammals, and they can be found almost everywhere.
They are characterized by the need to nourish their young with milk. This milk can be cow milk, kangaroo milk, or even shark milk!
Most mammals are socially structured, with a dominant male or female of the group. Some can even be considered intelligent, like apes and dogs. Many have special senses that help them navigate their environment, like smell or hearing.
Some examples of mammals are humans, mice, cows, whales, and rhinoceroses.
Human
The human animal is one of the most well-known creatures in the world. People have a lot to say about humans, their habits, behaviors, and nature.
People are very aware of humans in general, but they may not be as aware of all the different types of humans. This is an area where psychology has made huge strides in recent decades.
Psychology has categorized five basic types of human personalities. These include the order-giving type (dictatorial), the flexible type (adaptable), the stable type (stable), the harmonious type (peaceful), and the efficient type (efficient).
These categories break down into nine distinct personality types each. This gives us a total of fifty-five different human personalities! Psychological research has identified these traits and classified these personalities.
This is an important observation to make about humans: we are very diverse! We come in many shapes and sizes, we have different natural talents and abilities, and we have different personalities.
Primate
The primate is the eighth animal in the zoo of your life. The primate refers to either apes or monkeys. Apes are largely tree-dwelling animals, while monkeys live in trees and on the ground.
This creature comes into your life when you need to understand the nature of sexuality and intimacy. How do you understand your own sexual nature? How do you understand the sexual nature of others?
How do you understand how to be intimate with someone else? This creature asks you to look within and see what needs to be healed or understood. It may call up memories or flashbacks of your own sexual experiences, good and bad. It may bring up the sexuality of others, good and bad. It may call forth your own inner primate-like qualities such as anger, aggression, and dominance. It may call forth other traits such as cunningness and craftiness.
Reptile
Reptiles are characterized by scales, amniotes, and oviparous.
Scales are the protective covering on the skin. Most reptiles have armored scales, whereas amphibians have smooth scales.
Amniotes refers to creatures that develop an internal fertilized membrane called an amnion, which protects the developing embryo. This distinguishes reptiles from other animal groups.
Most reptiles are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs that require incubation before hatching. Some are viviparous, meaning they carry developing young in an internal womb before birth.
Reptiles include lizards, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, and tortoises. Many of these animals are well-known for their protective armor and slow movements.
Bird
The bird kingdom includes hundreds of species, from the tiny hummingbird to the massive ostrich. All birds have some things in common, however.
They all have two wings, and most can fly. Most birds have feet with four toes, and some have feet with five toes. Birds all have beaks instead of lips and teeth.
Birds lay eggs that incubate for a set amount of time before hatching a young bird. Some birds are monogamous, meaning they pair up for a long period of time, usually breeding season. Others are polyamorous, meaning they pair up temporarily.
Within the bird kingdom there are eight distinct phyla: Oscine (songbirds), Gavialine (alligators and crocodiles), Anseriformes (waterfowl), Caprimulgiformes (nightjars), Apodiformes (flightless birds), Struthioniformes (ostriches and emus), and Galloanserae (fowl) animals.
