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Curiouser and curiouser

Last night we ventured down the rabbit hole. Yep. Wednesday night is Lost night in Vanier.

I am going to try not to be one of "those" types who becomes obsessed with the show to the point that they are incapable of talking or writing about anything else, but I will say this:

Desmond's symbol. The one on his breast pocket.

When I first saw it, I knew I had seen something similar somewhere before. My first thought was morse code depicting The Numbers. But then, there are only six numbers, not 8. So I did a little research, courtesy About.com's glossary of religious symbols.

The I Ching.

There are 64 combinations of I Ching trigrams to form the hexagrams used in divination.

Let's take a look-see:

4: Mang
Mang (indicates that in the case which it presupposes) there will be progress and success. I do not (go and) seek the youthful and inexperienced, but he comes and seeks me. When he shows (the sincerity that marks) the first recourse to divination, I instruct him. If he apply a second and third time, that is troublesome; and I do not instruct the troublesome. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.

8: Pi
Pi indicates that (under the conditions which it supposes) there is good fortune. But let (the principal party intended in it) re-examine himself, (as if) by divination, whether his virtue be great, unintermitting, and firm. If it be so, there will be no error. Those who have not rest will then come to him; and with those who are (too) late in coming it will be ill.

15: Khien
Khien indicates progress and success. The superior man, (being humble as it implies), will have a (good) issue (to his undertakings).

16: Yu
Yu indicates that, (in the state which it implies), feudal princes may be set up, and the hosts put in motion, with advantage.

23: Po
Po indicates that (in the state which it symbolizes) it will not be advantageous to make a movement in any direction whatever.

42: Yi
1. The first NINE, undivided, shows that it will be advantageous for its subject in his position to make a great movement. If it be greatly fortunate, no blame will be imputed to him.

2. The second six, divided, shows parties adding to the stores of its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells whose oracles cannot be opposed. Let him persevere in being firm and correct, and there will be good fortune. Let the king, (having the virtues thus distinguished), employ them in presenting his offerings to God, and there will be good fortune.

3. The third six, divided, shows increase given to its subject by means of what is evil, so that he shall (be led to good), and be without blame. Let him be sincere and pursue the path of the Mean, (so shall he secure the recognition of the ruler, like) an officer who announces himself to his prince by the symbol of his rank.

4. The fourth six, divided, shows its subject pursuing the due course. His advice to his prince is followed. He can with advantage be relied on in such a movement as that of removing the capital.

5. The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject with sincere heart seeking to benefit (all below). There need be no question about it; the result will be great good fortune. (All below) will with sincere heart acknowledge his goodness.

6. In the sixth NINE, undivided, we see one to whose increase none will contribute, while many will seek to assail him. He observes no regular rule in the ordering of his heart. There will be evil.

I don't know if I am going down the garden path on this one, but any Lost theorists out there who are interested in extrapolating from what I have written here, please feel free to do so.