Traditionally, 2 Soil is expressed as the ki of late-summer, afternoon, and the southwest. Five Soil is yellow. Eight Soil is white. But 2 Soil is black, suggesting that it is the most fertile of the three soil-types; dark like topsoil. However, a glance at a world map renders a different image. Deserts tend to occupy the southwest of major landmasses.

So, depending on other variables (Tree, Fire, Metal) conditions can be very dry and harsh, or they can be fertile and cultivating. Traditionally, 2 Soil is the ki of stagnation. Now we can see that absorption / stagnation isn't necessarily a negative condition, for it gives way to accumulation. Given the appropriate climate - the suitable combination of energy states, 2 Soil can feed the world.

In any case, you'll notice that the concept of agriculture, hunger, food distribution, growth and other food related issues will become prevalent during the course of this 9 Year Cycle. Also, closely related to the concepts of growth and cultivation, education (the cultivation of the mind) will become central.

This is the positive face of 2 Soil. Imagine lush, flourishing farmlands dotted with schoolhouses attended by happy, well nourished children who are fun loving but also studious, intelligent and sincere. Yet every coin has two sides and 2 Soil is no exception.

Two Soil is associated with stagnation, calm and peace, but history indicates that peace must be achieved through 2 Soil activities, such as diplomacy, meetings, summit talks and developing common goals. If diplomacy is ignored, then human activities may run counter to the mood of the ki, producing disharmonious conditions opposed to tranquility and peace. This can lead to war and, if a conflict begins, 2 Soil's mood of stagnation makes it very difficult to attain peace again. In this case, stagnation becomes quagmire. Human nature being as pugnacious and shallow as it is, some of the world's most memorable wars have been fought during 2 Soil 9-year Cycles.

1775-1783: The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

1856-1864: The American Civil War (1861-1865)

1937-1945: World War II (1939-1945)

2018-2026: ????

Considering the current state of diplomatic affairs, a major and historic war is certainly possible. It seems that humanity has not learned much about peacemaking since the previous cycle. It's noteworthy that war becomes more deadly with each 2 Soil 9-year Cycle, and easier to instigate. More lethal because weaponry becomes more technical over time and more spontaneous for basically the same reason. Though war is hell in all cases, it is easier to convince a citizen to fire a rocket than it is to persuade him or her to fight face-to-face with a spear or an axe.

We can look at this from another perspective. As battles become more lethal with each cycle, for combatants and for bystanders, is not every war a reminder to avoid the next one? Are not all wars chances to end war? And what will become of us if we ignore every chance? As we enter this 2 Soil 9-year Cycle, we have so-called leaders who almost promise to throw atomic weapons around as if they were firecrackers.

Is it too late?

The more folks we can get to shed their food blockages, the more highly they will value peace. It's difficult to be angry when you're feeling good and you have no pent up rising energy - as you begin to realize that, if you can change the way you feel by changing your diet, then you can change almost anything. Ultimately, we come around to understand that we are responsible for own life and we stop blaming others. At this point, war becomes meaningless.

This movement has been growing for decades and so much has been accomplished. But we need to refresh our approach and accelerate a little. Remember! This is the first time the 9-Year Cycle will provide direct support. We can continue to evolve and our outlook can turn to sustainable agriculture, saving heirloom seeds, the Unique Principal of balancing health through diet, and many other adventures. As our judgment improves, we can apply our balance and intuition in order to understand anything we study - not as experts and scholars but as friends with interesting ideas.