why the danger? 29.6?

[lyra]

A friend of mine is doing very well in his PhD studies, and I am pretty sure he will finish it. However, when I asked the iching, it said 29.6. It seems shocking, what does it imply? i asked if he will finish it, he is doing pretty good.

the imagery, shows prison walls, no prospect of escape, taking 3 years to the task. What does it mean at all? Could it mean he will finish it in 3 years, which is the stipulated length of time, or mean something else? It sounds like slave work.

insights appreciated.

[willowfox]

How many years has he now been doing his PhD? It would suggest that the research has been long and difficult for him, and still he has not achieved the result that he wanted, probably feels like a prison sentence where you can't escape because escape means failure.

But hex 59 suggests the final result will be positive, he will achieve his goal.

[lyra]

Thank you willowfox, that was a good intepretation.
hes been doing the phd for about a year now, does it mean it will take another 3 years, because it is the stipulated time. yes he is on schlarship so it is not possible to escape it. its a wonder about the oracle's accuracy! 59 being a good hexagram is a relief for him, to say the least.

[willowfox]

Well, if he has only done a year, then he has a lot of work ahead of him, it won't be easy so he will really have to apply himself to the task. As for time, it could easily be 3 years.

[lyra]

Ok, thank you! :)

[lyra]

Out of curiosity, I found an interpretation of this:

A man who in the extremity of danger has lost the right way and is
irremediably entangled in his sins has no prospect of escape. He is like a
criminal who sits shackled behind thorn hedged prison walls.

I am curious why they have lost the right way. Is that normal when you're bound up in something for a long time? because i suppose that was what he really wanted. it sounds really bad, though 59 does speak of medals.

[willowfox]

It depends upon what translation you use, Wilhelm says "for 3 years one does not find the way" another is "for 3 years one achieves nothing", you get the idea.
Applied to your friend, then it could well mean that for a few years his goal will elude him, he achieves nothing he does not find the way to finish, then comes the end and he gets what he wants. There is no right or wrong way, there is only one path, one exit to freedom.

As for being tied up, that speaks for itself, tied to the research behind the grey walls of university or some other institution.

[lyra]

Thank you willowfox, yes he's probably tied up to it. that one path also really does seem like the only route. very accurate, no way out at all. Thanks!