Static 19

[exnihilo]

I rarely ask these types of questions but, alas, I did. I asked what I should do about something that has been bugging me for some time now. The answer surprised me a bit. I interpreted the answer as: get ready, prepare etc. Would that be a good interpretation of 19 unchanging in response to such a question?

[frank]

Hi Exnihilo,

19 is about timing, and not waiting to long, in this one, I think...

[exnihilo]

seize the moment sort of thing?

[dobro]

"I asked what I should do about something that has been bugging me for some time now. The answer surprised me a bit. I interpreted the answer as: get ready, prepare etc. Would that be a good interpretation of 19 unchanging in response to such a question?"

I don't think so. If there's a hexagram that images getting ready and preparing, it's 16. 19, on the other hand, is mainly about the approach of something good and great, and how positive and advantageous the time is for you. But contained in the message, there *is* that last line that talks about how conditions will reverse themselves as time unfolds. Which means you should use the present opportunity now and exploit it, like Frank says, cuz it ain't gonna last.

[exnihilo]

"I don't think so."

I think I got that idea of getting ready, preparation etc. from the idea that the hex is about something good being on the way. You know, that we prepare for that so that we're ready to, as you say, exploit it when it gets here. It's kind of like waiting, watching, getting prepared (by getting ready to "Spring") for that window of opportunity and then jumping on it so as not to lose it.

[sirix]

I asked similar question once I got the very same answer. My question was: How good would it be for me to tell him something that is bugging me?
And I was surprised with an answer 19 unchanged. I've done that the very same evening - I told this person what had to be told and it turned out to be great for me.
So, I still don't know much about I ching, but based on this I would tell that this is very positive answer. In a way just do it - react now, it'll be good for you.

[dobro]

Yeah, okay, I see better what you meant.

"In a way just do it - react now, it'll be good for you."

Sort of, yeah. Question: how would you deal with this situation - suddenly, and without much warning, a very important person, somebody like a spiritual teacher or inspiring leader, announces that he's paying you a visit in your home if you can arrange to be there? You don't have a ton of time to prepare, cuz he/she's arriving in about a half hour. But you're not at home yet either. What do you do?

[exnihilo]

"You don't have a ton of time to prepare, cuz he/she's arriving in about a half hour. But you're not at home yet either. What do you do?"

The only way to seize the opportunity is to run home at once and believe that everything will work out OK. What other choice do you have? If you don't try, you will SURELY be the loser.

[frank]

Hi Exnihilo,

19 is indeed about opportunities, before they are gone. And for Dobro?s consurn, I guess I phoned my neightbour on mobile, asking him to put the red carpet out, and telling him I will be there in 15 minutes...

Huggies,
Frank

[frank]

So... NOT ?seize? the moment, but TAKE it...

[heylise]

"the approach of something good and great, and how positive and advantageous the time is for you"...
Hexagram 19 has in the very first place to do with getting an overview. So the above might be true.. IF you have that overview. If not, it might turn out not good at all. Hexagrams are not 'good' or 'bad', they contain both sides, ALL of them. Even 11 can bring bad times, if you don't "act 11" when you should.

So get a good look at whatever is bugging you, look at it from another point of view, try to look from a distance, from higher up downwards, putting it in perspective, or from a low point upwards, putting yourself in perspective.

The Yi does not tell you what will happen, it tells you what YOU might make happen. How you can make it happen in the best way. Telling you what the results will be of a certain action - and that can be good or bad, but only according to that action. Did you follow the advice? Good! You did not? Bad! It does not tell you things will be good or bad, no matter what. Even when you get one of those pretty 'good fortune' lines, the good fortune will only happen when you act as the Yi advises you. If not: no good fortune.

LiSe

[void]

I started another thread on unchanging hexes as I reckon its important in itself that the hex is 'locked' that it has to be seen differently.

[exnihilo]

"Hexagram 19 has in the very first place to do with getting an overview. So the above might be true.. IF you have that overview. If not, it might turn out not good at all."

Wouldn't getting a good overview be similar to being prepared? How can one be adequately prepared without a good view of the situation? Not having a good overview could spell disaster because one would be inadequately prepared.

[heylise]

hmpf

An overview does not mean you are prepared.
It might tell you to get out of a situation for the simple reason that you see that you are not prepared for it.

[heylise]

When you want to know what a hexagram means, then take all translations together, chew them and taste carefully.

19: oversee; be adjacent to; approach; face; overlook, arrive; be present, copy (calligraphy/painting), on the point of; just before; be about to, facing.

16: enthusiasm; in advance, beforehand, make or get ready; participate in; pleased, content, happy, comfort; travel, a trip; to cheat, lie, hesitate, indecision.

Very different feel about them

LiSe

[jesed]

Hi Exnihilo

Just in case the comment could be useful

You hadn't ask how is a situation, but what you "should" do.

"The noble man teaches and ponders inexhaustibly, he tolerates and protect the people without limits" (Lise's translation for the Image)
"Taking charge. The noble young one, accordingly,
instructs and plans without exhaustion, Accepts and secures the people without constraint" (Bradford's translation for the image)


Pretty clear answer, isn't? take care, planning based on tolerance without limits.

Another aproach: you "should" act with inner friendhip (lake in inner trigram) and outer docility (earth in outer trigram)

The 2 ruling lines (1 and 2) reinforce the advice

Best wishes

[exnihilo]

"So get a good look at whatever is bugging you, look at it from another point of view, try to look from a distance, from higher up downwards, putting it in perspective, or from a low point upwards, putting yourself in perspective."

That sounds more like 20 to me, contemplation. In 20, the two yang lines are at the top, looking down. Viewing. Perspective. In 19, the two yang lines are coming up from the bottom.

[exnihilo]

Karcher has this to say about 19:

"The way to deal with it is to MOVE FORWARD towards what is approaching without expecting to get what you want immediately."

"Look at things with care and sympathy"

"Welcome the approach of others"

"Keep your expectations modest"

He's got LIN as "approach, behold with care, look down on sympathetically, condescend, bless or curse by coming nearer, a superior visting an inferior"

I've always had trouble with this hex. I'm getting something like this about the meaning: Get busy.

[dobro]

Well, okay, get busy then. But get busy in the context of this insight that you yourself came up with earlier in the thread:

"...the hex is about something good being on the way. You know, that we prepare for that so that we're ready to, as you say, exploit it when it gets here"

I'd alter this slightly though. I'd say it's not a matter of preparation for something good that's going to come. I'd say it's a matter of working with something good THAT'S ARRIVING AS WE SPEAK. It's not a preparation, it's a welcome party. And don't delay, cuz if you dawdle, you'll miss the moment and then conditions will change and you'll be SOL and sorry that you didn't embrace the arrival when it was on your doorstep.

You know, this hex has got much more to do with Hex 2 than with 16. Stop preparing. Welcome what's arriving here already.

[julie]

I think of 19 as taking the high road. That connects with LiSe saying it's about overseeing -- it's holding onto the big picture, not letting yourself get bogged down with pettiness, leading not in the sense of rallying the troops but in the sense of going where you need to go.

I guess I tend to think of it not as looking for something external that's arriving, but being the arrival.