55.4 > 36 How to take care of myself right now

[redoleander]

I have received this line a few times. Once was a random toss about my therapy session earlier that day. It was amazing — it clicked for me later that the session was a noon and it was a very helping, guiding session. My therapist could be seen as this kind of influence, I respect her and she’s very good at what she does. I digress!

I asked how to take care of myself and I think the reading shows the darkness of how I was feeling when I asked this which was generally pretty overwhelmed and let down. I thought maybe it’s saying to find the light, or allow the light to find me, and just get more comfortable in the dark, observing patterns and looking to something higher than myself. Letting the bigger picture take shape. I mentioned the anecdote above because I thought it could be telling me my therapist will help me too. Seems like that line can be about learning from the shadow or hidden things being revealed. I guess learning is a given now though and taking care of oneself isn’t really an intellectual thing. Maybe even just telling me to go lay down in the dark and calm down

I don’t know.. what would you think this line is telling you if it were an instruction in how to take care of yourself?

 

[kestrelw1ngs]

I have received this line a few times. Once was a random toss about my therapy session earlier that day. It was amazing — it clicked for me later that the session was a noon and it was a very helping, guiding session. My therapist could be seen as this kind of influence, I respect her and she’s very good at what she does. I digress!

I asked how to take care of myself and I think the reading shows the darkness of how I was feeling when I asked this which was generally pretty overwhelmed and let down. I thought maybe it’s saying to find the light, or allow the light to find me, and just get more comfortable in the dark, observing patterns and looking to something higher than myself. Letting the bigger picture take shape. I mentioned the anecdote above because I thought it could be telling me my therapist will help me too. Seems like that line can be about learning from the shadow or hidden things being revealed. I guess learning is a given now though and taking care of oneself isn’t really an intellectual thing. Maybe even just telling me to go lay down in the dark and calm down

I don’t know.. what would you think this line is telling you if it were an instruction in how to take care of yourself?

Isn't this the line about the "hidden master" or the barbarian chief? Might be worth looking at the Fan Yao 36.4 as that's kind of the 'other side of the coin' (in my understanding, still v much to learn about interpretation).

I'd interpret it as finding value in myself (this line seems to be about someone one has taken for granted or passed over as 'ordinary' or 'dull'), or the darker versions of myself, yes. Whatever you fear in yourself, maybe even the darkness itself, whatever it is.

So shadow work - but what does that mean to you?
A dangerous enemy wearing a fearful mask, but the mask is just your own presumptions or fear...once that fearmask is taken off, they might have intelligence to offer. May be a potential ally.
What form do your fears and 'darkness' take?


I remember seeing a fun webcomic awhile ago that illustrated the process of 'taming' one's demons: a person running from an amorphous darkness, that became a terrifying monster, then they ran into a wall, hiding their face....only when they turned around, it began to quiet down and turned into an angry, hurt 'demon child' that looked much like them. Comic ended with them sitting down on a blanket getting to know each other.

I'd suggest it might be less about finding or forcing light, and you're more on track with "getting comfortable in the dark."

Good luck with the self-care, it is a difficult road.

 

[redoleander]

So shadow work - but what does that mean to you?
A dangerous enemy wearing a fearful mask, but the mask is just your own presumptions or fear...once that fearmask is taken off, they might have intelligence to offer. May be a potential ally.
What form do your fears and 'darkness'

This makes a lot of sense and I liked what you shared about the comic too. After reading this I asked, “what do my demons want” and received 42.5. Pretty to the point I guess that covers the “nice” part of self-care but the kindness is devoted to the shadow…

 

[marybluesky]

I agree, find a glimpse of light, a hidden leader, and follow that.

 

[dfreed]

Many of the lines of 55 remind me of a book I have, 'In Praise of Shadows' which is about the Japanese aesthetic and appreciation of shadows, darkness .... e.g. in the dark, a candle's dim light feels warm, and it creates shadows, which become alive and dance along the walls, illuminating the wall's imperfections - its cracks and stains - in a way that makes them seem alive and 'perfect', .... that sort of ideal.

With regard to:

55.4 > 36 How to take care of myself right now

We have "The Capital in shadow, the ladle appears in the middle of the sun. He will meet a lord of Yi. Good fortune." (trans. Field)

Perhaps ... that even in darkness we can look for light (the Ladle being a name for the Plough or Dipper constellation), we seek a higher purpose, or 'take the high road' (to meet lord Yi) - perhaps the path of forgiveness or seeing things in a new way.

Also, with line 4 moving, Hex. 55's upper trigram Thunder becomes Earth: which I can see as taking action that is decisive, caring, and accepting of ourselves and others - even when we can't see everything in the (or our own) darkness.