How am I doing in making my life more real? Hexagram 26 unchanging

[bologna_tendra]

To contextualise the question, around 18 months ago I made some changes in my life in stepping back from certain material aspects, and placed more focus on myself in a spiritual sense outside of a material role in the world. So when I say making life "more real", I mean that I felt an unreality in life of overemphasis on material things and not touching the real substance of life itself - and not touching the reality of myself. I am trying to come back into myself more closely and move tentatively toward touching life itself in its real sense more often. I asked the I Ching how am I getting along / how am I progressing. It gave me hexagram 26 unchanging.

Many commentators speak about not taking meals at home and Wilhelm says one should enter public office. Perhaps this makes sense as at the moment I am the beginning of entering into public office in the sense of the beginnings of a new career, and some volunteer positions which interests me. These are quite modest developments however in a sense compared to my previous work, and it constitutes a kind of quiet rebooting rather than a big splash into the world. Of course work is just one element of life. I am creating some new habits slowly, but I still have old habits continuing which inhibit my life being more real - mental projections, ego, perhaps some fears /insecurities, prejudices etc. the typical thing.

I'm not sure whether this answer is saying I'm doing badly, or well, or so-so, and what I might take from it.

I am interested to hear what anyone might think of this. What is the great water? What is this business of not taking meals at home? Any general thoughts?

 

[my_key]

26 Great Accumulation follows after 25 where you have disentangled yourself from afflictions. Other translations call it the Great Taming and it has a meaning of 'the right time', so in a sense this is the right time for you to be building on your goals of coming back to yourself. This hexagram calls for restraint and accumulation of resources so that you may further advancein the future, again when the time is right.

The 'not eating at home' comment could be calling on you to aid your progress by eating from the table of others. Those who have the ability to help you on your way through these next steps - role models. Go out and seek 'teachers' which could well be through some sort of aspect of service or volunteering. The nuclear or 26 is 54 from where you are being guided to 'marry' new experiences (outside your comfort zone) to assist you in helpful change.

The image kind of calls you to take stock of where you are, right now. Understand where you have come from. Learn from the past both in terms of your inspiring successes and your less successful moments and character traits that still hang around you. Identify what can help you continue on your path and what still may need some work.

So I'd see this as a comment on your getting along fine and now you are having to do the next phase of your training.

....or it may be nothing like this at all.

Good Luck