Running for Office: 23.5.6 to 8

[little_hadj]

I think I want to run for office in an upcoming election but am deeply ambivalent and have to make up my mind. It’s a David and Goliath situation. I tried last year in a special election and lost by a wide margin. And campaigning takes a giant toll on your life. Yet I can’t quite give up on it. And random people keep approaching me asking me if I’m running again and offering to help. I asked “Do I want to run?” and received 23.5.6 to 8. Though Hex 23 is entitled ‘Splitting Apart’ I took the changing lines as an encouraging answer that I will obtain ‘favor’ from the court ladies (or perhaps I’m the court lady dispensing favors) and be carried in a chariot and achieve Union ... if it’s not too late. And maybe the I Ching is reflecting my own delusional thoughts back to me. Interpretations? Sage advice?

 

[Amaterasu]

Little_hadj,

The first thing I noticed when I saw your post is that you asked “do I want to run?” Not, “should I run?” or “what will happen if I run?”... Which is totally fine. That said, I personally interpret iching answers according to the wording in which they are couched.

I think the yi’s answer is, yes. You do want to run, because you feel that the situation(s) surrounding your constituency has deteriorated (hex 23), and you want to foster trust and cooperation within your community—where you might have some grassroots support—as indicated by line 5. Line 6 feels to me that you feel you should run to try and turn the situation around by replacing corrupted leadership with something new (the “largest fruit uneaten” is the seed for future restoration and regrowth after the plant itself has decayed). Hexagram 8 seems to put the background situation in the context of pursuing some sort of union with others.

Now, can you or should you run? Well yi seems to suggest me that you want to. And perhaps you should follow your heart. What sort of obstacles and challenges await, though, should be phrased as a separate and specific question I think.

 

[little_hadj]

Little_hadj,

The first thing I noticed when I saw your post is that you asked “do I want to run?” Not, “should I run?” or “what will happen if I run?”... Which is totally fine. That said, I personally interpret iching answers according to the wording in which they are couched.

I think the yi’s answer is, yes. You do want to run, because you feel that the situation(s) surrounding your constituency has deteriorated (hex 23), and you want to foster trust and cooperation within your community—where you might have some grassroots support—as indicated by line 5. Line 6 feels to me that you feel you should run to try and turn the situation around by replacing corrupted leadership with something new (the “largest fruit uneaten” is the seed for future restoration and regrowth after the plant itself has decayed). Hexagram 8 seems to put the background situation in the context of pursuing some sort of union with others.

Now, can you or should you run? Well yi seems to suggest me that you want to. And perhaps you should follow your heart. What sort of obstacles and challenges await, though, should be phrased as a separate and specific question I think.

Such an insightful interpretation and very spot on! And agree on needing a separate question ... I framed the question that way intentionally. When I kept asking friends if I should run and if I have a decent chance of winning, they kept responding, well, what do you want to do? So that’s a good starting point. And I’ve asked the I Ching ‘Should I run?’ so many times and gotten so many different answers, I may have poisoned the well, if there is such a thing. Or confused myself.

 

[Amaterasu]

I framed the question that way intentionally. When I kept asking friends if I should run and if I have a decent chance of winning, they kept responding, well, what do you want to do?

This is a good thing, I think. Winning is not necessarily the most important thing.

Have you ever heard of Harvey Milk? He ran unsuccessfully three times in California before finally getting elected to the San Francisco Board of Electors. Even then, his tenure was short. But his effect on California politics, particularly regarding gay rights is immeasurable—he’s even had a movie made about him starring Sean Penn (forgive me if I’m preaching to the choir).

I guess what I’m getting to is that perhaps it doesn’t matter whether or not you win. People are asking whether or not you intend to run again, so you’re obviously inspiring them. I totally get this “David and Goliath” situation, and it is inspiring to many—me included.

After contemplating this a bit, perhaps you should next ask yi one or more of the following:

1. “How can I win this race?”
2. “What will be the likely outcome if I run?”

 

[diamant]

I would add two more questions:
- What will the next year be for me (counting from today) if I run?
- What will the next year be for me if I don't run?

 

[breakmov]

I think I want to run for office in an upcoming election but am deeply ambivalent and have to make up my mind. It’s a David and Goliath situation. I tried last year in a special election and lost by a wide margin

“Do I want to run?” and received 23.5.6 to 8

If you follow the essence of hex23, I would say NO, that the indication is to give up trying something that you have already verified was not possible.

What comes to my mind as the essence of hex23 is the fact that there is something essential, true and with potential (like a seed) but that it is still in an environment, or situation, where there are many obstacles and drawbacks that prevent this essence from sprouting.
In this essence, in itself, there is certainty and determination of its value and capacity to sprout, but the environment and conditions are not yet favorable and counteract this sprouting.
From what I read in your post, you seem somewhat ambivalent, uncertain about your determination to " running for office" and hence an "essence with uncertainty" ... which leaves a red flag in relation to your question.


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[breakmov]

I leave one of a series of articles that Hilary wrote about hex23

Hexagram 23 in readings

"...
Hexagram 23 responds to whatever part of you is saying ‘Onward and outward!’ with ‘Nope. No use.’

So in practice, in readings, this is pretty simple: you see Hexagram 23, and give up whatever you had in mind...."

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