This Moment: 29.3.5>46

[settan3579]

As my study of the I Ching deepens, it feels like I slowly start to understand what is being asked and said. Slowly. My head can be pretty thick, so it takes repeated attempts to get something in there sometimes.

Last night, after a conversation with a friend that has been more than a friend and we both continue to want something but feel the timing is not right, I finally landed very clearly the need to let go and allow for her to have even more space. Sadly, we both feel that we moved a bit too quickly given our circumstances. It has been a learning experience for all, and she said she wants space because of how she feels about me and it makes her sad that she can't be with me romantically. It clearly brings up sadness and frustration for both of us.

Attempting to let go of my stubbornness, I'm choosing to respect her need for space. She voiced it as needing time for herself and for her to feel the sadness that she's been needing to feel since her last relationship ended. I support that and want what's best for her. The space seems more like a "for now" deal since she still wants to see me in the future and have a connection in the present. She said she's not making any grand statements. While the situation feels disempowering for me (in the sense that there's nothing I can do), it could also be seen as an opportunity to really do the work on myself that has been brought up to be done. Releasing expectations, being more present in my life, and opening my heart to connection with all beings. The inner work I've been doing for years all feels highly connected to this situation, and I truly feel like a breakthrough to a new mode of being in the world is possible and has been glimpsed throughout. The strong man that I am within is slowly finding modes of expression in the world.

So that's the context.

I approached the I Ching as I often do with a simple, "Advise me on this moment and how best to move forward." Probably not the clearest, but I find that I'm always looking for open advice on whatever it needs to tell me.

It responded with hexagram 29, Darkness, The Abysmal, Repeating Chasms changing to 46, Pushing/Growing Upward.

Lines 3 and 5 were changing:

"The Abysmal repeated.
If you are sincere, you have success
in your heart,
And whatever you do succeeds."

Always fascinates me how an objectively "dangerous" situation, or one of many difficulties, is actually somewhat auspicious. The I Ching extols me to look into the heart, to find sincerity in all I do, and realize that it is this connection to a sincere heart in all actions that bring about good results.

The image speaks to moving forward, or at least flowing with the situation, and walking in virtue. This seems to me to speak to that fluid quality of acceptance of the situation, and virtuous action being genuinely respecting where she is and the course my life asks to move in.

Line 3 says:
"Coming or going, darkness, darkness.
Danger, just wait.
Already fallen into a pit within a pit;
Do not act."

Seems to pretty clearly speak to not doing anything about the situation. It is already dark and difficult and trying to fix anything, say anything, or the like will only dig the hole deeper. Feels fairly clear, but I'm open to there being a different interpretation that is helpful.

Line 5 says:
"Water in the pit, not overflowing,
Fills only to the rim.
No fault."

Again it seems to speak of the situation progressing and changing naturally. There is nothing to do. Simply let the danger pass, whatever the danger is. Wilhelm also comments about the line of least resistance. It seems like it would be allowing her to do what she needs, even though she has expressed resisting the connection that is between us. Me fighting that in any way simply makes it harder. More broadly in my life situation, it also speaks to allowing my life to flow through what is also an objectively difficult situation with finances and looking toward a future career.

What I am curious about is the second hexagram being 46. Trying to see it as the "context" of my present situation instead of the future state might seem to say that this situation is working towards bringing out the best in me and my life, and that if I continue to water the seeds of compassion, equanimity, determination, and wisdom, things will go smoothly. And also that, as a wise friend has told me about the situation, "I have bigger fish to fry." in terms of getting my career together. In some sense, the I Ching is very clearly telling me to "grow up." Which makes the child in me annoyed, but that's sort of to the point, yeah?

I'd be very curious to hear what others have to say about this. Always open to new perspectives and developing ways to look at readings.

Many thanks and bows,
Settan

 

[mauapa]

I like your interpreation, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Without going too much into the lines my initial thought about the cast was - one needs to feel these feelings out before growth or advancement can happen. And conversely - pushing upwards / forward without letting the feelings settle down leads to restlessness and there is danger in acting upon it or in just letting such restlessness become one's default state.

 

[settan3579]

I like your interpreation, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Without going too much into the lines my initial thought about the cast was - one needs to feel these feelings out before growth or advancement can happen. And conversely - pushing upwards / forward without letting the feelings settle down leads to restlessness and there is danger in acting upon it or in just letting such restlessness become one's default state.

Thank you mauapa, this is a good reminder. Definitely don't want to be bottling things up and simply causing more issues for myself. There's certainly a lot of attachment in the situation, and moving toward a healthy sense of acceptance and allowing what needs to arise to do so is crucial. There is certainly an impulse to try and fix and, whether that is beneficial or not, coming to inner stability here is key.

Thanks for that.

Take care.

 

[rosada]

29 can be seen as two stepping stones that are too far apart and they are further separated being surrounded by water. To connect these two one must be careful not to plunge in and slip and fall. Instead one must quietly and calmly wait and float. Meanwhile 46 advises doing all one can, bit by bit to make their own situation more stable. Perhaps ask yourself what in your own life needs to be completed or at least brought up to speed so that when circumstances do allow for growth you will be ready to act.

Astrologically Saturn and Pluto are leaving the signs they are in and going into totally new signs in March. This portends a major shift - endings and new beginnings. Keep cool and by the end of next month you may find a way opens up and all you had to do was be patient.

 

[settan3579]

29 can be seen as two stepping stones that are too far apart and they are further separated being surrounded by water. To connect these two one must be careful not to plunge in and slip and fall. Instead one must quietly and calmly wait and float. Meanwhile 46 advises doing all one can, bit by bit to make their own situation more stable. Perhaps ask yourself what in your own life needs to be completed or at least brought up to speed so that when circumstances do allow for growth you will be ready to act.

Astrologically Saturn and Pluto are leaving the signs they are in and going into totally new signs in March. This portends a major shift - endings and new beginnings. Keep cool and by the end of next month you may find a way opens up and all you had to do was be patient.

Thank you rosada. This is helpful, though I sadly have been unable to stay as cool as I would like. I made another post about the same situation, with some new developments. Certainly, I was doing okay with the calmly waiting for a bit, but sadly patience has never been my strong suit. My sun sign is a Taurus, so there's some stubbornness in me for sure. Of course, I will continue to come back to stability, humility, and balance as often as I can remember. That's why we have a practice like this