What does it mean

[pollychase]

I asked "Am I a good musician" and I got 42, "increasing" changing to 45 "gathering."

As usual, I am never sure exactly how to interpret my readings, figured I may as well ask.

 

[Liselle]

Was your reading 42.1.4.6 to 45?

As always, I don't think Yi's giving you a simple "yes" or "no." The I Ching's not set up to do that - what it does is explain or describe things.

It seems to me it's describing your potential and explaining how you can get better.

42's about increase, blessings, pouring in, making constant improvement. 45's about making a big effort and investment. "Using great sacrificial animals: good fortune." How much are you willing to do?

"Investment needed" probably isn't a surprise. You probably already know how much work good musicians put in.

The improvement part of 42 is important. In order to get better, you'll have to work a lot at what you're not good at. I suppose that's obvious once it's said out loud, but since it seems to be part of what Yi's telling you...do you think maybe you're not quite doing this enough yet?

'Fruitful to use this to make great beginnings.
From the source, good fortune, no mistake.'

'Moving to the centre,
Notify the prince, he follows.
Fruitful to use this to inspire trust in moving the city.'

'Absolutely no increase in this,
Maybe someone strikes this one.
The heart’s foundation is not lasting. Pitfall.'

Line 1 seems to say you do have potential if you capitalize on it. Use your desire to motivate yourself.

Line 6 isn't such good news. It might be asking if you're willing to "last" - put in enough of the right kind of effort, consistently for a long time. Or, it could mean there's literally something wrong with your foundation. For instance do you have any bad playing habits that need to be corrected? Do you think you're practicing effectively?

Line 4 has a lot of advice. It says something has to be moved or changed. What exactly that is, I don't know. If there are technique problems, you might have to figure out what's wrong, and then figure out how to move from doing it wrong to doing it right - moving the city.

You might need help with this. The prince Yi says to notify could be a teacher. Does your teacher know about your aspirations? If not, tell him or her. Demonstrate you're willing to do what's necessary (the "inspire trust" part, and maybe the line 6 part - are you actually willing?).

But also you have to be able to trust your teacher. Music teachers aren't all created equal. If your current teacher is mostly geared towards beginners and casual students, you might need someone else. (Who's likely to be more expensive and demanding, so how do you feel about that?)

Maybe the prince is someone else you'll have to convince. You didn't say how old you are. Is this entirely up to you, or will you have to convince, say, your parents?

I suppose "moving the city" could be literal - maybe the help you need is not to be found where you live. You might have to drive elsewhere once a week for lessons. Or even more outlandish move house and home. Again I don't know how old you are - if you're college age this might be less of a big deal than if you're 40 with a home and family.

 

[pollychase]

Was your reading 42.1.4.6 to 45?

As always, I don't think Yi's giving you a simple "yes" or "no." The I Ching's not set up to do that - what it does is explain or describe things.

It seems to me it's describing your potential and explaining how you can get better.

42's about increase, blessings, pouring in, making constant improvement. 45's about making a big effort and investment. "Using great sacrificial animals: good fortune." How much are you willing to do?

"Investment needed" probably isn't a surprise. You probably already know how much work good musicians put in.

The improvement part of 42 is important. In order to get better, you'll have to work a lot at what you're not good at. I suppose that's obvious once it's said out loud, but since it seems to be part of what Yi's telling you...do you think maybe you're not quite doing this enough yet?

'Fruitful to use this to make great beginnings.
From the source, good fortune, no mistake.'

'Moving to the centre,
Notify the prince, he follows.
Fruitful to use this to inspire trust in moving the city.'

'Absolutely no increase in this,
Maybe someone strikes this one.
The heart’s foundation is not lasting. Pitfall.'

Line 1 seems to say you do have potential if you capitalize on it. Use your desire to motivate yourself.

Line 6 isn't such good news. It might be asking if you're willing to "last" - put in enough of the right kind of effort, consistently for a long time. Or, it could mean there's literally something wrong with your foundation. For instance do you have any bad playing habits that need to be corrected? Do you think you're practicing effectively?

Line 4 has a lot of advice. It says something has to be moved or changed. What exactly that is, I don't know. If there are technique problems, you might have to figure out what's wrong, and then figure out how to move from doing it wrong to doing it right - moving the city.

You might need help with this. The prince Yi says to notify could be a teacher. Does your teacher know about your aspirations? If not, tell him or her. Demonstrate you're willing to do what's necessary (the "inspire trust" part, and maybe the line 6 part - are you actually willing?).

But also you have to be able to trust your teacher. Music teachers aren't all created equal. If your current teacher is mostly geared towards beginners and casual students, you might need someone else. (Who's likely to be more expensive and demanding, so how do you feel about that?)

Maybe the prince is someone else you'll have to convince. You didn't say how old you are. Is this entirely up to you, or will you have to convince, say, your parents?

I suppose "moving the city" could be literal - maybe the help you need is not to be found where you live. You might have to drive elsewhere once a week for lessons. Or even more outlandish move house and home. Again I don't know how old you are - if you're college age this might be less of a big deal than if you're 40 with a home and family.

Thank you for your answers! Yes, I was concerned about line 6 and the "pitfall," wondering what that might be. I am 70 years old now -- music has been my hobby all my life, but since I retired it became a serious full time hobby. It's my social life, my religious worship, everything.

I write songs, sing and play instruments. I get approval from some people, but not from everyone. Maybe because my style is country/folk, which is not the most popular style where I live. Or maybe there is something wrong with how I sing. I think it's ok, but not as good as some other singers I know.

I have not taken any lessons since I was young, except for an occasional youtube lesson. Maybe I need in person voice lessons?

 

[Liselle]

Thank you for explaining. I was looking at it completely differently, as if you were currently trying to learn music.

Since that's not the perspective at all - yes, it might be 42.6 just means your audience is limited. Or more in the spirit of the line, your style doesn't have as good a foundation in your area as others that you don't perform in. I'm torn between saying "And so what? Do what makes you happy" and "But if you'd really like Increase, are there any other styles you could expand into?"

42.6 sounds bad but in this case I think it could be quite neutral, just that there might not be actual Increase without a foundation of popularity. But this isn't your fault or anything you need to be bothered about, unless it bothers you, I suppose.

...well actually...on second thought after reading it again...
"Absolutely no increase in this,
Maybe someone strikes this one.
The heart’s foundation is not lasting.
Pitfall."

It might mean you can't force it. If you try to do something that's not your foundation in order to appeal more to the masses (45, Gathering), it seems to say it wouldn't be received well.

Maybe you could try something small, though, little experiments. See how people react.

 

[rosada]

Now that you've told us the background to your question I can see this answer as fitting your uncertainty about the popularity of your music choices:
42.1 Starting out, finding your style.
42.3 Thinking you my be too focused on Country Western and considering changing or modifying your offerings to have more central appeal.
42.6 Warning that trying to attract an audiance by changing your selections will not serve you. In fact, it could hurt you.
45. Ultimately you find/attract your tribe.

 

[pollychase]

Thank you for explaining. I was looking at it completely differently, as if you were currently trying to learn music.

Since that's not the perspective at all - yes, it might be 42.6 just means your audience is limited. Or more in the spirit of the line, your style doesn't have as good a foundation in your area as others that you don't perform in. I'm torn between saying "And so what? Do what makes you happy" and "But if you'd really like Increase, are there any other styles you could expand into?"

42.6 sounds bad but in this case I think it could be quite neutral, just that there might not be actual Increase without a foundation of popularity. But this isn't your fault or anything you need to be bothered about, unless it bothers you, I suppose.

...well actually...on second thought after reading it again...
"Absolutely no increase in this,
Maybe someone strikes this one.
The heart’s foundation is not lasting.
Pitfall."

It might mean you can't force it. If you try to do something that's not your foundation in order to appeal more to the masses (45, Gathering), it seems to say it wouldn't be received well.

Maybe you could try something small, though, little experiments. See how people react.

Thank you for all these thoughts! Yes, I have been trying to add songs that are more lively and sometimes funny. My usual songs are more likely to be slower and maybe sad, or else spiritual. I do think the funny songs are sometimes more generally appreciated. However, there are people who very much like the serious ones.

And yes that is very true, none of this can be forced. For me, songwriting is a spiritual process, maybe a kind of channeling. I never try to force myself to write a song, or to write in any particular style. It just has to happen naturally.

I sort of feel like I'm on the right track, and the relative lack of popularity can't be helped. And no, I don't care too much because I love folk and country music. But I can also venture a little into something like blues or rock.

I wanted the I Ching to tell me if I have the necessary talent, and if I have been progressing as fast as I should. So hopefully the answer is sort of yes.

 

[pollychase]

Now that you've told us the background to your question I can see this answer as fitting your uncertainty about the popularity of your music choices:
42.1 Starting out, finding your style.
42.3 Thinking you my be too focused on Country Western and considering changing or modifying your offerings to have more central appeal.
42.6 Warning that trying to attract an audiance by changing your selections will not serve you. In fact, it could hurt you.
45. Ultimately you find/attract your tribe.

Oh ok, thank you, that is very encouraging.

 

[Liselle]

I wanted the I Ching to tell me if I have the necessary talent, and if I have been progressing as fast as I should. So hopefully the answer is sort of yes.

I don't see the reading saying you don't have the talent and aren't progressing fast enough...

I wonder if line 1 addresses this? On the one hand, you've been doing this all your life and Yi talks to you about beginnings. Hilarious . On the other hand, you're trying some new things and it sounds like you want to keep that up. So in a way you're beginning. "Great beginnings," though.

 

[pollychase]

I don't see the reading saying you don't have the talent and aren't progressing fast enough...

I wonder if line 1 addresses this? On the one hand, you've been doing this all your life and Yi talks to you about beginnings. Hilarious . On the other hand, you're trying some new things and it sounds like you want to keep that up. So in a way you're beginning. "Great beginnings," though.

Not sure. I feel like I am continuing, not beginning. But maybe I am beginning to feel like progressing more. Maybe to find the right audience for my style, so I would not have self-doubt.

 

[Liselle]

I feel like I am continuing, not beginning.

That's important. Yi responds to the intent behind your question, it's why Hilary always says the exact wording of questions isn't critical as long as you are clear in your own mind what you're asking. (Casting a reading when you're not clear is a recipe for confusion, though.)

In any event it's hard to make anything very negative out of 42.1. At least I'm not managing it.

All I can come up with - and this is more in general than about this reading - readings can be very conditional. Like a line says "good fortune" but you discover the good fortune doesn't happen automatically but only if you do the things the reading says, which you might not. Sounds obvious when written out but people get tripped up that way.

 

[pollychase]

That's important. Yi responds to the intent behind your question, it's why Hilary always says the exact wording of questions isn't critical as long as you are clear in your own mind what you're asking. (Casting a reading when you're not clear is a recipe for confusion, though.)

In any event it's hard to make anything very negative out of 42.1. At least I'm not managing it.

All I can come up with - and this is more in general than about this reading - readings can be very conditional. Like a line says "good fortune" but you discover the good fortune doesn't happen automatically but only if you do the things the reading says, which you might not. Sounds obvious when written out but people get tripped up that way.

Yes, I understand. When I ask I try to be in a clear meditative state, but that does not mean I always manage that all through the 6 throws. But I do think I had in mind the thought that something isn't quite right, and that is reflected in that negative line. I have had some negative criticism of my mandolin playing, which is relatively new for me (compared to guitar and singing). So maybe that negative criticism gave me self doubts, which is reflected in the reading?

 

[Liselle]

Well maybe Yi's only commenting on your mandolin playing! Maybe it needs more work before doing it again publicly. Line 1 could mean you can get there, while line 6 might mean "but get there first, before performing it." I don't have any instant ideas about line 3 in this scenario, though.

 

[pollychase]

Well maybe Yi's only commenting on your mandolin playing! Maybe it needs more work before doing it again publicly. Line 1 could mean you can get there, while line 6 might mean "but get there first, before performing it." I don't have any instant ideas about line 3 in this scenario, though.

Ok, well, I will think about that. I feel like, at age 70, I better hurry up and get to be good enough though!

 

[Liselle]

Oh, 70 is the new 30 or something, right?

 

[pollychase]

Oh, 70 is the new 30 or something, right?

Haha, well no, more like 70 is the new 69 and a half.