Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).
In the last days of the Shang dynasty as it fell into corruption, Prince Ji was one of the very few virtuous men remaining at court. Remonstrating with the ruler would invite brutal retributions; to flee would be a shameful desertion. The story goes that once, the king and his entourage were so drunk they literally didn’t know what day it was. Messengers were sent to ask Ji. Rather than reveal himself as the only one who knew, he feigned drunkenness and madness. In this way he was able to survive through the last days of Shang without compromising his principles by cooperating with the regime. [...] [Y]ou stay true to the light and keep it burning in these hard times by hiding it away.
‘Brightness Hidden’ also means ‘Brightness Wounded’. Since others do not share your standards or insight, it would be dangerous to let the light of your character shine out freely. Perhaps you have been injured; perhaps you fear injury. Yet you cannot, or will not, leave the situation in search of a stronger position. Instead, you stay true to the light and keep it burning in these hard times by hiding it away.
I believe too that when people take a rapid-fire approach to inquiring, they are often fishing for an answer: so, question 1 doesn't give you a response you like, so on to question 2, ... and then on to questions 3, 4, 5 ... and finally you get to question 12, and 'ah yes, the Yi has given me the advice I was seeking!'
Similarly, people also might be looking for an excuse to not do what the Yi is advising. So, "should I leave my violent, abusive mate? The first 12 answers say, "yes dummy, what part of 'abuse' and 'get out of there' don't you understand? But on this 13th answer, you get 'perseverance furthers' and you say, 'see, I knew all along that we are destined to be together!'
And similarly, if you do a dozen readings on basically the same question or topic, you can then pick from a third of the hexagrams in the Yi and craft an answer that is similar in meaning and depth to an all-you-can-eat-buffet, so: Line 4.5 plus a bit of hex. 56 (as interpreted by Smith) for the entree, then lines 14.5 (interpreted by Jones) and 15.7 for the soup and salad, and finally hex. 56 and line 4.6 (interpreted by Miller) for dessert! And wasn't that a fine meal we just gulped down - but why can't I remember what I actually ate or how it tasted, or why we came here in the first place?
So, my general advice - and there are always exceptions to the rule - is to ask a well-crafted question and then take some time - say a day or two, or three, or a week or two (or, gasp! more?) - to understand what the response is saying to you.
Best, David.
Mandarin, it is very hard to read a post that is one, long block of text. It's easier of you break it up with paragraphs.This is quite true ....
Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).