If you asked a yes/no question and received this answer...would you interpret it as a yes or a no?

Yes

I don't know, how could anyone say if they don't know the question ?

I say "YES" because the Universe always says, "YES" - unless you ask permission. If you have to ask permission the answer is always "NO".

Why would you need to know the question?

It was a question phrased as "What about x happening when y?". I interpreted it as a yes...but it was a no. X did not happen...when y.

Hi Clarissa

Just in case the comment could be useful

If I'm not having a "translation problem" with my poor English, there is a subbtle diference between "what about x happening when y?" and "would x happen when y?" or "prospect that x happen when y".

In the way I can understand... asking "what about X happen?" points not to know if x will happen, but to know what is the qualification of Wisdom (or God, or wathever you call it) about that issue.

So, if I am understanding well, 42=> 9 is something like: "even if you cann't see it now, you will be beneficiated if X don't happen"

Related hexagram 9 is the context of that qualification: clouds but no rain (x won't happen)...
Primary hexagram 42 is the qualification of that context: even if x won't happen is unfortunated (line 3) actualy that will benefit you (line 2 and 3)


(I am aware that you could think that I arrive to this conclusion beacuse I already know the outgoing that x didn't happen... I won't fight that idea... but maybe you could find interesting to keep watching if you got some unexpectative benefit beacuse x didn't happen)

Best wishes

I think that Void is right, we don't have enough information to interpret this answer.
But my guess would be: it's a yes if you do something to make it a "yes", otherwise it's a no.So it depends on what you do.

Hi Jesed,

You said...

"Related hexagram 9 is the context of that qualification: clouds but no rain (x won't happen)..."

I considered this. I think it revolves around how one interprets the relating hexagram. Is it the immediate context...or the future? If it related to the future..then yes, I agree with you, 9 is a definite 'No'. At the time I interpreted it as the present and immediate context.

"Primary hexagram 42 is the qualification of that context: even if x won't happen is unfortunated (line 3) actualy that will benefit you (line 2 and 3)"

Well, what's interesting about line 3 is that something unforunate DID happen...and the fan yao seemed to be right on target as well. There was indeed a family flare up. That left me REALLY wondering about line 2...which seems so positive.

Hi Martin...

There wasn't anything I could really do in this situation. It was either something that was going to happen..or not. I don't know. I think this is going to be one of those readings that's only going to make sense after in hindsight.