1->54, creative problem

[knotxx]

I asked what I most need to fix in my attitude about a creative project I am working on (I am progressing with it absurdly slowly). I got 1.3.5.6-->54.

For some reason I am completely blank about this, perhaps partly because 54 is a hexagram I don't have a good grip on. 1.3 feels a bit like my life -- very busy day job followed by evenings filled with other projects. But after that I am at a loss. I liked my question very much, and would love to understand the answer better if anyone has any thoughts.

 

[dobro p]

I asked what I most need to fix in my attitude about a creative project I am working on (I am progressing with it absurdly slowly). I got 1.3.5.6-->54.

For some reason I am completely blank about this, perhaps partly because 54 is a hexagram I don't have a good grip on. 1.3 feels a bit like my life -- very busy day job followed by evenings filled with other projects. But after that I am at a loss. I liked my question very much, and would love to understand the answer better if anyone has any thoughts.

I've been seeing rather a lot of this type of consultation recently. (Maybe they're all like that, and I've only just started seeing it.) But basically, the Yi seems on the surface of it to have simply described the situation you find yourself in. Hex 1 is creativity, and Hex 54 is powerlessness in a new situation. So it seems to be saying: regarding your creative project, you're powerless in this new situation. So, how does that help you? I can only think of two ways. First, the Yi might *also* be addressing your question directly and telling you that the biggest problem in your attitude is the (possibly unconscious) assumption or view of things that you're powerless in the newness of it - sort of the feeling that because you're new to it you have no ability to do anything, carry anything out, or engage your creativity. If that's the case, then you've been shown the obstacle in your own attitude; knowing what it is enables you to adopt a different, more useful attitude - it's a matter of attention to what's required, to something more enabling.

The second idea I've had about it is this: 1>54 describes the situation you're in (in the context of creativity, powerlessness), and you're supposed to mull this and let this sit in your mind for a period of time, letting the images of the two main hexagrams and the three changing lines trigger images and deep responses in you. The Yi is useful, but when you use *yourself* as the sounding board for the oracle, you always discover something useful in what it's telling you.

 

[Tony_L]

Originally Posted by knot :
"I asked what I most need to fix in my attitude about a creative project I am working on (I am progressing with it absurdly slowly). I got 1.3.5.6-->54."

The assumption behind your question appears to be that there is something about your attitude that is making the progress very slow and that you need to adopt a new attitude to speed up the progress. The changing lines most likely represent the "attitude adjustments" advised by the oracle:

1.3: Work hard and diligently all day long. Be cautious and vigilant in the evening.
This line links to hexagram 10 [proceed one step at a time, trusting in the outcome] whose 3rd line advises being aware of one's limitations and shortcomings.

1.5: Fly high like a dragon, but seek counsel and guidance from someone worthy of respect. This line links to hexagram 14 [concentrate, produce, and share the results] whose 5th line advises being sincere and truthful.

1.6: Don't bite off more than you can chew, and avoid arrogance.
This line links to hexagram 43 [decide and act resolutely] whose 6th line advises against being careless.

 

[meng]

"In order to make himself appear more important, a miller lied to the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold. The king called for the girl, shut her in a tower room with straw and a spinning wheel, and demanded that she spin the straw into gold by morning, for three nights, or be executed. Some versions say that if she failed, she would be skewered and then fricasseed like a pig. She had given up all hope, when a dwarf appeared in the room and spun straw into gold for her in return for her necklace; then again the following night for her ring. On the third night, when she had nothing with which to reward him, the strange creature spun straw into gold for a promise that the girl's first-born child would become his.

The king was so impressed that he let the miller's daughter marry his son, the prince, but when their first child was born, the dwarf returned to claim his payment: "Now give me what you promised". The queen was frightened and offered him all the wealth she had if she could keep the child. The dwarf refused but finally agreed to give up his claim to the child if the queen could guess his name in three days. At first she failed, but before the second night, her messenger overheard the dwarf hopping about his fire and singing:

"Today I bake, tomorrow I brew,
Today for one
Tomorrow for two
Little knows my royal dame
Rumpelstiltskin is my name"

Your plight reminded me of this.

More practically, you may do better by not trying to do it if it kills you. Sometimes releasing the breaks accomplishes more than stomping on the gas pedal. You seem to so focused on getting it done that all you're doing is making it more difficult to let it happen. You can't force creativity, you can only create the conditions for it. Might the maiden hold the secret? It was she who spun the gold. Well, not really. It was she who charmed the dwarf to spin the gold.

 

[knotxx]

thank you so much! these are all very interesting readings that give me a lot to think about. Meng's last few sentences particularly spoke to me (and also made me laugh); yeah, I need to back off and let the dwarf get to work.

After I posted last night I dug out Karcher and read what he says about 54 and it was encouraging, and much like what some of you say here. "Stir up expression and pleasure. This is the way to Convert the Maiden. Punishing people [including me I presume] or imposing your will cuts you off from the spirits and leaves you open to danger. . . . Be supple and adaptable and ride on the strong, solid force."

I really appreciate everyone's kind help.

 

[dobro p]

"In order to make himself appear more important, a miller lied to the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold. The king called for the girl, shut her in a tower room with straw and a spinning wheel, and demanded that she spin the straw into gold by morning, for three nights, or be executed. Some versions say that if she failed, she would be skewered and then fricasseed like a pig. She had given up all hope, when a dwarf appeared in the room and spun straw into gold for her in return for her necklace; then again the following night for her ring. On the third night, when she had nothing with which to reward him, the strange creature spun straw into gold for a promise that the girl's first-born child would become his.

The king was so impressed that he let the miller's daughter marry his son, the prince, but when their first child was born, the dwarf returned to claim his payment: "Now give me what you promised". The queen was frightened and offered him all the wealth she had if she could keep the child. The dwarf refused but finally agreed to give up his claim to the child if the queen could guess his name in three days. At first she failed, but before the second night, her messenger overheard the dwarf hopping about his fire and singing:

"Today I bake, tomorrow I brew,
Today for one
Tomorrow for two
Little knows my royal dame
Rumpelstiltskin is my name"

I'd never noticed the power of that tale before. All for the sake of appearances, the initial lie gets you into hot water, and then you get more into debt trying to maintain what you got yourself into. One of the things I like about this tale is how sincere desperation has a transformative effect and can have a positive outcome. The stress and desperation is the price paid. That Rumpelstiltskin character is *very* interesting. Not quite human, somewhat magical (in the sense you meant it in that other thread?), apparently negative yet a messenger of truth. Very interesting. Do you think our own lying nature is Rumpelstiltskin? Our stunted character which gets us into trouble at the same time we think it gets us out of trouble, but if we pay attention to it (if we learn its name), it's the means of getting free? Yay.

Thanks for reminding me of that tale.

 

[meng]

That Rumpelstiltskin character is *very* interesting. Not quite human, somewhat magical (in the sense you meant it in that other thread?), apparently negative yet a messenger of truth. Very interesting. Do you think our own lying nature is Rumpelstiltskin? Our stunted character which gets us into trouble at the same time we think it gets us out of trouble, but if we pay attention to it (if we learn its name), it's the means of getting free? Yay.

Thanks for reminding me of that tale.

I think Rumpelstiltskin is a muse and trickster, much in the role that coyotes and Pan characters have played. "Apparently negative yet a messenger of truth" is a good description. I've always wondered, just what would a magical dwarf have need of an infant for? Maybe he was a very lonely dwarf, or maybe a baby makes good magic, or fetches a sum of gold? What is it about gold that ties it so closely to kings, thieves and maidens?

 

[maremaria]

I think Rumpelstiltskin is a muse and trickster, much in the role that coyotes and Pan characters have played.

Hi,
Can you say a little bit more about Rumpelstiltskin is a muse. I'm not sure I get it.
Maria

 

[meng]

Hi,
Can you say a little bit more about Rumpelstiltskin is a muse. I'm not sure I get it.
Maria

Muse as in inspiration through song, poetry, comedy, riddles, and the spinner of gold.