12.3.4

[adarkana]

Received upon asking, what if anything I might do to end a state of stalemate.

12 is perfectly descriptive, but what do lines 3 & 4 mean together in this context? I can't tell if I'm being advised to wait for others to cave or just go ahead & cave in already myself, since the the question focused on my own potential for action.

Thanks in advance to anyone with insight.

 

[icastes]

As a former editor of Chess Life, the world's most circulated chess magazine, I must point out that a stalemate is not a deadlock. Stalemate is being misused by practically everyone out of literary laziness. A stalemate is a particular form of a finish to a of game where one king is forced in a situation where he has no safe square to go to but is not in check and his side cannot make any other move. The stalemate is a draw, and the opponents split the point. Often, a stalemate is a most desired end, especially if the stalemated king's side is woefully weak. So, the question you ask is incorrect. I assume, then, what you are asking about is the situation where you seem to be in a quandary where you do not see what proper action to take. The answer 12.3.4 has a good moving line; however, the final hexagram is 23. Your luck is very bad now. It is all toil hardship and it is a situation where you cannot find help (12). The subsequent hexagram, 23, is also one of hardship and bad luck. The only course of action is caution and even retreat to maintain whatever good you have. Thus, do everything you can to maintain what you have and wait until your luck will change.

 

[adarkana]

Doesn't 12.3.4 result in final hexagram 53? Which is a *lot* more promising than 23.

 

[icastes]

Good catch. The moving lines, however, do not give 23, but 53 is gradual progress or the fact that women go to strange places to marry. However, I see that you will make gradual progress, but the 12 negates anything to do with the man you are involved with. 12, as an original condition, is very bad. He really doesn't feel the same as you. It is basically one-sided. Is that what you really want? Why not make gradual progress elsewhere?