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This isn't a question, but I wanted to share an experience I have recently been reflecting on regarding 16.4, as well as some illumination regarding Hexagram 57.2.3, and invite others to offer their experiences.
Hexagram 16 is Enthusiasm, the hexagram of strong emotion, imagination, and the images that move us. Line 4 is a very beautiful line: "Source of enthusiasm. Great possessions gained- do not doubt- partners are clasped as a hairpin gathers hair." This is the line in which the overpowering enthusiasm of a person becomes a charge of energy which sweeps others along- the enthusiastic one becomes the "source" of enthusiasm, a dynamo which empowers others to act (reminds me of Spinoza speaking of essences which increase each others' powers to act.). This changes 16 to 2, Earth, the Receptive- does the enthusiasm rise from receptivity to cosmos? To intuition? Or perhaps the enthusiasm creates receptivity in others to the message that is sent?
I have two experiences with this hexagram that I wanted to share, both regarding a strong impulse (or intuition, or imagination) to send a possibly risky message to somebody:
In the first, a whim led me to wish to send someone a message telling them "I miss having you around". This was risky to me because this person and I had been out of touch for quite a while, and I was not at all certain that the message would well received. It seemed a leap in the dark to say tell them what I suddenly thought I would say, and so receiving this line was a great surprise to me. Needless to say, I wracked my brain trying to imagine how it could be interpreted every which way- perhaps I should be Receptive like H2 and that why I would gain the power of enthusiasm, perhaps my enthusiastic Going On would just lead to being at an earthy standstill, fertile but waiting, perhaps I was in the grip of a great illusion and sending this message would return me to my proper, supportive role. I could viscerally feel the danger that I sensed. It seemed very possible to me that this statement would be alienating, even insulting to the other party, for personal reasons between us, and I had no reason to think that they would be keen on hearing this sentiment from me. In the end, after a coin flip (!), I just went for it. The result: good! I received a friendly response-in-kind- "I miss you too"- and this opened the way to further, clearer communications.
The second case was very similar, but the "results" remain up in the air because this was a case of my not acting on my Enthusiasm. Searching for a way to communicate to a friend (a different friend from the above case) who I had strong feelings for, but whom was involved with somebody else, I had a very strong drive all of sudden to communicate a clear message about my feelings to this person. I had no reason to suspect that she was unsatisfied in her relationship, or that she was receptive to my feelings. I asked the Yi what the outcome would be of asking this person to get together with me (I mean romantically, not just socially), feeling that the question itself was at least 50% foolish, and expecting that the oracle would chasten me roundly. But as in the previous situation, my whim of reaching out received line 16.4- "do not doubt"! Incredulous, I took a long walk to think about it, and put together possible evidence in my mind to support my desire. When I got back to my house, I composed the message to be sent. But then, I decided to bolster my decision by asking the Yi if this was the right moment to send this message, and I received Hexagram 57, Subtly Penetrating, with lines 2 and 3-
57.2: "Priests and Diviners are used in many kinds, bordering on confusion- Good fortune" (the message- you're looking to Yi for surety and guidance, but you already know what you have to do, just do it)
57.3: "Repeated penetrating, distress". (The more you try to penetrate the situation, the more you expend your willpower- as Confucius said, "this shows exhaustion of the will").
I should have understood at that moment- this was a reading about my readings- I was asking too many questions and sapping my will to act- but I didn't! Rather than sending my message on the floodtide of enthusiasm, without doubting myself, I let self-doubt erode my will, and I began to "check" with Yi about the message I had written, and how sound it was, and then this and then that, and so forth. I began to receive "negative" responses from the Yi, seeming contradictions- I had entered a zone in which the Oracle was responding not to my questions but to my emotional state, and in turn questioning and admonishing me. I was paralyzed by doubt, and after about an hour wandering in a brain fog, I found that 57.3 had come true- through endless second-guessing of my imagination, and endless gnawing at my own doubts (instead of "not doubting", like I was advised), I had ruined my will to say what I wanted to say- I couldn't bring myself to send the message. Never received a resolution to that situation- still kicking myself about it.
So that's my feeling on these lines. The Yi knows what it's doing- it seems like 16.4 is one of the surest statements in the whole Book of Changes. It's a rare day when the Yi will tell you not to doubt, and in my experience, there's nothing to debate, you need to go for it while your enthusiasm can carry you.
Does anybody have experiences with 16.4 that might elucidate its meaning?
Hexagram 16 is Enthusiasm, the hexagram of strong emotion, imagination, and the images that move us. Line 4 is a very beautiful line: "Source of enthusiasm. Great possessions gained- do not doubt- partners are clasped as a hairpin gathers hair." This is the line in which the overpowering enthusiasm of a person becomes a charge of energy which sweeps others along- the enthusiastic one becomes the "source" of enthusiasm, a dynamo which empowers others to act (reminds me of Spinoza speaking of essences which increase each others' powers to act.). This changes 16 to 2, Earth, the Receptive- does the enthusiasm rise from receptivity to cosmos? To intuition? Or perhaps the enthusiasm creates receptivity in others to the message that is sent?
I have two experiences with this hexagram that I wanted to share, both regarding a strong impulse (or intuition, or imagination) to send a possibly risky message to somebody:
In the first, a whim led me to wish to send someone a message telling them "I miss having you around". This was risky to me because this person and I had been out of touch for quite a while, and I was not at all certain that the message would well received. It seemed a leap in the dark to say tell them what I suddenly thought I would say, and so receiving this line was a great surprise to me. Needless to say, I wracked my brain trying to imagine how it could be interpreted every which way- perhaps I should be Receptive like H2 and that why I would gain the power of enthusiasm, perhaps my enthusiastic Going On would just lead to being at an earthy standstill, fertile but waiting, perhaps I was in the grip of a great illusion and sending this message would return me to my proper, supportive role. I could viscerally feel the danger that I sensed. It seemed very possible to me that this statement would be alienating, even insulting to the other party, for personal reasons between us, and I had no reason to think that they would be keen on hearing this sentiment from me. In the end, after a coin flip (!), I just went for it. The result: good! I received a friendly response-in-kind- "I miss you too"- and this opened the way to further, clearer communications.
The second case was very similar, but the "results" remain up in the air because this was a case of my not acting on my Enthusiasm. Searching for a way to communicate to a friend (a different friend from the above case) who I had strong feelings for, but whom was involved with somebody else, I had a very strong drive all of sudden to communicate a clear message about my feelings to this person. I had no reason to suspect that she was unsatisfied in her relationship, or that she was receptive to my feelings. I asked the Yi what the outcome would be of asking this person to get together with me (I mean romantically, not just socially), feeling that the question itself was at least 50% foolish, and expecting that the oracle would chasten me roundly. But as in the previous situation, my whim of reaching out received line 16.4- "do not doubt"! Incredulous, I took a long walk to think about it, and put together possible evidence in my mind to support my desire. When I got back to my house, I composed the message to be sent. But then, I decided to bolster my decision by asking the Yi if this was the right moment to send this message, and I received Hexagram 57, Subtly Penetrating, with lines 2 and 3-
57.2: "Priests and Diviners are used in many kinds, bordering on confusion- Good fortune" (the message- you're looking to Yi for surety and guidance, but you already know what you have to do, just do it)
57.3: "Repeated penetrating, distress". (The more you try to penetrate the situation, the more you expend your willpower- as Confucius said, "this shows exhaustion of the will").
I should have understood at that moment- this was a reading about my readings- I was asking too many questions and sapping my will to act- but I didn't! Rather than sending my message on the floodtide of enthusiasm, without doubting myself, I let self-doubt erode my will, and I began to "check" with Yi about the message I had written, and how sound it was, and then this and then that, and so forth. I began to receive "negative" responses from the Yi, seeming contradictions- I had entered a zone in which the Oracle was responding not to my questions but to my emotional state, and in turn questioning and admonishing me. I was paralyzed by doubt, and after about an hour wandering in a brain fog, I found that 57.3 had come true- through endless second-guessing of my imagination, and endless gnawing at my own doubts (instead of "not doubting", like I was advised), I had ruined my will to say what I wanted to say- I couldn't bring myself to send the message. Never received a resolution to that situation- still kicking myself about it.
So that's my feeling on these lines. The Yi knows what it's doing- it seems like 16.4 is one of the surest statements in the whole Book of Changes. It's a rare day when the Yi will tell you not to doubt, and in my experience, there's nothing to debate, you need to go for it while your enthusiasm can carry you.
Does anybody have experiences with 16.4 that might elucidate its meaning?
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