16 Unchanging

[ginnie]

We live on a high floor and the building doesn't have an elevator. I saw that an apartment on a lower floor had become vacant and I kind of wondered if my husband and I might do better overall if we arranged with the landlord to live on a lower floor. So I asked the Yi about it and got hexagram 16 unchanging.

I have often gotten hex 16 unchanging when feeling dissatisfied and thinking some change might make our situation better, but I just do not understand the message of hex 16 unchanging. It seems to be saying nothing specific at all. Maybe just: Follow the path of least resistance. (?)

 

[bamboo]

that hex unchanging, and even changing, is a difficult one to read, imo. It seems to be one of the ones where intuition is really key because there is so much varying imagery associated with it. For instance, in your reading, I got this feeling of like a lot of hoopla, marching, parade like movement......I could envision you and your husband marching all your stuff down the stairs, a huge effort, maybe fun, maybe leave you exhausted.....are you up for it?

 

[Trojina]

We live on a high floor and the building doesn't have an elevator. I saw that an apartment on a lower floor had become vacant and I kind of wondered if my husband and I might do better overall if we arranged with the landlord to live on a lower floor. So I asked the Yi about it and got hexagram 16 unchanging.

I have often gotten hex 16 unchanging when feeling dissatisfied and thinking some change might make our situation better, but I just do not understand the message of hex 16 unchanging. It seems to be saying nothing specific at all. Maybe just: Follow the path of least resistance. (?)

I think it means 'making ready'. Imagining the future is preparation and so are practical steps to make ready for the future. I think you see a real possibility here, the Yi is reflecting your attitude and mindset. For this question I think I would go ahead and ask the landlord fairly soon

16 is about envisioning. Envisioning can be real enthusiasm to make ready for the next stage, or can be empty fantasy. I get the sense with this theres something to get preparing for ie moving but of course its all in the early stages yet. I don't feel you'd have drawn this if the move were a bad idea, I really don't...express your enthusiasm, stir up the situation, generate some energy...er ask the landlord and inspire your husband of all the benefits of moving to a lower floor

 

[gene]

Barbra

I would say this hexagram means that your "move" is in harmony with the meaning of the time. It does relate somewhat to "following the line of least resistance." Often 16 refers to our ability or lack thereof of getting others to help us in our endeavors. One enlists the support of others by showing enthusiasm and sincerity in approaching others with the plans they envision. W/B defines this hexagram as the law for natural events. In other words, if you are really enthused, you are likely to enlist others to your line of thought, to your dreams. Sounds to me like you should go for it. It will develop naturally.

Gene

 

[ginnie]

Enthusiasm/Empty Fantasy

Envisioning can be real enthusiasm to make ready for the next stage, or can be empty fantasy. I don't feel you'd have drawn this if the move were a bad idea, I really don't...

That's an interesting take on this hexagram, Trojan.

I wanted to say: No matter how enthusiastic we are about something, we are thinking in certain ways, and the Universe operates in other ways entirely. I think we might have noticed that by now . . . Having a good idea + enthusiasm is just not enough. One only wears oneself out following dreams, or helping other people follow dreams.

Oh, well, I know life is all a dream anyway, but why can't I live my dream on a lower floor?

 

[Trojina]

That's an interesting take on this hexagram, Trojan.

I wanted to say: No matter how enthusiastic we are about something, we are thinking in certain ways, and the Universe operates in other ways entirely. I think we might have noticed that by now . . . Having a good idea + enthusiasm is just not enough. One only wears oneself out following dreams, or helping other people follow dreams.

Oh, well, I know life is all a dream anyway, but why can't I live my dream on a lower floor?

Enthusiasm is a kind of preparedness, it motivates, serves a purpose to get us moving..okay sometimes its misdirected as in 16.6 but nothing here suggests this is just a dream or fantasy. It seems quite possible doesn't it, if theres a flat spare and you would like it, it will be possible for you to take it ? Do you mean you decided not to ask your landlord about it ?

 

[dobro p]

I think it means 'making ready'. Imagining the future is preparation and so are practical steps to make ready for the future. I think you see a real possibility here, the Yi is reflecting your attitude and mindset. For this question I think I would go ahead and ask the landlord fairly soon

+1

 

[bamboo]

In my experience, an unchanging 16 is not always the go-ahead. It's an idea, and usually an inspiring one, but I humbly maintain that the real question with this in unchanging form is "are you up for it?" I have gotten this hexagram unchanging many times over the years and it hasnt always meant that all systems were go. Sometimes it can make you feel exhausted just thinking about it
Are you up for it... it's a pretty relevant question in regards to moving which is a huge undertaking. I think the Yi couild simply be pointing out that such a move would require lots of enthusisam. I just say this in case Barbra is re-thinking the idea....

 

[ginnie]

Re-thinking, yes

Yes, Bamboo, I see how hex 16 unchanging is more like: "Are you up for it?" "Are you prepared? And even, "Are you preparing?" As Trojan said, it is an envisioning, but mustering the actual uummmph and doing something require more than that.

I took a look again at the flat downstairs, since they had left the front door open. I can see that even though in some ways -- more space -- it would be an improvement over the one we are presently living in, perhaps it is not enough of an improvement to make the hassle of a move worthwhile. In a word, true enthusiasm is lacking. Within myself I heard no drums beating and no armies marching my furniture and books down the stairs.

This is interesting, because I never thought of a static hexagram as asking a question. In other words, I asked the Yi what it thought about our moving downstairs, and the Yi responded with a question: Are you up for it?

Is that the way you see this, Bamboo?

 

[bamboo]

Yes, I guess. I am not so sure that it has to be "ARE you up FOr it?" but , you ask a wise sage, "what about moving downstairs? " The sage doesnt say yes or no, in this case, but responds by giving you an image of the whole thing, and its an image that talks about enthusiasm, preparation, lots of movement, hoopla, and elephants marching......so, the real question the Yi is throwing at you is...well, here is what it would take...could be fun, could be exhausting, how does it feel to you?
In other words, without moving lines, you're not really getting an emphatic push in any direction, just an image. in the inimitable style of a true sage who lets you do the thinking.It is not always that way...ie, your other answer about the volunteer job semed to be a real emphatic YES about the potential...this one was more like an answer that gets you to feel.
I guess personally, also my own feelings about moving affect this. It is a 16 venture, indeed, with all the bells and whistles, and at this point in my life, I am not sure I would want to undertake it unless I had to

 

[dobro p]

Bamboo's talked about the emotional dimension of 16, and sees the oracle as asking you 'are you up for it?'

I see 16 less enquiring into your capacity, and more as saying what you need to do to take advantage of the situation: gear up, prepare, rouse yourself.

 

[martin]

We live on a high floor and the building doesn't have an elevator. I saw that an apartment on a lower floor had become vacant and I kind of wondered if my husband and I might do better overall if we arranged with the landlord to live on a lower floor. So I asked the Yi about it and got hexagram 16 unchanging.

I have often gotten hex 16 unchanging when feeling dissatisfied and thinking some change might make our situation better, but I just do not understand the message of hex 16 unchanging. It seems to be saying nothing specific at all. Maybe just: Follow the path of least resistance. (?)

Another take - hexagram 16 is somehow very much "upward" and my first impression when I saw this answer was that the Yi was saying "stay high".
I mean literally, high in the building!

I have lived high and low in buildings and I noticed that the energy/atmosphere can be quite different.
Has living higher, although it means having to climb all those stairs, advantages too?
It depends on the building I guess, and the environment, but the energy up there is perhaps lighter, less heavy?
Well, it's a little bit closer to heaven ..

 

[Trojina]

Bamboo's talked about the emotional dimension of 16, and sees the oracle as asking you 'are you up for it?'

I see 16 less enquiring into your capacity, and more as saying what you need to do to take advantage of the situation: gear up, prepare, rouse yourself.

Yes and i see it as not exactly advising anything but giving a true reflection of the situation as it is..its not manifest yet, a wish, a motivation, an urges, a vision perhaps, that might lead to the question 'are you up for it' i guess. but my logic was if this was a bad idea you'd have another answer altogether that would probably clearly warn you...i think this answer is positive in that it does look like its up to you and your energy levels to manifest the desire...or not if the desire is not that great

 

[bamboo]

Another take - hexagram 16 is somehow very much "upward" and my first impression when I saw this answer was that the Yi was saying "stay high".
I mean literally, high in the building!

I have lived high and low in buildings and I noticed that the energy/atmosphere can be quite different.
Has living higher, although it means having to climb all those stairs, advantages too?
It depends on the building I guess, and the environment, but the energy up there is perhaps lighter, less heavy?
Well, it's a little bit closer to heaven ..

I think this is very true about higher places. the energy is better.

 

[ginnie]

Higher

Thanks, these postings are helpful.

I think I have gotten a better handle on hex 16 unchanging. I think it's saying something like this: "If you were a musical instrument, you would be out of tune. Get yourself tuned up, and then we'll talk about moving." The general question of moving itself, as Trojan noted above, has been greeted favorably. I can see that. That's a real breakthrough insight.

Also, what Martin and Bamboo said about living on a high floor is undoubtedly true. The energy is better. If I move from here, it would have to be to a place significantly better, not just some place downstairs.

 

[dobro p]

Yeah, it's been a nice thread - it hasn't pulled apart - it's just sort of loosened up.

 

[gregcat]

Love that R.L. Wing

Barbra

I would say this hexagram means that your "move" is in harmony with the meaning of the time. It does relate somewhat to "following the line of least resistance." Often 16 refers to our ability or lack thereof of getting others to help us in our endeavors. One enlists the support of others by showing enthusiasm and sincerity in approaching others with the plans they envision. W/B defines this hexagram as the law for natural events. In other words, if you are really enthused, you are likely to enlist others to your line of thought, to your dreams. Sounds to me like you should go for it. It will develop naturally.

Gene

This hexagram seems prone to fuzzy translations: R.L. Wing's at least seems to define it more clearly (though I don't know what I'd take from this question--unchanging hexagram=stay put.)

 

[elvis]

* In the traditional sequence hexagram 16 pairs with hexagram 15.

REDUCE EXAGGERATIONS:

15 : reduce exaggerations - through re-distribution, even-out; 15 modesty comes out of a context described by hexagram 22 - facading, gloss over, cover up

16 : reduce exaggerations - through planning, think beforehand; 16 foresight, planning comes out of a context described by hexagram 21 - problem solving, to chew over; reduce divergences, deviations.

* In the binary sequence hexagram 16 pairs with hexagram 35.

In this pairing there is an overall sense of 'things to come', with the focus in 35 on making progress through differentiation by bringing 'something' into the light, and the focus on integration in 16 through the unconditional use of foresight and planning.

The purpose or outcome of 16 is described by analogy to the generic characteristics of hexagram 49 (unmask, reveal) where suchis the outcome of using foresight etc. and so preparing for the 'unknown' and so easily reveal it (and so the generic sense of reducing exaggerations).

 

[ginnie]

A Few More Thoughts on This

I also think about H 16 that a lot of it takes place below the level of thought, as when we tap our feet to music playing in the room -- when we weren't exactly listening to the music. Nor were we aware of tapping our feet.

I found that fascinating, about how H15 and H16 are related to H22 and H21 -- especially since I've been getting all of these regularly lately . . .

Maybe I should throw a party! . . .

 

[patro]

We live on a high floor and the building doesn't have an elevator. I saw that an apartment on a lower floor had become vacant and I kind of wondered if my husband and I might do better overall if we arranged with the landlord to live on a lower floor. So I asked the Yi about it and got hexagram 16 unchanging.

hello Ginnie,
did you at last at that time asked the landlord... to move in the apartment at the lower floor? it's interesting to know the outcome... cause the 16 has generally 2 meaning a yes(you'll be enthusiast) or a no(your is just enthusiasm).
thank you

 

[dragona]

Hi, good thread, indeed, Yi is always about more that meets the eye (well, mine
Just gotten 16 unchanged the other day as I was reeealy angry and dissapointed with someone.
The elephant decided to sit on my chest, that is how I have imagined it.
From this I understood that hex 16 speaks about the state of mind that is high above the avverage - very upbeat or very low. I guess that was your situation - you were really happy about that opportunity but it took you in another direction as you calmed down. Perhaps that is another thing to consider when one gets 16 unchanged - wait a bit, you are jumping out of frame. No big decision making at this time. Hope this makes sense (btw, I live downstairs and tho I have a small garden and I feel more grownded somehow, that position makes you more exposed, sort of speak-less private), god luck

 

[ginnie]

Follow up to 16 uc

Thanks for these posts, Dragona and Patro.

Well, no, there wasn't enough ooommmmpppphhh behind that hex 16. There would have to have been a harmonious coming together of a number of people, and that just did not happen.

So this was a hex 16 with not enough legs under it to get it into motion ... the idea just fell by the wayside.

 

[chingching]

the feeling i've been getting with unchanging hexes is that the energy is present there it is, it doesnt need action to bring about that energy, its already there, but nothing will come of that energy unless some other action is taken. Its potential cant be released unless the judgement advice is taken, or the 'omen fixed', with a reading with changing lines that is already underway either in a pitfall or auspicious (etc.) way and the advice is to redirect the way you are relating to the energy of the hexes etc.

So for 16, say, its only going to move from that state if you set up feudal lords and mobilise the army.

1 uc, can be absolutely frustrating, but whatever you asked about needs to be furthered with perservernce, you have to stick with it, and never cease. Then it can have an exponential effect.

 

[steve]

that's a great way to look at the this hexagram unchanging, i really could relate to the way trojina explained it. I think its kind of positive thinking or complete fantasy, I just recieved this when I asked should i migrate to the Philippines.

 

[Liselle]

Well, no, there wasn't enough ooommmmpppphhh behind that hex 16. There would have to have been a harmonious coming together of a number of people, and that just did not happen.

Hi Ginnie,

I realize this was many years ago, but since this interesting thread has bubbled to the surface - would you mind expanding on that a bit?

As I was reading through this, I kept thinking a few things:

(1) a bigger apartment with fewer stairs to climb does actually sound like an improvement. Whether it would be enough to make a move worthwhile would depend on things like how much bigger (I think you said not all that much bigger?), how many flights of stairs you'd save yourself (I don't think you said), etc.

(2) a move is a once-and-done task - a huge one, but you do it one time and save yourself stair-climbing forever. Again, it would depend on how many stairs are involved, how much stuff there is to move...in other words, a cost-benefit analysis of sorts. One flight of stairs may not be worth it, three might be...

Those are the things I personally might have said if I'd seen this thread back in 2009 - however without having any idea what the reading was telling you about it (am clueless).

(3) Was it the thread that dampened your enthusiasm? Some people thought 16 was favorable for moving, some people didn't (I can understand that - I often find unchanging readings confusing, and this is certainly one of those). That's why I think it might help if you could go into your thought process a little more, if you don't mind.

I'll understand if you don't want to get into it, but for example - who were the "number of people" involved? What were their objections? How much did you actually discuss it with (say) your husband, the landlord...or did you mostly let it go in your own mind before discussions got very far? How do you feel about the decision now?

(I know I ask a lot of questions...again it's fine if you'd rather not rehash everything )

 

[ginnie]

Hi Lisa,
As I recall, I did not discuss my thoughts with either the landlord or my husband. The reason was that I was just not up to moving at that time. The empty apartment was somewhat larger, but it was located in the front of the building, which is above a commercial street. Upstairs I have views of the sky, but down there -- I think it was three floors down -- there were no views and there would be plenty of noise from the street.

Maybe it was a regrettable decision, because as I get older the stairs get harder and harder to climb. Maybe that was a rare chance to escape to a lower floor. But I just did not have the energy at that time.

I think hexagram 16 UC was saying, "It's possible, if you can get yourself together and actually do it." What is needed is a clear will to make the effort to go through with it. In my case, I was of two minds about that other apartment.

 

[Liselle]

Thank you, Ginnie.

What you're saying might (might - I'm not sure) fit with it being unchanging. An inspired idea, maybe, but you couldn't relate to it at the time, hence no relating hexagram.

Since I posted I've wondered if maybe it did mean "inspired idea" - a light-bulb moment. (Could 16 mean something like that?) I can think of only one person I know who moved between apartments in the same complex or building. Maybe it's not something that occurs to people.

 

[Liselle]

This is speculation, but I wonder if the fact that you got 16uc might actually be comforting - Yi saying it's okay you didn't move? (If it really did mean "a good idea that you can't relate to now" - this is a lot of "ifs," - speculation only.)

That could be either because you didn't have the energy then, or because there were drawbacks to that apartment...Yi has ways of much more clearly prodding people to do something (I think).

Who knows, maybe another, better apartment on a lower floor will come available in the future. If that happened anytime soon, how would you feel about moving now?

 

[taoscopy]

Hi Lisa,
Maybe it was a regrettable decision, because as I get older the stairs get harder and harder to climb. Maybe that was a rare chance to escape to a lower floor. But I just did not have the energy at that time.

I think hexagram 16 UC was saying, "It's possible, if you can get yourself together and actually do it." What is needed is a clear will to make the effort to go through with it. In my case, I was of two minds about that other apartment.

It was about your age, as in "if you were younger then you could."

16 - Youth

Youth can be mobilized. It is a period of indecision which will be emerged through involvement.

 

[ginnie]

I like what Taoscopy just posted.

I have on occasion gotten 16UC and then gone ahead and got the thing done, because there was not so much indecision.

About whether or not I'd make a similar move now if it opened up -- I'd probably do it now. You know, the vacancy rate here in Manhattan is less than 1% and the landlord keeps lists of people who are waiting for an apartment to open up. So I'm not clear on what my chances would be these days of being accepted as a tenant in the same building. But I'm in a better state of mind about moving off this high floor.