23.6 - 2 (Po into Kun) Q: backing out of a committment

[riching]

hello!

my question was, should I retreat on my commitment to volunteer (before I start, because it would be easier for everyone involved).

the answer was, 23 (split apart) with line 6 - changing into 2 (receptive).

I joined because there are benefits involved with the opportunity and thought it would loosen my current stagnation in life, but I also joined on a whim and now I'm having doubts that I should get involved because it may add to my stress levels.

is it a good opportunity?

 

[rosada]

The I Ching doesn’t give yes or no answers - more like it gives you a picture of the situation thus allowing you to look at it from a more detached, objective viewpoint but you still have to decide if it’s yes or no.

23.6 certainly does give a vision of you leaving and the second hexagram, 2. Earth suggests that you could retreat without fanfare and the whole episode would sort of quietly fall back into oblivion. This is not to say whether or not you should do this, only that if you did it wouldn’t be a problem And certainly less of a problem than if your were to start and then want to leave later. (Noble one acts decisively, small person fumbles about.)

Although supposedly the IC can’t predict the future, still I get good results directing my questions to my future self as in “Future Self, what do you advise me to do?”

 

[Liselle]

directing my questions to my future self as in “Future Self, what do you advise me to do?”

Nice question! I'll have to try it.

 

[Hans_K]

Hi Riching,
H23 Stripping away/decay
The question is what should be removed/stripped away in your situation?

H23 is about the end of a process or situation, the yang line at the 6th position is pushed out of the hexagram by the other 5 yin lines, so to speak. Decay is irrevocable hence H23 is also indirectly about letting go of control.
H2 is about following, accepting, support, care.
It is noteworthy in this case that both the nuclear hexagram of H23 and the related hexagram are H2.
So there is an emphasis on H2. H2 causes something to be removed, is the drive so to speak, so that support, care, etc. can take place.

Trigram Mountain turns into Earth by the moving line at the 6th position.
This is about being stubborn, being more focused on a goal than its consequences, giving too much priority to oneself.
Trigram Earth advises being open to the needs of others, supporting others, balancing give and take.
Trigram Mountain is the 'I', trigram Earth the mass/group of people. In the answer, the Mountain collapses and returns to Earth, in other words instead of being focused on oneself a, focus on the mass/group of people.

should I retreat on my commitment to volunteer

My interpretation would simply be No .

As always, take what resonates and leave the rest

 

[my_key]

Hi riching

my question was, should I retreat on my commitment to volunteer (before I start, because it would be easier for everyone involved).

the answer was, 23 (split apart) with line 6 - changing into 2 (receptive).

There is something not quite right deep down in how you are thinking about or behaving in this situation. Perhaps, consider whether committing to something and then not following through is a pattern in your life - or there may be something else that springs to mind as a pattern you are repeating. Be open to what might come to mind as you explore along this shady avenue. View what is discovered honestly and with kindness. There are opportunities for any new you, you find in your meanderings, to 'strut your stuff' here. It might be wise not to miss them.

... or there may be other interpretations that speak to you more clearly

Good Luck

 

[riching]

Hi riching


There is something not quite right deep down in how you are thinking about or behaving in this situation. Perhaps, consider whether committing to something and then not following through is a pattern in your life - or there may be something else that springs to mind as a pattern you are repeating. Be open to what might come to mind as you explore along this shady avenue. View what is discovered honestly and with kindness. There are opportunities for any new you, you find in your meanderings, to 'strut your stuff' here. It might be wise not to miss them.

... or there may be other interpretations that speak to you more clearly

Good Luck

I do have a pattern of not following through at the last minute! I think what I'm gathering from it is that if I let go of the control (controlling the unknown by not going) then I will have the potential to develop more openness (from hexagram 2)

 

[riching]

The I Ching doesn’t give yes or no answers - more like it gives you a picture of the situation thus allowing you to look at it from a more detached, objective viewpoint but you still have to decide if it’s yes or no.

23.6 certainly does give a vision of you leaving and the second hexagram, 2. Earth suggests that you could retreat without fanfare and the whole episode would sort of quietly fall back into oblivion. This is not to say whether or not you should do this, only that if you did it wouldn’t be a problem And certainly less of a problem than if your were to start and then want to leave later. (Noble one acts decisively, small person fumbles about.)

Although supposedly the IC can’t predict the future, still I get good results directing my questions to my future self as in “Future Self, what do you advise me to do?”

hmm yes I certainly fumble about.

 

[riching]

thank you for everyone's help with interpretation.