2nd hexagram

[a1real]

I need to get clarification on the second hexigrams. I always thought that the first was about now and the 2nd was to come. But on some of my questions the interpreters were saying the opposite. Whats the correct way to interpret this. What made me think about this was I asked a question

What does she want from me and I got 13.1 changing to 33 which strikes me as strange.
13.1 is saying something about fellowship before the gate and to avoid secret unions but then 33 is to withdraw. Are these contradictory?

 

[flor05]

Hi there,

I would strongly recommend you to search in this forum (or, specifically in the "Exploring divination" forum) for the different takes on the relating hex.
Also, you may read Hilary's introduction to the IChing, where she also covers that (including an example: 48 changing to 5, if I remember correctly).

There's different options, and not all of them exclude the others (eg: depending on the reality you may assess how to read the relating hex). Some options:

1) Not as the future, but as a tendency, as the direction things are going.
2) As a "backdrop" or "frame" for your reading or situation (describing current position or surroundings).
3) As information that complements the first hex ("do this, having that in mind")
4) As fears or hopes regarding the situation.
5) Reinforcing the question, not the answer. (eg: you may get 31 as a relating hex when asking how to seduce somebody).
6)etc.

In my personal case, I combine all of the above and see what works best for me and what makes more sense. I almost never works as a prediction of future or result (the whole reading might, but not the resulting hex on its own).

Hope that helps.

Best,

Flor.

 

[Trojina]

I need to get clarification on the second hexigrams. I always thought that the first was about now and the 2nd was to come. But on some of my questions the interpreters were saying the opposite. Whats the correct way to interpret this. What made me think about this was I asked a question

What does she want from me and I got 13.1 changing to 33 which strikes me as strange.
13.1 is saying something about fellowship before the gate and to avoid secret unions but then 33 is to withdraw. Are these contradictory?

Well I don't think there a correct way exactly, people read the second hexagram in the way that feels right to them, that works for them.

For many people, including myself, the second hexagram is the context of the question, the background, the backdrop scenery so to speak. However that doesn't have to mean it refers to the past, it can be a very active part of the current situation and also tell you something of the future and the past. Inmy readings the more lines are moving the more important i find the second hexagram

The context of your question is 33, withdrawing, from a state of withdrawal you might say the very beginnings of fellowship are made. Like being alone in your house and stepping out to your gate to make polite conversation with your neighbour. 13.1 is not very intimate, its friendly and open, how people get to know one another.

If Yi were answering your question directly I'd think this person was acting like that, being sociable and friendly. Not expecting anything intense just being pleasant, making conversation, getting to know someone.

When the connection is quite light like this, when people have made no intimate connection or commitment yet its also quite easy to withdraw if things don't work out


Think of it like chatting at a party,,its pleasant, if you like the person you can choose to get to know them better at that point or you can also drift away and talk to someone else without causing offence.

At this stage things are quite easy and open, no need to distrust the others motives

 

[ginnie]

What does she want from me and I got 13.1 changing to 33 which strikes me as strange.

I'd like to suggest that you ask questions from your own point of view exclusively and avoid asking what is going on inside the other person's mind. This will make your hexagrams much easier to interpret.

May I ask . . . why did you ask: 'What does she want from me?' Did she come across to you as wanting something very strongly? Did she seem like a demanding or aggressive person?

'Cause if you saw her as strongly needing something from you, then perhaps you were inclined to want to withdraw from her rather than approach her again . . . The hexagram 33 seems to indicate that your tendency would be to withdraw from her, but it seems you just wanted to know more about what was going on when you met. As Trojan said above, she was just chatting.

So in this case, the H33 seems to apply to you, the person asking the question, and the H13 seems to apply more to her, the person you are asking about.

But these are not rules in any way. The I Ching is so flexible in the way it combines the various elements at its disposal that you'll find your own mind becoming more flexible and impressionable as you ponder these mysteries.