3 Questions of Graduate School, Self-Development, and Relationships (53.6, 43.3, 28.2.5)

[settan3579]

Hello all,

Thanks to those who have responded in the past to my inquiries for help, my mental-emotional state during some of that was significantly stressed and some of the people here were helpful in their interpretations and suggestions.

Time passes; things change. I find myself preparing to attend graduate school for an MA in Counseling Psychology while continuing part-time work for Parks and Recreation for a while. My previous focus was on spiritual practice and a new relationship that wasn't particularly clean or healthy due to the timing of things. A lot of that has passed, and a significant shift feels like it is about to take place for me, so this a moment to take stock of some important aspects in my worldly life right now.

**Note: I'm using a blend of Balkin's translation and Hilary's.**

Firstly, I asked this question: "How should I go into graduate studies this September to learn and do my best in all areas of life?"

Yi replied with hexagram 53 (Developing Gradually), line 6 changing to hexagram 39 (Obstruction).

"Gradual advance.
The maiden is given in marriage.
Good fortune.
It is beneficial to persevere."

Line 6:
"The wild goose gradually approaches the high ground.
Its plumes can be used for the sacred dance.
Good fortune."

This indicates taking a long view of the process as a whole, it seems. It will be a gradual process culminating in the gifts of the feathers being able to be used to dance and make meaning of life (degree and subsequent meaningful work). That is one possible interpretation, though it doesn't quite resonate with me and I also get a sense of sadness thinking about line 6. The time of these birds being together is over, and in some sense, they are leaving earthly existence. We cannot relate to them anymore. Only their feathers. Also, hexagram 39 as the "context" puzzles me, but perhaps makes sense given that graduate studies are difficult and this is all moving quite quickly in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps getting into graduate school is actually the culmination of previous efforts in my spiritual and healing work?


Secondly, I asked: "What is best for me to focus on in order to remove obstacles to expressing and embodying my light?"

Yi replied with hexagram 43.3, changing to hexagram 58.

"Resolution.
Declare it at the court of the king.
Proclaim it sincerely and truthfully.
There is danger.
Notify the city.
It is not beneficial to resort to arms.
It is beneficial to have somewhere to go."

Line 3: "Powerful in the cheekbones.
This brings misfortune.
The superior person is firmly resolved.
He travels alone
and meets with rain.
He is soaked, angry.
No blame."

This one seems rich to me, but I'm having trouble opening to it fully. Using Hilary's translation, line 3 indicates the need for authenticity. We may be very messy, but if we allow our authentic selves to show, we are at least being noble and honest about who we are in the world. The fact that hexagram 58 is the second hexagram seems to fit, given that it is about communication and expressing joy with others. My main question is what "vigour in the cheekbones" would look like. How does one avoid that, especially in the context of more or less empowering oneself to shine fully as they are? In terms of what I should be focusing on in order to express my light and truth (being a strong, kind, and wise man), it seems like it is telling me to talk less about it and just focus on doing it? Not entirely sure, but there is definitely a prompt to sort of "go it alone."

Finally, I asked: "What should I be doing to be available for a healthy and fulfilling romantic relationship when something opens up?"

Yi replied with hexagram 28, lines 2 and 5 changing to hexagram 62.

"Greatness in Excess.
The ridgepole sags.
It is beneficial to have somewhere to go.
Success."

Line 2: "A withered willow sprouts new branches.
An old man takes a young wife.
There is nothing that is not beneficial."

Line 5: "A withered willow puts forth flowers.
An old woman takes a young husband.
No blame. No praise."

This one is absolutely fascinating to me! I have no idea what it is indicating, since both the lines for the withered willow sprouting shoots and flowers are present, one indicating (using Hilary's translation now) that a "Venerable man gets a young wife", and the other that a "Venerable woman gets an upright husband". In my current romantic life, there is still a connection with this woman that I had some issues with timing and trust around, but it also seems clear that this moment is not one in which anything is able to be renewed. Since this reading is pointing to renewal, I wonder if it is pointing to renewal within myself. Either way, I'm not sure what exactly it is pointing to here. Hexagram 62 seems to be pointing to the importance of not putting myself out there too much or really aiming for anything big. Sort of staying small and doing very particular work. If there are any insights on this one, I would love to hear and discuss them.


All in all, the readings seem mostly positive except for my second question. Not that their being "good" is what matters most, but none of them seem like they are telling me of disastrous things if I don't get my act together. There are definitely still difficulties contained within all of these areas of life and that is reflected in the readings, however, which makes a lot of sense.

Thank you for reading all of this, look forward to maybe hearing back from some people.

May your life go well.

 

[Hans_K]

Hi Settan3579,
H53 is the hexagram of steady processes and of developments that take a long time to reach completion.
In the line at the 6th position, you have finally achieved in the world what you could or wanted to achieve, it can also mean that you have reached your potential. The moving yang line in this position wants action or wants to move forward but there is no possibility of that, as it is the top line.
The text of this line also refers to this: "The wild goose gradually approaches the high ground. Its plumes can be used for the sacred dance." This seems nice and all, but what about the goose? The goose has nowhere to go, it has reached the highest point and lost its feathers. There's no way for him to go.

Wind out of balance has no contact with the here and now, it is too preoccupied with the future.
Wind turns into Water. Water as the upper trigram is about moving yourself within the limits of what is possible.
Water is the formless that has no direction, Mountain on the other hand is the ultimate form and is immoveable. These 2 trigrams do not work together because they are completely different in nature. So H39 is a difficult combination. To solve this you have to be very creative.
Since I don't know your situation, I find it difficult to draw a conclusion from this, so the question for yourself is: what would this interpretation mean to you?

Secondly, I asked: "What is best for me to focus on in order to remove obstacles to expressing and embodying my light?"

H43.3 <>H58
Letting go of control of the situation. Here is too much focus or control on or over a situation. Heaven turns into Lake: be content with the current situation. Find appreciation within yourself rather than in the outside world.
The moving yang line at the 3rd position is about taking rational choices without being 100% committed to them. It requires taking a step back, looking at the situation and letting your feelings speak instead of your mind.
The text of this line says: "Powerful in the cheekbones. This brings misfortune." This is about words that have no substance, no heart and soul. Great cry but little wool.
H58 is the hexagram of joy and expression both inwardly and outwardly. Be content and enjoy what is here and now.

This would be my interpretation, hopefully you can do something with it. As always, take what resonates and leave the rest

 

[settan3579]

Thank you, Hans. This is helpful, especially your interpretation of the second reading. I certainly aim to speak and act from a sincere heart, but the emphasis on that can be too much sometimes and actually end up causing me to stray further away from that goal.

In the first reading, I appreciate the curiosity about the goose's perspective and how it will no longer have any place to go after it has passed the highest point. In terms of reaching the very end, however, I find it hard to believe that this would have me reaching my "full" potential, being only 24 years old. There will, hopefully, be many more opportunities for growth in my life and how to expand this career choice into something different that hopefully weaves in community mental health, Buddhist psychology, and ways to help people more broadly.

In my situation, there's been a lot of movement very quickly toward this graduate school after a very long time of contemplating and slowly moving in this direction. I have significant doubts about it being the right path for me since it is such a large life decision that will ripple outwards, though my intuition and others have indicated that I'd have a successful career in psychotherapy. There have been quite a few synchronicities, also, that point toward this school and the program being very good for me and I'm inclined to try and listen to the guidance of the universe. My only question is whether or not I've pushed myself to do this too soon and if maybe another year of solid work would have been beneficial before going back into academics.

As far as possible obstructions, I think finances and in general my own mental "stuff" are the obstacles. It is possible, though, that after surpassing the obstacles and reaching the end, I will find myself sort of "lost" and not sure where to go once my journey has been completed. Having a goal to work towards was also a big part of studying again. Though I do see this interpretation as positive on the whole because it hasn't said that the goose has lost all of his feathers. But that some have fallen and they can be used by others in a sacred way. Which is my hope and goal with psychotherapy.

Thank you for your response, it helped spur me to think about it in a different way.

 

[Hans_K]

In terms of reaching the very end, however, I find it hard to believe that this would have me reaching my "full" potential, being only 24 years old. There will, hopefully, be many more opportunities for growth in my life and how to expand this career choice into something different that hopefully weaves in community mental health, Buddhist psychology, and ways to help people more broadly.

As I see it, it means that you have currently reached your potential. The Yi's response is always a snapshot of a situation and not a prediction for the rest of your life.

... do my best in all areas of life?

That's a heavey load, doing your best in all areas of life
You are only 24, so maybe you need enjoy life more and not trying to be perfect.
That may be the obstruction the Yi refers to. With this attitude, you become an obstruction to yourself.