46. Sheng / Pushing Upward

[rosada]

46.5
0 Six in the fifth place means:
Perseverance brings good fortune.
One pushes upward by steps.

When a man is advancing farther and farther, it is important for him not to become intoxicated by success. Precisely when he experiences great success it is necessary to remain sober and not to try to skip any stages; he must go slowly, step by step, as though hesitant. Only such calm, steady progress, overleaping nothing, leads to the goal.

One achieves one's will completely.

From the first line to this, the pushing upward proceeds step by step. The first line meets with confidence, the second needs small sacrifices only. The third pushes up into a deserted city, and the fourth finally gains admittance even to realms beyond: these are the steps of a progress all summed up in the ruler of the hexagram. At this point, with such brilliant success achieved, it is of the greatest importance to remain persevering.
-Wilhelm

 

[rosada]

Thanks for your sharing, mid daughter! I think it's interesting that Hex.11, Peace, seems to reference astrology and thus the importance of the ruler knowing what heaven decrees in order to create prosperity.

Welcome back, Mike. I think it's neat that we were at 46.4 just as McCain has introduced his chosen running mate. The king of the Republican party has certainly offered her Mount Ch'i!

 

[my_key]

How about 46.5 - Well done. You've climbed to the top of one ladder and find yourself on the bottom rung of the next. Take stock and consolidate before you keep on keeping on. Don't rush the process.

Hi Rosada - From what was on TV here in UK she looks like she is climbing her mountain with confidence.

Take Care

MIke

 

[midaughter]

Mike: real good insight I am working with this hexagram too

 

[rosada]

46.6
Six at the top means:
Pushing upward in darkness.
It furthers one
To be unremittingly persevering.

He who pushes upward blindly deludes himself. He knows only advance, not retreat. But this means exhaustion. In such a case it is important to constantly mindful that one must be conscientious and consistent and must remain so. Only thus does one become free of blind impulse, which is always harmful.

"Pushing upward in darkness." At the top is decrease and not wealth.

This line is at the top of the trigram K'un and cannot advance farther. Culmination of the shadowy indicates darkness. When one can no longer distinguish things, one must hold fast that perseverance which lies below consciousness, in order not to lose one's way.

 

[rosada]

Hey I had the coolest I Ching experience this weekend!
My girlfriend and I were on our way to the Annual Huckleberry Festival where we were scheduled to help run the first shift at the Pie Booth. We were running a little late and my friend was starting to freak but I was able to recognize we were in the midst of a Hexagram 46 experience. I had unexpectedly met and gotten into a conversation with the fellow who had baked all the pies at a coffee shop earlier, so I was coming with the 46.2 Small offerings - stories to tell (like he had made 415 pies in 15 hours and if you get juice on your clothes it will come off if soaked in boiling water). So knowing that somehow made me realize it wouldn't be a problem that we arrived late because I KNEW we would be 46.3 "pushing upward into an empty city." And indeed, when we got there, the crowds hadn't arrive yet as everyone was still at the parade. And then 46.4 they offered us Mount Chi, control of the booth. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the instructions but took comfort from knowing we would catch on 46.5 like, making progress step by step.
It got to be pretty hectic pretty fast with more and more people coming now with all their confusing orders ("empty city" was starting to sound pretty good!) but we persevered and fulfilled our commitment living only slightly less than exhausted at the end of the shift.

I retrospect I would say if that day were a miniature of 46. Pushing Upward in action I think the lesson is start slow and sincere and don't worry, you will eventually attract a crowd and more work than you know what to do with.

 

[my_key]

Mike: real good insight I am working with this hexagram too

Hi Midaughter
Thank you. I wonder, do we ever stop working with this hexagram?
From my perspective, the going only gets really tough when you realise that you are working with it.
Maybe we can swap notes on which rungs are the most slippery sometime. My shins are covered in scrapes and bruises.

Take Care

Mike