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48.3 -> 29

sabs

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I started using the I-Ching a couple of months ago and the readings seemed to always be dead on. Lately the readings have been way off; when predicting things it has been giving me erratic readings when I used to pretty much be able to tell the future with it. I even used it a couple of times on predicting events outside of my immediate life (who would win a school election, etc.) and it never failed to give the correct answer. But during the last week the readings have been hit or miss. So I asked it "Why did my readings with the I-Ching go from always being correct to lately being very inconsistent?"
I received Hexagram 48.3 into 29. Could anyone help me with interpreting this?
 

exnihilo

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I think line 3 is pointing toward the fact that you're merely not *understanding* the readings. The well (IC) is there, but it's not being recognized.
 

jte

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The well is cleared out, but not used... hrmm hrmm.

Two possibilities come to mind, Sabs. One is that somehow, for some reason, you're no longer fully connecting to "the source" (that which answers) when you question. Why that would be is unclear to me, but might be clearer to you - have you become hasty, perhaps less reverent and serious when you question? Are the questions on issues that are less important to you? As I think you realize, the I Ching can be a fantastic source of insight - have you started taking it for granted? Sincerity, I think, can be key when using the Yi.

(By the way, I don't mean to be judgemental in the above. I've never met you and I have no desire to be unkind to you - I have nothing to gain and in fact might catch significant flak from others who post here frequently. I'm just suggesting that you make an honest self-assessment on this matter. Please don't take the above in the wrong spirit.)

Another distinct possibility is that you're "connecting" just fine, but that you're now intended to get these tougher, more ambiguous answers. Why? I think to help you grow. Maybe deeper, more thorough consideration of the answers will help you to understand the issues addressed in your questions more fully. Now that you realize that the I Ching really does work, it's starting to do more for you by helping you grow in this way. Perhaps this isn't what you expect from the I Ching or what you're asking for, but perhaps it's something that "the source" has decided of it's own accord that you're ready for... Personally, I've found over time that the I Ching is as much about ambiguity, twilight, and hidden potential that becomes revealed over time as it is about clearcut, direct answers. I also think that these are the gentle "stretches" that often do the most to help you grow.

I could be off the mark here, it might be something else, but given the answer you received that is what comes to mind.

Best of luck to you... :)

- Jeff
 

bradford_h

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Perhaps you are mistaken in believing the Yijing is about predicting the future. It only works this way for those who lack the capacity for choice.
Try looking at it as predicting what attitude or understanding will best serve you as you move into the future. Try to see what you used to call "the prediction" as the depiction of a choice.
 

exnihilo

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Hi Jeff,

You said something interesting that I've been thinking about myself:

"Are the questions on issues that are less important to you?"

I find that when I ask the Yi about issues that aren't that important to me the answers aren't as clear. When something is very important to me the answers almost always seem crystal clear. Why do you think that is?
 

jte

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Hi, Ex -

I've noticed this too. I see reference to "sincerity" all over the I Ching (I use Legge's translation, along with Wilhelm's). I try to be sincere when I ask (or at least respectful/reverent if the question is not particularly important to me). So, I guess that somehow one's sincerity/seriousness of intent affects one's ability to access "the source" of the answers.

Why should that be? Well, in part it's just that fact that being serious about almost anything you're doing will help you do it better - why should divination be any different in that regard?

However, there's probably more to it than that. I guess that particular mystery ties into the question of what, exactly, "the source" is... IOW, who/what are you contacting (if anything) when you ask the I Ching a question. An individual's belief on that point would have a strong effect on his/her beliefs as to why sincerity might affect communication with "it". That particular question (what is "it"?) has been raised around here more times than I care to count (but as you can imagine the answers can get quite interesting).

In my case, I believe the I Ching helps me communicate with an intelligence external to myself. (While that might sound rather crazy to some folks, I have my reasons for believing this.) So in my case I believe that "it" is aware of my sincerity and that this is one factor that affects "it's" answers (much like it would often be if you asked another person a question). But who knows... that is honestly just a theory, I could change my opinion if I had experiences that gave me good reasons to.

Hex 29 talks about about sincerity - in Legge, "sincerity, through which the mind is penetrating". Maybe sincerity somehow helps your question "penetrate" to whatever it is that answers. That's another possibility I suppose...

- Jeff
 

jte

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BTW, Sabs, on further thought I see a third possiblity - could you be asking questions that you should be able to answer for yourself? Possibly then the "well" that isn't being used is your own ability to figure out the answer.

There could be a few benefits to this - one, you don't start to depend too much on the I Ching. You're probably realized that the possibilty of becoming overdependent is a real danger. Furthermore, in some cases using your own noggin might actually open up more insight than relying on the I Ching. (Amazing concept, no? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the Yi as much as anyone, I think, but it's not *the* say-all/end-all/be-all answer to everything in the world, no? ;-) )

Anyhow, just thought this third possiblity was worth mentioning...

- Jeff
 

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