48.4 twice: Iching is saying something to me, but I don't quite know what it is.

[bookishjen]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of applying for graduate school, and am in particular working on an application due this Friday. As I have been putting it together I am having second thoughts about it, both because I think my chances of admission are not great and because it is in an area *slightly* different from the other programs and I am not sure if its the *exact* path I'd like to take.

Anyway, I asked the Iching:

"What if I don't apply to X?" I received hex 48.4.6 changing to hex 44.

And THEN, because I can't let anything go I also asked:

"What if I apply to X?" I pulled 48.1.4. changing to hex 43.

What might it mean if i pulled the same line on opposing questions (other than maybe I shouldn't ask opposing questions ) I read 48.4 to say it is not a mistake to hold back (i.e. don't apply). But I am not sure how to take in the additional lines along with this reading.

If you have any thoughts, I would greatly appreciate hearing them. Thank you!

 

[Tim K]

I think the IC is teasing you It doesn't matter what you do.

----------
In Huang's translation one of the lines in description says
Nothing lost, Nothing gained.

Line 4 is speaking of the well being lined with tiles.
You cannot use it now.
----------

Both lines 1 and 6 (Huang) speak of some undesirable action: muddy water in line 1, and using the well but leaving the cover off in line 6 (i think line 6 is slightly better here). Also in Wilhelm's book line 6 is very auspicious, "free clean water for all".

I think the IC asks you to wait (until the well is being lined), the school you are talking about is probably not a good fit for you. There's a good chance that you should enroll in another school/program, maybe you will find out about it soon.

 

[bookishjen]

This is so incredibly helpful, thank you. I like that the Iching has a sense of humor.

 

[Trojina]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of applying for graduate school, and am in particular working on an application due this Friday. As I have been putting it together I am having second thoughts about it, both because I think my chances of admission are not great and because it is in an area *slightly* different from the other programs and I am not sure if its the *exact* path I'd like to take.

Anyway, I asked the Iching:

"What if I don't apply to X?" I received hex 48.4.6 changing to hex 44.

And THEN, because I can't let anything go I also asked:

"What if I apply to X?" I pulled 48.1.4. changing to hex 43.

What might it mean if i pulled the same line on opposing questions (other than maybe I shouldn't ask opposing questions ) I read 48.4 to say it is not a mistake to hold back (i.e. don't apply). But I am not sure how to take in the additional lines along with this reading.

If you have any thoughts, I would greatly appreciate hearing them. Thank you!

You may as well apply surely. The I Ching certainly isn't telling you not to. I presume the Well here is the course. It may not be quite right for you but still you are in a process of sorting out what you want 48.4...while you are in that process it doesn't hurt to try things.

 

[Trojina]

This is so incredibly helpful, thank you. I like that the Iching has a sense of humor.

just because you get the same answer for both options doesn't mean the I Ching was teasing you