56.4 --> 52

[babybear]

Hi,

I asked, "How can I have more fun?" as I currently have a lot of spare time while my life goes through transitions. I received 56.4 [Wanderer] to 52 [Keeping Still]. The fourth line intrigues me, because it says that even if I travel, I won't be at rest, but be preoccupied.

I suppose it could be true, because it's difficult to truly immerse myself in travel if my life back home is still up in the air. So, is the second hexagram 52 saying that I should keep still instead, and rest?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Trojina]

Hi,

I asked, "How can I have more fun?" as I currently have a lot of spare time while my life goes through transitions. I received 56.4 [Wanderer] to 52 [Keeping Still]. I suppose it could be true, because it's difficult to truly immerse myself in travel if my life back home is still up in the air. So, is the second hexagram 52 saying that I should keep still instead, and rest? The fourth line intrigues me, because it says that even if I travel, I won't be at rest, but be preoccupied.



Thanks for your help.

I suspect Yi is answering the question beneath your question. A person can be a traveller through situations without it meaning literal travel. I'd say you have washed up somewhere that supplies your needs, you have your axe and a shelter but the line says 'my heart is not glad'. You aren't really at home where you are so it's like in your journey through life you travel and where you are now isn't really satisfying to you even though it looks okay on the surface.

It is not saying you should keep still and rest at all, nor is it saying this

The fourth line intrigues me, because it says that even if I travel, I won't be at rest, but be preoccupied.

...it doesn't say that if you travel you won't be at rest, after all your question was about how to have more fun, it wasn't about travel, it's saying as a traveller now, in your life you are dissatisfied, can't really put your finger on why that is and so think having more fun is a solution, but it isn't.

You maybe just need to be more aware this situation where you are now is just a pass through place, not a destination, don't try to make any situation you are now in a destination, keep moving on. 52 is the backdrop to the question, a traveller who tries to stay still has an uneasy heart. More fun won't help, what will help is knowing this is a journey and being ready to move when the time comes.

 

[babybear]

Trojina, what you said definitely resonates with me.

A day after I received this casting (my first yarrow stalk casting), I discovered I had been doing it wrong. I was taking the first stick from the same pile as drawing the initial 4, instead of the other pile. So, I went through the yarrow process again to get a second reading, which came to hexagram 46.3.6>4 (Rising and advancing > Youthful Folly). I took it to mean that I'm being ungrateful, though I'm sure there exist plenty of other meanings.

Which brings me to... I had a particularly difficult set of readings ever since starting the yarrow method; mostly confusing, or seemingly harsh responses as the one above. I suppose after being so excited about learning I Ching and immersing myself for a year, disenchantment makes an appearance. And the interpretation you had would have never crossed my mind. But I suppose that's what fora like this is for! Thanks again for your reply!

 

[Trojina]

A day after I received this casting (my first yarrow stalk casting), I discovered I had been doing it wrong. I was taking the first stick from the same pile as drawing the initial 4, instead of the other pile. So, I went through the yarrow process again to get a second reading, which came to hexagram 46.3.6>4 (Rising and advancing > Youthful Folly). I took it to mean that I'm being ungrateful, though I'm sure there exist plenty of other meanings.

...I can't see how your cast could mean 'you are ungrateful'...so when you say there are plenty of other meanings, well yes 46 was you answer with lines 3 and 6 and none of it could be construed as 'you are ungrateful'. I'm guessing you are getting that idea from something in 4 ? 4 cannot be summarised as 'you are ungrateful' either. I am wondering if you are interpreting from some very bad books of commentary ?

Not many people use yarrow stalks and I see no benefit in doing so. I suggest you use coins or the online tool. Sitting for longer with sticks doesn't make any difference to the quality of the answer. I think yarrow makes a slight difference to the odds of getting yin over yang or something, but unless you really like using yarrow stalks I wouldn't bother .

Which brings me to... I had a particularly difficult set of readings ever since starting the yarrow method; mostly confusing, or seemingly harsh responses as the one above. I suppose after being so excited about learning I Ching and immersing myself for a year, disenchantment makes an appearance. And the interpretation you had would have never crossed my mind. But I suppose that's what fora like this is for! Thanks again for your reply!

From what I've seen, no offence intended, I think you are possibly just using some very bad books and are misleading rather than helping yourself. There are some free learning materials here in the 'Learn' section as well as an excellent Foundations Course in CC which I'd recommend. The beauty of that is you can discuss what you are learning as you go along in the very grand sounding 'Academy' section.

If you take 46.3.6>4 as 'you are ungrateful' then it isn't the answer that is harsh but your interpretation of it so I suspect these seemingly 'harsh' answers you got weren't so harsh at all, you just misunderstood them with the help of some dire commentaries ?

It's all part of the journey, I'm sure you have learned a lot, but I do think whatever you have been using to interpret is leading you way off track.

 

[rosada]

In defense of the yarrow stalks I'd like to comment that I have gotten answers using this method that were so clear I hardly needed to interpret them. I suspect this is because when I am focused on manipulating the stalks my mind is becoming less focused on the question and thus more in a state of calm and so the meaning of the resulting hexagram is more clear too. Of course, if one is just learning how to use the yarrow method then a person's mind can become confused just counting the sticks and thus the resulting confused answer. But for me the yarrow stalk method is effective. I tell people you can spend one minute tossing coins and ten minutes trying to figure out the answer or three minutes counting yarrow and no time needed to figure out the answer!
I think ultimately you have to find what work best for you.

 

[Olga Super Star]

I have never tried those.
Would I need proper yarrow stalks or just stalks from any plant? Because I looked up the meaning of the word 'yarrow' and wouldn't know where to find them.

 

[Olga Super Star]

Oh, here we are.

https://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/learn/ways-to-consult-the-i-ching/yarrow-or-coin/

https://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/learn/ways-to-consult-the-i-ching/yarrow-method/

https://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/friends/showthread.php?16423-Yarrow-stalks-for-divination

 

[babybear]

Not many people use yarrow stalks and I see no benefit in doing so. I suggest you use coins or the online tool. Sitting for longer with sticks doesn't make any difference to the quality of the answer. I think yarrow makes a slight difference to the odds of getting yin over yang or something

Yes, there's supposedly a greater chance for yang lines, and yin energy is more subtle and stable, so it more accurately represents the change of energy. Anyway, that intrigued me, and it's supposed to be 'more meditative' but of course my initial experience proves differently, ha!

There are some free learning materials here in the 'Learn' section as well as an excellent Foundations Course in CC which I'd recommend. The beauty of that is you can discuss what you are learning as you go along in the very grand sounding 'Academy' section

Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I delved into the free materials a while ago, and I'll look into the Foundations course more.

If you take 46.3.6>4 as 'you are ungrateful' then it isn't the answer that is harsh but your interpretation of it so I suspect these seemingly 'harsh' answers you got weren't so harsh at all, you just misunderstood them with the help of some dire commentaries ?

Without trying to link out from this site, a main source I practice with is James Dekorne's site, which lists a brief description from many translations. So, for hexagram 46.3.6 > 4 I took changing line 6, which seems to say Blind Ascension, decay in store. ( http://www.jamesdekorne.com/GBCh/hex46.htm ) I thought I read a translation which said, "already has everything, yet strives for more; ignorance leads to poverty" though now I can't find that. Re-reading the other translations though, it reads more along the lines of "stay the right course"! I'm thankful you pointed out differently. (The Youthful Folly threw me, too, which is Don't Ask or Immaturity.)

It's all part of the journey, I'm sure you have learned a lot, but I do think whatever you have been using to interpret is leading you way off track.

I do agree! I have had some amazing readings with the I Ching; otherwise, my interest would have fallen rapidly. This feels like bit of a bump in the road of our relationship. I think you're onto something about picking more humane translations. I'll stick with those for now, to guide my understanding better. Thanks.

 

[babybear]

Would I need proper yarrow stalks

I know people forage for, cut, and dry available yarrow plants in their area. They're also for sale online. Some people (meaning me) go for the ever-elegant solution: Disposable chopsticks : )

 

[rosada]

Spaghetti works too! However, there is the thought that the yarrow plant is somehow especially in tune with divination.

 

[Olga Super Star]

Well if they're especially in tune with divination, I don't want to order them online! I will wait until something special happens like I meet a man that has this plant in his garden, or another diviner gives them to me.
Like senior witches used to pass their tools down to younger witches