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57.6 -from Bradford's commentaries

Samgirl

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I was reading several commentaries about 57.6 when I came across Bradford's story about the man who doesn't look beneath the bed when he hears crouching, because last time he did it cost him a lot.

It's funny that I received this line when asking about the correct attitude towards a situation. My question came because I am facing a situation that has similarities with another past situation, where I had to pay a high price to recover from it. I've been quite reluctant on making the same mistakes, because I am "certain of my maturity" (Bradford's quote) to deal with it and don't want to pay for it again.

Receiving this line and reading Bradford's commentary makes me feel that my attitude might not be the wiser one. But again, knowing that living in the present signifies let go of past memories and future fantasies, makes a lot of sense... But, what happens when we have been burned with fire once? Or perhaps, line 6 is indicating that one thinks that we can handle a situation because we've been before there and therefore, we go back to sleep, thus we lose our treasures.

I hope I am not over simplifying here... I am confused as to what to take on this line.

Would you like to share your thoughts?
 
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my_key

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Hi Samgirl
57.6 for me is a tricky situation almost a trying to run before you can walk scenario.
There is a new awareness of things that are going on around you; a playing of old tapes that have burnt you in the past. If you play the same tunes again you will hear the same music. This awareness is a step forward, you haven't necessarily been so well armed before (which is positive) and even with this new awareness you may not be in a position to fully break the old records and by trying too hard here to do so you may receive a similar hurt.
57.5 is about change coming about slowly through self improvement and careful consideration of all that is going on in and around you.
Line 6 seems to be added as a cautionary note on top of this. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to change the old records, but just be aware that you may not have everything in place to bring about the result you are truly looking for. Be cautious, adopt a subtle approach but above all be clear in your intentions of what you want out of the situation.

Take Care

Mike
 

Trojina

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I think 57.6 is about losing ones capacity to take effective action because one is over deliberating, over thinking, seeking out hidden reasons, hidden motives, penetrating too far. I don't think its time to be cautious, quite the reverse.
 
M

meng

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But, what happens when we have been burned with fire once?

I think something that Brad goes for in this line, and LiSe similarly, is the idea of not being intimidated by what ever threat you might be imagining or reliving. That would be like bolting and barring the door to your childhood closet because a monster once lived in there. LiSe's translates: "Determination about losing one's qualifications and abilities: pitfall."

Considering Brad's and LiSe's name for 57 is interesting, in the way both meanings can dance together. Brad uses Adaption, LiSe uses Seals Bestowed. I interpret that to mean: You have an obligation to account to yourself for how well you live up to who you really are. Considering this when in line 6 could make you more inclined to laugh at your fears rather than hiding under the covers.
 

Samgirl

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This is what I was seeing in both of them, and I found other commentaries where it was said the exact opposite, like Wilhelm if I understood correctly. Do you know the reason of these differences?
 

my_key

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I think 57.6 is about losing ones capacity to take effective action because one is over deliberating, over thinking, seeking out hidden reasons, hidden motives, penetrating too far. I don't think its time to be cautious, quite the reverse.

Hi Trojan

That's interesting. I like the way you have succintly expressed your insights here, particularly "penetrating too far". So you see this as coming out of hiding from behind your illusions rather than being aware of them and not really having enough energy left to push on through them. It is certainly a more positive outcome to the hexagram than I'd considered. Just to help me explore this new thought process, how do you interpret:
"He loses his property and his ax. Perseverance brings misfortune."
This is the part that makes it difficult for me to appreciate as anything other than a cautious approach. But i would love to see this line differently.:)

Mike
 

Trojina

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Hi Trojan

That's interesting. I like the way you have succintly expressed your insights here, particularly "penetrating too far". So you see this as coming out of hiding from behind your illusions rather than being aware of them and not really having enough energy left to push on through them. It is certainly a more positive outcome to the hexagram than I'd considered. Just to help me explore this new thought process, how do you interpret:
"He loses his property and his ax. Perseverance brings misfortune."
This is the part that makes it difficult for me to appreciate as anything other than a cautious approach. But i would love to see this line differently.:)

Mike

Recalling a thread Dobro once started (where is Dobro these days !) called 'High point or End game' or something like that where we discussed the idea line 6 was always the high point or endgame as in either its the crown of the hexagram or the energy of the hexgaram has run too far, burnt out. I see 57.6 as endgame in this respect. In 57 you penetrate into things literally (always good for access questions) or psychically. But everyone knows the experience of doing this too much and losing the capacity to act at all, or by over penetrating reaching the wrong conclusion when the right one was easy had except you didn't trust it. Which doesn't really clash with what others have written i don't think.

Its like being too adaptable, not making your mind up, ending up doing nothing cos of that...a state of neurotic paralysis is the danger in 57.6, that is what I see as the loss of 'property and axe' You'll lose what you had (which was your first correct instinctive choice) and you'll lose the tool (axe) of decisive thought you need if you keep on penetrating this issue...if you keep looking for more hidden factors, hidden pros and cons. I do this all the time when shopping, i think alot of women do :rofl:

In my own readings I've tended to take it as any more deliberation over an issue will have a weakening effect

I'm open to other slants on 57.6 though, but I'd find it hard to see it advice for caution at the moment...I may be open to influence ....though rereading your post I've a feeling we may be saying similar things from a different angle...typical with 57 lol
 
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M

meng

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This is what I was seeing in both of them, and I found other commentaries where it was said the exact opposite, like Wilhelm if I understood correctly. Do you know the reason of these differences?

I don't "know", but I think it's due to WB's black-or-white thinking, and the tendency to lean toward inaction and fear of error. I relate more with Brad and LiSe's rendering of this line, which is neutral of directives other than following ones own better judgment.
 

Samgirl

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Its like being too adaptable, not making your mind up, ending up doing nothing cos of that...a state of neurotic paralysis is the danger in 57.6, that is what I see as the loss of 'property and axe' You'll lose what you had (which was your first correct instinctive choice) and you'll lose the tool (axe) of decisive thought you need if you keep on penetrating this issue...if you keep looking for more hidden factors, hidden pros and cons. I do this all the time when shopping, I think a lot of women do :rofl:

Great explanation of a real and common feeling.... I can relate to this and it can described perfectly my feelings when I received this line. Pragmatic description. You know? When I was reading Wilhelm description it actually exacerbated this attitude, while Bradford and LiSe's gave space to calm down and see how things are in reality. I have always this feeling with Wilhelm (sharing my views with Bruce here). This thread is full of good stuff from everyone.
 

my_key

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I'd agree that this is a good thread that Samgirl has generated. I've been tending towards W/B as being a good reference guide in recent months, but having looked at Bradford and LiSe's work there does look be a different slant here. LiSe is up beat and forward looking and does contain a cautionary element "So don't determine, keep things open, don't be afraid to take the risk of losing the admiration of others, don't lean upon your past or let yourself be restricted by it."
I also looked at Karcher and Redmond which both seem to be saying something along the lines of - Leave the past behaviours / thoughts alone, dragging these up will only keep you in the same rut. Ideally we should accept what is going on now and allow this to change us.

Perhaps the caution element lies in the place where we are not accepting of what is happening around us now and try to dive back into our old comfort zones. Paralysis by analysis encompasses us all at one time or another.

This may be the challenge of 57.6, recognising that is where we are and leaving our tendancy for the old deliberations/ behaviours behind. Taking up on Meng's comments, I would agree that it is an opportunity for stepping into the real you.
Perhaps it is an endgame if we allow the old records to play, but this can also be the launch pad that takes us into Hex 58, where we find a new inner strength..... a new record to play.

In my own readings I've tended to take it as any more deliberation over an issue will have a weakening effect

I'm open to other slants on 57.6 though, but I'd find it hard to see it advice for caution at the moment...I may be open to influence ....though rereading your post I've a feeling we may be saying similar things from a different angle...typical with 57 lol

Trojan, I think that we are certainly in the same book and almost certainly on the same page.:)

Take care

Mike
 

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