7.3 physical pain

[gael123]

I have a recurring pain on the sole of my right foot. It hurts when I walk on it, at the front, like I've been bruised. It's been on and off for months.

I know I should just see a doctor for a diagnosis, but I also know something about myself - I'm VERY prone to somatising emotions as pain. And this is a stressful time. I'm actually having a lot of trouble putting 'my best foot forward' about a number of issues in my life, and I feel frustrated and stuck.

Maybe I'm wrong to think in this way and it's just plantar fascitis or something. I'll def see a doc sometime soon if it goes on, but given that I like to think about things more holistically I did also think I would ask the I Ching.

I asked: What is causing my foot pain? 7.3-46. An upper arch problem (upward mobility)? An injury? Or: a psychological burden?

What should I do about it? Hex 22. Hmmm.... honouring your feet. New footwear? or something more metaphorical?

Any thoughts are very welcome and thank you very much.

 

[diamanda]

What is causing my foot pain? 7.3 > 46
You don't walk enough? Dead skin?
46 is promising that the issue will be overcome.

What should I do about it? 22 unchanging
Be more energetic, walk more, walk barefoot on the beach (22 also shows 'shells')?

 

[gael123]

Thank you Diamanda, I always find your replies so clear and to the point, and helpful. One detail I should have supplied is that I walk loads and suspect it may be an overuse injury, but that doesn't actually mean you're wrong to point out that the Yi is recommending I change my relationship with walking, walk in a different way that uses my energy better perhaps. I also need to sleep more. For sure. Bad insomnia at the moment and things flare when out of harmony (22).... thanks!

 

[diamanda]

Thanks for clarifying Gael! I said maybe you don't walk enough because the line includes a wagon, but as you say this is not relevant in this case. Do you wear special/specialist shoes when walking? 7.3 speaks of the wrong leader/specialist. Just another thought.

I don't believe that sleep has anything to do with it, at least not from these casts. 22 speaks of surface, of exterior. Maybe it's the shoes after all?

 

[equinox]

"Defeat because someone other than the chosen leader interferes with the command" -- Wilhelm

If you read the "chosen leader" as a metaphor for your feet, than your idea applies, that this is a systemic problem: Important functions (walking) that are interfered by other functions (respectively disfunctions).

Also you could see the "chosen leader" as a metaphor for a professional, to whom you better should transfer some responsibility in order to prevent the "defeat" described in hex 7.3.

 

[Liselle]

This could probably go several different ways...but since I personally start off pretty much rejecting the idea that such a specific pain could be "in your head," maybe the "corpses" in the reading are you thinking just that. In other words, what is the "dead thing" you're carrying with you that's preventing you from just pushing ahead (46) to find out what's wrong? The idea that the pain isn't real.

Seeing a doctor vs. getting new shoes - I don't know, and I don't have any good ideas right now what hexagram 22 could mean.

...I wonder if it could even mean don't try to figure that out yourself? 22's Image says,
'Below the mountain is fire. Beauty.
A noble one brings light to the many standards, but does not venture to pass judgement.'

If we take that literally, it says it's a good idea for you to think about the different things it could be, but don't try to "pass judgement" on them.

That's not all 22 can mean, though.