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A little help from my friends?

C

candid

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I?m stumped. As I?ve mentioned earlier in another thread, I?ve been placed on straight commission at work, and the season is painfully slow. I?ve maintained a positive attitude throughout this and other big changes the company is going through. I?ve worked at being amiable, flexible, cooperative, yet without sacrificing my individuality and dignity.

So what is my quandary? 4. I?ve gotten it repeatedly concerning this situation over the last two weeks. This morning to prepare myself for the day?s activities, or lack of, I again received 4, no changes. I pondered hard what this is telling me. So I threw it again asking for clarification as to what exactly 4 is trying to tell me. I received again 4.3,4 changing to 50.

I?ve searched myself looking for my own error, my own foolishness, but I?m really stumped here. I could easily point to my boss, who in fact does act childishly; temper tantrums, negative attitude, etc. But I don?t want to err and overlook what may be my own folly or shortsightedness.

Am I deluding myself in believing this job will still work out? Spring is coming and that means things pick up. I have no doubt I could make a decent living working on my current commission structure, so I don?t think I?m deluding myself in this regard.

Really struggling with this. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

C
 
C

candid

Guest
I just asked the question, what should/must my proper attitude be concerning this matter? Received 23.2 to 4.

I?m beginning to think I?m fooling myself in believing there is hope and a future with this company, and that its time to actively pursue another career course.

Thanks Chris. Will take a look.
 
C

candid

Guest
Chris,

I received 1, line 3 and 4 changing to 59. I?ve read your commentaries.

Still ?not knowing.? Feeling very ignorant. (4)
 

frandoch

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Hi C

This is part of my Hex 4. Lines 3/4 leading to 50 looks good if you can follow the advice.This may help, or not.

Either way - Good Luck.

Michael F.

Hex 4 (Part)

Key Characteristics: Innocence, Inexperience, Seeking Instruction.

Overview: The image of this hexagram is that of a stream bubbling up from its source and flowing down a hill. It doesn?t flow straight to the bottom of the hill, but will pause on its journey downwards to fill a hole before proceeding to the next one, which it will also fill and then move on.

Outer World: Whilst you have been able to handle most situations in your life until now, with relative ease, perhaps because of your youthful enthusiasm and beginner?s luck, you are now faced with an entirely different situation. You are facing difficulty and confusion. The cause is your total lack of experience of this type of situation. Welcome this new phase in your life. You will forced to grow, to learn, to gain wisdom. This is one of the holes that the stream will fill. Accept that you lack the necessary skills and abilities to deal with this situation. Accept your ignorance. Ask for help, accepting that you may not understand, or like, the advice you are given, but if you knew the answer already you wouldn?t need to ask. Don?t be one of those who seeks advice, is given it, ignores it and then returns to ?the Sage? with the same question, hoping to be given a more acceptable answer. ?The Sage? will not waste her energy. Fill this hole, this defect, and continue on your journey to the next one. That?s what life?s about.

Inner World: The text uses the idea of the fool and folly. This is not intended to suggest stupidity but youthful inexperience. Youth and wisdom seldom go together. Like the hill, we have many holes and gaps in both our behaviour and our characters. The stream represents the teacher, perhaps ?the Sage?, who won?t magically sort out our lives in one go, but who will take us step by step, exposing weaknesses and flaws one at a time, offering us the necessary guidance to correct them. ?The Sage? is there for us to consult; the wisdom is available; but we must seek it out; it will not seek us out. We must approach it with sincerity and respect. We must accept its advice and put it into practice.

Lines.


Line 3: DON?T GROVEL - BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. Remain true to your own values and principles. If you abandon them in order to gain the approval of others who may be more powerful and who may represent what you mistakenly believe to be your ideal, you will suffer loss of both dignity and self respect. Nothing good will come of this. Avoid people with whom you are not compatible.

Line 4: STOP DREAMING - WAKE UP. This is the real world. Ego fantasies and escapism will solve nothing. Neither will dwelling on your fears and anxieties. Develop a realistic approach to your situation, seek advice and follow it. If you don?t, if you stubbornly refuse to accept the guidance of wiser counsel, you will be left to your own devices and will have to face the inevitable humiliation that the universe will provide. Then you will wake up and learn.

Hex 50 (Part)

Key Characteristics: Cosmic Order, Stability, Nourishment.

Overview: The cauldron was used in China in two ways. Firstly, it was the source of nourishment at the centre of the household, and secondly, it was the vessel which held the sacrifices in the temple. This suggests that the ?wise? concern themselves with the nourishment of both their material and spiritual worlds. We need nourishment and guidance in order to succeed. The guidance comes from the Sage. Society places value on those who demonstrate power through aggressive means, those who go out and get what they want, often at the expense of others. The satisfaction of ego-based desires, status, bigger cars, bigger homes, material possessions far above what we need, are all generally supported by society. But the I Ching offers us a different way, one which produces true satisfaction. It advises us that all suffering is ego-based, and encourages us to ignore the never-ending demands of the ego, which cannot be satisfied for it cannot live in the Present Moment, which is all there is.

Outer World: Success is suggested because you want to make progress by satisfying the needs of others. Your ventures are worthy and therefore in tune with the Cosmos. Thus you will achieve success, for whenever we are in tune with higher powers, these powers ensure our good fortune. Give nourishment to others and you will gain nourishment for yourself.

Inner World: Your inner thoughts are your offering to the Higher Powers. The quality of your offering will determine the guidance and assistance you will receive. The most important thing you can do in this respect is to overcome the demands of the ego. Remember that the ego only exists in the past and the future, which don?t exist. It cannot deal with the Present Moment. It doesn?t even know it exists. Re-read the chapter entitled ?Ego and the I Ching? and then give up all the negative characteristics that are the ego. When the ego is in charge, your inner cauldron is filled. There is no space for the Creative to help you. Empty yourself of this curse and be guided by the Sage.

General: In our lives we have both fate and free will. These are not mutually contradictory. In outer affairs, the circumstances of your birth and life will impose limitations on what you can achieve. By accepting this you are able to pursue what is possible. Make use of the I Ching to identify the flow of the Cosmos, then you can adjust your actions and wishes to be in tune with it. This course of action leads to great success and significant achievements.
 
C

candid

Guest
Thanks, Michael.

This line of yours is interesting because it seems to synch with the reading from Chris' site: "When the ego is in charge, your inner cauldron is filled. There is no space for the Creative to help you. Empty yourself of this curse and be guided by the Sage."

This whole experience and example has led me to wonder, are there times when even Yi doesn't know what will happen? Or if it does know, perhaps a creative reason why it refuses to reveal it? Perhaps there are too many elements in motion to even speculate an outcome?

howmuch.gif


C
 
C

candid

Guest
(To those new to I Ching, let this serve as an example. After 30 years with the Yi, there doesn?t come a point where we have it down, where we understand it all. There?s always the mystery, the unknown, the undiscovered, the unseen.)

For now, I shall trust fate and empty myself of ego concerning this matter. ?When the ego is in charge, your inner cauldron is filled. There is no space for the Creative to help you. Empty yourself of this curse and be guided by the Sage.?
 

bradford_h

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Hi Candid-
You might get some more info out of 04.3,4 zhi 50 using transitional hexagrams, i.e. look at the sequence 04.3, 18.4, 50.
Sounds like the error might be not looking out for your own best long range interests, serving needs that are not your own instead. I'd pass around some resumes while you're waiting for commissions. Get some long range goals in focus. Did they put you on straight commission because they were in trouble with cash flow?
b
 

dobro p

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Candid - hi. I don't read 4 as Youthful Folly; I read it as ignorance, inexperience, not knowing what's going on yet. It's a state of being green - on the one hand, inexperience, and on the other, growing. It's a positive state too - check the text at the beginning and the end - really good prognosis. The only warning is not to push for answers and insight too soon.

So, applying this to the new commission job: "You're new to this and you don't have any experience, but you're attaining here. Inexperience seeks knowledge, but take what you learn as it comes, don't push for more and more, or you'll just obscure your understanding. It's to your advantage to embody or apply what you think is right."

It isn't telling you to get out of the job, and it isn't telling you that the job's a problem. It's telling you you need patience cuz you don't see and you don't know yet. Are you unhappy with not knowing?
 
C

candid

Guest
Hi Brad,

There's been a lot of close-to-the-vest type secrecy within the company. Its moving location and possibly taking a different approach to the market.

My commission was doubled and salary eliminated. By itself, this is of little concern to me because my sales have always been strong enough. In fact, I probably would have earned more last year if I was on this new compensation plan. The difficulty is that its mid-season and work is at a crawl. So yes, I'm sure cash flow is a large part of the equation. The company?s ROI may be slightly lower this way but its out-of-pocket costs of doing business during this crunch is somewhat relieved.

Its not as though I've been deeply troubled by any of this. Mostly just the repeated repetition of 4 concerning the matter that has my curiosity piqued. Feel there's something I should know that I don't. Receiving an answer 4... as though its telling me I don't know. Well I already know I don't know and that's why I'm asking! (ha ha!)

I am and have been looking into other job opportunities in this area and in a certain other market, which may have ties to a future karma calling.

I'm honestly more interested to understand what Yi is saying and meaning than I am distraught about the job situation. I'm not usually stumped by Yi's answers this way. Very humbling. And very 4.

Thanks very much for your input.

C
 
C

candid

Guest
Hi Dobro,

chuckles... yes, I'm always unhappy with not knowing!

I think you are right. Not pushing ahead blindly. Biding my time, storing my energy, not being consumed with empty enthusiasm. Good advise.

Thanks!

C
 

dobro p

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"Feel there's something I should know that I don't. Receiving an answer 4... as though its telling me I don't know."

Well, it *is* telling you don't know LOL. That's what 4 is all about. And your wanting to know is part of the picture in 4 too.

But 4's a positive situation. You just have to put up with knowing only what you know at the beginning of things.
 

hilary

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Hello Dobro, very pleased to meet you! I think you've said what I would have said about Not Knowing, only better.
happy.gif


For me, the message behind hexagram 4 is often 'You can ask questions until you're purple: there are some things you can only learn through experience.' And also that 'wanting to know' is - also for me - a few light years away from 'willing to learn'.

Line 4 might refer specifically to this feeling of frustration from not knowing, as if you've been shut out of the flow of information.

Hm - 4 and 50 make a beautiful combination, don't they? Not knowing, containing and transforming - maybe you're in contact with the truth of things at a deeper level? Wish I could stay with this longer...
 
C

candid

Guest
Thanks, Hilary.

"as if you've been shut out of the flow of information."

Yes, exactly! Information from the employer and from the Yi.

And I agree with you about the transition to 50. It actually is a solution in itself. I do feel "in touch" with an overall deeper truth and fate, which I suppose I've been second guessing. Goes back to the ego drive and motivation that Michael mentioned.

Live and learn. Learn and live. Walk in what you know. Sometimes just being content in what you don't. (grrrr.. that's a hard one!) Sure glad there's a Ting.
happy.gif
 
T

tashij

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You know I am happy to hear this about 4 because have received it two times about my mom who is very sick. Didnt think I was bugging the I Ching with too many questions, but got 4, and backed off. did it again to try and help her, got it again, and so left it off like a hot poker. Just stopped asking. Dont know what it means in the case of an illness, just figgured i better stop asking.
 
C

candid

Guest
Tash,

Let me share my boot with you.
footinmouth.gif


Wishin' the best for your Mom.

C
 

heylise

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The most crazy and most successful artist I know (know quite well because I happen to live in the same house) has 4 as his birth-hexagram.
His most outstanding feature is his complete refusal ever to do what anyone tells him to, or ever to conform to any rule or custom.
Could this be (part of) the message maybe?

LiSe
 

django

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Hi Candid
If it were me, I would carefully look at the last two hexagrams I received before getting the string of fours.I think the answer may lie there.
Django.
 

Sparhawk

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<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

If it were me, I would carefully look at the last two hexagrams I received before getting the string of fours.I think the answer may lie there.<!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

What a good idea Django! For Candid, under this light, this perhaps means some advise he never carried out on a previous work/business related question.

For people that divines a lot, and I believe you Candid do it quite often (am I mistaken?) this could be a problem to figure out. Good journals must be kept. Anyway, I also believe you do too.

L
 
C

candid

Guest
LiSe ? That personality type does sound vaguely familiar.

Django and Luis ? The 4?s started only in regard to questions concerning my work about two weeks ago. Before that there was 47, 41, 40, and 23, ending the cycle with 23.6. This all fit like a glove with the goings on there as it affected me directly.

Yes, I?ve followed the rapid changes at work almost daily with a reading early in the morning before the workday began and while my mind was most impressionable. Then the 4?s started rolling in.

I?ve managed to unravel some of this since posting my question here this morning:

A) The shroud of secrecy that?s been prevalent within the company. The company purchased land and is in the process of moving there, with some unknown plan for expanding onto the existing structures.

B) The change in which the owner took over many of the functions I used to perform. This included handling all advertising, prospecting, website, promotions etc, was actually very foolish. The owner has little experience in these tasks and is so busy with other projects, there?s no way he?s able to effectively take on this extra responsibility. I?ve recently volunteered my time to help him make some key decisions concerning advertising. All part of my work ethic and natural inclination to lend a hand where needed, with or without compensation. Perhaps that?s also a bit foolish on my part.

C) The sales calls I?m getting lately have all been ?sort of silly.? I had a string of them this morning, and just had to chuckle at getting hex 4 today. People basically wanting free service and asking for the impossible. In this business, it happens that way. Especially when its slow and there?s no sense of urgency to resolve their comfort issues.

D) The two owners left this morning to attend ?something? and won?t return until Thursday. These are two guys who can?t be in the same room together without arguing. Very odd and very secret. And, they now will be sharing the same office in the new location, which is really really nutty because I know they?ll be strangling each other. There?ll be hell to pay on the quarterdeck! Pragmatically, a really foolish decision.

Its all so secret and much appears so badly orchestrated. Since my habit is to carefully examine myself rather than project blame, I was hesitant to consider that maybe I was not the fool. Now I?m freely admitting to myself that there really is a lot of folly going on within the company, that it isn?t just me. Maybe that isn?t my opinion only. Maybe that?s what Yi has been trying to get through my unknowing little mind.

Thank you all for helping me to reflect and unwind this mystery, which itself is 4.

C
 

chrislofting

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Candid,

in doing the proactive IC you got 1 changing into 59. From the 'warning' perspective that would suggest singlemindedness as the archetype being distorted into 59 - the focus is overly exaggerated on seeking clarity.


Using the 'random' method you keep getting 4...the common ground is the context reflected in the trigram of water (base 04, base 59).

In IDM/IC+ the trigram reflects containment where in 04 we have "with containment comes discernment" - IOW with socialisation (education) one develops a particular form of 'quality control'. The INTENT therefore of 04 is on socialisation but with that comes the 'barrier' to being socialised.

in 59 we have "with containment comes influence" - reflects the 'dispelling of illusions' a la 'X is the 'truth', all else is illusion'

When we map in human emotions, water reflects rejection/disgust, the 'us vs them' focus of society (reflected in all water based hexagrams - maintaining of collective 'security' etc)

In the MBTI/Keirsey persona maps water maps to security seekers but in the form of a formal boundary of 'us' from 'them' etc (Wind is the other security seeker trigram but has a stronger temporal sense than spacial)

Chris.
 

chrislofting

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Candid,

BTW I assume that you ment you got hex 1 with lines 1, 3, & 4 changing - if only 3, 4 then it is 61 - inner truth (with selfreflection comes influence)

Chris.
 
C

candid

Guest
Chris,

I found your method to be very interesting. My immediate response to receiving 1 was ? Oh, so YOU?RE the one who is responsible for all those 4s! It helped to reshape my focus from inner to outward reflection. The change lines appeared as a progression of coming into the light of understanding things. This helped to disperse the haze (59).

Also, your post makes perfect sense to me. I really appreciate it.

Friends - it occurred to me right after posting my last, that this morning?s 4.3 was saying, stop looking up to the company as some graven image of correctness. (Since when do I look up to the establishment anyway!!) Line 4.4 saying, stop deluding yourself, all is not well ?there.? 50 saying, ?but you can make it right if you adjust your thinking. Make your position correct."

Another little addendum to this unfolding mystery: During the face to face meeting with the business owner, he said something like ? I?m aware of your experience in sales management, and that could become important in the near future.

hmm...

C
 
T

tashij

Guest
Hi
Candid.

Have to catch up on this thread my how it's grown!!! Thanks for sharing the boot with me. Nice to be out in the cold with a friend. You know, with my mom, at one point she came down with aphasia and stroke like symptoms, and had hallucinations and couldnt speak or communicate properly. I thought, "ohmygod, is this the 4? She is going to be like this for the rest of her life, however long it be?" Then they gave her plasma phereisis and the symptoms went away.

So still a mystery on the 4, but Im still not askin!!!! So ok Im gonna catch up on this thread cause there's so much here.

love to all. ; )
 

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