about a training course

[soma]

Hi folks

I've been thinking about doing some more training next year and have identified a couple of courses. The last few years have involved a lot of change in my work direction, and I want to grow and learnfurther by committing to a process.

So one of these courses is about expressive arts therapy, telling our own stories through images, words, movememnts etc. It sounds great and I have been researching it. But its very expensive and of course I can't say how it will be for me. I will do a short workshop on it before I commit to the longer programme anyway, but I want to get some insight on whether its the right thing for me.

I asked Yi what it will be like if I do the course? 39 unchanging.
I asked Yi what if I don't do this? 1.4>9.

I feel this says that the course will show me how to take a different path through challenges I typically face, this would be the most obvious meaning for me. It will be hard - but i don't expect it to be easy. But instead, could it be saying that this is not the appropriate course of action to take? Karcher says "progress not possible, stop and change your ideas". Is that saying that the course will help me change my ideas and show me a a way of "re-imagining" (good thing i think!)? Or is it saying that I should change my idea about doing this course? 1.4 could be about lots of potential and and creative energy but not having a foucus or not quite taking shape. Maybe this is not the time for things to take shape?

This really surprised me. If the readings were the other way around it would make more sense to me somehow. Could you share your thoughts please?

Thanks!

 

[ginnie]

I asked Yi what it will be like if I do the course? 39 unchanging.

Any obstacles you see in your taking this course are of your own making. This interpretation is based on what R.L. Wing writes in The I Ching Workbook under 39 unchanging ... and my own experience with 39 uc.

 

[soma]

Thanks Ginnie, I will mull over that.
Any thoughts on the 1.4?

 

[ginnie]

Any thoughts on the 1.4?

That's the line where you are vacillating and can't decide, like a fledgling (bird) on the brink of flying which jumps up but doesn't fly. The usual interpretation of that line is that if you do or if you don't -- whatever you decide -- will be okay.

 

[Trojina]

I asked Yi what it will be like if I do the course? 39 unchanging.
I asked Yi what if I don't do this? 1.4>9.

It looks to me that if you do it you will be too committed to one path of action whereas in fact you need to play (1.4).

Ultimately use your judgment but from these answers alone 39 is not an option I'd favour over 1.4.

39 may show its not just hard but too isolating and at this stage perhaps too pre determined. One is advised in 39 not to keep on battling the insurmountable mountain but to turn around to find another route. So Yi has represented this option as a great big mountain in your way...determination to cross it doesn't help.

1.4 on the other hand allows you to play and explore and has the dynamism of The Creative behind it.

You have it absolutely when you say 1.4 means 'this is not time for things to take shape'.

It isn't. You need to play, hover uncertainly over various possibilities.....not spend a huge amount of money on a single chosen course IMO.

Be happy to explore other options for now...or just to explore your art, your potential, your wishes.


ETA if this doesn't fit then think about why doing the course might be such a hard lonley struggle. There could be other factors I don't know of....that if these factors weren't there it may change things ? I don't know but looking at just your answers wihtout knowing all the details I'd go the 1.4 route.

I think one has to think carefully too before spending big money on courses these days with no guarantee they will lead to the work you want. I don't think you are ready to settle yet perhaps ?

1.4 can be great fun

 

[Trojina]

Any obstacles you see in your taking this course are of your own making. This interpretation is based on what R.L. Wing writes in The I Ching Workbook under 39 unchanging ... and my own experience with 39 uc.

I find these have no validity at all, they seem pretty random to me. There is no one fixed meaning for any unchanging hexagram

I think I'd most likley take 39 uc as "roadworks ahead road blocked turnaround and go a different way"

 

[pocossin]

What will it be like if I do the course?
39 unchanging

On the basis of the Image, taking the course seems auspicious:

Water on the mountain:
The image of Obstruction.
Thus the superior man turns his attention to himself
And molds his character.

The workshop will give you a feel for this study. Do you know anyone who has graduated from this course and has successfully applied it professionally?

 

[Trojina]

BTW I should add there can be a sense of uncertainty/anxiety with 1.4 I think but thats okay. I don't think a need to get things settled should push you into taking a definate option right now.

 

[ginnie]

I think I'd most likley take 39 uc as "roadworks ahead road blocked turnaround and go a different way"

I have gotten 39 unchanging on numerous occasions, and invariably the trouble or difficulties I have foreseen are merely in my own mind, coming from my own lack of confidence or from a sense of inhibition. When I have gone forward, I have succeeded, and there have been no roadblocks in reality. And so I endorse what R.L. Wing has written for this unchanging hexagram and would encourage Soma, on the strength of this reading, to take the course.
:bows:

By the way, I don't think of R.L.Wing's comments on unchanging hexagrams as "random." Many of them are based on the reality that there is no second hexagram; no relationship between primary and relating hexagrams; and all the action therefore takes place inside the psyche of the querant. That said, I agree with Trojan that there is no single meaning for any unchanging hexagram, something which is true of all hexagrams.

 

[soma]

Thanks all! Great to hear your thought on this. There's a few differing opinions, so more food for thought for me.

I feel I need to have some more conversations with Yi about this, will post back when I do. I suppose what I need to clarify is whether its doing the course thats the obstacle that needs re-imagining, or if the course itself has that quality of teaching me to re-imagine my obstacles. Thats what I have understood the course to be really about -- finding non-linear creative ways to meet our many selves and gain insight.

Part of the difficulty is the classic head vs. heart conundrum. I feel I have been too conventional in my choices so far and end up in jobs or education which is stable and boring. There is a place for being sensible, but the more I learn about myself I realise that I need to take my eccentric interests more seriously! Over the last 2 years I have taken steps to reflect this. Its always a tough choice doing something bit different and taking a risk, so thats where I am at. I feel definitely ready to commit to a process that will take me closer to the type of working life I want.

This course itself is not a conventional "if i do this i get a good job" type of thing. Its more about self-development, and preparation for further training if i choose that. Even if I did go the whole way, it would still be unpredictable and I'd be taking a leap of faith. It will depend on my conviction and skill entirely whether this can eventually be a successful profession for me. Its also a very new programme in this country so there are not too many people doing this. I have been a client in this work and loved it, and the workshop will show me more.

So this question is not resolved for me yet and I will be coming back to this as the situation develops. I will revive this thread with more questions in the future. Thank you!

 

[soma]

Hello

Just thought I'd update you on what happened with the workshop and trainign course...

I did the workshop last week and it was great! I was well impressed. It really shook me and took a lot of energy and I was amazed at how much emotion I could express through the creative excercises. I surprised myself so many times and came up against lots of resistance within myself, criticism, judgement, anxiety etc etc.

There was a nice synchronicity with Yi as well. The first day I felt so much anger in the dances and drawings I did about one of my personal challenges, I was literally feeling sick and shaking. I came home and asked Yi about that challenge and it gave me 10.4.6. I was so shattered, I put the reading aside and decided to come back to it later. Next day, one of the other participants gave a feeling-feedback on my drawing -- "tread carefully"! [This may not make much sense to you -- its hard to explain outside of the course context].

I feel the year long training could be really valuable for freeing my creativity (not sure how I will pay for it though!). I asked Yi about it today and got 30.1 > 56. Clarity/Radiance -- insight, creative communication, the Bird Dancers, the bright bird and the net that captures and reflects its brightness. And the need for a good reserve of energy. This describes the course perfectly.
Line 1 - Careful with the first steps(!) ("tread carefully", remember?) Disorientation at the waking of clarity. Yes.

56 -- Travelling. The whole point of the doing this work is to go into journeys of imagination to find our hidden selves, meet obstacles and the emotion contained in them, and find resources to manage them through art and creativity. I heard the word "journey" a dozen times over the weekend.

I asked if there were any warnings for me on this course. I got 19 unchanging.
Need to be be modest. Trying not to rush to completeion and not to focus on the ultimate tangible result. Maybe this is saying I need to not think of it in terms of "but where will this lead me professionally?" which is what one voice in my head is saying.

I thought this was all quite interesting, would love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

[ginnie]

I asked if there were any warnings for me on this course. I got 19 unchanging.

In addition to what you said about 19 unchanging, soma, I would include that Yi is saying it would welcome further questions on this same subject in the future. That is, there is a perpetual spring with regard to this subject of inquiry. As we know, when dealing with our hidden selves and powerful unconscious material, we do have to exercise caution, tread with care, and heed warnings.

 

[soma]

Thanks Ginnie. ARe you getting that from 19? I can't see how it is inviting further questions...

I am still mulling over how that 39 fits with this 30.1. The only way I can see a connection is the way I interpreted it in my first post. I can't see how else an obstacle gets changed to clarity. Would you agree?

 

[ginnie]

Thanks Ginnie. ARe you getting that from 19? I can't see how it is inviting further questions...

Ask further questions, as in Approach the Oracle. One title for hexagram 19 is Approach.

I am still mulling over how that 39 fits with this 30.1. The only way I can see a connection is the way I interpreted it in my first post. I can't see how else an obstacle gets changed to clarity. Would you agree?

Well, as I posted earlier, the obstacles were only present in your own mind. When you went forward, you found that there were no fixed obstacles in reality.

 

[soma]

Thanks Ginnie!

 

[soma]

Update : a dream I had recently - my wonderful teacher on the course offered me a wheelchair! I remembered 39 the moment I woke up.

the course is realy wonderful by the way, i can feel it having a deep impact on me and i love it. still don't understand the reading though...