Biting Through: 21

[jenbooks]

I've used the I Ching sporadically for years and I used to throw coins, but now I just get quiet, ask for pure truth, and open the book to the "right" place, and see where my eye falls. Maybe that sounds unorthodox but anyway that's the way I do it.

So I got 21, and my eye fell to the 4th moving line. I have the Wilhelm edition.

This is answer as to what to do with a relationship, where my boyfriend has serious depression with suicidal thoughts and is not getting help, and we had a fight. I'm not sure if we should/will continue seeing each other. I do love him but the situation is difficult & painful. The existential question I have is, do I need to let him/this go until if/when he decides either to commit suicide or to seek help; or do I need to go and force the situation, so that he gets the help. I really can't decide. I do love him but basically I am torn because I don't feel you should interfere with another's "karma"....but I don't know if I am his karma at this time, i.e. if I am meant to "bite through" his problem and get him help, or bite through my own problem and let go.

I also think with 4th line changing it's moving toward Li?

 

[jte]

Hi, Jill -

"... now I just get quiet, ask for pure truth, and open the book to the "right" place ..."

Wow, I like you already! But your question is on a serious matter:

21.4 is telling you that, whichever "direction you take", you need to be firm about it because it isn't going to be easy.

I don't think it's answering your "torn" issue - to stay and help or to leave. I think either YOU need to answer that one, or you need to focus on that specifically in a query.

Personally, I would wonder - what kind of karma is leaving someone who is close to you emotionally when they're down and need you? Especially when they are at risk of dying. I know that for me it would probably haunt me for the rest of my life...

If you do decide to help him, I'd advise not trying to "do it yourself." If it's half as serious as you make it sound, he should get help from a professional. It sounds like you were thinking along those lines anyhow.

FYI, I read recently that about 1 million people per year die by suicide worldwide. More than die in wars. So it's clearly a major problem out there... And ya gotta wonder how many were preventable...

Best of luck,

- Jeff

 

[bradford_h]

Hi Jill-
The change is to Yi, the open mouth, and the return line is about the tiger and his eye and appetite.
This is a tough place to be in. Your question was what was there for you to do, and the answer was to be pretty tough right back, not to be manipulated.
The one doing the chewing here is getting pledges of support. I'd have some people behind you, whether this was in preparation for an intervention, or for your own support and strength.

 

[jenbooks]

Thanx both of you. Jeff, I should say that I have tried very hard already. Family intervention, contacting experts, etc. It hasn't gotten me/him anywhere. He resists it in the end. Bradford, you're right, it's moving toward 27, or nourishment. That is, pay heed to what one nourishes oneself with. That could be true of him and me. The question is, do I bite through what--to nourish myself how? I could look at it as biting through my own ambivalence, and moving onward, and nourishing myself with good thoughts. I could also look at it as biting through his depression and "forcing" him to get treatment, but I can help but I can't save, he has to in some corner of his soul want saving. Meanwhile, getting closer and closer (its been a year now) to someone who seriously considers killing themselves is not such a positive thing. HE just finished making out his will, he told me on Tuesday (and I know it's all going to his son).

Thx for your thoughts. I like this site.

 

[bradford_h]

Bite the bullet.
Bite through your own ambivalence and move on.

 

[jenbooks]

Thanx, a quick question. When a line is changing in the original hexagram, I thought it moves you to the next hexagram or the direction things are going in, but you don't look at that changing line in the next hexagram also? IE the fourth place. As Bradford you said that the line is about the tiger and eye but that is in 27, not 21. 21, the original hexagram, is about grisly meat and metal arrows. One must be hard as metal and straight as an arrow.

Can you clarify thanx!

I think I have concluded the same, bite through means be tough, no more sympathy/empathy. And pay attention to what he on his own nourishes himself with, and what I nourish myself with.

Thanx for this site and I will enjoy posting here further. Also thanks to Kevin for the kindest private email.

 

[kevin]

When a line changes in a hexagram the changing line is the oracle ? it qualifies the main hexagram.

The resulting hexagram can be the result of the change or it can be the core nature of the time in which your hexagram is seated.

So

In the first case by biting through you usher in a time of nourishing.

In the second case you are in the time of nourishing and you need to bight through to get there ?to release the energy of the time ? nourishing.

Sounds the same?

It is in this case.

It is not always...

Warmly

--Kevin

 

[kevin]

A slightly different approach to the reading ? but no substantial differences from the above.

Taking the Shamanic route? Feels right for this reading.

Hx 27 is one of the major karmic sites of transformation ? especially at the threshold of the inner world (lower trigram) and the outer world (the upper trigram) ? That is in lines three & four.

These are windows of great transformation according to Karcher and Dunne.

Whereas your oracle was Hx21.4 ? it takes you to the Jaws of 27.4? or the other way (see post above) it is the time of Jaws swallowing and it it blocked and needs biting through? little difference here. (See 27.4 below)

The one doing the chewing is the Tiger in 27. Potentially you I think

This is the Bright Tiger that represents a transformative time ? Dunn calls it a Dragon Hole ? Karcher calls it a Dragon Gate? Essentially it is something like a Karmic Stargate? Solve the problem you are in and pop up where you should be? Probably saying to yourself, ?How did I get here??

What is the Tiger swallowing ? The Spirit that comes to assist ? nourishment ? Heart body and soul.

First clear the obstruction.

But the mouth ? when freed of obstructions has two functions ? Apart from nourishment it speaks out ? like a tiger ? sure and deft.

Back to 21.4 and 27.4

The time you are in is 21 ? Obstructed nourishment?

The nuclear hexagram is 39? limping and feeling obstructed by something. Feeling impeded.

The nuclear hexagram of 39 is 64 ? This is normally called something like Not yet Completed? Here I would call it ?Continuing?.

64 is the energy drawing you on? the need to continue your Karmic Path

39, Feeling hampered and obstructed is in the way? Resolving the problem of 21 by Gnawing through releases the energy, clears the impediment of 39 and allows 64 to draw you on.

Now I know I am complicating it here? but I do want to put a little depth in this? Staying with the nuclear hexagrams? Resolving your problem (by gnawing) allows you to resolve the limping (disablement) of 39 and continue on your journey (being drawn on by 64) to reach the time of 27.

The nuclear hexagram of 27 is 2 ? So when you clear your way you will be fed (push here - not pull like 64) by a great (primal) Earth Energy ? Read up on Hx.2 to get the flavour of the up rush energy.

This is the nourishing energy.

The precise oracle is 21.4? Looking at that line 4.

The image is of a King bestowing a Golden Arrow to someone in honour of a great feat.

You have to do the feat! The feat is that of gnawing through your problem. It is in the upper trigram so one would expect it to be in the outer world eg precipitating your new inner world in the outer world - action.

But line 4 also says Harvesting ? eg You can do it - it is in the bag if you just keep gnawing.

Looking at the trigrams? The lower (inner world trigram is of Thunder ? Stimulating change ? this might be your inner world. This has already occurred within you. You have passed up through the hexagram to Li ? Fire/ Clarity - in the outer world? but you are on the threshold still ? where things are often less clear.

So one might expect a little discomfort from a conflict between your inner world, which has already changed, and what you must do in the outer, expressing it with clear action?

By gently reflecting on your true inner thoughts and feelings (suspend values and beliefs and let your real feelings and insights emerge) you will gain the clarity of thought of the upper trigram Li and will be able to remove the obstacle (in yourself) to enable you to clear your throat to both roar and nourish (27) (Tigers do Eat and Roar both)

The resonant line in 27 is also 4 in this case.

A tigers jaws quivering
A tiger glaring (it is not happy)
And it will nourish itself!

The tiger is not happy at having its nourishment disturbed. ? It is determined to shake itself clear.

It all makes a whole.

Be the Tiger.

Use the clarity of Li.

Remember it is action which will unblock and remember it is gnawing and gnawing ? no quick fix here.

The result remember is to be fed by the energy of Hx2? It seems your spirit is hungry for that and it is there for you.

Strength and clarity to you

--Kevin

 

[candid]

Hi Jen,

If someone actually wants to commit suicide they just do it. They don't talk about it for as long as he has. So I think it's safe to say that he doesn't actually want to commit suicide. He's just having great difficulty with living. That doesn't mean though that he won't talk himself into it. It must be taken seriously, obviously.

If you are in the US, one call to local law enforcement will land him inside a high security suicide prevention institution, where he will receive some level of professional treatment. He may hate you for awhile for blowing the whistle on him, but that shouldn't be a consideration. He is obviously serious in his intent, and he won't go for professional help, so the help must come to him. Biting through this obstacle requires you do something, and calling for help is the best thing you can do for him, and for yourself.

 

[jenbooks]

Wow Kevin. Quite amazingly beautiful, and in its own way a teaching about how to read the IChing in much greater depth than I ever did myself! Have printed it out to study tonight.


Tyger Tyger burning bright
In the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
(Blake)

 

[candid]

27, btw, is the treatment that he requires.

 

[kevin]

Thanks J

BTW

I forgot to say where the Dragon Gate would take you ? sorry.

When you achieve your arrow and are nourished by The Earth (2)

You (well nourished in spirit and heart) will pass via 28.4

The Great Passage.

Line 4 ? You have a clear passage ? Why do I say that?

28 it a time of great energy and overwhelming forces ? The ridgepole is braced (you are ready and strong) or it is not and it breaks ? eg you cannot sustain the pressure.

The line 4 route is a good one ? you are well fed and strong.

27 ? entrance to the Gate and fed with Kun Hx2 fundamental Earth Energy - The trick BTW of feeding on Earth Energy - Letting it in - I s tobe like it - Passive, open and enveloping - be like it and it flows - this instruction is in Hx.2 BTW

28 ? Propels you. Nuclear hex. 1 - Immense Creative energy pouring in.

The 28.4 debouches at 48 ? The Well Spring.

Note that you were charged with both the essential Yin and the Essential Yang energy on your passage.

These are the two progenitors of all life... That is why I think you will become a spring for others - a source to sustain.

In summary ? The resolution of this current blockage will free you from a knot that is blocking your energy and allow you to move on to become a clear wellspring on which others can draw.

Paradoxical (in a sad way perhaps) ? but rather beautiful.

Of course you have to make the passage ? that is your choice ? but the Omens are with you -Should you choose that path.

But it all starts with worrying that knot... patience and attention to what it realy is.

Good travelling

--Kevin

 

[kevin]

Sorry re-edited the above - as usual

--k

 

[kevin]

Still thinking

The time of 28 is not an easy passage - great forces acting both within you and without - you are strong - be strong - you will come through.

--K

 

[bradford_h]

Hi Jill-
Getting money and arrows meant (historically) to receive pledges of backing or support, in this case from people impressed by the subject's determination to see the dfficulty through.
Again, having a support system (especially to talk you out of guilt) is crucial to the success here.
Choose Life

 

[kevin]

Re. your last post.

Thanks Brad

That sounds more like it - duly noted.

--Kevin

 

[candid]

bites through my tongue

 

[jenbooks]

Thanx all. Kevin, thank you for the thoughtful revisions. Brad thx too.