Conflicting lines?

[Leracy]

I'd be grateful for a steer on this:

Sometimes when I cast hexagrams, I get lines that seem to 'go against' each other. Today's example of this is I asked 'What do I need to do', about a situation where I really want to make a change but I'm not certain in which direction to go (it's about my working life).

The answer was 42 . 5. 6 24

I understand 24 being about taking your time, get your bearings, don't rush into action, wait for the way to be illumuninated. I 'think' I understand 42 in this context to mean move towards what is better.

But it seems to me that the moving lines contradict each other - 5 seems to be saying 'you;re doing the right thing' but 6 is saying 'you're doing the wrong thing'. 6 feels like a bit of a slap.

I'd be very grateful for any comments, and also to know how others interpret lines that seem to go against each other. Unless of course they don't and I've got it completely wrong!

 

[willowfox]

'What do I need to do', about a situation where I really want to make a change but I'm not certain in which direction to go (it's about my working life).

The answer was 42 . 5. 6 24

Hex 42.5 Other people will see you for what you are and help you out as you show that you are a good worker.

Hex 42.6 This line advices you to be more considerate, reliable and generous towards others in your life then you will have no cause for regret but if you only think about yourself and what you want then expect alienation and related problems.

Hex 24 says that if you follow the previous advice given then expect good results, help will be given and you will get where you want to be.

 

[Trojina]

I'd be grateful for a steer on this:

Sometimes when I cast hexagrams, I get lines that seem to 'go against' each other. Today's example of this is I asked 'What do I need to do', about a situation where I really want to make a change but I'm not certain in which direction to go (it's about my working life).

The answer was 42 . 5. 6 24

I understand 24 being about taking your time, get your bearings, don't rush into action, wait for the way to be illumuninated. I 'think' I understand 42 in this context to mean move towards what is better.

But it seems to me that the moving lines contradict each other - 5 seems to be saying 'you;re doing the right thing' but 6 is saying 'you're doing the wrong thing'. 6 feels like a bit of a slap.

I'd be very grateful for any comments, and also to know how others interpret lines that seem to go against each other. Unless of course they don't and I've got it completely wrong!

I think your answer says you are in a natural period of growth and counsels you not to worry too much if your motives are good which they seem to be (42.5) . As for 42.6 I personally finds this often simply means if you keep changing your mind or your feelings over something then that can lead to trouble with others. So I think it may mean here to try to steady your thoughts, don't be too intent on your own advantage considering how to play people or events, you don't need to (42.5). 24 mostly has to do with returning to your own way, what is true for you. Someone somewhere here said its a bit like resetting to zero, getting back to your true centre and aims.

So in answer to your question "What do i need to do" I think its take advantage of the cycle of growth you are in, but try not to concern yourself too much with wringing every advantage out of any situation, you don't need to as your integrity and pure motives will see you through

 

[Leracy]

Thank you both so very much.

I had to laugh at the 42.6, because I read it more in line with Willowfox's answer - and I have just returned from a meeting where I was giving away an awful lot without expectation of pay or reward really. The idea of keep changing the mind rings very true because the situation has been more of a 41 recently and so I've been considering all sorts of options. A 42 period will come as a huge relief!

This is my first post here (asking for help that is), and as a real I Ching novice I am very grateful to you.

Thank you

 

[dobro p]

Sometimes when I cast hexagrams, I get lines that seem to 'go against' each other.

Sure, that happens all the time. Just as you can have conflicting feelings about a situation or be of two minds about something, you can also have conflicting lines in a hexagram, and when you get that it's showing you that the situation is not straightforward - very useful knowledge.

Today's example of this is I asked 'What do I need to do', about a situation where I really want to make a change but I'm not certain in which direction to go (it's about my working life).

The answer was 42 . 5. 6 24

42's about putting more into the situation, and 24's about getting back to square one where you belong. So overall, the message is: "Putting more into this work situation, doing more, involves conflicting forces - you're conflicted. Get back to square one; sort out your priorities - what's the most important value in your life right now? - what's the most important value in your work right now? - how do the two fit together?"

 

[Leracy]

Dobro, thank you.
The two obvious paths I could take do indeed conflict! Both involve doing more work (but that's ok and what I want) but one means breaking with what I'm doing now and the other means doing the kind of job that I used to do years ago - more money, but less freedom.

Plenty to think about there, so thank you very much for your input.

Ann

 

[dobro p]

Dobro, thank you.
The two obvious paths I could take do indeed conflict! Both involve doing more work (but that's ok and what I want) but one means breaking with what I'm doing now and the other means doing the kind of job that I used to do years ago - more money, but less freedom.

Plenty to think about there, so thank you very much for your input.

Ann

Wow, that's almost too good to be true. If each of those changing lines represents one of your options, then all you have to do is identify which job is imaged by 42.5 (the path of the heart) and which job is imaged by 42.6 (the one that looks like you're being augmented, but is actually some sort of attack on you), and then choose the former. Simple.

 

[Leracy]

Oh Lord!

I'll have to do some serious thinking about that.

One path is to get a proper job (but there isn't one in the offing at the moment although there might be very soon). Or continue with the status quo (not sure that's the right thing to do). Or find another path altogether. Just as I had decided to go for the 'proper job' route, things started to happen with the current situation, which isn't very happy at the moment.

So I think a serious round of pondering #24 is called for.

Thanks again for the input - it is very much appreciated.

 

[Trojina]

Now you have said more about the situation it seems to me you'd be best to follow where your heart is (42.5) rather than where the money might be (42.6).

 

[Leracy]

Hello Trojan
The interesting thing about that is that my heart isn't in the current situation any more - it feels like a very worn out way of being. So maybe there's a third way - find something where my heart really is in it.

I really do appreciate the insights people have given to this. Quite apart from the insights on this particular situation, I am learning a lot about how the I Ching works - and I hope others are too. I couldn't make any sense of those conflicting lines - but look at the information they contained! Actually, believe it or not, I wasn't really looking for help with the situation, but for comments on how to interpret the lines that I couldn't understand. This is such a help.

Thank you everyone.

Ann

 

[dobro p]

Actually, believe it or not, I wasn't really looking for help with the situation, but for comments on how to interpret the lines that I couldn't understand.

Classic. You come looking for better understanding of how to use the Yi, and you wind up with a better understanding of your situation and the choices involved. haha

Would you like us to hold your feet to the fire a bit? Got toasty toes now? lol

(Ahem...composes self.)

 

[Leracy]

Oh, toes are toasting nicely thank you!

Just for a laugh, here's where I've got with the situation - rather uncompromising answers I think. I shall stick with 24 for the time being until things become clearer.

Where is the present work heading? 27
What if I stay where I am? 43
What if I change jobs? 22 (Making beautiful - shall I go and work in the cosmetics or fashion industry???? Interior decorating?? )

Don't feel I'm asking for free consultation here because people have already been very kind. I am posting these just for fun - as I say, I am sticking with 24.

 

[dobro p]

Where is the present work heading? 27
What if I stay where I am? 43
What if I change jobs? 22

27 - it feeds you

43 - you should separate yourself from it

22 - beauty

 

[Leracy]

Which is pretty much where I had got to. Although I'm not sure about the beauty thing. Perhaps I'll retrain as a hairdresser