Creativity block issues?

[liquidity]

So I've had some writer's/creativity block recently. Just haven't been feeling the desire for a particular creative project.

Is there anything creative/productive I do want to do right now? (WB translations)
39.3.5 Impasse > 2 The Receptive
.3: "Going leads to obstructions, hence he comes back.
.5: "In the midst of the greatest obstructions, friends come.
I read that as: there's nothing you can do right now. You'll just have to wait till forces beyond your current knowledge/awareness come and change the situation. In the meantime be Receptive.

But I was curious as to the nature of this impasse.

WHY the impasse?
37 The Family, unchanging.
“The Family. The perseverance of the woman furthers."
"Wind comes forth from fire: The image of The Family. Thus the superior man has substance in his words and duration in his way of life."

So perhaps this is referring to my outer family -- though I didn't see any obvious connection. Or perhaps it's referring to my inner family, the parts of my psyche. But I wasn't sure what it was telling me about what was going on.

Can you elaborate?
40 Deliverance, unchanging.
"Deliverance. The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune. If there is still something where one has to go, hastening brings good fortune."
"Thunder and rain set in: the image of Deliverance. Thus the superior man pardons mistakes and forgives misdeeds."

So... some obstacle from which I need to free myself? Maybe in my inner psyche? Something I need to forgive, perhaps?

It's all more than a little enigmatic to me. It's also striking to me how both of these readings are unchanging. That suggests some kind of static picture.

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[rosada]

You need to take a break. Everything around you pulls you down the same old paths. You need to be around people who are being creative and who strengthen your own creative spirit. Sign up for a weekend retreat with likeminded artistic souls.

 

[hilary]

37 and 40 are complements: every line is different. You might get somewhere by thinking about how and why they're opposites.

And of course 40's also the pair of 39, and the way out of that uphill struggle.

Can you find new creative collaborators?

 

[liquidity]

37 and 40 are complements: every line is different. You might get somewhere by thinking about how and why they're opposites.

And of course 40's also the pair of 39, and the way out of that uphill struggle.

Can you find new creative collaborators?

Interesting that both you and rosada suggested finding likeminded collaborators. Good idea. Will have to contemplate that and figure out how best to do it...

Also very interesting points about the relationships between the hexagrams. First let's take the 37/40 complementarity. In 37 you have fire under wood -- fire stirs air (and presumably smoke). In 40 you have water under thunder -- a thunderstorm which clears the air and smoke.

In the sequence of hexagrams, of 37 it is said that the one who is injured withdraws back into the family. In 40 it is said that things can't be permanent amid obstruction, and that Deliverance means release from tension.

So in 37 you have a kind of inward place of boundaries and protection. Energy is expressed outward from there.

In 40 you have an energy already at a maximum point of tension and then -- poof -- there's a kind of explosion where energy goes outward in all directions.

This is also true of relationships. 37 is about bounded, specified relationships. 40 is about breaking specified relationships when they haven't been working correctly.

So in giving me 37 and 40, the theme is boundaries vis-à-vis the energy thereby generated and/or dissipated. It's a question of the kind of structure, the kind of tension, the mechanisms for maintaining and releasing tension, relationships and the rules of relationships.

Now as far as 40 being related to 39, we have the idea in 39 that the anticipation of danger leads one to stay still. But in 40, the danger is more present, and when it is unavoidable... one *moves*. That movement is the escape from danger. That's the thunder, lightning, and rain.

So perhaps I have to build or retreat into a certain kind of structure (37), then eventually grow and break that structure (40) to relieve the impasse?

Whew. And perhaps that involves finding creative partners...

 

[radiofreewill]

Hi liquidity,

I'm feeling inspired to riff on rosada's and hilary's comments, if I may:

"Is there anything creative/productive that I do want to do right now?"
39.3.5 to 2 ~ Objects of Thought are not rafts to Creativity ~ Stillness is.

​

From the witness position in your mind, Mountain, you can see the great river of your thoughts, Water ~ and it's full of all the Objects of your daily life floating by in the present moment ~ flowing between you and the Far Shore of Deliverance (40).

Each time you Grasp at one of the Objects and Dwell on it ~ it sinks 'you' into the oblivion of Story-telling: Objects can only float themselves in your mindstream ~ they can't carry 'you', too?​

"Why the impasse?"
37uc ~ The familiar is exhausting you.

When you Grasp and Dwell on Objects in the Stream of your Thoughts ~ which you habitually do, and frantically so when you are desperate ~ you then 'sink' into Story-telling ~ only to find yourself washed back up on the near shore of mortal suffering ~ the same old way that you always do ~ and that's just not very Creative?​

"Can you elaborate?"
40uc ~ The solution is to walk on water.

Thunder (wood, foot, movement) over Water ~ walking on water ~ crossing over the easy way ~ means to cease Grasping and Dwelling on Objects in the Stream of your Thoughts ~ and let the Stillness of your Awareness be the bridge over troubled waters that takes you directly to the Safety of the Far Shore and Deliverance from existential suffering.​

So, trying to go somewhere via a Story founded on Object-consciousness ~ attempting to force the issue with your intent through Grasping and Dwelling ~ is the very well worn path that always ends in failure ~ but, it's all we 'know' ~ and all we know to do when the going gets tough is to ~ Grasp and Dwell harder ~ and thereby sink faster...

Rather, the creative solution to mortal suffering offered here is the counter-intuitive notion that inner Stillness ~ cultivated thru Practice ~ reveals a Path through uncertainty as solid as concrete ~ when we trust our relationship with the intangibles about us:

The Conversational Nature of Reality by David Whyte

I hope this adds to the conversation!

 

[liquidity]

Rather, the creative solution to mortal suffering offered here is the counter-intuitive notion that inner Stillness ~ cultivated thru Practice ~ reveals a Path through uncertainty as solid as concrete ~ when we trust our relationship with the intangibles about us:

How true. I love it, thanks! (especially the drawing!)

I hope this adds to the conversation!

It does

 

[marybluesky]

Hello liquidity!

Is there anything creative/productive I do want to do right now? (WB translations) 39.3.5 Impasse > 2 The Receptive

Right now you are facing Obstacles (39) that make you come back (39.3) when trying to create; however after this blockage becomes too frustrating, you'll receive some help (39.5) that enables you to become Open and Receptive (2) to creative inspirations again.

WHY the impasse?37 The Family, unchanging.

Maybe your familiar environment, routine life; or the fact that you're surrounded by too much familiar things where you don't find any novelty to be inspired?

Can you elaborate? 40 Deliverance, unchanging.

I think the I Ching is telling you to give up on the issue for the moment, take your time and let it be

Good Luck!