Depression, 7.4 to 40

[millionsoftrees]

I got this exact cast twice in one day, both in regard to "what is my guiding path through these depression waves, and "approaching someone specific (XYZ) to talk about it." in the second case I can see what it means, don't talk to them about it, but in general? I'm perplexed. Is it suggesting that it's okay to just let myself be depressed, stop fighting against it? Or is it something else?

 

[Hans_K]

When you talk about waves of depression, do you really mean depression as a mental illness or is it more about gloomy moods. After all, the word depression is quite easily used these days when we feel off for a while.
To better understand H7, it is necessary to know that in ancient China there was no trained army as we know it today. As soon as there was a threat then an army was quickly assembled from peasants and civilians led by warlords.
Personally, I think Alfred Huang has a better name for this hexagram, namely Multitude

In H7, the yang line in the 2nd position is the leader of the 5 yin lines, they are the multitude. This line is in the bottom trigram which means you are the leader in this case.
In your case, what is the multitude?
Is it perhaps the multitude of thoughts on a subject or situation?

Earth turns into Thunder due to the moving line at the 4th position. This is about keeping asking yourself the question "Why is this happening to me", a form of feeling powerless over a situation. But you are in this position in a position to influence and take charge. Thunder indicates that it is time to put old issues aside and make a powerful decision to start afresh or make changes.

The related hexagram H40 is about releasing tension, deliverance.
As I see it, H7.4 says: make sure the "negative" emotions (Water) cannot find a fertile ground (Earth) by releasing them.

This would be my interpretation. As always, take what resonates and leave the rest

 

[marybluesky]

Hello;

what is my guiding path through these depression waves, and "approaching someone specific (XYZ) to talk about it." 7.4>40

7.4 is about an army camping before their next move. Depression can be a result of neglected mental pressure, it freezes us to save us. So, for your first question I'd say consider it as a period to rest and not being hard on yourself. For the second I'm not sure if the line invites you to avoid approaching them or it simply says the way to go is to rest and hold back whether you meet those people or not.

The resulting 40 too talks about letting go if there's nothing special to do and taking a day break.

 

[millionsoftrees]

When you talk about waves of depression, do you really mean depression as a mental illness or is it more about gloomy moods. After all, the word depression is quite easily used these days when we feel off for a while.

I hesitate to answer this question, because (note: I'm not saying you would respond in these ways, but speaking generally) often people respond to people sharing information about their experience in ways that are well-intentioned but not helpful, for a myriad of reasons, including it be coming from a different school of thought, having a level of education lower than "lifestyle researcher," or not having the entire story (as should be befitting anyone who isn't intimately concerned).

Again, I'm only explaining why being asked to identify the timeline or severity of my experiences in this language context causes me to feel quite wary from answering directly.

One factor of your inquiry that is difficult for me to address is the phrase "mental illness" being used because it usually indicates a subscription to 20th century psychiatric school teachings, which I find sorely limiting, and even sometimes harmful or at least missing the core, and I prefer to discuss experiences of depression within different language discourses. Of course, sometimes people will use phrases like that because they haven't been exposed to more user-friendly languaging So, a simple question can expand instantly into a field of discourse, and I know you didn't intend for that, but probably had much more neutral and helpful motivation for asking it.

I am also aware that in concealing my response, I have also exposed it. Yet, I've also shared an invitation to anyone who may want to engage with these ideas, either passively or actively.

To better understand H7, it is necessary to know that in ancient China there was no trained army as we know it today. As soon as there was a threat then an army was quickly assembled from peasants and civilians led by warlords.
Personally, I think Alfred Huang has a better name for this hexagram, namely Multitude

That is so interesting. It reminds me of when I realized, through others' waxing on the subject, that the Tarot has structures that are directly connected to the ways that Western kingdoms ruled: Page, Knight, Queen, and then King. Quite different from some other cultures.

In H7, the yang line in the 2nd position is the leader of the 5 yin lines, they are the multitude. This line is in the bottom trigram which means you are the leader in this case.
In your case, what is the multitude?
Is it perhaps the multitude of thoughts on a subject or situation?

The multitude of my thoughts, yup

Earth turns into Thunder due to the moving line at the 4th position. This is about keeping asking yourself the question "Why is this happening to me", a form of feeling powerless over a situation. But you are in this position in a position to influence and take charge. Thunder indicates that it is time to put old issues aside and make a powerful decision to start afresh or make changes.

The related hexagram H40 is about releasing tension, deliverance.
As I see it, H7.4 says: make sure the "negative" emotions (Water) cannot find a fertile ground (Earth) by releasing them.

That makes sense. Seems like solid advice.

This would be my interpretation. As always, take what resonates and leave the rest

 

[Hans_K]

I hesitate to answer this question, because (note: I'm not saying you would respond in these ways, but speaking generally) often people respond to people sharing information about their experience in ways that are well-intentioned but not helpful, for a myriad of reasons, including it be coming from a different school of thought, having a level of education lower than "lifestyle researcher," or not having the entire story (as should be befitting anyone who isn't intimately concerned).

My question was meant in light of H7, perhaps I should have been more explicit there. If it was about "real" depression then I would not understand H7's advice very well, if it was about gloomy thoughts, then yes.

 

[millionsoftrees]

My question was meant in light of H7, perhaps I should have been more explicit there. If it was about "real" depression then I would not understand H7's advice very well, if it was about gloomy thoughts, then yes.

Ah... Yeah, that's exactly why I was perplexed by it myself. Yet, with the expanding perspectives here, I can sort of see it, because depression often is found with ruminating, downward-spiraling thoughts.

 

[millionsoftrees]

Hello;

what is my guiding path through these depression waves, and "approaching someone specific (XYZ) to talk about it." 7.4>40

7.4 is about an army camping before their next move. Depression can be a result of neglected mental pressure, it freezes us to save us. So, for your first question I'd say consider it as a period to rest and not being hard on yourself. For the second I'm not sure if the line invites you to avoid approaching them or it simply says the way to go is to rest and hold back whether you meet those people or not.

The resulting 40 too talks about letting go if there's nothing special to do and taking a day break.

I can definitely see that, the not being hard on myself. In combination with the other question, perhaps I'm being told to redirect my focus as much as possible to "less pressure."

When you say depression is "neglected mental pressure frozen," that jogs my interest. I often feel as though that pressure wants to expand again, which is quite an interesting internal experience