help my ridgepole is sagging

[ivan]

Hello -

I asked the question, how can I overcome my addiction to sugar? and I received 28 with no changing lines. First of all, what is the significance of no lines changing?

My thoughts on the hexagram are as follows;

your body can no longer sustain the addiction, you must figure out a way to move on by withdrawing (meditation) and moving ahead. I have long sustained yoga practice that has been weak for sometime. Does this mean go in deeper to the yoga practice (meditation) and from there you will figure out how to move on.

or

your life has too much going on and it is causing you great stress. you must figure out how to simplify or you will break under the pressure, do physical damage to my body.I have a demanding career as a professor/artist, I teach yoga and love my yoga practice as much as my art, I own a house by myself as a result of a divorce - it is a big financial commitment as well as time demanding - but I love my home, I have 4 dogs whom are my family - in retrospect getting 4 dogs was stupid but, Oh well what's done is done. My Mother and sisters (who do not like animals) pressure me to get rid of a couple of dogs. I am spiritually apposed to this idea as they are my children of sorts.

So yes my ridgepole is sagging and I probably abuse food to deal with it but how can I simplify when I love all that I do?

 

[rosada]

It occurs to me that the I Ching could be telling you that you are particularly vulnerable when you put off eating until you are on the verge of a collapse (28) and then you grab the sugar. Perhaps if you make a point of eating wholesome foods early in the day you'll be able to resist the sugar craving.

rosada

 

[ivan]

Thank you. I do Know that I feel much better when I get my 3 squares.

 

[lilylotus]

I believe that it is for yo to solve the problem that cause the addiction, we crave for something when we have something to solve inside, I think you have to talk to your mother and sisters and make them understand that their pressure to get rid of your dogs it is making your life more difficult, make them understand that you know it is very hard for you to take care of so many dogs but they dont help you with their attitude, try them to understand that . That way you reduce one source of pressure that is making you collapse, also try to find people to volunteer helping you with your dogs, if you tell people what do you feel about giving away your dogs and then that you are asking help to benefit the dogs not only yourself, you could find lovers of dogs that understand you and help you , volunteering their time, this help you to reduce the pressure . The hexagram suggests " somebody that its not accepting suggestions" maybe your ears are closed to your mom and sister because their ideas are not according to yours, maybe if you all try to really communicate, listening first, you can all as family find a solution for you. I think the sugar problem will go away after you start taking actions to reduce the pressure.. Time to act!..Good luck..

 

[meng]

Howdy Ivan,

If you consider sugar an addiction, then quitting the substance feels like "OMG!", which is what 28 often feels like. The hardest part of quitting an addiction is to visualize going on and being yourself without it. It seems impossible and overwhelming to even think about it, much less to accomplish.

28's council is to be willing to stand alone (without the substance) without freaking out.

When I quit smoking, I put a couple of large signs up around the house, which read: "Quitting now means suffering for little while in order to live happily a long while." There's no escaping some suffering when we kick an addiction, no matter matter if it's food, tobacco, alcohol, heroin, or even a relationship. To face it, even when it feels like the roof is caving in on us, is necessary, if we really want to change it.

 

[ivan]

Thank you Lilylotus and Meng -

I have had open discussions with my family before but they really think that I am being ridiculous. My family lives 600 miles away from me and never travel so it really doesn't matter what they think and I know that they love me no matter what, but I just can't talk about how stressed I am with them because their solution is....

"To face it, even when it feels like the roof is caving in on us, is necessary, if we really want to change it."

In regards to this comment, "Do I really want to change my habits?", is the question. I feel like I really do but then I feel like its fine, don't worry about it. so maybe that is the next question, Do I really want to change my habits?

 

[meng]

Do I really want to change my habits?

That's the bottom line. Doesn't matter what I or your distant family thinks or says. We have to want the change for ourselves (standing alone, undaunted what others think), before we can begin to reckon with it.

 

[maremaria]

.

LiSe’s note about 28

Dà Guò is a great pass in a mountain, it means to go beyond the proper limit, surplus

makes me think of the Greek word , "hypervasis ". Which has two meaning The one meaning is like the English overdrawn , going beyond proper limits but the other meaning is something like to move in a higher position, elevate, transcend, surpass, make use of a surplus that maybe is not pretty obvious, be stronger than you thing you are, exaggerate a bit in order to achieve something at a first glance it not attainable. The surplus in that case has to do with courage, strength dertemination etc.

This word, make sence with you reading Ivan on how to deal with your problem. Going beyond your-what you think- limits.

(If Dora is around maybe she can help me with a more accurate translation . Dora, It’s the word “υπέρβαση’ I’m talking about)

 

[rodaki]

I'm around! -between kitchen and computer actually

I tried finding another word for this, but there doesn't seem to be one in english . . maybe 'outgrow' has some of the same connotations . .

 

[maremaria]

Thanks Dora,
How about transgression in a positive meaning ? (The action of going beyond or overstepping some boundary or limit) .28 its about transgressions too.

Sorry Ivan. Wanted to help but feels like bring confusion
:hide:

 

[rosada]

Looking at the sequence..

27. You know all the wise sayings, all the reasons, all the shoulds and should nots..
28. But you still gotta go take the plunge, do something drastic to remind you so you can..
29. Go out in the world and be surrounded with temptation yet still keep success in your heart.

"Taking the plunge" could be seen as going cold turkey. Do you have any sugar in your house? Pitch it. All of it. Even if you just bought it this morning. Even if you are thinking it's not for you, it's to have something to serve guests. Get rid of it. Give out hard boiled eggs to the trick or treaters.

Let us know how you're doing.
rosada

 

[hollis]

I really agree with Rosada's first post, as strategy. Have made dietary changes since last Feb, and notice that when meals are planned ahead, there is MUCH less inclination to eat on the go, which often ends up being a sugary snack. Also, Michael Pollan recently did an 'answerairre' with readers, 'what are your food rules'. He selected his favorites and complied them. One woman from an Italian family said her family table rule was to 'never leave the table until you have eaten your fruit.' With a fruit after the meal, the palate is refreshed, and there is very little inclination to go for sugary sweets.

 

[tigerintheboat]

Late to the Party

Hello -

I asked the question, how can I overcome my addiction to sugar? and I received 28 with no changing lines. First of all, what is the significance of no lines changing?

So yes my ridgepole is sagging and I probably abuse food to deal with it but how can I simplify when I love all that I do?

Sorry for coming late to the party...a few thoughts, hopefully not covered by others.

Lots of people love what they do and (slowly) kill themselves doing it. I am not necessarily referring to skydivers and drug addicts here, but ordinary people who lives involve activities and ways of being that will eventually kill them, such as smoking, excess drinking, eating virtually no fruit or vegetables, etc. Some people are aware of this and have chosen their comfort, others are in denial, etc.

My only point here is that "loving what you do" has nothing whatever to do with whether you engaged in a sustainable lifestyle that will keep you healthy until a reasonable age.

The Sequence of the Hexagrams is: First comes Nourishment (H27) and then comes Greatness in Excess (H28). Yes, it is possible to have too much, even of a good thing.

There are various kinds of nutritional products that will help keep sugar cravings to a minimum, if you really want to eat less. And of course, if you will eat regular meals, you will not consume nearly as much sugar, as there just won't be room. But if everything else takes priority then you will fail again and again, in the identical way. Think about the movie Groundhog Day.

As for the hexagram with no moving lines, my inclination when I receive a reading without a moving line is to think that I did not ask the right question, or a specific enough question. If nothing is moving, then there isn't much change. A situation is being described, but not the change element.

An example: I asked "what if I wait and don't send a particular email." Yi's answer was H13. Everybody would be friendly and chummy. But so there would be no change in the situation, everybody would regard each other well, but the problem I had would still be there.

But perhaps Yi did answer here....You asked "How..." and Yi said "Too much, overload, take a stand, set priorities, make choices!"

Tiger

 

[ivan]

This word, make sence with you reading Ivan on how to deal with your problem. Going beyond your-what you think- limits.

That feels right.

 

[ivan]

Thanks Tiger for your thoughtful answer.

In the mean time I asked the Yi if I really did want to change my behavior and I received 2:1,6>28.
I'm too tired to figure out its meaning except to say generally yes I do want to change. line 1 - follow a path or way of life that you see works - my yoga teachers. line 6 - you are letting your energy be wasted by an internal battle - my addiction. Changing into 28 again! - what does that mean?

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful energy and time.

Jean Marie a.k.a.
Ivan the Boneless son of Ragnar Shaggy Britches

 

[bamboo]

Hi Jean,
I really loved Bruce's answer. The other day I drew 28.0 about a question re my family who I have been not speaking to for some very good reasons, too long to get into. I asked the Yi what is my place in this whole scenario - meaning am I wrong or right to want firm distance. I got 28, and for the very first time in all my years, I really saw that text about 28 being "strong to stand alone" ..i never saw it that way before, always saw it as about running for cover from stress that would just be unbearable. and it was inspiring to see the vote for strength. Esp because I have to bear the onslaughts of criticism from family members who disapprove and only want the status quo back.

this is not to hijack your thread!! I think giving up an addiction requires one to stand alone under pressure. you stand alone because the decision to quit must be yours and it must come from deep inside. Quitting an addiction is very much like being in a structure that is about to fall down, as well it should!! we become like the hanged man in the tarot, sacrificing what was part of us, and turning us upside down in the process. we need to be turned upside down to see a different perspective.

The other part of 28 is preparing to make the getaway into a new life, way of being. at certain points, the internal pressure gets too great...our inner voice tells us that it is time to make that change and the time for negotiation is past. Envision yourself as that strong woman who can stand tall under the pressure, and then at the right moment, throw that last beam of support behind and make the break out into a new life, addiction free.

the 2.1.6 is very interesting. I think the 2.1 is saying : BE AWARE: If you can continue this addictiion, it will only harden ...think of your future down the road if you dont change and dont listen to the inner voice...it will be the same, only worse and harder to eradicate. and 2.6 is indeed the waste of energy with the internal battle. You must take the stand 28, heed the message of the pressure.

and keep your dogs. the greatest comfort in the world, you'll need them during those "three dog nights" -or four- as you shiver through withdrawal. BUT the other side of freedom is so sweet

 

[meng]

Great example of 28, Bamboo.

What strikes me about lines 1 and 6 of h2 is that line 1 doesn't try at all while line 6 tries too hard. Seems that a happy medium would be something worth considering.

 

[rodaki]

Hi Ivan,

nothing more to add to your 28 question, I think you have gotten already wonderful feedback, just something I noticed . . your 2.1,6 takes you to 27 not 28 . . maybe this is about being aware of which needs are nurturing you or eating up your resources?

take care!

 

[ivan]

Dear All

I have gotten wonderful feedback. Thank you all. I will let you know how things progress. Tiger thank you for your answer on the non changing hex. That is a really helpful explination. I look forward to a day when I can give some learned, helpful insight to others. Right now my knowledge of the Yi is limited. I will keep studying with you all.

Ivan Marie

 

[Grandma]

This isn't related to your i ching answer but try to substitute natural sugars.
There is a product called stevia made from a South American plant that is a good substitute if you put sugar in your coffee or on your cereal. There is also agave nectar made from a cactus. Also try having a teaspoon of unsulphured blackstrap molasses at different times during the day. These substitutes might help your body address the sugar craving.

 

[lilylotus]

I am just trying to understand , why some posts get 19 readings and others we have to shout, and shout and maybe one saint arrives to help..I am envy