Help with career decisions and outlook

[etiram]

Dear I Ching Clarity:

For several months I have been reading your discussion forum, and I have used it to help with my own readings, specially the "search for hexagrams and lines in messages" feature of the site, it is extremely useful. I am very grateful for your help.
I need help with some readings I have done regarding the future with my career. I need to give you some background so you all can help me interpret the readings. I am the spouse of a faculty at a University. My husband is solidly settled in his career, and overall he has worked hard and been succesful with his work. Myself on the other hand, I also have a PhD, and a desire to pursue my career in a more serious way. I have put away my career for some time to take care of my family. But now, that both my kids are a bit older (over the age of 5), I have decided to take my career more seriously, and find a good job, preferably in the same geographic area as my husband, although he is fully supporting me with my desires to develop myself further in my career, and willing to move if we have to. In the University setting we are, I have worked mostly part-time as research faculty, a type of position that usually it is not valued and involves a great deal of work, usually you are an invisible faculty, even though you are investing an enormous amount of time and effort to do a good job. This position it is not very well rewarded either, in salary terms and in recognition terms. Since we have been considering finding jobs elsewhere, my husband one day disussing this with his supervisor mentioned that we might move because of me looking for a job elsewhere, and my frustration with the way the University operates. Surprisingly, his supervisor said he is willing to help finding a better position for me withing the University so my husband does not leave (since he is very valued in his job), which in University terms it is called "second hire", or "trailing partner". I still do not know if this is a good idea, since I will always doubt myself in the sense that I was hired because of my husband. Also, I do not know if by the University creating my position, that will mean a loss of any future faculty they might specially want to hire, or an imposition in the department where the position will be created. In any case, I asked the I Ching yesterday, "What was the likelihood of the University system helping me get a respectful position? And I got hexagram 19 with changing line 6, to hexagram 41? I really can not interpret the answer, and this is really important for me. Can you please help? Thanks, E.T.

 

[dobro p]

19.6 is positive: it talks about generosity and magnanimity approaching, and how this is fortunate and without fault.

I'd read it this way: you've received a generous offer which is good news and completely without fault in any way.

It looks like your doubts don't apply to the position being offered.

 

[papa_jack]

Etiram:
Best wishes to you.

In my opinion, you are battleing your ego. The I-Ching wants to advise you but you have allowed the inferior ego to take charge.
In Kua 19 it states that in 8 months misfortune. This seems to stem from the fact that you allow your ego to guide you and not your higher inner self.
In line six the help of the sage seems to be going out the window because of this battle within you.

I believe that first get reid of your ego. then brainstorm on what you want to do that makes you happy and satisfied. Do not consider finances or positions but only what makes you happy and in harmony with your husband, the Sage and ultimatly the celestral Consciousness, (Your Deity)

Please understand this is my opinion and may be way off base. But I feel that you need to know what I think The I-Ching / The Sage is tring to teach you at this time.

My best wishes and complete hopes are that you will find the very best for you.

In Friendship
Papa Jack

 

[calumet]

19 suggests it's time to get moving, but the 41 does warn of some sort of problem ahead. No doubt this is outrageously incorrect, but I think of the resulting hex as "context" or "with a general tendency toward." So I read, "Time to get moving, but there are serious limitations right now."

So, think hard about this: What is truly essential in attaining your goals, and what can you do without or delay without compromising your ability to achieve what you desire? What might limit you? One thought: How are your location and position limiting you? Your academic training and Internet savvy connects you with your colleagues all over the world. Even if you stay where you are now, and even if you retain your present position, you still can do research and publish if that's your dearest wish and if that's how you want to demonstrate your competence to yourself and the world. On the other hand, perhaps for you a just and worthy goal is a position at a more prestigious university. In that case, it sounds like you will need to move. Lucky you, to have a husband who will cooperate!

Line 6, besides pointing to limitations, invites you to make a commitment to share your learning. Only you can decide how best to do that. Overall, I think your reading suggests action, but action that is thought out very carefully in advance.

 

[jeanystar]

Dear ET,
I agree with some of all of the above.....but I am with Dobro in that I see 19.6 as very positive....what it seems beneficial to decrease in your situation is the idea that accepting the help of the university supervisor would be a cause for self-doubt or compromise you in some way. That may be the notion you need to let go of.
It sounds like a great oppportunity for you, perhaps a position where you could be of great benefit to the university...but only you know what you really want.

Alternatively, the 19.6 could simply refer to the generous influence of this university supervisor who will undertake to find you a position..with the 41 hinting that you may have to curb your own ambitions if you accept his help.

Can you wait and see what he has to offer...what position he has in mind for you, or better yet, a position you could mutually agree upon?

In your shoes, I personally would feel very positive and expectant after getting this reading. Many times people are hired by universities based on who-they-know and personal connections...it isnt a bad way to get a new job, after all! And it sounds like this man has an investment in making sure you are happy. That's a pretty good place to negotiate.

 

[etiram]

Dear Dobro and Jeanystar:

Thanks for your positive advice and for helping me shed some of my insecurities. I think what both of you say actually applies to the situation, specially your comments about self-doubt, being able to accept the help, and if accepting that help, being aware that it might not be exactly as expected but that I might have to curb some my own desires (as Jeanystar says).

Papa Jack and Calumet:

You are both right in the sense that I am still debating about what I really want to do, and I am reflecting upon that. Also, you talk about my ego getting in the way, that might be right, but more than that, I would like to be true to myself. And, also, I want to measure the consequences of accepting this type of job, in the sense, that I do not want to harm anybody else's chances on the way, or impose myself to other University people. With respect to the type of position I want that is different from what I have now, my desire is just a position where I am respected for what I know, and recognized for my collaborations. I do not want to be famous or anything like that. I really appreciate your inside view, and it has made me think more profoundly about my real wishes.

Again thanks to all of you. This has been a real "clarity" experience. And I hope that in the future I can return the help with the little bit I know about the I Ching.
E.T.