How to help myself? Hex 2 unchanging

[applegirl]

So while I'm going through a difficult time (which I ususally refer to as 'the circus' because there have been lots of huge upheavels in the past 6 months, not just the rship) I already got clarity on the current situation with my ex, but as I mentioned this whole time has brought up huge questions for me. This morning I explained to the iChing that I'm a little worried about myself (you can only go for so long being upset every day, panicking about the future, all that kind of stuff) and I asked what I can do to help myself. So the answer is 2, unchanging.

I interpret this as having to address the feminine more. I've been trying to 'do' lots to try and negotiate this time, been trying to deconstruct, reconstruct, analyse, fight and be brave and independent which I guess are all yang in energy. I think this hexagram is telling me to bring in the yin side of myself to balance things up more.

The funny thing is that my last rship had started to bring that home to me in a very profound way. The ways in which I started growing in the rship were very much around my identity as a woman as opposed to a person, if that makes sense. It did introduce me to aspects of myself I didn't know were present to the extent they were.

Where I'm a little stuck on this today is the implementation of the advice. In one of my last readings I asked the iChing to tell me something of myself, and I got 46 - pushing upward. Again, I see this aspect of my nature as being quite yang. How do I harmonise pushing upward and the striving and searching that I associate that with, with the wholly yin aspect of 2, being receptive, following, accepting, yielding? I must admit that it is against my nature not to be striving for something, so I don't want to 'mood make' that I'm somehow this gentle, accepting girlie when I'm quite a feisty lady . Yet I get the sense of needing to develop the feminine in a balanced way.

As always, any of your insights would be very much appreciated.

Applegirl

 

[getojack]

How do I harmonise pushing upward and the striving and searching that I associate that with, with the wholly yin aspect of 2, being receptive, following, accepting, yielding?

Plant a tree in an empty field?

 

[Trojina]

Where I'm a little stuck on this today is the implementation of the advice. In one of my last readings I asked the iChing to tell me something of myself, and I got 46 - pushing upward. Again, I see this aspect of my nature as being quite yang. How do I harmonise pushing upward and the striving and searching that I associate that with, with the wholly yin aspect of 2, being receptive, following, accepting, yielding? I must admit that it is against my nature not to be striving for something, so I don't want to 'mood make' that I'm somehow this gentle, accepting girlie when I'm quite a feisty lady . Yet I get the sense of needing to develop the feminine in a balanced way.

As always, any of your insights would be very much appreciated.

Applegirl

Aha well the point is don't implement stop implementing lol. I don't see hex 2 as 'feminine' as in encapsulating all the mish mash of ideas that culture makes/has made of what woman/female is like...though of course one can make broad comparisons but I feel it might help to drop the 'feminine'angle more and see hex 2 rather as yin energy, with ideas of resting, accepting, nurturing, allowing oneself to be led...IOW chill thats how you can help yourself. Not by trying to be what is feminine (which can be quite exhausting especially if it involves wearing heels, ) but just by being.

What a great answer to get ! You can help yourself by just accepting thngs how they are, including yourself, with no 'implementing' required. Theres no project to manage here, not even the project of pretending to be a docile girlie.... feel the relief and enjoy

Re the 46 well i think perhaps you are trying to box in who you are there. 'Tell me something of myself' could mean you are asking 'who am i' but who you are is too big to encapsulate really. I'd see 46 as well you are growing, reaching up, but trees don't have plans to implement to grow and they grow anyway. The life force is what pushes them, and yes they are actively growing but within their nature. Maybe with hex 2 it may help to rest within your nature now, no artifice, but remaining open for all kinds of things to grow.

 

[willowfox]

I asked what I can do to help myself. So the answer is 2, unchanging.

It suggests that you learn to both endure and accept change without fighting it, be adaptable, be cooperative, the need to listen to wise advice before doing something, the need to adjust to changing circumstances and not try and force yourself or your opinions onto others, you need to be very resilient and realistic, also to be open, friendly and generous.

 

[applegirl]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the insights, there's a lot to think about and meditate on in here.

@gettojack - is that metaphorical or literal? I've love a big field to plant a tree in!

@trojan - thanks so much for all the things you raised in your post. Traditional notions of the feminine, and roles in society are the kind of things I've been looking at for the first time in my life! Maybe I'm getting too caught up in the intellectual stuff around that instead of, as you say, 'being' in the yin energy. And don't even get me started on the heels , much as I love them my feet beg to differ! I take on board what you're saying about trying to box myself in, trying to have it all figured out I guess. I think it's something a lot of us struggle with - I've long known intellectually that trying to control is futile, that in reality we don't have much by way of control, but it's a very strong instinct to try to control nonetheless, especially during difficult times. It's like trying to find an anchor of 'known' stuff amongst all the 'unknown' soup of the universe! You made me laugh too when you underlined about not implementing, there is irony in what I'm asking I suppose! Maybe the way to put it is 'how do I learn to yield when I find myself resistant to it'. I probably just need to stop trying to fix it all, take some down time and be a little internal.

@Willowfox - thank you for your insight into this reading. I have to agree with you, the things you speak of me learning are the things that I find most difficult. You bring up a fundamental conflict in my nature I guess, the desire to fight, to have autonomy, and yet there's the knowledge that I can't fight change. Funny, I can do the things you say about listening to others, or getting advice. But what I'm going through at the moment seems to be internal stuff, like a very deep inner conflict. I try to accept and for a while can move into this very peaceful place of acceptance. Then the fiestyness comes out and rebels against the passiveness!

Well anyway, there's no way to say this without the irony that Trojan pointed out ... but I'm going to dip into the realms of letting it all go, trying to be more in the now and just try to take baby steps, instead of taking on sorting out the vast 'projects' of my life in the last 6 months. In other words, try to accept the circus!

Applegirl

 

[memobook]

Applegirl, i asked iching the same thing and got the same answer! Everything everybody has said seems to apply to me as well.*scary*

"...Funny, I can do the things you say about listening to others, or getting advice. But what I'm going through at the moment seems to be internal stuff, like a very deep inner conflict..."
I am finding this difficult as well. It is so hard to explain the things I am feeling to people..it is so personal and private and I guess only I will be able to resolve it myself if I let myself.

When I asked iching the same question I got 42.5>46...so I guess that again applies to me too!

will cross my fingers for each other so that we can both deal with our turmoils with the least suffering as possible

 

[applegirl]

Memobook, I think the past month has helped me with the dynamic of Hexagram 2 and especially Trojan's advice to stop implementing! I don't know if I can describe what I now consider to be the dynamic of hex 2, but it's something along the lines of being yielding and accepting on one hand, and then on the other being autonomous and strong, but in a very internal way. It's sort of like finding your own inner strength and for me, as a woman, it's a feminine type of strength. It's almost like strength in being yielding, as opposed to my previous way of being which was a more action and logic oriented strength.

I don't know if that helps you at all, but it has been my experience of Hexagram 2 in the past month. It hasn't made the circus any easier in a way, but I feel more authentic and more sure of myself on the heart level, just by acknowledging that sometimes accepting and yielding provide their own strength.

Hope that helps

Applegirl

 

[Trojina]

Theres some lovely hex 2 songs on the music thread in open space.. like Stings 'Fields of Gold' posted by Brad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UppX6vP3c4g

 

[applegirl]

Theres some lovely hex 2 songs on the music thread in open space.. like Stings 'Fields of Gold' posted by Brad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UppX6vP3c4g

I could spend a serious amount of time on that thread . Thanks Trojan, you really cheered me up

Applegirl

 

[maremaria]

Nice posts applegirl.

maria

 

[applegirl]

Thanks Maria

 

[bradford]

Sounds like in this matter it's best not to do or implement anything
but just take some deep breaths and be kind to yourself.

 

[applegirl]

I agree Bradford .... the difficult time is still ongoing, had a difficult meeting with the ex last night, very sad etc. Today I asked for some guidance and I got hex 9 which fits perfectly really ... don't go for any big gestures to change anything, just baby steps are indicated for now. All I can do is be good to myself and accept. Deep breaths are something I must remember too

Applegirl

 

[meng]

Hi applegirl (btw, are you from Wa. state by chance?).

One itty bit that I didn't see mentioned yet: faith and/or confidence in your future, the way earth is certain of spring following winter; because though 2 isn't a time for leading and implementing, 1 is tirelessly busy implementing the truest desires of 2's heart - which is why it is wise to be careful of your secret wishes.

9 is the opposite of 16, taking care of immediate practical needs, not making more than that.

Hexagrams like 2 and 9 are easy for some people, but for type A personalities, it can be torturous. It's hard work. So in a sense, doing nothing gives us something challenging to do.

 

[memobook]

Memobook, I think the past month has helped me with the dynamic of Hexagram 2 and especially Trojan's advice to stop implementing! I don't know if I can describe what I now consider to be the dynamic of hex 2, but it's something along the lines of being yielding and accepting on one hand, and then on the other being autonomous and strong, but in a very internal way.

I don't know if that helps you at all, but it has been my experience of Hexagram 2 in the past month. It hasn't made the circus any easier in a way, but I feel more authentic and more sure of myself on the heart level, just by acknowledging that sometimes accepting and yielding provide their own strength.

Hope that helps

Applegirl

For the last several days Hexagram 2 for me has been about finding internal strength too. I had never thought that accepting things and just being able to let things go are strengths in their own right but I'm learning that these can be just as crucial if not more crucial than the outward signs of strength one displays. Accepting or at least trying my best to has so far, in some way helped to ease the pain of things immensely..as it goes it won't happen overnight but it will happen...

 

[meng]

Great insight, memobook.

 

[maremaria]

One itty bit that I didn't see mentioned yet: faith and/or confidence in your future, the way earth is certain of spring following winter; because though 2 isn't a time for leading and implementing, 1 is tirelessly busy implementing the truest desires of 2's heart - which is why it is wise to be careful of your secret wishes.
9 is the opposite of 16, taking care of immediate practical needs, not making more than that.

Hexagrams like 2 and 9 are easy for some people, but for type A personalities, it can be torturous. It's hard work. So in a sense, doing nothing gives us something challenging to do.

Meng, i wonder if you could elaborate it ?

 

[meng]

Meng, i wonder if you could elaborate it ?

Sure, will try.

Just because it is a time of 2 for 'me' about a specific thing, doesn't mean that the other 63 hexagrams suddenly cease to exist. They're all working just as they always do. The opposite of 2 is 1. 1 never ceases activity. But the manifest realm requires 2. 2 is more than just a passive vessel, in that 2 plays a cooperative or co-inventive role, and that part of 2's roll includes individual will. A wish is just a subtle form of willing. Do you think heaven hears these wishes? I am convinced, thus far, that we direct much more of our destiny than we realize.

So, is all this in the Yi? I see it there, but maybe it's just wishful thinking.

 

[applegirl]

Meng, your post has floored me

Hi applegirl (btw, are you from Wa. state by chance?).

Well that bit of the post didn't floor me specifically, no, I'm not from Wa, I'm a whole Atlantic Ocean away .

One itty bit that I didn't see mentioned yet: faith and/or confidence in your future, the way earth is certain of spring following winter;

You hit a nerve with the faith in my future observation, it's like you got me figured out in one . Truth is that I used to have faith in my future, that things always work out for the best but I'm finding it hard to believe at the moment, and that has shaken me. I believed in the 'nature support' that seemed to surround my relationship with my ex, and yet it all got messed up. It's just hard to believe that things work out for the best at the moment, when it felt 'meant to be' and yet it's not .

because though 2 isn't a time for leading and implementing, 1 is tirelessly busy implementing the truest desires of 2's heart - which is why it is wise to be careful of your secret wishes.

That's a beautiful observation, and one that I think I can believe in. I do believe that maybe you have to be careful what you wish for. I just hope in time I can stop wishing for what is my hearts desire, and instead see that this was the right thing.

Hexagrams like 2 and 9 are easy for some people, but for type A personalities, it can be torturous. It's hard work. So in a sense, doing nothing gives us something challenging to do.

How true, those hexagrams don't come easy to someone who wants to act and do and fix. Accepting that nothing can be acted upon or done or fixed is difficult and feels like defeat. Actually, what feels like defeat is giving up hope, and I think that's the one thing I need to do.

I sincerely thank you for your insight, all these things pass I know, I just thought maybe it would have passed by now.

Applegirl

 

[maremaria]

Sure, will try.

Just because it is a time of 2 for 'me' about a specific thing, doesn't mean that the other 63 hexagrams suddenly cease to exist. They're all working just as they always do. The opposite of 2 is 1. 1 never ceases activity. But the manifest realm requires 2. 2 is more than just a passive vessel, in that 2 plays a cooperative or co-inventive role, and that part of 2's roll includes individual will. A wish is just a subtle form of willing. Do you think heaven hears these wishes? I am convinced, thus far, that we direct much more of our destiny than we realize.

So, is all this in the Yi? I see it there, but maybe it's just wishful thinking.

2.2 line came in my mind while reading your initial post, doing without doing .
Yield and trust the "force" working under the earth.

Yes, I think all hexagram co-exist in a specific time, just the big light shows the one we get after tossing.

I want to believe that we direct in a way our destiny, we have a saying in our lifes.

Thanks for elaborating.

 

[meng]

I'm happy you found it helpful, Applegirl. It's a huge and ongoing lesson in my life as well. When there seems to be nothing and no one to rely on, that's the greatest opportunity to put real legs to beliefs. Earth bears all things, and that means taking its share of responsibility, but no more than that.

Maria, I had 2.2 in mind. And also 11.3.

 

[maremaria]

Applegirl,

Could you please stop posting !!!!
Kidding. I can relate to many things you have write here, tough things, and I can understand the lack of faith you are through and the difficulty to act in a 2 way. Most times I get 2, I can't help chuckling and say "ok! ok! I know!!! "
But there are times that things happen and makes me think that maybe is hard to do it but it can be done.

take care,
Maria

 

[maremaria]

Maria, I had 2.2 in mind. And also 11.3.

... in the meantime 47, 47, 47 .....

 

[meng]

I was just watching a movie on tiny jellyfish, clouds of them, and not a single brain among them. It makes a perfect image of 2. However, 2 is expected to perform at least at the level it was created as, and so for a human with a brain, 2 requires more than it would from a jellyfish.

 

[steve]

My lucky numbres 2 , it looks nice

Steve

 

[diamanda]

Hi there!

I'm brand new on this forum (although not that new on the I Ching front).
It's so bizarre, a girl in another forum asked the same question, and got 2 too.
And likewise for myself recently....

I so much know what you mean about 'defeat'.
I hate it when there's nothing to be done.
When there's nothing you can 'do'.
I think you should ask the question you mentioned a bit ealrier.
It was something along the lines of 'how do i do this..?'.

46 in a nutshell means 'don't give up'.
And im in the same group at the moment, of 2, and 46.
Definitely not my style either. But...

I have found, personally, that what helps me is to tap into my older
version of a heartbroken teenager! - bizarre as this may sound, when
the going gets very tough, i've found it always helps me to brood by
myself, and somehow still feel 'protected', and still feel there's hope
elsewhere, and still enjoy the feeling of being hard done by , but still
stick my myself, and pay attention to myself. It's a trick a bit like
going back to a Restore Point in your computer Anyway i thought
i'd mention this just in case it helps you out a bit!

 

[memobook]

Just because it is a time of 2 for 'me' about a specific thing, doesn't mean that the other 63 hexagrams suddenly cease to exist. They're all working just as they always do. The opposite of 2 is 1. 1 never ceases activity. But the manifest realm requires 2. 2 is more than just a passive vessel, in that 2 plays a cooperative or co-inventive role, and that part of 2's roll includes individual will. A wish is just a subtle form of willing. Do you think heaven hears these wishes? I am convinced, thus far, that we direct much more of our destiny than we realize.

So, is all this in the Yi? I see it there, but maybe it's just wishful thinking.

meng I had never thought about the other hexagrams occurring at the same time but of course they are! (how silly of me to forget) Things don't occur in isolation and everything affects everything else. Thanks for reminding me!

I have been trying not to wish because maybe in my situation wishing is literally too wishful thinking..but I guess you can still accept something and wish at the same time right? Well, if wishing is a subtle form of willing then I should start wishing a lot more then!

I have often thought that if one starts thinking that something could be possible that is almost like planting a seed which will inevitably grow if nurtured..

's to everybody