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I wrote a poem.

peppermintgirl

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Yeah,

Hi, everyone I'm new to IChing!

So this a romance one. I wrote a poem for a guy I like. I know pretty sappy right? I don't know if I went overboard. I sent it to him. and I asked Iching how does the guy I like feel about the situation. We took a "break" in our relationship, but I still feel we have a thing.

and I got Hexagram 33.1.6 retreat changing to hexagram 49 Ko(revolution).

okay I asked again and I got Hexagram 18.6 changing to 46.

what does this mean?

Is this bad? Did I do something wrong? I'm so lost...
 
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javalava

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Is this bad? Did I do something wrong? I'm so lost...

One of the very few things you can be sure of with the Yijing is that even if there is "bad" or "good" (which is doubtful) it doesn't stick around long :). I have often been in situations where I feel I don't know which road to take. Most of the time though, I had secretly decided, but just wasn't willing/ready to accept that decision.

I would read #33 as advice to step back, and lines 1 and 6 suggest that can be done without misfortune. The relating hexagram refers to overthrowing the old. Sarah Denning says, "There is no longer room in your life for anything which is outdated and/or does not serve your best interests. It is a case of off with the old and on with the new."

Perhaps the confusion lies with "your best interests"? Alfred Huang's translation has, in Confucius' commentary on 33.1 "... if no action be made, what misfortune could there be?". And on 33.6, "Elegant retreat. Nothing is unfavourable, no doubt at all". He (the guy) probably has received your poem well for old time's sake, but might not wish to continue as before. The indication seems to be that its OK as it is, but leave it be for now.

Regarding asking again, I feel Yi is now being more direct. Are your best interests served by living in a "might-have-been" world (with only what your imagination can provide) or the real one (which is capable of surprising you, giving you nourishment and joy)? In the Sequence, 18 (Gu) arises from too much 17 (Sui) Following or According With, suggesting that (at least for now) the relationship has gone as far as it should go.

This would look pretty damning if it weren't for the relating hexagram, 46 (Sheng) Growing Upward. This, surely, is where your "best interests" lie. Yi is saying that the universe is caring for you. Alfred Huang's translation:
Growing upward.
Sublimely prosperous and smooth.
Appropriate to see a great person.
Do not worry;
Moving forward toward the south:
Good fortune.
Notice that it isn't saying, "This guy isn't for you". Its saying, "Get on with your life". Like Mariah Carey's song, "Butterfly", he may come back to you in the future, but for now the best thing seems to be to let him go. Can you see that this isn't a "bad" thing? It's just different from how you may be feeling. In fact, Yi suggests that very positive things are waiting for you in this new direction. The "south" is where the sun and the people are so, who knows what might be in store.
 
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bamboo

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It's an interesting reading, peppermintgirl, as javalava points out.
I think both 33.6 and 18.6 are beautiful lines, and you did not go overboard at all......you sent him the highest and the best, and your poem affected him, it seems to me, in a very poignant way. I would love to read that poem!
 

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