Increase or Stagnation?

[cris]

Hello fellow clarity seekers

despite the Yi's recent promises of rings of jade (http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/friends/showthread.php?t=12971), at work it's stormy weather with lots of turmoil within my team. To add to this, the Big Boss - whom I've had no opportunity to update just yet - is asking to meet alone with them to get a feel of how things are going. I have nothing to hide, but I don't want him to be biased by the current level of discontent, or my credibility to be damaged in the eyes of my team. So I asked:

Please help me with the boss's request.
42.1,4 > 12

So here's my very tentative take...

42.
THE JUDGMENT
INCREASE. It furthers one
To undertake something.
It furthers one to cross the great water.

THE IMAGE.
Wind and thunder: the image of INCREASE.
Thus the superior man:
If he sees good, he imitates it;
If he has faults, he rids himself of them.

Based on the general meaning, my boss's intentions would appear genuine. Wilhelm's commentary on this hex mentions "sacrifice on the part of those above for the increase of those below" as a means to achieve devotion. Letting the team speak up could be a constructive move and create a sense of trust.

Nine at the beginning means:
It furthers one to accomplish great deeds.
Supreme good fortune. No blame.

Wilhelm says about this line: "If great help comes to a man from on high, this increased strength must be used to achieve something great". This initiative could turn out to be of help in overcoming the current difficulties.

Six in the fourth place means:
If you walk in the middle
And report the prince,
He will follow.
It furthers one to be used
In the removal of the capital.

Wilhelm again, on this line: "It is important that there should be men who mediate between leaders and followers. (...) This sort of intermediary, who also exercises a good influence on the leader, is especially important in times when it is a matter of great undertakings...". Could this intermediary be my boss? It would look like his intervention could really support my position.
I definitely intend to "walk in the middle" (remain objective and moderate) and "report to the prince" (inform him candidly of the situation) in the hope that "he will follow". The "removal of the capital" makes me think he may have an agenda I could be instrumental to.

All this would sound positive if it weren't for the resulting hex :
12.
THE JUDGMENT
STANDSTILL. Evil people do not further
The perseverance of the superior man.
The great departs; the small approaches.

Hindrance, hostility; gossip and triviality. This may describe the current situation well. Could it be interpreted as the context of the question? Or maybe indicate separation as an outcome?

Would love to hear your thoughts :bows:

 

[icastes]

The 42 generally speaking is very good and makes things go smoothly. Moreover, the two moving lines indicate that there are great things to do and even a way off the beaten track. This discussion with the boss will in fact include all that. He will speak well of these things. However, the sticking point is the 12, which indicates that things will not go the way your expect and there is no help from any allies or friends. It is full of toil and hardship. While it doesn't necessarily mean that you will be "excessed," the results of this meaning, even if you stay, will not go well with you at least in the near term. The petty people around you are undermining you. To not be separated from the company will require that you must find all the reasons to keep you. In other words, 12 says that you must do everything you can to maintain your present position. Be prepared. Marshall all the arguments in your favor in keeping you where you are. Be courageous. If you are able to stay, then you must simply maintain your position until your luck changes for the better.

 

[anemos]

All this would sound positive if it weren't for the resulting hex :
12.
THE JUDGMENT
STANDSTILL. Evil people do not further
The perseverance of the superior man.
The great departs; the small approaches.

Hindrance, hostility; gossip and triviality. This may describe the current situation well. Could it be interpreted as the context of the question? Or maybe indicate separation as an outcome?

Would love to hear your thoughts :bows:

Hi Cris,

a couple of thoughts...

because of some past readings, i don't necessarily see 12 as a negative hex. The flow, the way earth and heaven are moving is reversed , so maybe here 12 it means that, how to reverse that flow currently runs your teams circuits. I see mostly the relating hex as the context of the question/situations, as you said too, so it it were my reading , i would approach it as "how to reverse this situation(12) ? by doing 42.1.4.

not sure of the structure of your team , but if you are the manager then maybe you are the intermediary .

 

[anemos]

Marin had an interesting pov re 12. i don't remember his exact words but he use the battery analogy when reloaded from external source in h12. maybe your boss is that source.

 

[cris]

Thank you

Thank you so much for your responses!

Anemos, your insight is very much in line with my interpretation. Some aspects of Hex 12 are litterally taking place as we speak, so it strikingly appears like the question's background. I'm glad your experience with hex 12 has not been too dramatic (I've drawn it only once as relating hex, very recently, and I haven't seen it manifest as yet) and I truly hope Martin's allegory proves right in this case!

Icastes... wow, separation from the company! I had not even considered that risk though obviously any scenario is possible. Warning taken...

Would you guys suggest that I ask another question to look into the potential risks associated to this situation and understand the best way to cope?

 

[sooo]

Would love to hear your thoughts

I'd tend to read this as saying: the answer to 12 is 42.1,4.

Generosity and accomplishments bring increase to the net profit. Increasing the yield, decreasing the loss, is the solution to 12, which is probably the stagnation of the business.

Because of receiving 12, I'd be extra cautious of not trying to impress your boss with a business 101 thesis. Instead, I'd take ownership of the responsibility to create increase. If that's your message to your boss, I think you're on point, and you both should walk away increased.

 

[anemos]

Anemos, your insight is very much in line with my interpretation. Some aspects of Hex 12 are litterally taking place as we speak, so it strikingly appears like the question's background. I'm glad your experience with hex 12 has not been too dramatic (I've drawn it only once as relating hex, very recently, and I haven't seen it manifest as yet) and I truly hope Martin's allegory proves right in this case!

hex 12 is not a easy place to be

was thinking that if you visualize hex 12 and 42.4 there is a lots of motion in both. When i get "It furthers one to be used In the removal of the capital " i tend to check whether the capital I inhabit is the right place to be or I should be more willing to change my position.stance etc". if I should be more "available" more flexible in a change. I see the capital as my"headquarters"

 

[cris]

Great insights! Thank you :bows:

Sooo: yes, hex 12 looks more and more like the current situation - which is not stagnation of the business itself (results are coming), but of a team. Based on new information there appears to be a hidden agenda behind the Big Boss's request, which I now have reasons to suspect is arising from complaints and allegations (the evil people...). It is also as you write a big warning to act very prudently in an environment which is all but favourable.

Anemos: you have no idea how appropriate your reference to "headquarters" is... there could indeed be some logistic implications in all this matter. I'll keep that in mind as the situation evolves...

 

[sooo]

Yes, Bradford also refers to moving the Capital as a headquarters. I'd always looked at capital in terms of assets to invest, since increase pertains to return on investment. Hence, moving capital would be the generation of increased cash flow.

 

[anemos]

yes. all the assets to invest and create the basis of a good ROI/profit/increase. I agree.

I see logistics as a very h42 function. The flow is the same, from up to down. The "headquarters" , to me, is the starting point, where the planning takes place, where decisions are made of what how to produce, where effective and efficient flow is generated or not. Its a position and disposition. Its the center of the whole operation, in a more metaphorical than literal way. I like Brad's "centered in contact" re 42.4

 

[cris]

The "moment of truth" is arriving, so I finally decided to ask the Yi for further guidance on how to deal with this situation - the boss wanting to meet with my work team at a time of turmoil and open discontent.

Please enlighten me on how to approach this situation.
3.2,4 > 58

I'll go with Wilhelm again...

3.
THE JUDGMENT
DIFFICULTY AT THE BEGINNING works supreme success,
Furthering through perseverance.
Nothing should be undertaken.
It furthers one to appoint helpers.

The image of DIFFICULTY AT THE BEGINNING.
Thus the superior man
Brings order out of confusion.

Ok, so clearly the situation is very dynamic, there's a prospect of growth in overcoming the current confusion, but also potential great danger. I should hold back and look for allies.

Six in the second place means:
Difficulties pile up.
Horse and wagon part.
He is not a robber;
He wants to woo when the time comes.
The maiden is chaste,
She does not pledge herself.
Ten years–then she pledges herself.

How litteral! Yes, there have been more and more hindrances in the recent past between me and my team. Now the boss intervenes as if he wanted to separate us. In reality he may have good intentions and be willing to help. I should however not accept the offer he may raise, persevere in my line of action and wait patiently for things to settle down in due time.
Alternatively, maybe the maiden is my team? Closed up first and then willing to cooperate after a lot of "wooing" from my side?

Six in the fourth place means:
Horse and wagon part.
Strive for union.
To go brings good fortune.
Everything acts to further.

I see a clear chronological sequence here. I start handling the situation by myself looking for union with my team, but I encounter difficulties again. I must however persist with candor, and the right opportunities will arise.

The relating hex this time is more encouraging:

58.
THE JUDGMENT
THE JOYOUS. Success.
Perseverance is favorable.

Lakes resting one on the other:
The image of THE JOYOUS.
Thus the superior man joins with his friends
For discussion and practice.

Once again (as in the last thread) an invitation to be gentle and friendly in my interaction with the team, keeping anyway firm in my objectives. It could also mean that there is potential for an open discussion, with candid expression of the respective thoughts and positions, possibly re-establishing mutual trust.

Any help in understanding this reading would be greatly appreciated :bows:

 

[sooo]

I think you've done a stellar job interpreting your reading, Cris.

The maiden may be them, or it may be you - chaste and patient. I don't see maiden here as in 54, only as someone who wishes to join with a team/family.

 

[cris]

Thank you

Thanks so much Bruce! I'm always concerned of being over-optimistic in my interpretations... (as there's no such thing as over-pessimism ).

I think both the team and I are somehow looking for unity. I anyway have a feeling I am the maiden here and will have to apply loads of patience.

 

[anemos]

Lovely reading and interpretation.

I'm sure you have already read what Wilhelm says in H3 Image commentary but i'm posting it here because in my eyes seems like a apt outline of both readings you had

In order to find one's place in the infinity of being,
one must be able both to separate and to unite.

wish you all the best

 

[cris]

Heartfelt :bows: dear Maria!

Yes I had seen that quote in Wilhelm's commentary. Separating is easy (I have a masters degree in that ), it's uniting which is a challenge... Thank you for your kind wishes! I'm in great need of those.

By the way I found an interesting contribution on the same casting in another thread:

When we go to the next hexagram in the pair, # 4, we see in the corresponding lines 3 and 5 (See Karcher's discussion on pairings in the I Ching. Do a search here for that) line 5 shows there is something hidden in the situation (...). In line three the renovation of a corrupt situation is needed. When lines 3 and 5 change, we have hexagram 57, the other paired with 58. Here we see that a gradual influence is needed. This pairs well with line 3 of hexagram 3 where it says that it will be a while before the connection is made, but in the end all goes well.

I find this insight could apply to my situation too.

I would still be very interested in different interpretations of my two readings. Anyone willing to cast some gloom and doom?

 

[anemos]

Yes I had seen that quote in Wilhelm's commentary. Separating is easy (I have a masters degree in that ), it's uniting which is a challenge...

lol
I assume its a MA , because being able to separate its an art !

 

[cris]

It's a talent! Not always a desirable one tho...

 

[knotxx]

have you met with your boss yet? Be sure to let us know how it works out.