layered and enigmatic

[maiajay]

Hi everyone,
Though I wouldn't expect so, some may remember from a few weeks back when I wrote about some readings--difficulties I was having with integrating and finding peace around my father's transition 15 months ago and about an anomolous physical condition I have been experiencing since March--both the literal symptoms of that condition and the larger context of transformation and growth that is in the field--(I note that 49 and 18 as well as 54 come up quite a bit when I ask about the situation over the last several months).
Well, I am still trudging on...every day feels challenging with these bizarre symptoms, though they are not painful, thank goodness--just distracting, disturbing and anxiety producing at times. One thing I want to add is that prior to this starting I was dealing with such shock and grief that my husband reminded me recently, when I complained about the condition and wanting it to go away and to have "my" life back, that I wasn't doing so great before it. I mention that in part because oddly, even as difficult and uncomfortable as this is, I can feel a simultaneous progress of some sort, the beginnings of an emergence, perhaps. Like slowly coming out of a cave...I just feel like the irony of beginning to be ready to re-engage with life more, and to have this physical issue now, is just unfair! (to let my inner-child have a voice, here).

So, this morning I asked, "How can I support myself through this process that I am in?"
Received 61.2.6 to 3

I feel confused by the seeming contradiction in Karcher's commentary of the two lines--
2 says (very beautifully)-"This is the profound echo of an immortal soul calling to its kindred, inviting them to a hidden feast. This call can transform your heart's desire. Do not hesitate to answer it."
And line 6 says,"This is empty ambitious talk that flies above itself. Why go on like this? The way is firmly closed."

I just don't understand what line 6 could be saying? Sometimes when I get reading like that I think, maybe the Yi is saying, stop with this line of questioning...but I was just asking how to best support myself...Wilhelm's commentary seems to allude to faith, and that does resonate for me as I feel focused and intent on moving toward more integration and trust around a continued relationship with my father despite his having changed form.

Anyway, I then asked (and don't remember the exact wording of my question) but something like "can I get more clarification about how to navigate this time?"
Received 5.2.4 changing to 49
Once again, how to interpret the text of Karcher's commentaries does not feel clear.
Line 2 says," Waiting on the sands, the shore laid bare by receding water. There is small talk ad small people around you. Adapt to it. The source is located in the centre and that is where you are headed. going through with this opens the way."
Then line 4 says (scarily)," You are in immediate danger. Get out of the cave now! You can save yourself if you will only listen."

I felt so exasperated receiving that. Like I just want to throw my hands up--I do not understand, again, the message and it sounds so foreboding. And Wilhelms is just as grave.

So finally, not wanting to indulge in morbidity, I asked,"From what do I need to withdraw?" And received 46 1.5 to 9

I found that odd,too as 46 to me has been, especially of late, a hexagram of growth. When I recieve it I feel a personal encouragement to continue on with the work of evolving, remembering and Being.

This series of reading feels, not necessarily non-sensical, as I encounter sometimes, but more layered and enigmatic. So, I thought I'd write you all. Anyone want to stick their toe in these waters?
Thanks and Peace,
Maya

 

[i2k7]

Hi Maya

"I feel confused by the seeming contradiction in Karcher's commentary of the two lines-"

I can understand your confusion!

To me it reads that the first line is the direct answer to your question 'How can I support myself through this process that I am in?', and the second line is about what you should avoid, in order to support yourself.

Re: "I just don't understand what line 6 could be saying?"

In Chinese medicine there is the idea that the Fire/Shen element, which the heart is part of, becomes imbalanced through overexcitement and overstimulation and all forms of excess and these things cause the energy to become scattered. It can be like running away with oneself, become overenthusiastic, unable to ground the energies, full of good ideas or plans or wishes or desires or genuinely uplifting energies that dissipate because they're rising up rather than circulating around and through (hence 'empty ambitious talk that flies above itself').

The I Ching's suggested solution, i.e. how to support yourself, is to connect to your centre, your heart's desire, and bathe in it, allow it to suffuse you, rather than overreaching or getting ahead of yourself or letting the useful energies dissipate or scatter.

That's my 2p worth at any rate!

Good luck

 

[bruce_g]

i2k7, that’s a really interesting image of 61.6. I like it a lot.

Miajay, don’t feel like the lone ranger. A lot of folks wrestle with conflicting or contradicting lines. Some have come up with or resurrected formulas to eliminate one or more lines so as to give an answer they can follow. I think they’re all important. The job is to find context for each. Often, that takes a little time for them to become recognized in ones circumstance.

It’s like 32, lines 3 and 5; a reading I received not long ago. Line 3 says it’s a disgrace to not lend endurance to your character, and then 5 says you’re a wuss if you do lend endurance to your character. Huh? But it’s not a problem when you consider that the answer received doesn’t necessarily refer to a single or static occurrence, but rather the complex of an occurrence. It’s just a matter of assigning which action to which aspect of the complex.

61.2 You find support in a shared resonance, a shared cup of wine, a shared friendship, a shared in common voice.

61.6 You holler to heaven for support. While this can’t be relied on by itself, it does serve a purpose within the complex of the circumstance.

It seems that you lost your footing when you lost your father. Perhaps somehow finding peace with him may be the shared goblet, and crowing to heaven may be your voice calling to him. I’m certainly not saying this is the meaning of your reading, but it is an example of how seemingly contradicting answers can speak to the complex of your situation.

I’m not dogging Karcher, but I think using his version alone can create more questions than answers. Maybe that’s a good thing for some, especially if they’re inclined toward mythical language. For most, though, using other versions, either along with Karcher’s books or aside from them, can help to provide more prosaic answers.

 

[maiajay]

Bruce and i2k7, thank you for the replies,

I agree that it in terms of understanding it is about 50/50 with Karcher. When the reading is clear, it is crystal clear-and I can feel so reassured. But when it's murky, especially with multiple changing lines, I can end up quite flustered. I do like the mythical language and often feel it speaks to macrocosmic themes and movements--indivdual and collective, which I appreciate, but what other translations do you recommend? (I do often refer to Lise's and Wilhem's--but what else?)

i2k7, your take on 61.6 resonates, though prior to considering it, I would not thought that had much to do with what is going on with me. I have felt more like my heart is cordoned off, rather than overexcited, but I have also been imaptient in a sense, for months, wanting to feel better than I do. A bit like a horse at the gate--just ready for this heaviness and shock to lift, to regain my footing; perhaps rushing things...but in recent weeks I have felt more of an urge to re-engage with life, as mentioned, while admitting that I do not know where that energy will be directed or what is worth directing it to...You know I read somewhere last year that when someone you love very much and are very connected to transitions, it is as if the doorway they walked through remains cracked open, the veil pulls back and one can become very curious about where they went and what is through that door. It is like we are pulled. But it is more complex than just feeling so sad and missing that person that you think you don't want to be here--this is more of a genuine urge to wander...not wonder, though that, too, but to wander...

I also must say that I have been hollering to heaven for support...especially around this condition. Bruce you wrote about that: "While this can’t be relied on by itself, it does serve a purpose within the complex of the circumstance."
Can you say a bit more about about that?

Thanks and Peace,
Maya

 

[bruce_g]

Maya,

I too mostly use Wilhelm and LiSe, and have recently added Bradford to my go-to list, which can be downloaded as a pdf file: http://www.hermetica.info But along with these, I use my own experience with each hexagram and line to formulate answers to my questions.

61.6 changes to 60. That in itself points to the limitations of crowing to heaven.

61.6 can be bragging about inner truth, making a display, the way a rooster crows to impress the hens (and indeed it does). Just as well it can be fervent prayer or a desperate call to a loved one who has passed on. It can also be in the form of preaching, proclaiming or pontificating loudly. “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” ~ Isaiah

Thunder and hail storm... better scoot!

 

[maiajay]

Thanks, Bruce,
I hope the Yi is not telling me that I am hollering and no one is listening...Or perhaps it is saying that I am limited, from moving forward, not yet having found peace around my Dad. And relying or depending on myself to move through this, will be more supportive than crying to "heaven"...

I went back and looked at some threads (love the archives here) on 61 (and 61.6)--found some of your past writings and some others--
Lise's 61.6 says:
Do not dissect truth too much in words or ideas. Before you realize it, you live up to great words instead of simple intuition, to beautiful ideas instead of simple experience. Give your emotions a fair chance to live life without giving it names.

I relate this as encouragement not to overthink...you know the cold logic smothering the heart kind of thing...I am not sure how it relates to my situation exactly but that's OK--maybe just a nudge toward relying on my intuition...it serves me well when I am feeling clear.


Then found some gems from you--: "An effect of 61, in general, is resonance; that is to say, something which is in synch with someone or something. In this respect it could mean finding ones niche within the whole while working toward the same goals."

And "61 throws one back on themselves, and withholding judgments until time reveals more. The belief expressed in 61 is not in another but in ones self, calling upon ones own inner resources. Throwing in the towel wouldn’t be acting from your inner truth, pining away wouldn’t be acting from your inner truth. So, neither holding on nor giving up is the result of inner truth. "


Interestingly enough, earlier tonight, in follow-up to all of this I asked the Yi, "What can I do to help myself feel better?" And received 7.3.4 to 32

7.3 seems to talk about letting go, releasing the past...Karcher writes of corpses, old memories, useless ideas and false images and of getting rid of them...

...And so there comes a point where the Yi leaves off and the work begins, even if it is simply the work of living.

Maya

 

[willowfox]

"So, this morning I asked, "How can I support myself through this process that I am in?"
Received 61.2.6 to 3"

Hex 61.2 says to be sincere and genuine in all your contacts with others, if what you do and say comes from the heart then it will resonate with those around you and therefore others will be quite willing to give you the support that you need.

Hex 61.6 moaning and groaning will not achieve any help or support, the words will just be empty of real truth, so becareful what you say, otherwise others will become fed up with you. Love is of the essence.

Hex 3 is about growing and how difficult that experience can be in the early stages. Your life may seem to be in chaos now but eventually you will out grow the problem and blossom into a new and colourful flower, so don't struggle against what is happening, you can only accept and know that something good will come of your current problems.

 

[Trojina]

My perspective looking at all your readings is that to help yourself you somehow need to make less of this transition. 61, 2 and 6 I see as you don't need to keep on calling out about this - you don't need to the connection is there in line 2 and the constant callling exacerbates your problem - for one thing it confirms to you there is a problem and makes the problem more real than the solution which is already there.

In your other reading hex 5, lines 2 and 4 - again especially line 4 i see as advising you not linger on these feelings, not to dwell too long on the transformation occurring or that has occurred - that is the pit in line 4 you need to get out of -

You asked next from what you needed to withdraw - I see it as you need to withdraw from concern about the very issues you ask about - at least as much as you can, they hold you back in a position of waiting when you need to move on and up- I think 46 lines 1 and 5 relect this, maybe with the added advice you take it slowly paying attention to the little things (9) take things a step at a time (line 5)

 

[willowfox]

""What can I do to help myself feel better?" And received 7.3.4 to 32"

Hex 7.3 says to have a clear goal insight, plan ahead, if you are vague about what you want to achieve then you will achieve nothing.

Hex 7.4 there is no point in fighting your problem head on, best for you to hold back for the moment and wait for a better time to take action, so this calls for patience as well.

Hex 32 all you can basically do is to keep moving forward with your life, the changes that you seek will come soon enough.

 

[maiajay]

Thank you, all.
I have been contemplating your input.
I really appreciate it.
Peace,
Maya