life hexagram, de, and life opposite from the i ching

[nrtood]

Hello everybody, i just want help with i ching general advices. So, a couple of years ago i asked the i ching about what is the hexagram that guides my life?

hexagram 53

what is my de?

hexagram 58

both no changing lines.

So, the thing is, both of this hexagrams is actually the opposite in what happened in my life so far. During my teenage years, the i ching pretty strongly indicated that in the future there will be some event that will change my life for good. Somewhere between the age 22-23 it indeed came, it was indeed something...how do i put it...not earthly and bizzare, but i don't want to write about it because i afraid of the possibility people here will think i am nuts. Anyway the important thing here is that instead of ending in a good way it ended in one big nothing at all because my utter weakness to take it forward.

So yes i failed and since than new problems came like a reverse kundalini which i can't get rid off and which sabotaged my cognitive faculty, because of it i had a madness attack twice (i am not talking about psychosis, but something much more abysmal), and i had a failed suicide attempt.

Many people tell me i have a character and innocence of a "ten years old child". And i have an unexplainable inner need to serve people. Nobody wants to be like that.

Given all this, i seek advice concerning these two hexagrams, what they can tell about acting correctly in life? In light of what happened so far, what these two hexagrams teach? Where had i gone wrong?

any help, even the smallest one, i will greatly appreciate!

 

[Trojina]

The I Ching is the Book of Changes....not the book of fixed destinies. IMO it is in practical terms a help to navigate the constant flux of life. So I do not believe that one has a hexagram for one's whole life. If you try to fix your life within certain frame works you can limit it can't you ?

Anyway if we do take 53 as an answer here it could describe any life. Gradual Development.

 

[nrtood]

Ok, i get it, it is not saying much. And logically it beats the purpose of the book. Hmmm, on the other hand, i've read here and there about people using the book for non mundane purposes or even occult purposes, and it works well (or at least they think it works well?).

Thank you very much for your kind help.

 

[Trojina]

Well it's just my personal opinion that a hexagram for a lifetime isn't something to cling to.


However if you do take 53 as the hexagram to guide your life 53uc is a nice answer to get. Gradual progress, slow and steady development.


To be honest I'm not totally sure what is meant by 'de' ? One's path I think. If 58 uc is your de , your path then I'd imagine your life would be full of sharing, communication, exchange and so on.

Perhaps others will have more ideas. Others may themselves have cast lifetime hexagrams.

i've read here and there about people using the book for non mundane purposes or even occult purposes, and it works well (or at least they think it works well?).

Yes as you say there are many ways of using the I Ching.

I was probably the wrong person to respond to your query but I did as no one else had answered yet.

Sometimes when no one has answered any answer is good as it bumps the thread up to the top and attracts differing opinions to the opinion already expressed.


Someone is bound to disagree with me regarding lifetime hexagrams...you'll see

 

[bradford]

Even yearly hexagrams are dumb things to ask for.

 

[blue_angel]

I like Trojina's take on it. I do agree, "a lifetime reading wouldn't be something to cling to." Although, what wonderful answers you received. A general question will get you some general advice to follow. It's like Yi said 53 "Take life one step at a time, and choose your steps wisely. You will continue to gradually develop through out life." Or something like that... And yes, de? Tao? Path? As 58, "To look forward to many joyous exchanges while on your path. With yourself, with others, and with all of life really. Continuously find ways to share and communicate in this life." Or something close to that. I don't personally feel there's anything "wrong" with yearly or life readings. Many general questions are asked and the advice comes back making sense and wise. As it did here.

 

[nrtood]

Trojina

To be honest I'm not totally sure what is meant by 'de' ? One's path I think. If 58 uc is your de , your path then I'd imagine your life would be full of sharing, communication, exchange and so on.

Well, it is a chinese term so naturally it can mean several things. But what i had in mind when i casted the question is the taoist idea of something basic that shapes the person, something most natural to him/her.

Well, i don't know what to think about it now. The i ching tend to give more vague answers to this kind of questions, but from my meager experience, there are exceptions when the i ching gives clear answers, in rare cases even prophetic answers.I started this thread because i am confused about my life, my mental problems and self loathing,failing at everything etc', even in serving people which is the only reason i see and want myself existing for. So my thoughts were maybe with these hexagrams it could give me some life direction, something i can grasp and lean on you know, some know thyself which i mostly lack. Most of my life i got cold showers probably because i wasn't capable to grasp obvious things and deduce the right conclusions. But more erudite and veteran experience does count, and if the experienced elders here say it is useless to ask such a thing, then you see something i am not and that is i who value incorrectly the i ching and i was wrong in my expectation of people to take the whole thing seriously. So i apologize!

bradford
Lise, Bradford, how many more webmasters are members here?

blue_angel
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
:bows:

 

[bradford]

De is a complex and wonderful concept, and is also the De in Daodejing.
This is the entry in my glossary:

de2 6162 919k 60+12 06.3 (a, the) (personal) ability, aptitude,
authority, character(istic), conduct, dignity, disposition, energy, ethic, fitness, goodness,
influence, integrity, intention, merit, moral courage/excellence/force, nature, personality,
power, quality, spirit, spirit-power, strength, temperament, virtue, worth; bounty, kindness,
favor; gratitude; a virtue of; (to be) ethical, realized, spirited, virtuous; grateful; by nature, in
character with; (to) deserve, merit (s, ed, ing); De is often referred to as Dao applied or in
relation to the individual entity. De is the consequence of a being’s being on track, true to
itself, fit to its own proper way and hence: (to be) in character, doing well

For a lot more information on the evolution of the concept, see the PDF at:
http://www.sino-platonic.org/complete/spp235_de_character_early_China.pdf
The Evolution of the Concept of De 德 in Early China by Scott Barnwell

 

[blue_angel]

I am humbled. Thank you for explaining the meaning of de. I do not feel I am deserving of your thank you, especially from your heart. I did not give your questions or the Iching's answers the respect nor love that is deserved. I feel writing "a general question gets a general answer" is wrong, at least for me. I feel the questions are personal and so are the answers. No matter what we ask. I see this miracle like a source of truth that connects with each individual. It's a miracle to ask and get back an answer that connects with us. Especially since you were asking from the place and value that you were. And who I am to ever assume that you or anyone isn't or is. Or that the Iching, this source is not answering with great love, wisdom, and truth. So now I will attempt to see what the Iching is saying to you in these readings. And I thank you, I welcome a good dose of humbling.


"What is the hexagram that guides my life?" Hexagram 53 unchanging. To be unmovable like the mountain. Since that is the lower trigram, perhaps being unmovable like the mountain during times you are feeling low or during times life gets tough. Stilling yourself and going with in, always connected to your source like the mountain is connected to the earth. And not allowing the outer environment or others to move you or change you. The upper trigram wind. When life is looking up, you enter like the wind. The wind penetrates gently, so you penetrate others gently and you allow others to penetrate you gently. You flow through.


Since it is considered the hexagram where the female marries. Perhaps you are to marry or connect together all of those beliefs and ideas that help you to continuously and gradually grow. Proposing what will you do, setting out, and following through with your intentions. Receiving gifts from life along the way and giving gifts as well. You continuously work on your own inner virtues and develop your customs. You ascend up like a tree that grows. Even when a boulder is in the way of a tree, the tree still continues to grow around the boulder if it must, and while growing the tree still ascends up towards the heavens. It is said, the wild geese are forever devoted to one another even after death. So you are forever devoted to the source of life, connected to all of life, and evolving through all of life with the times and seasons. Moment by moment, and each moment you have is good fortune. How's that?


"What is my de?" Hexagram 58 unchanging. Joy within and without. Keep the joy within during times you are low or alone. Experience and share the joy during times you are up. You are to visualize joy and manifest joy. You can persuade yourself as well as others through joy. Staying true to yourself and yet caring for others when communicating. You are receptive of your de and your de is receptive of you. You respond to de and de responds to you. You flow on together through this life like two friends. You are never alone even when you feel you are. You are capable of bringing people together through joyful persuasion, to connect, and share joyfully. This is pleasing for you to see others pleased. You can find the balance and harmonize.


I learn from the elders but I learn quite a lot from the children. I think we can all learn something through each other. I feel we are meant to connect and as a friend said just today "corporate with each other and with life in the best way we know how through love." The children and younger ones come with fresh visions, innocence, energy, and curiosity. Sometimes it feels they are closer to the source. The elders I have respected and admired the most are those that have not only lived successful lives, but the ones that are still so humble. No matter how much they've learned, experienced, served, loved, hurt, researched. They admit to still learning. They share, but you can see they do a lot of reflecting. They do a lot of observing and listening. Its as if they are full of a light or a love. When in their presence you fill up with that light and love yourself. Or maybe its that their light encourages your own light to shine. It connects. Its beautiful.


If life is a miracle and we are each given miraculous gifts, I feel we should respect this and share it to the best of our abilities, and not forget or become jaded to it. Closed to it. Or separate from it or each other. So... maybe others that have achieved great knowledge on these hexagrams, some so much more than I, will come along, and share. Would be neat if many came along and shared, each adding their own knowledge, gifts, wisdom, love, and light. From my heart to yours, I thank you, and wish you the best on your journey.