Presentation..

[Lodestar]

I have a public presentation to give.But every cast recently has said 'take no action' No direction bears fruit ect

What can I expect if I go ahead? 33.2.3.4.5.6-7

Am I ready? 18uc
Need to really tighten up the material and practice..

I really could do without any knocks to my confidence - I've done a million 'feel the fear and do it anyway's I'm trying to move forward sensitively. That said I would really hate to cancel - all the publicity is gone out..

If I practice an hour and a half everyday - will I be ready? 56 uc
Totally confused by that! Is it says perhaps this is just a step in a larger process..

 

[Tohpol]

Well, that's not very heartening for sure...

H.33 is a strategic retreat, remember... It may mean retreating from anticipation and expectation and just doing your best hence the background hexagram of 7 - discipline, but I think that's a bit tenuous for me. More probable is that it is safer for you to retreat from the whole idea for now.

Following 33 with H.18 - this might be giving you a warning that you are indeed not quite ready for some reason. Perhaps it is exactly as you say: you need to practice to the point it becomes second nature and you could do it in your sleep. There is also the suggestion that this is all a mistake in and of itself...Not what you want to hear I know.

Or...Perhaps there might be something completely beyond your control that means it will be postponed or cancelled?

H.56 is about a transition from one threshold to another hence the wanderer. It can be a physical move but more likely a conceptual shift is suggested which would make more sense in combination with H.33 and H.18. Perhaps too it can indicate a transition phase toward a more integrated state in terms of your presentation?

In summary, it seems fairly unequivocal that, at the very least, a) much more serious preparation is needed or b) the idea needs to be shelved for the moment for reasons unknown, but which may become clear.

How long have you got until lift off?

 

[goddessliss]

Hi Lodestar doesn't look good does it! Why not ask How will it benefit me to pull out of this presentation?

 

[Trojina]

After edit.....Boiled down to saying in 33.2.3.4.5.6>7 I'd give the weight more to the hexagram 7 than the 33 so wouldn't cancel. However I also think it may be cancelled anyway, perhaps for reasons beyond your control.

 

[Lodestar]

Thankyou for your replies everyone, this is really important to me.

Not enough time Topal for any major progress to be made!

Its this fine line between having a gung-ho, let's do this, attitude, for that in itself can get one through - while preparation can be a downfall by making one more nervous and perfectionist. However, preparation to the Correct degree, is essential to pull it off. Earghh...

How would I benefit from cancelling? 54 uc
To me this is not having power, it might back up Topal and Trojina, that it might be cancelled.
Or that I am acknowledging I am low in the heirachy and not ready.

To just double check then I will ask for clarity on both yes and no.

Is going ahead a positive step that will benefit me?
57.2.3.5.6-2

57.6 strong opposing forces immediate withdrawal is the best course of action!!
De Korne - compulsive speculation cripples intuition. Yes but that's why I'm asking my intuition is clouded.
Perseverance brings misfortune.

Is cancelling a positive step that will benefit me?
28.2.5-62

** I looked back through my notes to when I accepted this in January and asked 'am I able for this, to do this successfully?' I got 19.2-24 'If you are presented with an opportunity, prospects for success are very favourable' that's why I committed. And I have not been idle since..

 

[Lodestar]

I also asked, on a different perspective, 'how can I get to the standard I want to and need to be with this'?
17.6-25
It may be time to seek the counsel of someone wiser and more experienced. Be receptive to advice from a person you respect, and make the proper adjustments. If he or she agrees to work actively on behalf of your cause or enterprise, supreme good fortune awaits.

6. A turning point comes from being truly understood and respected. Emerge now from the retreat. You have much support from those who follow
A. Devotion to the Work brings unity to the psyche


To me this is saying if I wait, and follow guidance, I can achieve a necessary unity of the psyche I do not yet have. And that is why I am currently have this obstacle of 'opposing forces' which are my own energies, or ancestral patterns I have yet to integrate.

 

[Tohpol]

Is going ahead a positive step that will benefit me?

57.2.3.5.6-2

Confused thinking and trying too hard to succeed. There's something hidden here that you need to bring to light; maybe in your own unconscious or as an external event that may become apparent. Be receptive not proactive.

Is cancelling a positive step that will benefit me?

28.2.5-62

That seems pretty clear. This can refer to a cancellation outside of your control, or your own decision to cancel. (The latter would take considerable guts to do of course...) Either way, this appears to be a sensible channelling of that critical tension into creativity and renewal: a positive step would come from cancelling. Such a conservation of energy may then be available for something else which would benefit you.

Line 5 as the dominant line may indicate your identification with the presentation and what you assume it may give you, when in fact, it might be a "flare" of creativity which doesn't necessarily go anywhere and wastes vital energy which could be conserved. However, there's "no blame" involved either. Your choice.

The background is H.62 - you are reaching too high. Once again, you can go ahead anyway but this seems to be the theme.

Perhaps others have a different take on the lines.

 

[Lodestar]

Great, that's so helpful thankyou Topal.
I have been unwell and I think while in principal the idea to do this is sound, I may not be recuperated enough.
The 'vital energy' really strikes a chord with me..as energy has been a huge problem and I have done a lot of work to get back to normal energy levels. This presentation may just be too soon in the process.

 

[goddessliss]

I'm not sure what was going on for you at the time you got 19>24 but whenever I've got 19 it's always turned out to be very present moment so it may just mean it seemed a good idea at that time but now you will return to self. Which if you are unwell maybe a good idea to use your energy on yourself and not on external goings on.

 

[Liselle]

Hi Lodestar,

As I was reading through this thread, I wondered if something else might be going on, but then I got to the part where you said you haven't been well lately. So, yes, maybe it is all saying you're still too under the weather to do this.

What I was thinking up to that point, though, came from noticing this that you wrote:

I have a public presentation to give.But every cast recently has said 'take no action' No direction bears fruit ect

Does "every cast recently" mean you've done a lot of readings specifically about your presentation? Or did that just mean readings in general, on many subjects?

If you've done a lot of casts about your presentation, and the 33.2.3.4.5 > 7 etc. is from the middle of them, I wonder if Yi is talking about all the readings rather than answering your actual questions. (This is something that happens to me when I do a lot of readings. The more I do, the less productive they are.)

If that's the case, then 33 could mean withdraw from doing readings; 18uc could mean you're searching (too much) for "causes," and/or you're being haunted by ghosts (fears, anxiety); the Image in 56 talks about not dragging out legal proceedings (i.e. stop "trying this case" - stop doing readings); the 57 reading could mean you're trying to pin down the wind, so to speak; the 17 reading could mean stay in the present moment and don't try so hard to direct this.

I didn't examine the readings in detail - this might be on the wrong track altogether, and as I said maybe they really are about your illness and recuperation.

May I ask something? Forget the I Ching for a moment. How do you actually feel about giving this presentation?

Do you feel ready? Maybe you'll never (ever) feel totally prepared, but there's a difference between that, and a sense of having no idea what you're doing. Compare it to studying for tests in school - no one ever feels they're "done" studying, but that's a far cry from not having worked all semester and really not being ready.

Similarly, is your anxiety really extreme, or is it the sort of nerves you (and most people) would have regardless?

 

[Lodestar]

Hi Lisa, thanks so much for your reply.
Generally I'm getting better at not doing 'anxiety castings' but I must admit I did here.
The castings I referred to taking no action were just about this. How do I feel? I think I can do this. It's possible to give a reasonable average show..I think.. I'm still unsure, I will try relax and forget about it for a bit

But I think the extra castings have been because of being so unwell for so long I don't know if I can trust my strength if I can rely on it. Today I feel better. To help myself, can cut a section out.

I will update.
Thanks so much for your input..

 

[Liselle]

Oh, I do anxiety castings a lot. I think it's the reason I wondered about yours.

I also don't think there's a thing wrong with those sorts of readings. If Yi can't help us with things that make us nervous - and in addition to that a public presentation is clearly a big deal for most people - then what is the point?

A danger, though, can be if nervousness prevents us from actually getting the message of the first couple readings, when Yi's probably still answering our actual questions. Doing a lot of subsequent readings can lead straight down a garden path, which maybe is what happened here.

Can you find the first reading or two you did about your presentation? Look at those again (or not, if you think you have the situation well enough in hand).

 

[Lodestar]

Thanks Lisa, thought I'd wait til I could give feedback, it all went really well, I practiced, visualised the desired outcome and pretty much got the exact experience I aimed for, not above, not less. It was a realistic next step on my path, pressurised, but with careful focus on keeping myself calm and blocking out other people..just focusing on the task I set myself - it went really rather well!

 

[Trojina]

pressurised, but with careful focus on keeping myself calm and blocking out other people..just focusing on the task I set myself - it went really rather well!

I think you just described the experience of 33.2.3.4.5.6>7 pretty well. Withdrawing to FOCUS (7)

 

[Liselle]

I'm so glad it went well!

And I love Trojina's "hexagram sentence" about it.

 

[Tohpol]

Well done you. Treat yourself to a decadent reward of some kind.

 

[Lodestar]

Thankyou guys!

Trojina that's so right. Cool!
I had asked for that 'what can I expect if I go ahead?' Did I err in not being specific enough in my wording?
Should have I asked 'how will I perform?' So as not to be confused by the answer?

A treat is definitely in order Topal - thanks for the reminder! A lot of anxiety, energy and preparation. One small step for mankind - one huge step for me!

 

[Trojina]

I had asked for that 'what can I expect if I go ahead?' Did I err in not being specific enough in my wording?
Should have I asked 'how will I perform?' So as not to be confused by the answer?

You didn't err, how did you err ? I think you saw it as all about 33 and stressed the 33 whereas with all those change lines 7 was far more to the fore, as if the 33 were in service to the 7.

I just turned on the TV and heard a pop singer say 'before a performance I always withdraw into myself in order to focus' which is pretty much what you did. You shut out the outer world to focus, 33>7.

 

[Lodestar]

Thankyou Trojina, that seems to be exactly what I did.
Very useful example. I often confuse my wise intuition for fear.

Your feedback most appreciated thanks! :bows: