Pursuing Music and Performing 16 (1, 6) > 21

[vivjohnson]

Hi Everyone - This is my first post here at Online Clarity, though I've been reading your wise and astute responses for a few years. I don't consult the IChing very often, but today I felt the necessity... and I'd really appreciate some help...

Very recentlyI made the decision to pursue music in a conscious and intentional way. Prior to this, I have not really taken myself seriously as a musician (singer/songwriter) and have been afraid to really "put myself out there" - yet I've secretly yearned for the opportunity to perform and play music with others. Having turned 50 in December, I suppose I've been giving some thought to dreams of my youth and how I missed so many opportunities out of fear that I wasn't good enough, etc.

But it's now or never. Last night I performed a song at an open mic, did ok, and today I committed to guitar and voice lessons as a way to structure my intention to get better as both a musician and as a performer (I suffer from terrible stage fright!)...

I consulted the I Ching in a general way around pursuing music, performing, singing and received

hexagram 16 (with changing lines 1 and 6) > to hexagram 21

I think I understand hexagram 21: I've "bitten through" my own resistance, pride, fear of failure and have decided to MOVE ON

Hexagram 16 seems to be reinforcing the music! and setting off on a new course of study and intention.

It's the lines (1 and 6 - bottom and top) that I can't quite get my head around. Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! Peace,
Viv Johnson

 

[precision grace]

Hello Viv, welcome.

Line 1 deals with service and subordination, like children or inferiors and Line 6 with teachers and guides. Line 1 is about not getting ahead of yourself, getting carried of with enthusiasm. Bradford's commentary even references music: 'you don't get a rhythm with only one beat or the melody with one note'. It's possibly about proclaiming to be ready too early in the game? Line 6, the teacher line is about achieving the glory of the excitement of 16 fully realised. I don't know if 21 is saying you've bitten through things or that there are still things to bite through. Suffering from stage fright is a serious affliction, I've seen it cripple my father's life and work and you may need more help before you can fully get over it.

On a non Yi related note - I am so happy for you, well done for going for your dreams!

 

[vivjohnson]

Line 1 deals with service and subordination, like children or inferiors and Line 6 with teachers and guides. Line 1 is about not getting ahead of yourself, getting carried of with enthusiasm... I don't know if 21 is saying you've bitten through things or that there are still things to bite through. Suffering from stage fright is a serious affliction...

On a non Yi related note - I am so happy for you, well done for going for your dreams!

Thanks for your reply. I guess line 1 reminds me to take this step by step -- and open myself up to learning and asking for help .That's what it feels like to me.

Biting Through - Feel like I'm have bitten through, am biting through and will continue to have to bite through fears and resistances. That it's a continuum of biting through.

My stage fright is something I'd like to address! Perhaps this is what I need to bite through... But the music is there, that's for sure.

thanks again for your reply.

Peace,
VJ

 

[meng]

John Lennon puked from stage fright when performing after the Beatles broke up, though still playing with a (very loud) band. Though that's pretty extreme, some stage fright gives a positive energy edge to a performance. It's easier if you begin with small, intimate audiences and if possible then build to larger venues. My worst performances were when I was comfortable and overly confident. My best were an out of body experience and performing solo in front of large audiences. Altogether h16.

If you wish to seriously pursue music at this stage of your life, song writing is realistically your best shot. If you're doing it for the shear enjoyment of doing it, then age doesn't matter. But I think lines 1 and 6 both draw attention to some grounding in reality, which 16 as a whole makes no promises to mean. But as far as the thrill of getting up the guts to just go up there and do it, 16 and 21 are great.

I'm 66 and still get psyched up in 16 when I play, and if I were so inclined, could still join a band or jam sessions, do a little local studio work. But as far as "making it" in the main stream, I'd only be dreaming unrealistically. But a good song stands on its own merit, and can be written successfully at any age. Getting it believed in and plugged in is usually another story. Still no reason not to thoroughly enjoy doing it for the sake of just doing it. That's how I interpret your reading as well.

 

[Lavalamp]

16 is about music, "It furthers one to install helpers, And to set armies marching." The Chinese viewed music as being good for getting people marching to in other words, and for ceremonial purposes. It could lead people to low places as well as high places, so there were often very moralistic concerns expressed about music, even that certain forms should be outlawed, even what "the note of heaven" was. They generally didn't address music as Art much, it was useful, sometimes a sacred offering, but always had to serve a higher purpose. So it's good to understand this view of Confucianist thought regarding music. I don't have a problem with this, being a John Coltrane fan often viewing music as having to do with one's spiritual path and as a love offering, but some artists and players might. Confucius would have taken a dim view of Blues being played in Roadhouses and Brothels, for example. Although they had that too, truth be told.

16.1
Watch your ego, and do not boast about your "Connections" artistically or professionally, all that nonsense that accompanies the music business in general. And music should bring people together, not establish a social pecking order. It's not for "cutting heads" competitively as they do in Jazz sometimes, not for one person to rank someone else as being less than one's self.

16.6
Do not be deluded by the flattery of others. Even if you get great reviews in the press, don't believe your own PR, keep your feet on the ground. When you sing love songs, you are going to attract all kinds of people. Keep your head on straight.

>21
Removing the "obstacles to union" will require effort, discipline and practice. Try to find a middle way, don't be overly hard nor over soft about the process.

- LL