realizing talents? 37.3.4 -> 25

[elizabeth]

Does the Yi ever answer questions other than those you ask? Methinks it does .

I've been on a rather emotional rollercoaster the past few days and today I asked the Yi how I can best realize my talents (as to me, that is the answer to many of my questions at present). The Yi gave me Hex 37 The Clan, changing lines 3 and 4 and then Hex 25 the Unexpected.

I *get* hex 25 -- in fact, that could have been the entire answer to my question as I interpreted it: If you are clear-minded, act with sincerity/integrity and are not acting on ulterior or cheap motives, you will be successful. OK, solid advice.

But then what the heck is 37 and those lines doing in there? The clan? Is the Yi pointing to a family problem that needs to be addressed? Or does this have another meaning?

The lines, for reference, are:
line 3: When tempers flare up in the family, Too great severity brings remorse.
Good fortune nonetheless. When woman and child dally and laugh, It leads in the end to humiliation.

I read an interpretation of this line that implies complying with what the family wants. In other words, submitting your career/dreams to their will. Is that true?

Line 4: She is the treasure of the house. Great good fortune.

(I can't for the life of me see how this line applies).

Any help is much appreciated.

-e.

 

[bricogirl]

Hi Elizabeth,
I am completely new to this but can't help jumping in with my two cents. Isn't the I Ching pointing you directly to your family (or perhaps another group of people who are very important in your life) to realize your talents. Is there not something you could explore there that would bring you great creative satisfaction? And the way to go about it is described by hex 25?
Good luck to you as the wisdom of your reading sifts through your day.
Kim

 

[hollis]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and look like a jerk to the other readers, but I can't help but wonder if you have some talent or former interest that was abandoned? The reason I wonder that is; 37 3 is being restrictive on oneself or other, line 4 is a wonderful talent, and 25 is loss. (If one has a 'pure', or, unattached, mindframe, loss is not seen as loss, but it is a loss nonetheless) so i just wonder that there is some 'gift' you have that you do not value, or others do not....

 

[Trojina]

Questions like this always produce very hard to understand answers for me. Perhaps it is because our ideas about things like 'life path', 'special talents' and so on have kind of become seperated from our whole life in our minds when they are not. People think they are not on their life path when they can't really be anywhere else, though of course it can be dull and frustrating and not look like it......

Anyhow I tend to see your answer in relation to the fact you say you've been on an 'emotional rollercoaster' recently. If you look at 37.3 it describes just such a rollercoaster. It talks about being either too strict and severe or too frivolous and silly. I think 37 can be about ordering your inner world and the intimate factors in your life -if you think of these as children you know how you have to get the balance right, can be hard i think. So maybe this is talking of your attitude to life right now. Do you think it would help to be a little more disciplined of yourself ? The line does seem to indicate that being slightly too strict is better than being too lax. Line 4 makes me think you are already much appreciated somewhere, could be a gift you already have, but maybe you jeopardise a bit by line 3 type behaviour

Looks to me like you are already more part of something than you thought, you already have responsibities somewhere that can reward you. Maybe just check out inwardly if you need to be a bit more serious or committed in this area. Also may be an issue of moods affecting you too much and the need to find balance.

Don't worry I don't think it means you must bend to the will of your actual family - how horrible would that be lol

 

[elizabeth]

Thanks hollis and kim. This is bizarre. I do not have, to the best of my knowledge, any talent related to family things. I'm an artist/journalist at heart. I live in another country (away from my family) throughout the year, but my talent (in my humble opinion) lies in other areas. I'm trying to read into the Restrictive on oneself->talent->loss pattern, but it's not ringing any bells... Is the Yi saying I need to move *back* to be near (live near) my family to realize my talents? I wonder? That has been a recent theme here but I'm not sure if that's what the Yi is saying...

 

[elizabeth]

Oops Trojan our posts crossed. but your comments make sense. If I am not being strict enough with myself, that makes sense too (unfortunately), that I should work harder or more in the area of my career that I consider my talent/outlet. Hmm. Organization, okay...

 

[elizabeth]

Addendum: the thing about being too strict/severe vs frivolous. I just had another idea. Could it be that I'm being TOO hard on myself? (?) I had a moment (okay a full day) yesterday feeling I am worthless, havent achieved anything, go in circles... this was after seeing a few people who had achieved exactly what I want to do. Friends tell me its not true, that i'm talented and driven and ambitious, blah blah blah. So maybe its' telling me I am doing what I should be doing? (not trying to weasel out of being stricter, just wondering... ) ANd to keep my head to the grindstone? Bc, Trojan, your point is a cogent one, we can't really be on * a different* life path other than our own.. and my question was, how can i best realize my talents. Is the YI saying just stay on the path? (?)

 

[Trojina]

Addendum: the thing about being too strict/severe vs frivolous. I just had another idea. Could it be that I'm being TOO hard on myself? (?) I had a moment (okay a full day) yesterday feeling I am worthless, havent achieved anything, go in circles... this was after seeing a few people who had achieved exactly what I want to do. Friends tell me its not true, that i'm talented and driven and ambitious, blah blah blah. So maybe its' telling me I am doing what I should be doing? (not trying to weasel out of being stricter, just wondering... ) ANd to keep my head to the grindstone? Bc, Trojan, your point is a cogent one, we can't really be on * a different* life path other than our own.. and my question was, how can i best realize my talents. Is the YI saying just stay on the path? (?)

The thing is without being inside your life I'm groping in the dark with the reading with a question like this so my thoughts are only suggestions. I don't know how involved your question was with your current career - but i can see it quite feasible that if you are involved in organisation at work then the answer could be referring to how you handle that. It could refer to how you handle yourself like i said before but also maybe fine honing how you handle others. Could be you are being too hard on yourself, I don't know. So how to best realise your talents ? Well on a practical level if you do manage others at work or at least work as a team seems to me that this is a talent thats appreciated 37.4 - I'm not sure if you are referring to your talents as ones that are latent or skills you use now. Another thought is maybe you are amongst others who aren't taking things seriously enough ?

 

[martin]

Yet another perspective: the first thing that comes to my mind (without looking at the lines) is that 37 is about roles, especially gender roles.
Is that relevant to your question? If it is, I don't know how, but perhaps it's worthwhile to make a list, with female talents (according to classical and perhaps outdated role patterns) that you want to realize on one side and male talents on the other.
And/or it may help to consider how being a woman affects (stimulates or hinders) the realization of your talents. Or how any role (not necessarily gender related) affects it.

25 is free, spontaneous, not in any role, blissfully unaware of roles, wild, uncultivated.
How can this wild 25 function, realize its talents, in a society in which there are role patterns, structures? Is that the question, basically?

 

[Trojina]

Yes thats an interesting angle. 37 is about fitting into your place, 25 does its own thing hmm

 

[elizabeth]

Trojan and Martin, let me give you some more answers in case that helps. I realize the wording of my question is rather broad and vague. What I had going on in my mind when I asked it was more, "How can I best realize my best possible self, use my talents in the best, most productive and fulfilling way, and do something that is right for me rather than what other people want me to do (been there, done that)." And I asked partly bc I was having an extended moment of "Am I really supposed to be doing this? Am I really any good? Maybe I am not, and maybe I'm doing the wrong thing and should quit, maybe I am a fraud, maybe I am untalented and just keep trying..."

My current career is divided in half: a day job to pay the bills, in which I am respected but not emotionally attached; and my art form, which is the reason I breathe each day. I shifted from one "role" within my art form to a less active but more analytical role about 4 years ago...and I have spent those years trying to form an identity for myself in the arts community in which I work (although all arts communities are global). I'm always my worst critic. But I've been reevaluating my life lately (due to pressure from family mostly) and the pressure causes me to doubt myself. The doubt leads me to double check myself with the Yi. And so here we are.

As for gender roles. The discipline I have to have to *get noticed* IMHO is a male trait. I have to do a lot of self marketing to promote who i am and what I do and essentially "get out there". I think of these as male traits bc they are aggressive and for me, very difficult, do not come naturally. However the content of what I do is more creative and IMHO more feminine (i speak in both cases only about this art form/hobby that is my real life, not the office job). I don't manage any people in either area though.

Before posing this question with the Yi I actually discussed it with my father. His words were that I am being too hard on myself, I have achieved more than most of my peers and I should be proud. But then, dads are supposed to say supportive stuff like that .

I am working on a longer term big project now too -- that has been the hardest thing I've done in my life as it is a combination and culmination of more than 30 yrs of experience at this point. It is a work in progress... but it too demands a ton of discipline, bc it is a self-designed and self-imposed project. I have made some progress but personally do not feel enough progress fast enough. Typically I am hard on myself...but I may not be hard enough, which is why I wonder if they Yi isnt saying something else...

If 37 is fitting in and 25 is being free spirited...aren't those kind of opposite? This reading perplexes me!

 

[martin]

Yes, they are opposites, more or less. The free spirited (25) doesn't care about fitting in. Or about recognition, she doesn't measure herself with the standards of others. 25 is pure self expression, regardless of the effect it has on others.
25 doesn't adapt. As art 25 would be pure art, art for the sake of art. No external standards. No superego that says "Wrong!", "Not good enough!", "He is better than you!" and so on.

If you are hard on yourself, if you feel that you didn't reach enough, you are measuring yourself with the standards of others, it's the superego, isn't it?
The problem with that is that it hinders your spontaneous self expression, it blocks your creativity. It also spoils the fun of being creative. And then you not only feel that you didn't reach enough, you also start to think that you don't have enough talent. It's a downward spiral.

So perhaps it would be good to remove that alien element (the opinions of others, the ambition, the superego), at least sometimes, and just do art for the art, be a child again, play and enjoy it?
I'm not saying that you shouldn't try to fit in and promote yourself at all, and art is also communication after all, others do matter. But if out there becomes too important you may lose contact with yourself and your creative source. In here, that's where the treasure is.

Makes sense?

 

[Tohpol]

So perhaps it would be good to remove that alien element (the opinions of others, the ambition, the superego), at least sometimes, and just do art for the art, be a child again, play and enjoy it?
I'm not saying that you shouldn't try to fit in and promote yourself at all, and art is also communication after all, others do matter. But if out there becomes too important you may lose contact with yourself and your creative source. In here, that's where the treasure is.

good advice.

I remember seeing a similar post from you and I sympathised with your circumstances as I do now. I worked in the arts for many years and never quite found that balance. Needless to say, it's one of the most difficult things to do in this world, especially when the notions of art -not least the notions of the artist - are so distorted towards the God of the market place. Personally, although I made a living, my heart wasn't in it. Now, after doing different jobs I'm returning to the art I once had as a career and with the right frame of mind. I'm doing the art for me - not for any other reason but enjoyment and expression. That is healthy for me. It may well be that I can make money from it in the near future. But my ambition is different. I have nothing to prove, no expectations from myself or others - no real pressure. Thus I'm getting back into the cycle - a little older and wiser perhaps - at least in that regard.

Martin is right about the superego and the creative source; the pressure we put on ourselves to play the system's game which can very often suck you dry and spit you out. And you wonder what is it all for? But at the same time, if it is a genuine passion and a love then you will succeed. Who knows when? But you will.

Yes, a very difficult balance to be an artist in this world without sellig your soul (or creative source) at the same time.

Best of luck,

Topal

 

[meng]

An artist's obligation is to their art (25). An entertainer's obligation is to their audience (37). Often we are forced to choose, while the truly great ones manage to do both.

 

[elizabeth]

Hm. OK, just for the sake of complicating things more. I recently have returned to the more active role in my art -- ie what I used to do before shifting into the more analytic outside/role. This also reflects the change from 25 back to 37, although I am no longer entertaining, i just do that aspect of it for fun. The longterm "work" i do in the art is definitely more 25-ish.

SO maybe the Yi is acknowledging my shift and saying don't backtrack? If 25 is where I am supposed to be then reversion (with any professional goals) wont be successful but remaining dedicated to the art form itself (in current form?) would be successful?

My goal has never been to earn money and in fact I keep resisting people who say you should give it up and get a normal (ie high paying 8-5 suck you dry, eat your soul desk job). So my problem isn't finding a balance in that respect... (Most if not all artists are poor), but resisting the pressure to be "normal" and in so doing, give up my beliefs (and my art)...

 

[martin]

SO maybe the Yi is acknowledging my shift and saying don't backtrack? If 25 is where I am supposed to be then reversion (with any professional goals) wont be successful but remaining dedicated to the art form itself (in current form?) would be successful?

My take on it is that whatever you do is OK, as long as you stay in touch with your '25', your creative spontaneity and freedom. In other words, as long as you remain relatively free of standards of others, superego, too much adaptation and so on.
Succes yes, but first of all according to your own standards. What others think about your art is not unimportant but it's secondary.

 

[elizabeth]

Thanks Martin.

"Stay in touch with your inner 25". It has a certain ring to it .

 

[fallada]

just a few thoughts on 37:

It is not just family, it is best described as oikhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oikosos. ?Gene or ?Brad mentioned this s.w. before. 37 is inside the walls, 38 is being outside the walls.

Every dream-book tells, that a house and its content reflect the dreamer and the various aspects of the personality. The cellar symbolises the unconscious, etc..
For many people the home is like an extended part of themselves, an outer layer. As Jesed said, 37 can denote the creative arrangement of one's inner world. How do we deal with the different personae and aspects within? How do they work together? Whom do we further whom do we reject or discipline?

Let the mature person in you make the decisions, let the child be playful, let the artist be artistic. In a home you may prefer the library to the kitchen. What you consider important will be important. It will be what the central person in the household = ego = 37.4 cares for and makes of it. What you further will become a skill, what you neglect will decline. Your talents are not exclusive, single traits that are 'givens'. Your talent is, that you have ordinary, everyday traits within you, that you organise in a disciplined, harmonious and brilliant way. The driving hex is 62! 25 says: don't care about it, just do it.

 

[hollis]

what a great view on 37, and the link to wiki was so interesting, thanks fallada.