Releasing the thumbs - 40.4 to 7

[lechatnoir]

Hello! Hope you are all having a wonderful day.

I just wanted to share some beautiful readings I've had for an ongoing relationship of mine and maybe invite some other interpretations.

So, for the past five months I've lived and worked in a foreign country and, as it happens, two months ago I met a person who completely changed my life. I've never experienced such an intense, spiritual, intangible connection -- it's as if below the humming and drumming of conscious thought there is much more, an ethereal bond of sorts. I'm quite young and I know that being in love can cause you to think these things rather indiscriminately, but I have honestly, genuinely never had this kind of a connection with someone -- male or female. We have many, weirdly specific things in common, whether that be interests or tastes or events that have happened to us in the past. And it often happens that he or I will voice something the other was thinking at that exact moment; or that one will mention something that the other had thought or been thinking about previously. I'm convinced that there's something more under the surface, some kind of subconscious relationship that sometimes bubbles to the surface.

Anyways, naturally throughout the time we've had together I've been consulting Yi, as I do with most things in my life, and had one particular line come up consistently: line 4 of hexagram 40, Release, changing to 7, the Army.

Releasing the thumbs also.
Partners arrive, hence truth and confidence.'

This came up when asking such questions as: How to be with this relationship?; What if I told him how I felt about him?; and, most recently, What if I continue on with this? Some context: I moved back to my country last week and have been missing him terribly. I will be moving to yet another country next month to start my (dream) Master's program and the distance between him and I feels impossibly large, even though it's only an hour-long plane ride. Sometimes I wonder if this feeling I have is sustainable, or if it will fizzle out, or if it will consume me, or if it's even worth going through the trouble, considering the distance. We never really spoke about the nature of the relationship (didn't seem like there was a need to), but we're in constant contact and have made plans to visit each other as soon as we both have more time.

I've interpreted this line as telling me to stop fretting so much, let go of my anxieties and trust in him completely. It's played out just like that for the second question, where I didn't have to even tell him that I loved him -- he made it clear that he knew, if in a subtle way. As for my most recent query I think it's telling me to have faith that he will keep showing up for me, even if we're a thousand kilometres apart. I'd really appreciate some second opinions as to why this line has popped up so often with queries relating to him.

I also revisited the first readings I did right after our first date, which were: 61UC (with regards to what happened that day) and 48.6 changing to 57 (with regards to the potential of the connection). It's so interesting to re-read them after time has passed!​

Anyways, thanks for reading this novella of a post! I'm looking forwards to hearing back from you.

 

[professionalsky3]

This line came out to me quite a few times in the past few weeks as well.

40.4 > 7
(Wilhelm)
In times of standstill it will happen that inferior people attach themselves to a superior man, and through force of daily habit they may grow very close to him and become indispensable, just as the big toe is indispensable to the foot because it makes walking easier. But when the time of deliverance draws near, with its call to deeds, a man must free himself from such chance acquaintances with whim he has no inner connection. For otherwise the friends who share his views, on whom he could really rely and together with whom he could accomplish something, mistrust him and stay away.

[Fan Yao 7.4] -
The army retreats. No blame.

If you're asking about a specific person, that's a clear sign that he's not the one for you and there are potential people out there who would be a better match.
You'd better back off and let things flow the way they're supposed to and not try to force a connection with anyone specific. I know that hits hard, but I believe that's the best thing to do right now. The fact that this is a long-distance relationship is also a sign that there might be intentions from his part that you're not aware of and could be shocking to find out, specially because you haven't discussed the nature of the relationship and things are up in the air right now.

 

[rosada]

I have a more optimistic interpretation:
I see this line as the IC equivalent to the saying, "If you love something set it free. If it is yours it will come back to you." So advice for releasing the thumbs - releasing your grip on this friend's physical presence - and trusting that your love is real and will survive this short term separation. (7. The Army as the second hexagram suggests to me that you ultimately will have your people around you - so if you two are on the same wave length then he's a part of your world/army and distance wont matter)

 

[professionalsky3]

I have a more optimistic interpretation:
I see this line as the IC equivalent to the saying, "If you love something set it free. If it is yours it will come back to you."

That's my interpretation for the hex 38.1

 

[marybluesky]

@lechatnoir ,

I read your beautiful post a couple of days ago and wanted to reply.
Anyway:
Although 40.4 can mean getting rid of something/somebody, there is another interpretation that I've read many times which is mirrored in Bradford's translation:

Release your big toe*
When companions approach, trust them

The toe isn't likely to be someone else in this interpretation, it some part of you that isn't relaxed yet.
So, we can read it as a strong message to trust your companion, in line with this:

I've interpreted this line as telling me to stop fretting so much, let go of my anxieties and trust in him completely.

And these sound excellent:

I also revisited the first readings I did right after our first date, which were: 61UC (with regards to what happened that day) and 48.6 changing to 57 (with regards to the potential of the connection). It's so interesting to re-read them after time has passed!​

Nothing to worry about.

I've been through something similar and although it didn't turn out to be workable as a real, normal romantic relationship at all, it was one experience in a life time.

Whatever the nature of such a love is, it's a unique, unique experience. Don't fear. Honor it.

 

[rosada]

Just now reading Hilary's translation where she comments that "releasing the thumb" can mean releasing how one thinks a relationship ought to be and thus enabling one to be more natural and spontaneous and able to take hold of what the relationship actually is.

(Some translations say "Releasing the toe". Hilary says "thumb". Not sure why that would be significant, but if one frees up their hands they are more able to connect.)