Repeated 17 and 54

[QuanYiN]

I thought I’d finally share a reading and some thoughts after being a member here for so long and getting advice quietly from all of you —which I’m thankful for as, over the years, this forum has been the source of great insights and inspiration.

I’ll try to keep this brief. Not too long ago I got a new job which I was very excited about as it was interesting and paid really well —overall a great opportunity. I was over the moon, this was literally, after a lot of effort and hard work, a dream come true. Unfortunately, it proved to be a very toxic environment with lots of internal problems. Six weeks in the job, I got fired after being on the receiving end of abusive behaviour. The reasons given were a collection of lies, basically a complete misrepresentation of facts.

Being in a state of shock for a while I would consult the Yi, but everything was a blur. Now that I’ve had some time to get over the initial shock I started looking back. One of the first readings I got for this job was 17.6>25. At the time I thought this was a very good reading, but as I started to look at it again I came across (here and in Lise’s interpretation) the idea of sacrifice. That along with hex 25 made a lot of sense in retrospect.

As I’m trying to find a new job I received 17.1>45 (and I recall getting 17.1.4>8). I’ve seen this hex before in shared readings for a job search and I found very interesting Lise’s interpretation of hunting, and of course with line 1, the standard changing and putting yourself out there, it does feel very relevant to the idea of job *hunting*, following, tracing your prey. At the same time, the idea of going indoors for rest and recuperation does allow one to heal and maintain his/her strength for the hunt. In my case the hexagram gave me a lot of insight on many accounts in my situation —the job hunt, the need to heal from the shock, even line 4 saying that I shouldn’t be looking for *any* job (or at least that’s how I interpreted that line).

As I’m sitting a bit with 17 and trying to get deeper into it, I also asked the Yi to give me insight on what I can’t see yet in this whole situation, and I got 54 unchanging. A number of thoughts came to mind. First, that this may be an understanding of what happened with the job. It feels it was a no go to begin with, or maybe I tried to lead where I shouldn’t have (or couldn’t have). I did feel like the odd one out in that environment and that’s where I feel I was a scapegoat for others’ mistakes and discrepancies.

One thing I found very interesting is that 54 has the same trigrams as 17, but reversed. Almost as if Yi is telling me something was out of order and that 17, learning to follow, to trace the right job and environment is what I should be doing for my career right now.

Sorry for the long post, I’m trying to get a better understanding on next steps as well as lessons I should be taking with me from this terrible experience as I move on. I’m writing all this in the hopes that it might provide some insight to others as well as inspire other members to give me more points of view as I’m navigating this situation. So thank you for reading..!

 

[diamant]

Hi QuanYiN,

That sounds like a terrible shock. What an ultra-toxic environment, no wonder it took you long to get over it.

One of the first readings I got for this job was 17.6 > 25
I received 17.1 > 45 (and I recall getting 17.1.4 > 8)
The questions, and exactly how they were phrased, are very important. Do you still have them?

 

[QuanYiN]

Hi QuanYiN,

That sounds like a terrible shock. What an ultra-toxic environment, no wonder it took you long to get over it.

One of the first readings I got for this job was 17.6 > 25
I received 17.1 > 45 (and I recall getting 17.1.4 > 8)
The questions, and exactly how they were phrased, are very important. Do you still have them?

Thank you for your response diamant —it was a big shock indeed, and it‘s only been a couple of weeks so I’m just now finding my feet again.

The questions were the following:

17.6>25: Is there a future in my placement with this company? (I was on a 6 month contract with a possible extension)
17.1>45: What should I do to get a new job soon?
17.1.4>8: This was a weekly cast —I think it has to do again with my job search as I have many interviews and have been talking to a lot of recruiters these days, so, as it’s my main focus, the Yi is probably tuning in that area as well.

The first hex I cast just as I was hired. It’s interesting how the Yi was giving me 17 for my career right away —and I think the idea of 6 being a sacrifice fits really well here. Btw, I’m not one to avoid admitting mistakes, for quite some time I was questioning my own sanity, until I spoke to someone else who told me the same person did the same thing to him so he switched teams. He was longer in the company and better connected so he was able to make a move before disaster hit.

 

[my_key]

Hex 17 might be pointing your attention to your inner attitudes and approaches to life. The doctrines, habits and beliefs you follow.

The wisdom of the hex (image) advises inner reflection and stilling yourself in order to hunt down / see more clearly the root of the matter.

In this context:
17.6 could be calling for sacrificing of this old habit / behaviour/belief.
17.1 advocates engaging with other, wider perspectives to achieve / embrace new objectives.
17.4 warns against 'going on a mission' based on old perspectives that will trip you up. Additionally inviting you towards embracing opportunities for discovering new perspectives.

...or it may mean nothing like this at all for you.

Good Luck

 

[QuanYiN]

Hex 17 might be pointing your attention to your inner attitudes and approaches to life. The doctrines, habits and beliefs you follow.

The wisdom of the hex (image) advises inner reflection and stilling yourself in order to hunt down / see more clearly the root of the matter.

In this context:
17.6 could be calling for sacrificing of this old habit / behaviour/belief.
17.1 advocates engaging with other, wider perspectives to achieve / embrace new objectives.
17.4 warns against 'going on a mission' based on old perspectives that will trip you up. Additionally inviting you towards embracing opportunities for discovering new perspectives.

...or it may mean nothing like this at all for you.

Good Luck

Line 6 is more baffling for me because it had to do with the job that went really wrong, the idea of sacrificing an old habit might be relevant, but I can‘t put my finger on it just yet.

Lines 1 and 4 in terms of job hunting make sense. Line 1, cast a wide net, so to speak, put yourself out there; line 4, don’t get overexcited, don’t let a good salary blur your vision, look into things closer before you accept a new position —focus on the substance, not the result.

I think those perspectives that will trip me up is the Yi’s response to ”What I’m not seeing yet” (54). The trigram reversal (thunder over lake in 54, lake over thunder in 17) as a way of showing the perspective I don’t have yet has me thinking a lot.

 

[my_key]

I think those perspectives that will trip me up is the Yi’s response to ”What I’m not seeing yet” (54). The trigram reversal (thunder over lake in 54, lake over thunder in 17) as a way of showing the perspective I don’t have yet has me thinking a lot.

The wisdom of Hex 54 (image) certainly does invite you to sort your inner wheat from your inner chaff: using your strengths to aid the transformation of what is flawed.

 

[diamant]

Thanks for clarifying the questions QuanYiN. Here's how your casts sound to me.

17.6 > 25: Is there a future in my placement with this company? (I was on a 6 month contract with a possible extension)
So obviously now we know what happened and the answer to this question was no. Line 17.6 is far removed from the concept of Following, so maybe literally 'there will be no following, no follow-up placement'.
In this line, someone is tied up and sacrificed. Resulting 25 speaks of possible misfortune if someone isn't as they're supposed to be. I guess here it means that the preceding line 17.6 is not how it's supposed to be. Being tied up and dragged along isn't how someone is supposed to be, so it has led to misfortune.

17.1 > 45: What should I do to get a new job soon?
Something official has changed. Also, to go out of your 'field' is mentioned. You'll have better chances if you apply to jobs that you normally wouldn't. 45 shows a company, so aim for a bigger organisation, maybe a governmental one.

17.1.4 > 8: This was a weekly cast —I think it has to do again with my job search
It looks like this one is expanding on 17.1 > 45. So yes, do go out of your normal range, but 17.4 warns about applying for jobs which are way too unrelated with what you do. 8 shows locality, being local. Either meaning stay 'near' your field of expertise, or it might be literal - don't apply for jobs which are located too far away from you.

what I can’t see yet in this whole situation, and I got 54 unchanging
I take it you mean here the bizarre situation in that toxic workplace. 54 shows being quite low in a hierarchy of many people. It has a lot to do with self-esteem too. Somehow you were placed in a position which was lowly. Perhaps one of your superiors didn't like you, or you showed that you didn't like them, or even they made you feel inferior (for whatever reason). With 54, it's always good to reflect on our value and our position. Also, because of the 'polyamorous' flavour of 54, do you know if there is a very high turn-around of employees in that toxic workplace?

One thing I found very interesting is that 54 has the same trigrams as 17, but reversed.
You didn't receive 17 though. When there are changing lines, the situation is moving away from the initial hexagram. So the idea of initial 17 doesn't really apply to you at all, except to show you what your situation isn't.
In 17, the male trigram voluntarily places itself below the female, and thus makes the female happy. The male makes a move and the female is then glad to follow him.
In 54, the female voluntarily subordinates itself to an older male (thunder, the eldest son) in a multi-partner situation.

 

[QuanYiN]

Thanks for clarifying the questions QuanYiN. Here's how your casts sound to me.

17.6 > 25: Is there a future in my placement with this company? (I was on a 6 month contract with a possible extension)
So obviously now we know what happened and the answer to this question was no. Line 17.6 is far removed from the concept of Following, so maybe literally 'there will be no following, no follow-up placement'.
In this line, someone is tied up and sacrificed. Resulting 25 speaks of possible misfortune if someone isn't as they're supposed to be. I guess here it means that the preceding line 17.6 is not how it's supposed to be. Being tied up and dragged along isn't how someone is supposed to be, so it has led to misfortune.

17.1 > 45: What should I do to get a new job soon?
Something official has changed. Also, to go out of your 'field' is mentioned. You'll have better chances if you apply to jobs that you normally wouldn't. 45 shows a company, so aim for a bigger organisation, maybe a governmental one.

17.1.4 > 8: This was a weekly cast —I think it has to do again with my job search
It looks like this one is expanding on 17.1 > 45. So yes, do go out of your normal range, but 17.4 warns about applying for jobs which are way too unrelated with what you do. 8 shows locality, being local. Either meaning stay 'near' your field of expertise, or it might be literal - don't apply for jobs which are located too far away from you.

what I can’t see yet in this whole situation, and I got 54 unchanging
I take it you mean here the bizarre situation in that toxic workplace. 54 shows being quite low in a hierarchy of many people. It has a lot to do with self-esteem too. Somehow you were placed in a position which was lowly. Perhaps one of your superiors didn't like you, or you showed that you didn't like them, or even they made you feel inferior (for whatever reason). With 54, it's always good to reflect on our value and our position. Also, because of the 'polyamorous' flavour of 54, do you know if there is a very high turn-around of employees in that toxic workplace?

One thing I found very interesting is that 54 has the same trigrams as 17, but reversed.
You didn't receive 17 though. When there are changing lines, the situation is moving away from the initial hexagram. So the idea of initial 17 doesn't really apply to you at all, except to show you what your situation isn't.
In 17, the male trigram voluntarily places itself below the female, and thus makes the female happy. The male makes a move and the female is then glad to follow him.
In 54, the female voluntarily subordinates itself to an older male (thunder, the eldest son) in a multi-partner situation.

Yes, what you’re writing is very accurate and 54 is certainly pointing to a problematic situation. I was made to feel inferior and as I said, I found out that they’ve done this to other people as well so they either switched teams or left.

17 feels quite right also about the job search --interesting thing, today I spoke with someone who was recruiting for a volunteering position, which I initially thought was paying. I ended up liking the initiative and offering to contribute to their cause for a few hours a week, I see a little bit of 17.4 in this, and it was my weekly cast.

The reason I mentioned the reversal in the trigrams for 54 and 17 is because I’ve gotten the latter so many times lately and in trying to figure out the situation and what I’m not seeing I got 54. So, if I’m supposed to do 17 and what I haven’t been able to see is 54, I almost feel like there’s been a mix up here that I have to rectify by doing 17 —am I making any sense?
Like things haven’t been in the correct order in some way. Of course, this may be me just making up things

In terms of 17.1, I’m trying to cast a wide net. I work in a diverse field and can be hired across a number of industries both in permanent and contracting roles, so I’m trying to think out of the box and keep an open mind, which feels like what 17.1 asks me to do.

What you wrote about 17.6 makes so much sense, sadly…. It’s hard not to question your skill and experience after a shock like that and I feel this is primarily what I need to work on. Thankfully I am able to take some time to heal and explore my options. Thank you for your insights.

 

[diamant]

So, if I’m supposed to do 17 and what I haven’t been able to see is 54, I almost feel like there’s been a mix up here that I have to rectify by doing 17

I don't believe you're supposed to do 17, as you didn't get 17 as your answer. Also, you are mixing here two different issues:

One issue you've got at hand is to find another job, and in order to make this happen soon, your answer was 17.1 > 45. The other issue you've got at hand is the power games of 54, which happened at your previous employment and which traumatised your self esteem. If you had asked, 'how can I rectify my self esteem', and you got 17 unchanging, then yes, in that case you should be looking at the juxtaposition of 17 and 54. I find it very useful to concentrate on what each question is asking and what the answer to that question says.

I have first hand experience of how malicious power games at the workplace can erode your sense of self worth. In a way it's a good thing you didn't have to stay there longer, the damage would have probably been more extensive. The people who inflict this type of thing on others (and like you said, there were many other victims) are destructive in general. Don't take it personally - they were not against you as such, they're against everyone who is in any way competent. Saying that, they're also against those who are incompetent, and they do eventually turn against those too.

 

[QuanYiN]

I don't believe you're supposed to do 17, as you didn't get 17 as your answer. Also, you are mixing here two different issues:

One issue you've got at hand is to find another job, and in order to make this happen soon, your answer was 17.1 > 45. The other issue you've got at hand is the power games of 54, which happened at your previous employment and which traumatised your self esteem. If you had asked, 'how can I rectify my self esteem', and you got 17 unchanging, then yes, in that case you should be looking at the juxtaposition of 17 and 54. I find it very useful to concentrate on what each question is asking and what the answer to that question says.

I have first hand experience of how malicious power games at the workplace can erode your sense of self worth. In a way it's a good thing you didn't have to stay there longer, the damage would have probably been more extensive. The people who inflict this type of thing on others (and like you said, there were many other victims) are destructive in general. Don't take it personally - they were not against you as such, they're against everyone who is in any way competent. Saying that, they're also against those who are incompetent, and they do eventually turn against those too.

Agreed. After this happened a colleague told me it was a lucky escape, and I believe that too when I rationalise, I just can’t feel it yet. Once I take the next step and find another job I‘ll probably feel it more. Circumstances play an important role as well. 4 years ago I moved to the UK and it took a while for me to get a job, land on my feet, start anew, find friends. I don’t have a family here and it’s easy to feel like I have nothing to fall back on when things like that happen, so along with the shock, insecurity kicks in etc.
In this situation it is easy to panic and just go for *any* job, just as it was easy to fall into the trap of not looking what’s underneath a good job description and a very good salary. I have a feeling 17 points to that insecurity and recovering from it to make sounder decisions in the future.

 

[diamant]

In terms of employment, 17 would probably be a scenario where a headhunter finds you and offers you a job. I think that 17 with changing lines here shows you that you can't just wait for it to happen, so you're taking action to make it happen. Your readings are hopeful.

I feel for you, that's quite a lot of insecurity all in one go. I'm also a non-native living in the UK. All workplaces have ongoing power games, and not just in the UK, but certainly some are way worse than others. I totally understand what you mean that you get the 54 issue with your logic, but can't 'feel' it. It was a subconscious core blow. I hope you manage to sort it all out soon.

 

[QuanYiN]

In terms of employment, 17 would probably be a scenario where a headhunter finds you and offers you a job. I think that 17 with changing lines here shows you that you can't just wait for it to happen, so you're taking action to make it happen. Your readings are hopeful.

I feel for you, that's quite a lot of insecurity all in one go. I'm also a non-native living in the UK. All workplaces have ongoing power games, and not just in the UK, but certainly some are way worse than others. I totally understand what you mean that you get the 54 issue with your logic, but can't 'feel' it. It was a subconscious core blow. I hope you manage to sort it all out soon.

Yes, I’m talking to quite a few recruiters these days so that fits in well with this interpretation

 

[QuanYiN]

Hello,

Just thought I’d post an update on the outcome following this casting.
I got a job offer about 10 days after my last post in this thread. I interviewed A LOT and made sure to cast a wide net, but still stayed within my area of expertise. In the end I actually had 3 offers, which helped my confidence very much and it was also a good way of networking with recruiters, which is important if you’re contracting. In most cases there were recruiters involved in the process, in case this is of importance.

Following the offer, I also managed to go on vacation for a week, which I desperately needed after staying in so much this past 1.5 year, and after the horrible experience of a toxic workplace this summer. I don’t think I even realised how much I needed this time off until after I came back with a completely different energy. It was indeed recuperating.