Requesting insight into hex 5

[seeker]

First, let me thank everyone for riding with me on the roller coaster that has become my life. I am not doing quite as well today as I was yesterday, but I think ups and downs are to be expected. I just have to work through them.

As I have received Hex 5 numerous times over the past few months and again this morning, I would like to gain more insight into its meaning. All of the interpretations I have list it as waiting or nourishment. My feeling about it has always been that while it means to wait, it does not mean to do nothing. It is a productive waiting, something is coming, so nourish yourself so you will be prepared to accept it if is good or deal with it if it is not so good, though usually I think it refers to waiting for good things to come.

So, I should confess that I may have slipped. Not sure, and I did say I would count on you guys to help me figure out when I had. I dreamed about X last night and this morning was thinking about the readings I had gotten and realized I was still hoping that he will eventually come back. But then I thought that maybe I was being unrealistic so I asked Yi if I should just forget about him. Waiting was part of the answer. Thinking about it more I wonder if even asking was slipping back into that thing of wanting to know the outcome. But then again, it was a what to do question, so maybe not. Would like your opinion on it. I know now that the reason this is so hard was that I had begun to cling to the idea of him to get through this rough time. Surprised I didn't receive that hex more

Hope is a good thing, but not when it evolves into expectation or delusion.

Anyway, whether or not I should have asked the question, I would still like to learn more about Hex 5. As I said, I have received this one a lot, and I think when Yi beats you over the head with a particular hex, it probably relates to more than just the question you asked.

 

[anon99]

I have the feeling that LiSe says somewhere she sees hexagram 5 as about 'needing', that it is about awaiting the provision of something needed. Hopefully she will come along and correct me if I'm mistaken.

BTW are you always getting 5 unchanging ?

 

[seeker]

No, not unchanging, but I wasn't requesting help with a specific reading, just insight to this one hex. I know the changing lines affect the overall meaning, but I thought with receiving it so much and not always the same lines changing I should get more insight into the main hex.

 

[ella]

Hello Seeker!
Hex 5. is not the Hex you would recieve when you are following a wrong track. With Hex 5 you are on track with your carmic purpose. It is just that your time to proceed hasn't come yet, but it definitely will arrive. There will be a follow- up. The path will take you further, the rain will definitely come.Wherever this will lead to, is another question. You are NOT at a dead end, even if it seem so at the moment. The reversed Hex is Hex 6: Here you are confronted with people whose intentions are opposing yours and this is why you feel blocked unless you compromise. Not so with Hex 5.
The "not yet" in Hex 5 is completely different from the "not yet" in 64. In Hex 5 there is nothing that YOU have to put right. Things/people/circumstances just need their time to ripen and it won't take very long. All you have to do is to wait and don't let yourself be overwhelmed by negative thoughts. They could make you give up a path that you should not give up. No self-sabotage, please. An unproductive approach to hope would be answered with a Hex. 16 or 62. Don't be afraid to hope. Don't be afraid of disappointment. Learn that hope, even if it's fullfilment doesn't look the way you expect, is a productive force. This could be the meta-message here. From what you tell, it seems that the message included could be: "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Don't be afraid of asking too many questions. The Yi is always willing to talk as long as the conversation is intelligent. It will even answer a honest question like: "I do not understand your answer, please tell me in other words".
By the way, there is a method to ask yes/no questions. It is sometimes just very difficult to cope with the answer. If you think you can, tell me.

 

[heylise]

This is simply a list from the dictionary, with all the meanings for he name of hex.5.
Probably Bradford has a couple more, but not really different ones I guess.

XU1 (name of hex.5): Need, require, demand; expenses, provisions, necessaries; hesitation, delay, tarry, wait, waiting with confidence, waiting for rain to begin, waiting for something one needs; essential, necessary; early glutinous rice with small grains.
Pronounced NO4: weak, hesitating, supple (leather).
YUAN3: supple, flexible, incomplete.
NUAN4: weak, timid.
(No, yuan and nuan are the same character, but pronounced differently)

It is a picture of a man with drops around him. Maybe dancing for the rain to stop, or start.

LiSe

 

[seeker]

Thank you both, that helped a lot. Waiting is a difficult thing to do, even when it appears that it will bring good things. But I think that is part of the spiritual lesson the universe has chosen for me currenlty. Patience has never been my strong suit. At 37 I can sometimes be as bad as my 6 year old. But I think this lesson has been a long time coming and can no longer be avoided or pushed aside. I have a feeling if I fight it, things will just get more difficult. So I will take a tip I learned from the trees during the recent hurricane. The trees that were ripped from the ground tended to be the ones we usually think of as the most strong, oaks or maples, but the thinner, less sturdy pines just lost branches and needles because they swayed with the wind, they followed the flow of things. Oh wait, go with the flow. And I bow to the synchronicity of the universe once more

 

[dobro p]

The part about Hex 5 that always baffled me was this line in the main text:

"Advantage wading great river"

I couldn't figure out how embarking on a major course of action like that could fit in to Waiting. Then I discovered the insight that this expresses: "My feeling about it has always been that while it means to wait, it does not mean to do nothing. It is a productive waiting..."

Exactly. You don't do nothing. It's not wu wei. It's major useful activity while you're waiting for something else to work through the process of arriving or materializing.

But there's more, cuz Hex 5 has got the idea of capturing truth and bright consciousness attaining and growing. The message seems to be: while you're waiting, do it with your eyes wide open and your steps taking you into an important course of action.

Dunno bout the nourishment though - I don't see that as a theme of Hex 5 - for me, it's just in the one line.

 

[dobro p]

Going into something big with your eyes wide open - that's the way to wait for something else to materialize.

There.

 

[cheiron]

Absolutely Dobro

Attend; pay careful attention to; focus and pay attention... For me it is a Master saying...

"Stop! Now pay attention, watch the development with a clearer eye and you will see what to do.

Wading the great river?... or perhaps stepping into the great river?

Stepping into the flow?

--Kevin

 

[bradford_h]

Hi Dobro-
Consider this:
If waiting for the rain is "making best use of the meantime" (and it is), then what better time to cross the great river than the time before the floods come.

 

[seeker]

So could it mean to wait, but watch for the opportunity to present itself to act??? Sort of, when the time comes to do something, if you keep your eyes open you will see it and will know what to do.

 

[anon99]

Pardon for the digression but something Ella says above puzzled me

"An unproductive approach to hope would be answered by hexagram 16 or 62"

I can see why 62 might be seen this way if the hope were exalted or unrealistic but am not clear why receiving 16 would be seen this way ?

I always saw 16 as getting ready, making preparation for the joyful fulfilment of a hope ?

Ella if you're there can you help me understand what you mean ?

 

[candid]

Envisioning the river-crossing.

 

[candid]

IE: imagine, foresee, predict, visualize crossing over to your future.

 

[dobro p]

Brad - so, timing is an issue here, then?

 

[bradford_h]

Absolutely.
Bad timing for getting what you thought you had to have.
Great timing for the next dozen priorities on your list, and for character building.
I think the low water river thing was deliberate. This phrase (li she da chuan, worthwhile to gross the great stream) is used in lots of different contexts where it often takes on shades of that context. It isn't just a simple "get beyond the familiar" every time.

 

[candid]

Waiting as preparation:

"It's enormously important to be able to imagine going down the river. How you are going to negotiate from this gate to that one," says Shane Murphy, who's advised whitewater athletes for six years.

"They are doing this in their minds before they even get on the river -- you have to have a very clear plan of attack in your head," adds Murphy, the president-elect of the Division of Exercise and Sport Psychology of the American Psychological Association.

?A popular version of imagery is called visual motor behavior rehearsal (VMBR). Whenever we imagine ourselves performing an action in the absence of physical practice, we are said to be using imagery.? John F. Murray, Ph.D.

?Many athletes use imagery as a mental training skill to build confidence and a feeling of readiness prior to competition. First, research has demonstrated that imagery strengthens the neural pathways for certain movements (i.e., psycho-neuromuscular explanation). When you imagine performing a particular sport skill, your muscles fire in the same sequence as if you were actually performing the skill. Secondly, imagery may function as a coding system in the brain to help athletes form a plan or " mental blueprint" of the skill learned which helps make the movements more familiar or automatic. The third explanation is the Bio-Informational Theory (Lang, 1989) whereupon imagery involves the activation of network of coded stimulus and response propositions stored in long term memory (for instance, the texture and feel of a basketball in one's hand coupled with the fluid motion associated with stroking the free throw).? David Yukelson, Ph.D.

 

[julianne]

I believe this hexagram speaks more about faith than hope. Wilhem also distinguishes 'Waiting is not mere empty hoping. It has the inner certainty of reaching the goal.' Faith relies on 'inner certainty' before a circumstance which has not yet visibly manifested. Faith is in itself an action, it anchors the potential as possible. Following on from Candid's quotes, it is faith in the ability to manifest the required outcome, coupled with preparation for the actions required, that leads to success. That success should be anticipated speaks both to the questioner, ie: anticipate success! and to the ultimate outcome.

 

[ella]

Thank you Julianne. Yes, the word "faith" is definitely more apropriate here.
As you can probably notice, I am not a native speaker. Please, accept my apology for beeing misleading by choosing an unprecise word.
Answering Anon 99: Yes, Hex 16 is about "making preparation for the joyful fulfilment of a hope". Preparation needs foresight and a critical judgement of reality and possible inherent dangers. In Hex 16 one is inclined to go with the flow and neglect this foresight. I had to learn this lesson from Hex 16 over and over again.

 

[candid]

Faith and hope are slippery slopes, imo. Not saying they can't be helpful in crossing over, because they definitely can be helpful. But I don't see 5 as being faith or hope as much as being a time to establish an effective frame of mind, to build confidence and inner security. To affect the crossing before crossing, to create the condition inwardly for success. An athlete works not only to visualize effectiveness before running their race, they also must be relaxed and loose, as though running well or crossing well is the natural thing to do.

Water over heaven: developing inner strength before facing danger.

 

[demitramn]

this has been one of my more important experiences with hx5

during my late 30's, i noticed that my body's metabolism had begun to slow down considerably because i began putting on weight though i wasn't eating any more than usual. i recall hx5 turning up very often during that time as i attempted to figure out what my body would respond to in my efforts to lose the excess weight that was creeping on

everything i'd been taught about losing weight always involved an increase in physical exercise, but hx5 is anything but outward activity. so at first, not wanting to gain more weight by slowing down my workout pace, i convinced myself that this meant to decrease my food intake and just give it time. needless to say, it didn't work and i actually put on more weight though i was eating less and exercising more

the more hx5 kept turning up regarding this situation the more i studied health and anatomy books. with a more thorough understanding of how the human body actually works i began to see that hx5 might actually mean (was it possible??) decreasing my exercise output while focusing on the quality (not the quantity) of my diet input

turns out, the ratio of my carbohydrate intake to my protein intake was much too high. the excess carbs were converting into fat faster than i was eating them, and my body didn't have enough protein to repair itself and maintain a proper weight balance for my frame. though i can now consume fatty foods, like peanut butter and nuts to my heart's content and i don't gain an ounce, gone are the many assorted breads and processed foods that were so much a part of my diet at one time. also gone (and gladly!) are those heavy aerobic workouts that have been traded in for light strengthening and sustained stretching

as Candid pointed out, "Water over heaven: developing inner strength before facing danger." is really the key to hx5. i couldn't have done it without first a good understanding of the conditions i was working under and what they needed to be. for the most part, i needed to first create the proper inner conditions for the outer success i wanted to manifest

 

[seeker]

So, Candid, when I kept getting Hex 5 in relation to X, it was telling me that I needed to build things within myself so that I would be prepared to accept what he offered (trust, for instance, is a bit of an issue for me after what I have been through with my husband), and also, maybe to bring out those characteristics in myself that would make be someone he would want to be with. Is that it???

 

[candid]

Seeker, let me copy part of your statement:

"it was telling me that I needed to build things within myself so that I would be prepared."

That's where I'd cut it off. Whether you were preparing to accept, reject, confront, conform, leave, stay... I can't say. During your period of waiting, these are the things you've been discussing with us here. You were weighing all these possibilities in an atmosphere of friendliness and good cheer.

 

[cheiron]

Hi Seeker - Sorry to repeat - agreeing with much above.

Take a good look inside yourself and a good look outside - keep a focus and when they come in tune that is the light turned to green.

Then hit the gas peddle - but don't take your eye off the road.

It should be a good journey.

Hows that?

--Kevin

 

[cheiron]

Sorry that is not an instruction - but the way I see Hx.5 at times

--K

 

[karin]

I just got the 'syncronistic' idea of the number 5 which is in the center of the chinese math systems for the universe Lo shou and Ho tou.
Lo shou as a matrix of three rows and three colums summing to 15 in all directions and Ho tou as a mandala or cross. Representing cyclic time and the underlying timeless time respectively.

This just to remember the crucial central role of the number five.

Karin

 

[seeker]

On the note of synchronicity, I have a lot of 5's numerologically as well. I've been wondering how numerology affects the I Ching, or if it does. I have gotten a lot of 2's lately, both the hex and the changing lines. In my limited understanding of numerology (the more advanced calculations give me brain bleed

), 2 is about relationships, especially couples. Considering that is where my focus has been, I thought it was an interesting coincidence, or maybe a bit more.

 

[seeker]

More synchronicity, 5 in Tarot is the Hierophant, which is both my soul card and my lesson card. I can't remember what my year card is for this year, will have to check when I get home (in Orlando due to husband moving out this weekend, currenly watching hurricane come this way). I can't remember off the top of my head how to calculate the year card.

 

[seeker]

found the calc online, year card is the lovers, go figure.

 

[yly2pg1]

It takes time to come out from the Hex#5. It takes time! For time is a crutial factor in i-ching. This is particularly so for this Hexagram.

Time is the best solution here for thing to loosen up.