Should I be worried? 51.3.4 > 36

[JoeCampbell]

Dear Everyone

I am hoping that there is some comfort to be found in your responses to this query. Or at least that I can prepare for the Shock and quagmire of muddy emotions that I am threatened with in this reading.

Whilst busy cleaning my place and packing stuff away as I am going to be abroad for 3+ months, I asked myself the (not so clever) question "Why are you doing this really?"

The background being that going to China for 3+ months is partly just to get away from this place, a sense of stagnation here and the reminders of the more-or-less broken heart that I am dragging around with me. And it's also because I have the chance to work, to learn, to experience something new (I did a reading on this a while ago - it's in the Shared Readings - and it seemed overwhelmingly positive.

But with "Why are you doing this really?" ringing in my head, I sat down and asked Yi "What is the real purpose in my going to China?" and back comes 51.3.4 > 36.....which almost has me unpacking my bags again!

"Dread, terror, shock - but also laughter - maintain a steady hand in the upheaval"
Line 3: an external blow of fate - making you distraught - will test your strength, try and maintain composure..drastic circumstances
Line 4: Immobilised by muddy thinking and confusion - cannot make any progress.

I have no idea what to do with the relating 36 in this context.

My question is - does anyone else have experience with 51 as the response to a chosen future activity, in such a way that you wanted to chose not to do that activity?
I am genuinely worried about this - I want to go but I'm not going to throw myself to the lions, so to speak.

Thank you for any insight
Michael

 

[cjgait]

The Forest of Changes (a Han dynasty divination text based on the Yi Jing) has this for 51 - 36:

A woman is parted from her husband,
Bitterness of heart.
The Lady of Qi was bad at heart,*
Our own hearts were broken by what she did.

* Wen Jiang (Chinese: 文姜; died 673 BC) was a princess of the State of Qi and duchess of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. She was a daughter of Duke Xi of Qi and sister of Duke Xiang and Duke Huan of Qi. She was the main wife of Duke Huan of Lu and mother of Duke Zhuang of Lu. She is best known for having an incestuous relationship with her brother Duke Xiang, who had her husband murdered. Her ancestral name was Jiang (姜) and Wen was her posthumous title. This verse refers to her returning to Qi after her parents death for a visit even though that was not ritually correct. She was in fact returning to continue her incestuous liaison with her brother.

 

[JoeCampbell]

Thank you cjgait.
However, beyond the references to partings and broken hearts, I have no idea how to make sense of this story in my context. And I have to admit that it disturbs me too.

 

[cjgait]

Forest of Changes readings are quirky, either dead on or way off, in my experience.

 

[Lodestar]

I am in no way an experienced reader.. I just look up the hexes and pull the information together. But here's my take and I hope it's of some help..

I see it as the shock has roused you out of a routine life to explore beyond your comfort zone, the background hex of 36 perhaps points to you idealising your partner a little and not recognising your own light ( this comes only from my endless experience of getting 36 for me, it may not apply to you in the same way). Despite this stirring of action which is positive, you are still pulled back by the emotions of the broken relationship which make you feel a bit low and doubt yourself.

You are doing it, because the situation has inspired the desire for this. 'Am I on the right path with this action' is a question I use sometimes.. Or..'Am I in harmony with the Tao with this action?'

 

[Olga Super Star]

Hi! I'm in no way an experienced reader either.

But to me it looks like you're doing this because you feel oppressed (36) so you want some excitement in your life (51). You believe the trip will give you some sort of change.

I don't think he's saying it's a bad thing. You didn't ask if it will go bad, you asked why you are doing it.

Perhaps you could ask what potential does this trip have

 

[JoeCampbell]

Dear Lodestar and Olga
Thank you both so much for your replies, you have both given me a whole new perspective on the I Ching! I simply had not thought of the answer in the way that you both have -why am I doing it? Because you are in shock, your emotions are muddy and you need a change!
That is precisely correct - thank you

Why I chose to interpret it as "you are in for a shock" is a mystery to me.

And on the subject of asking about potential, I did that back when I made the decision "(what will I gain by going?") and got 50.6 > 32 which I see as very positive.

Thank you again - I'll carry on packing
Michael