Should I just give up? 10.1>6

[AlendaLux]

While I do other freelance work, I'm also an author of children's books—that is, I've published one book with a decent, but less-prestigious publisher. I have an agent, and since publishing that first book I've had two manuscripts reach the acquisitions phase with three editors. But for the past two years, and for the past year especially, writing has felt like a struggle, and I feel that whatever progress I was making before has stopped.

So I did a reading on the question "Should I just give up? I feel like I'm making no progress." The result was 10.1 to 6, Treading changing to Arguing via line 1. Drawing on the interpretation from this site, much of it resonates—"no matter how deep and true your convictions, you find yourself frustrated, and your sense of being in resonance and connected with the world is choked off" and "Look to the power and intensity you are drawn to in the situation: its specific danger is there, and also its potential gift."

But I worry about "if you can move in harmony with [the tiger], you can invite its power into your own life". I feel hopelessly immature for asking if it's possible that my lack of progress is due to not following my true passion, and yet that's the doubt that plagues me the most. What if I'm not meant to be an author? What if I've been play-acting this entire time?

Anyway, thanks in advance to the forum and to Clarity in general. Even just writing this post has helped.

 

[Amaterasu]

Hi AlendaLux,

In my experience, 10.1 usually indicates to keep going, one step at a time. (Wilhelm: Simple conduct. One proceeds without blame.)

That said, the line indicates that you are in a “lesser” position, so to continue you must do so modestly without expecting any major sudden progress in the near future. In other words, perhaps the yi is advising you to stick with it, but try not to get frustrated when things move slowly. (As a fellow freelance writer, I know exactly what this feels like!)

Also, in the commentary for this line by Balkin in The Laws of Change, caution is made against attempting things “simply to gain praise and esteem in the eyes of others.” So as long as you’re writing children’s books because it’s what you want to do—and not just to have the recognition that comes with being published—it might be wise to keep at it. I think this is sort of reinforced by the relating hexagram 6, which advises not to get “embroiled” in anything unless you’re sure it’s what you really want.

Perhaps in the end, the oracle is throwing a question back at you: Is this really what you want? If yes, then go for it and you can expect some progress, although it may come slower than you like?

 

[AlendaLux]

Amaterasu, thank you for such a thoughtful and lucid response. Obviously this is a question that I have to sit with a bit. I will check back if anything comes of it!

 

[AlendaLux]

Coming back, because I appreciate it when people tell the full story of what happened. Looking over other interpretations of 10.1>6 here, I came across this by sooo, which landed for me (emphasis mine):

I'd see 6 in this case as the context, but typically see it as a circle. Depending on how it's phrased, it could be the context or the resulting situation. IE, how to decide (resolve any conflict over this matter)? Tread simply. What happens if I tread simply? The conflict is resolved. The fan yao can (and usually does) play into this as well. 6.1 says to keep it simple; there's a little talk (a little conflict), don't perpetuate the affair. Progress, without blame.

I think now that I was very much stuck on my attachment to immediate success, and that the hexagram might be interpreted as "Should you give up? Well, try not giving up, try just putting in the work without thinking about where it's going, and see if that doesn't answer the question for you."

This, from 6, landed as well, as quoted by leonine:

You are sincere and are being obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune. Going through to the end brings misfortune.

I took this fairly literally, deciding that it meant that on my work in progress, where I was approaching the midpoint of the story, I should work steadily toward that halfway mark, and then stop, see what I had, and decide what to do, an approach that some authors recommend, and that I have found helpful on occasion. That's where I am now. Fingers crossed that I don't look at what I've got and decide it's an irredeemable mess.