Should I take the furniture?

[Lodestar]

Hi I've been offered some furniture, I'd really love to take, but my space is limited and also I don't know what the future holds in terms of career and location.

I asked the following questions:

Should I take it? 32.4-46

Will I be living in this house for the next year? 58.4-60

Let the other person have it? 37.5-22

Many thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Liselle]

This is a little confusing to me, for what seems like such a simple reading.

From Hilary Barrett's book:

‘In the field, no game.’

With the caveat that any line can be oversimplified, I think this line is often a simple "no." That's probably what it is here, too, but the confusing part is that there is game - you've been offered the furniture.

Maybe what it means is that it's not the right game, or (maybe more likely, from what you're saying) at the right time. Maybe there's a distinction to be made between "wildlife" and "game." The line text doesn't say there are no creatures in the fields, just no game. If there are rabbits and mice in the field, but what you're hunting for are ducks, then it is true that there is no game for you, despite the profusion of critters. This is not the right furniture for you right now.

Another possibility might be that there is something undesirable about the furniture? I assume you've seen it, or you wouldn't say you'd "love" to have it. Is it maybe large furniture, more suited for a bigger house (e.g. a queen- or king-sized bed when the room would be better off with a twin or double)?

58.4 > 60
‘Negotiating opening, not yet at rest.
Containing the affliction brings rejoicing.’

I think this reading might be more about you casting another reading. Yi might be saying, "You're trying to 'negotiate' an 'opening' with me - no need for that."

37.5 > 22
‘With the king’s presence, there is a home.
Do not worry.
Good fortune.'

As I said, this is confusing. You'd somehow be more of a king, or have more of a home, without the furniture. Why? Maybe, as you said, if you had this furniture, you'd be really cramped in the house - you wouldn't feel very "kingly" if you could barely move around. And you'd have the hassle and expense of moving it if you do leave.

I can think of two possibilities for this line: (1) with hexagram 46, Pushing Upward, as the relating hexagram, maybe there will be more steps upward until you can really settle into what will be your "palace". Maybe better to wait until that happens to acquire a lot of furniture. (2) Kings sometimes dispense largesse to their subjects - that sounds like "let the other person have it."

I do think the simple answer here is "no." (And 37.5 says, "Do not worry." That's a nice thing to be told .)

 

[Tim K]

Should I take it? 32.4 → 46 Ascending
4. No game in the field.[Wilhelm]
You don't need it, it won't serve you any purpose.
Another time another place.

Will I be living in this house for the next year? 58.4 → 60 Limitation
4. Calculating joys brings restlessness. Discarding the error brings happiness.[Richmond]
Probably not, and you shouldn't worry about it. Keep an open mind and accept life like it is.

Let the other person have it? 37.5 → 22 Adornment, Grace
Of course, be like a king and share your wealth. Let that furniture adorn someone else's house.

 

[Lodestar]

Thank-you Lisa and Ashteroid! So helpful!

Lisa ha ha you got that so bang on about the bed!!!!
It's the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in in my life, and I'm desperate for a comfortable bed..
But it's simply too big... and I know I'll be on the move at some point.

The feedback enabled me to give the person who made the offer a quick answer, I was really struggling and the indecision was taking up a huge amount of energy.

Definitely the right decision. I'm most grateful thank-you both for your time

 

[Liselle]

Thank you for letting us know, Lodestar . Hilary once said in her blog somewhere, the I Ching can take time, but it also saves time. This is a good example of that!