Should I travel?

[emilia_ro]

Hello everyone,

I'm due to travel overseas on the 26th, and I'm a bit unsure about whether I should go or not (the main reason being there's a document required that I'm missing, and they may or may not ask for it). I asked Yi about this multiple times and I have received 33.4.5 to 52, 24.2.6 to 41, and 20 uc.

I think both 33.5 and 24.6 suggest quite strongly that I shouldn't go. However, missing the trip would mean disappointing my family planning to meet me at the destination (we live in different countries).

Does anyone have experience with these hexagrams and can shed some light?

 

[Trojina]

Depends on the consequence of not having the document doesn't it ? Would it be a serious consequence or just a nuisance? I think this is one where readings have to be seen in the light of actual consequences.

All of the readings suggest pulling back though. It also looks like pulling back is more easeful and restful for you anyway.
Maybe it's not only the document that's the problem ?

 

[emilia_ro]

Depends on the consequence of not having the document doesn't it ? Would it be a serious consequence or just a nuisance? I think this is one where readings have to be seen in the light of actual consequences.

All of the readings suggest pulling back though. It also looks like pulling back is more easeful and restful for you anyway.

Thank you for your reply Trojina.
I don't know what the consequences of not having the document are, it really depends on the person who asks for it I think. I have talked to multiple people who have travelled recently (including my father, who is already there) and they all said no one asked for that document. But still, it's a risk. I agree with you though that the readings point towards not going.

 

[Trojina]

But I always say, especially in things like this, don't not take a clear positive step in life because of a Yi cast. Or rather what I mean is Yi shouldn't be used in too much of a 'superstitious' way, it's important to keep your independence of judgment, not least because we can misinterpret anyway.


You haven't said what you want to do and I think that would impact on how we view the readings. Also what the trip means for you, whether it is itself a retreat, or whether you are trying to rekindle something also has an impact on how we see the readings.

I asked Yi about this multiple times and I have received 33.4.5 to 52, 24.2.6 to 41, and 20 uc.

33.4.5>52 does look quite a chilled cast.
24.2.6>41 again seems to suggest conserving your energy, taking things easy (24.2) is way better than trying to force a new start or try to make things as they were which would be disastrous (24.6). 41 suggesting less is more, you don't have a great deal to pour into this.

20uc simply asks you to stand back and look at this before deciding.

What I'm trying to convey is I feel it a bit dangerous for me to look at your casts and say they mean 'don't go' without taking the whole circumstance into account which only you know about fully.

The casts give the impression you are quite weary and this would take a lot out of you, is that right? What are your feelings about going about from the document issue?

 

[emilia_ro]

You haven't said what you want to do and I think that would impact on how we view the readings. Also what the trip means for you, whether it is itself a retreat, or whether you are trying to rekindle something also has an impact on how we see the readings.

You are right, let me give you a bit more context on the trip. My mother passed away recently and so my father became a widow. He had to travel for work and asked my sister and me to join him there since it's closer to me than to travel to my home country. On that trip, I would also see one of my closest friends who live there, who I haven't seen since 2019. There are two people I'm scared of disappointing if I decide not to go in the end.

In regards to the missing document, I have taken chances before, however, Yi always had positive things to say about it when I asked.

Perhaps I need to continue meditating about it, I still have a whole day and a half before the plane leaves

 

[Trojina]

No pressure then

Sorry to hear you recently lost your mum though, that's hard.

You still haven't said what you feel or what you want? You've said you are afraid of disappointing other people but not what you want yourself. Are you worried about the document, I guess you must be but in your guts are you looking forward to this or wishing you hadn't arranged it?

It might help to just check in with your own feelings and what you want to do since what you want matters also. Is there any sense of this trip also being to make amends or make things as they were before ? I'm just trying to make sense of the 24.6.

 

[Liselle]

Also very sad for you about your mother.

not least because we can misinterpret anyway.

That's really important. Lately I've thought that readings might be at a high point so to speak when we can use them to bounce actual events off of. We cast a reading - keep it in mind - something happens - "Oh aha - that's what the reading said/meant; now I know what to do." Of course that's not always the case. But likewise sometimes it's not possible to understand a reading until something happens.

Also, you didn't say what your questions were. That could make a difference for interpreting.

24.6 can be a situation that's completely beyond hope, but not always. The text says "Confused return, pitfall," (some translations have "deluded"), and sometimes that's all it is - just confusion, and of course one shouldn't proceed based on confusion.

If you do want to go, as Trojina said it matters whether the consequence would be. Do you have any idea? Like, "Sorry, you can't get on the plane" vs. something like "We're going to detain you for 3 days or put you in jail or confiscate your passport" or something dire. I'm exaggerating (I hope) but you see the point.

Wonder if it'd be less of a disappointment to everyone if you could say you tried but they wouldn't let you on the plane? No one including you could be upset with you, then. Of course if the airport is really far away or some such complication, that matters too.

 

[emilia_ro]

Hi Trojina and Liselle,
Thanks to both for the replies and your condolences. I've been thinking long and hard about this.

You still haven't said what you feel or what you want? You've said you are afraid of disappointing other people but not what you want yourself. Are you worried about the document, I guess you must be but in your guts are you looking forward to this or wishing you hadn't arranged it?

I remembered now that when this trip was first proposed, I told my dad that I didn't want to go. The proposal came right after my mother died, and I was feeling very resentful towards my sister since I had to take care of cleaning out all of my mother's things alone, given that she hardly helped. On top of this, this is a trip we used to do every year when I was a kid, and the last trip we did before she died.

I realized today that even if I had the paper, I would still feel wary about going. It's very outside of my comfort zone. The missing paper only adds more drama to this feeling.

If you do want to go, as Trojina said it matters whether the consequence would be. Do you have any idea?

I have been told that the worst that could happen is to be sent back. I would have to be extremely unlucky though.

Also, you didn't say what your questions were. That could make a difference for interpreting.

I don't quite remember what the questions were, but it was along the lines of:
- 33.4.5>52: Should I travel there on Jan 26th?
- 24.2.6>41: Will it go smoothly? (This one I don't quite remember but it was along the lines of the entry with the missing document)
- What if I travel there on Jan 26th? 20 uc (the first one I asked, a few weeks ago).

I have noticed that both casts are very clear about what I should do regarding the inferior elements in the situation. Now the question is: is my fear about going the inferior element in this situation? Would the superior man retreat into safeness or would he face the fear with courage?

-33.4 (Wilhem) "Voluntary retreat brings good fortune to the superior man and downfall to the inferior man.". This could mean retreat in the most literal way (not going) or it could also mean a retreat from the fear that is keeping me from travelling.
-24.6 "Missing the return. Misfortune. Misfortune from within and without. If armies are set marching in this way, one will in the end suffer a great defeat, disastrous for the ruler of the country. For ten years it will not be possible to attack again.". This one is clearly a warning. I wonder if "missing the return" could mean "not going" (since I won't be returning from anywhere) and a feeling of defeat at missing an opportunity.
- 41 could be interpreted to mean "decreasing the lower self". However, the combination of "loss" or "decrease" together with keeping still (52) doesn't favour travelling.

Anyway, thank you both for your time and attention to my dilemma. I'm still confused about it . I promise that I will update you once the decision has been reached.

Wishing you a great day!

 

[Trojina]

I remembered now that when this trip was first proposed, I told my dad that I didn't want to go. The proposal came right after my mother died, and I was feeling very resentful towards my sister since I had to take care of cleaning out all of my mother's things alone, given that she hardly helped. On top of this, this is a trip we used to do every year when I was a kid, and the last trip we did before she died.

I realized today that even if I had the paper, I would still feel wary about going. It's very outside of my comfort zone. The missing paper only adds more drama to this feeling.

And when you said you didn't want to go how was that received? Was it heard or was it ignored? I think if you really don't want to go then don't go and the readings bear that out IMO. It's true sometimes we don't want to do things but then enjoy them when we do. Do you think that's likely here? Do you honestly think, in your experience, it's likely to be like one of those days you drag yourself out of the house to socialise when you totally don't want to but end up being glad that you did?

I have noticed that both casts are very clear about what I should do regarding the inferior elements in the situation. Now the question is: is my fear about going the inferior element in this situation? Would the superior man retreat into safeness or would he face the fear with courage?

Inferior elements in 33 would be that which undermines you, that which you retreat from to save yourself . It's important to remember with 33 it isn't just running away it's withdrawing to preserve some aspect of yourself in order to be free to go towards what you do want or what does prosper you. The trigrams show the mountain rising upwards to heaven, the withdrawal is to like the mountain be free to reach to the sky.

- 33.4.5>52: Should I travel there on Jan 26th?

Doesn't look like it. It would be a bit convoluted if this answer meant to withdraw from your fear, especially with 52 there.

- 24.2.6>41: Will it go smoothly? (This one I don't quite remember but it was along the lines of the entry with the missing document)

Line 6 has to do with trying to recover what is unrecoverable, misplaced effort. I don't know what that apples to but the impression from the cast overall is relaxing and putting less in is far better than setting out, sending armies in and all that.

- What if I travel there on Jan 26th? 20 uc (the first one I asked, a few weeks ago).

That was simply asking you to pause and look and have a good think and let all the factors come into view before deciding.

Wonder if it'd be less of a disappointment to everyone if you could say you tried but they wouldn't let you on the plane? No one including you could be upset with you, then

I don't understand this, you mean lie? Doesn't seem advisable since lies tend to complicate and lots of things would need to be made up about why she wasn't allowed on the plane. Better if emilia doesn't want to go to simply say so. And long term lying about it only would only mean the problem would occur at another time if for example her actual wishes weren't heard so she just went along with things/made up excuses.

 

[Liselle]

I don't understand this, you mean lie? Doesn't seem advisable since lies tend to complicate and lots of things would need to be made up about why she wasn't allowed on the plane. Better if emilia doesn't want to go to simply say so. And long term lying about it only would only mean the problem would occur at another time if for example her actual wishes weren't heard so she just went along with things/made up excuses.

No, I didn't mean lie at all. When I posted that the problem seemed to be only about the missing paper, not Emilia's other misgivings. (Which btw I agree with your last post - if Emilia really doesn't want to go, the readings do seem to support that, it won't be a "bad" decision. What you said about 33 and so on. We're not too clear on 24.6 though.)

What I meant was actually try to go. If she never got there because she wasn't allowed on the plane - actually not let on, in reality, because she didn't have the paper - that's a different thing than if she told her family she didn't want to. No one could think badly of her, including herself.

As she says though, chances are she would be let through so it's probably a moot point.

 

[emilia_ro]

Update on the situation:

As you may have imagined, I didn't travel, much to the disappointment of my family. I even had a cousin writing to me trying to convince me. My sister, who also had the same missing paper, arrived well and was not interrogated about it at all. I do hope I made the right decision, but it bothers me to think that I decided based on fear rather than intuition.

Anyway, thank you again to both for your help interpreting this reading .

 

[Trojina]

I'm not convinced you made a fear based decision it seemed to involve more than that, it was about more than the document I thought. I hope you feel okay about it, sometimes doing what you need to do for you does disappoint others but we can't always put what we want last. There will be other opportunities to meet up not too far away perhaps.