What is money? 39.5 > 15

[veavea]

Hello!

I was chatting online with a friend about money, and we were both laughing about how were relatively skint at the moment but seemed to be muddling through obstacles with a sense of blithe optimism. I said to the friend, half-joking, that 'money isn't real anyway,' to which he replied: 'nice thought...'

I then asked the Yi: 'what is money?'

39.5 > 15

The interpretation that jumped out at me was:

"Wing: Even in the most desperate struggles, your spirit alone will attract others. This co-operation will bring you success in your endeavors. Obstacles will give way."

While this description accurately conveyed the tenor of our conversation, I wasn't quite clear on how it applied to describe money...? Anyone got any thoughts? That money is simply an energy to be attracted? Or that what money is itself is irrelevant, but rather the way that we respond to it...?

 

[loverofknowledge]

Hi, sometimes the Yi answers your underlying concern. This answer has reflected back, for you, your attitudes about money.
On a different level, it may be saying that money is a medium that allows cooperation, among people, and success through cooperation, at least ideally (though it's not always used that way).

 

[rosada]

39.5 - 15

Money is a great friend that can help you out of all sorts of difficulties!

15. Maybe 15 means we need to not become overly dependent on such a helpful friend or perhaps we must be careful not to give money more importance than other things in life. Definitely good to have a Modest amount though!

 

[veavea]

Thanks for these insights, both!

Money is a great friend that can help you out of all sorts of difficulties!

This made me smile! I just had another think about the line, and thought - maybe money is the difference between struggle and relief, or that it is two sides of a coin - hardship and rescue from hardship.

If so, money itself could be said to be a medium that keeps us in a relationship of need, always struggling against not-having.

If the hexagram itself is 'Impasse' or 'Obstruction', is money an obstruction or the way to get through an obstruction? Or both? Changing to Modesty, or Temperance in some translations suggests an even and balanced approach to money so that we can use it well without being a slave to it...

Money is both problem and solution!