When the gentle wind blows - Hex 57, 2nd and 6th lines.

[learner]

Dear friends,

Here am I in the city of Oxford-UK, after leaving the country where I live, Brazil, two weeks ago. I brought the I-Ching with me, of course, but somehow I didn`t feel like asking any question until last night. I will be living in this city for just a short period of time, until December, and I have much expectation of achieving things here, in different levels. Then I posed the I-Ching a question to look into this experience. Actually, I have been wondering what I could possibly achieve, how this change could affect my life positively. However, I feel that in the background of my question there is a fear of a result of little significance. Anyway, the answer proved to be more complicated than I have expected. My first answer after crossing the ocean! And I came across multiple lines, a contradiction within! I have little idea about what to do with this reading and I would be more than happy if you could help me!

Hexagram 57 - Gentle Wind - second and sixth moving lines

"Nine in the second place means:
Penetration under the bed.
Priests and magicians are used in great number.
Good fortune. No blame."

"Nine at the top means:
Penetration under the bed.
He loses his property and his ax.
Perseverance brings misfortune."

Thank you.
All the best,
Mirian

 

[megabobby]

2nd line--yer 'ghetto street hustler' side will be successful despite doubts

6th line--yer 'yoda' side could use a higher motivation than the one your thinking about.


mega-slobby

 

[martin]

Hello Mirian,

Welcome back on the forum!
Just looking at the hexagrams I would say that 39 in the background reflects your situation now.
You meet with obstacles, maybe things are not as easy as you hoped or expected.
But that is often the case in a new situation. It takes time before you find your way.
57 says that it will become easier, gradually, if you use gentle means, which implies among other things that you don't rush and - indeed - take the time that it needs.
The hexagram indicates thoughtfulness and research. Probably relevant for your studies but also for finding out where the good restaurants and pubs are, and the nice people, and so on.

I wish you all the best,

Martin

 

[martin]

I should add that with 57 one sometimes can become too thoughtful and hesitating.
If that is the case don't forget to be impulsive now and then!

 

[chrislofting]

Mirian,

hex 57 overall deals with cultivating things to eventually become influencial - as we find in a wind or a rising mist/fog. The focus is on using the context to elicit change and so adaptation to context.

"SUN : base on which things rest; support, foundation; mild, subtly penetrating; nourishing. The ideogram: stand and things arranged on it, the subtle influence of the ground."ERANOS p605

"The generic properties of hexagram 57 reflect the mixing of the generic properties of hexagram 48 with the generic properties of hexagram 05.
A combination of setting foundations for social development (48) with a focus on waiting for an opportunity to come (05) is reflected in the general characteristics of 57 with its focus on cultivation and becoming influencial." from http://pages.prodigy.net/lofting/lofting/x110110.html

Changing lines 2 and 6 reflect either:

(a) a distortion of 57, a movement AWAY from the archetypal expression that is damaging. Thus the movement to 39 (water over mountain) reflects a warning about being too rigid, dont go against the flow of 57 by trying too hard. The initial wind is 'gentle', 'penetrating' and do exaggerations are not worthwhile. 'correct' development is through cultivation and rooted in the core of 57, the foundation setting of 48 combined with the 'waiting' of 05 (that includes 'networking', establish social relationships that can work for you later)

OR

(b) an actual change of form, from being cultivating to going against the flow of things, obstructing. The latter is not necessarily 'negative' in that the flow is 'mindless' such that going against it means you will stick out and be noticed by being 'different'! ;-)

The (a) interpretation reflects a focus on integrating with a context, shape-shifting to fit that context without changing one's core sense. (b) reflects a 'transcendence' perspective, an actual change of core as well as surface.

Since you are the 'new kid on the block' and as such may need to integrate a bit before 'sticking out' I would suggest the (a) is the better fit ;-)

Chris.

 

[malka]

Learner,

Although I am from the US, I bought my first Yi book in Oxford! I was studying at Balliol College, and one day wondered into Blackwell's Bookstore. Is this large and amazing bookstore still there? There was also a wonderful vegetarian restaurant called "The Nose Bag" if I remember correctly...

I hope you enjoy your time in Oxford.

Blessings,
Malka

 

[learner]

Dear Chris,

Thank you very much for your approach. I regard your interpretation as enlightening and I still feel the 'new kid on the block', as you said. I am going to brood over this suggestion of "integrating a bit before 'sticking out' I would suggest the (a) is the better fit ;-)".

Dear Martin,

I am glad to come back, after a long journey and the jetlag. *grin*
I think you are right, I`ve been meeting some obstacles, both internal and external, still demanding a kind of adjustment.
Actually, I got a little bit scared by the sixth moving line, as if I couldn`t do any better than I`ve been doing already. This is childish, I must confess.
Well spotted when you say: "I should add that with 57 one sometimes can become too thoughtful and hesitating".
I totally agree, I have to overcome this, as well.
Thanks for your thoughts!

Dear Malka,

Yes, the amazing Blackwell`s Bookstore is still there! And you will try to take a look at the vegetarian restaurant.... In fact, I do not eat red meat!
Talk to you later about it.

Thank you all,

All the best,
Mirian

 

[hilary]

Welcome to Oxford, Mirian! Drop me an email if you'd like to meet any time.

I bought my first Yi book in the Oxfam bookshop up Woodstock Road - a disintegrating copy of Legge. And then got RJ Lynn and R&K from Blackwell's

Nowadays, they have about 3 Yi books - maybe Borders is better...

 

[cal val]

I have absolutely no rememberance of where I bought my first Yi book...it was during the 60s I think...and who can remember the 60s? If you can, then you weren't smoking the right stuff. I bought my second Yi book at the Bodhi Tree in West Hollywood -- http://www.bodhitree.com/. It's the perfect kind of bookstore for people who enjoy this kind of site.

Cheerio the noo,

Val

 

[learner]

Hello all,

Quite an interesting experience I am having here in Oxford. I agree, Hilary, Borders has an amazing selection of
Yi books. I have been there to buy my first English I-Ching translated by Wilhelm!
I had been using the portuguese translation so far and -of course- lots of things from the Net.
Leaving the bookshop, I was happy as a child, proud of me with the lovely edition in my hands! *grin*. I could also see other translations -- Legge, Anthony, Karcher.

You know, I am concentrated on my academic examinations by the end of the year, but the Yi is my heart and soul as well.

All the best,
Mirian

 

[learner]

Hello again Martin,

My head is still throbbing with the Hex 57 sixth moving line! What an unfair position the I-Ching has put me through! *grin*
The answer was supposed to be encouraging, but this line is dreadful. *grin*

All the best,
Mirian

 

[martin]

Hello Mirian,

I think line 6 refers to what I said about becoming too thoughtful and hesitating.
That would be paralyzing.
In the Legge translation the lost "axe" is rendered as (I changed the gender):
"the axe with which she executed her decisions"
Legge explains that in this line the quality of the hexagram is carried to excess.
In his post Chris also mentions the possibility of exaggeration.

To me it sounds more like a warning than a prediction.
Does that make it less dreadful? *grin*

 

[martin]

It's like that donkey who sees grass on the left and on the right.
Which grass should it eat? The poor beast cannot decide and starves ..
Well, that's an exaggeration of course.

.

 

[martin]

Perhaps the line also warns against overdoing the "thoughtfulness" that characterizes the academical milieu. Nose in the books all day, too much analysis, a lack of physical and emotional vitality and spontaneity, and so on. Relevant?

 

[learner]

Hi Martin,

Yes, that does make it less dreadful! *grin*
I read again Chris comments on the lines as well as yours.

Chris wrote: "the movement to 39 (water over mountain) reflects a warning about being too rigid, dont go against the flow of 57 by trying too hard. The initial wind is 'gentle', 'penetrating' and do exaggerations are not worthwhile."

You said: " I think line 6 refers to what I said about becoming too thoughtful and hesitating.
That would be paralyzing.
In the Legge translation the lost "axe" is rendered as (I changed the gender):
"the axe with which she executed her decisions"
Legge explains that in this line the quality of the hexagram is carried to excess."

Having thought more carefully about those ideas, they seem coherent and meaningful to me. Thank you!

Probably I am feeling pretty much like the donkey (*grin*) - multiple choices, you know. Too many books and too many pubs! What should I choose!!

All the best,
Mirian

 

[hilary]

Oh, Mirian, I forgot to mention - some free grazing advice for you

.

You can get a bus up the Cowley Road, get off by the Bingo Hall and head over to the Inner Bookshop - see http://www.innerbookshop.co.uk for directions, photos of the interior and a catalogue. The vegetarian cafe next door is good, too.

 

[midaughter]

I would not sugar coat the the 6th line, losing your property and your ax is
> pretty apparent. You could lose your passport or wallet, something like that.
Since the 'influence' sets in from the bottom up
you have time to avoid this.
Think of this an
opportunity > to learn Hexagram 57 and master (as much as possible) unfavorable tidings
> that are foretold. And why not? Who is without misfortune?
Sun

 

[learner]

Hello Sun,

Less than 24 hours after reading your post, I lost my specs. Fortunatelly, I have an extra pair of glasses, for emergencies like this. But, anyway, I will have to buy another one, just to be safe before the academic examinations.

Was it a coincidence related to Hex 57 6th line?
I do not know.... Just in case, I am keeping an eye on my passport and purse as well.

All the best,
Mirian

 

[midaughter]

Hi Learner:

To calculate time you can see that the 'friends and magicians used in great numbers was approximately where things were (the second line) so you have three more lines of safety. Usually to calculate when something is foretold would happen (but we know it will not necessarily happen)

Since you are only going to be in Oxford for a short time, its easy to divide the total time by 6 to get an idea of when the misfortune would occur. It looks like it would be the time when you leaving....I would ask the Sage what measure to take or ask what hexagram will signify the approach of the misfortune. Ask until you are sure. I know, its I Ching paranoia, you own secret world or sorts. As I see the misfortune looms but will not necessarily occur as I said before. Very best of luck and don't let this reading impinge on your present enjoyments of England.
Sun

 

[learner]

Hello Sun,

Apparently, the situation is already changing. I asked the same question again and this time I got Hexagram 39 -Obstruction- with fourth, fifth and sixth moving lines, and Hex 56 -the Wanderer- in the background.

Hex 39 - Chien / Obstruction:

Six in the fourth place means:
Going leads to obstructions,
Coming leads to union.

Nine in the fifth place means:
In the midst of the greatest obstructions,
Friends come.

Six at the top means:
Going leads to obstructions,
Coming leads to great good fortune.
It furthers one to see the great man.

It is quite an interesting movement because in the first time I got Hex 57 with Hex 39 -Obstruction- in the background (or perhaps the future?).

Actually, I have been "economical" in my enquiries, compared to the past, when I used to ask questions about almost every step in the way.
Having arrived in Oxford in the end of September, this is the second time that I have adressed the I-Ching so far. In both circumstances, my question was the same: how this experience would affect my life, in terms of possible changes.

I have no idea about what the I-Ching is trying to tell me, although there is an evident coherency in the answers. Somehow hexagrams 57 and 39 seem to be interwoven in the interpretation of my reading, whatever it might be.

All the best,
Mirian