When the message couldn't be plainer

[ann]

Very often when I use the I Ching, I find that the answer is very difficult to interpret. So I scuttle off to Sarah Dening's commentary. But sometimes Yi speaks very, very plainly.

I'm sitting an exam in 2 weeks (terrifying prospect), and am now into the revision period (plus running home and family, and a hugely important meeting to prepare for in the same week as the exam). I've been suffering from ear problems which are making me feel dizzy and ill, and I was pondering contacting the exam office to see if I should fill in a 'mitigating circumstances' form. This is NOT my usual way of doing things - I'd rather do the exam under my own steam, come what may. So I asked the I Ching for advice (which is exactly how I phrased the question). It must have known I'm not feeling well - the answer was 43, change line 4, becomes 5. (I used Willhelm's translation). It couldn't be plainer could it?

 

[candid]

Hi Ann,

Ooohh wow, there is some literalness to the change lines especially! Also interesting is the relating hexagram of 11. If this were me I think I'd go with the mitigating circumstances form and be at peace until such time as I had my necessary facilities working properly. But what did you choose?

Candid

 

[ann]

Well ... I contacted the exam office and asked for their advice. It seems that I have up to seven days after the exam to send in the form, so I'm going to do what I can but I might well send in the form if the problem carries on. But this was one time when I felt that the I Ching was being loud and very clear!

 

[candid]

loud and very clear! Very good! May it be so.