Will I achieve it in this lifetime? Hex 37.3.6

[ariel13]

Hi all,
Would love to get your thoughts on a reading. I have had some confusion and disillusion regarding certain personal career goals recently and decided to ask the iching about it. I don't want to be too specific about it, but basically I feel I have been steered slightly off-course from some of my professional goals recently. I have taken a job that is prestigious in a way and also pays very well but is taking me away from my passion (and the original reason I sought the job i.e. needed a way to fund my passion that was more stable).

Anyway, long story short, I have made great strides professionally with regards to my passion in the last few years. But the new job is draining, and I have less time for my own work now. So I am struggling with that.

In the mean time, some of my closest colleagues have been taking off in their careers in a way that is surprising and exciting. However, it worries me about myself. Am I getting too far off track? Can I achieve the success they are enjoying? Am I meant to? What is the meaning of being surrounded by these folks?– honestly I have never had so many extremely talented/lucky/hard working people around me, and am at a complete loss as I watch them skyrocket in their careers and do what seems to be the impossible.

Anyway, as much as I'd love to just sit back and be happy for them, it reminds me of what I want for myself. Because these goals are lofty, I asked the iching: "Will I achieve it in my lifetime?" I think the reading sounds nice. Maybe 37 is about being part of this clan of people– the ones who are doing so well are friends of mine, I feel I am part of their clan. And the last line is fantastic in this context– I certainly hope that my work "commands respect!" And I think that it does. Also, I can see that there was "difficultly in the beginning" as I have always lacked confidence, and got very off-course when I was young due to fear and insecurity. But what does line 3 mean? (I think this is Wilhelm translation):

"Changing yang in the third place means:
When tempers flare up in the family,
Too great severity brings remorse.
Good fortune nonetheless.
When woman and child dally and laugh,
It leads in the end to humiliation."

I was recently kind of ticked at one of my colleagues who is doing famously with her career now... Could it be a reference to this? She and I were really good friends at one point, but I feel that she became calculating in a weird way that didn't sit well with me, so I have kind of withdrawn from her... Is this what the iching is referring to?

Or is this more of a general comment about my question?

What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance for your help!

:bows:

Jen

 

[ariel13]

Anyone?

 

[rosada]

Will I achieve it in this lifetime?

37.3 Not if you just fool around with the family you are with.
37.6 You do have worthy goals.

3.Difficulty at The Beginning emphasizes the importance of networking, finding helpers.

Rosada

 

[Liselle]

I'm not disagreeing with Rosada - nor is Rosada saying this - nor do I know what the reading means - nor did you say this (phew!) - but if you're thinking of taking a really big step like leaving your job entirely to pursue your passion (whatever that is), I hope you wouldn't do it on the basis of this reading alone.

Let me repeat, that's not from the reading, nor am I disagreeing with what Rosada is saying. In fact, I think what she is saying makes sense. It's just that it seems like a reading with a good deal of wiggle room - there are a lot of ways you might be frittering around in life rather than getting on with important things. Your job - in and of itself - may or may not be one of them.

 

[ariel13]

Hi Rosada,
Thanks for your response! Interesting interpretation, because most of my current success has come as a direct result of interacting with this "family." And they are certainly "helpers" for the most part.

I do think I need to get out to some more different events though. Sometimes I have a tendency to stick with my group, which is much more comfortable. But I have done a lot of networking and have access to a much vaster group that I am probably underutilizing. So maybe that is where that reference comes from. As for "worthy goals" what do you mean by that? That they are worth pursuing? Or that I am worthy of pursuing them?

Thanks again for your help!

:bows:

 

[ariel13]

Hi Lisa,
No worries, not really considering quitting my job. I worked really hard to get it, and the last few years have been a serious financial struggle. I'm just concerned b/c while this job pays more than most I could get in my field, it is certainly b/c an immense commitment is expected. I just wonder if there is a job that could better facilitate my personal goals while still providing for me materially. Also, I am not one to make snap decisions! I usually deliberate well past the due date of when I should have decided and like to ask the icing repeatedly as I mull it over! I was considering returning to freelance after this year though, b/c I know I'll be able to charge a lot more after leaving this position, and THEN I would be able to better arrange my schedule for my personal projects.

And as for frittering around, well my job and my 2nd career (even my entire social life revolves around it i.e. every f'ing b-day party is a networking engagement!) take almost all of my time when I am not sleeping or sick, so not much chance I am frittering away time elsewhere!

Thanks again for your response!

 

[Liselle]

Oh, okay. I was just being over-cautious. Since you talked so much about your job in your initial post, there might be people who might think the I Ching was telling them they are wasting their life at their job...and then quit it ...when actually the I Ching never meant that at all...we don't want catastrophes here if we can help it...

Good luck with things! As Rosada said, line 6 sounds really encouraging .

 

[ginnie]

I think line 3 in hex 37 is saying you need to stand up for yourself more, in those instances when your job becomes draining. You may need to practice saying no to some aspects of your job, as you mentioned a lot is demanded of you. Probably too much is demanded of you and you might need to put a stop to that.

 

[ariel13]

Hmm yeah I already do that almost to a fault! Basically leave when I'm ready to go and insist on leaving if I have a prior obligation. Also come in late or call out if I need to! But it's hard to explain that the committment seems to go beyond just the daily work obligation...there are lots of social things that you get kind of suckered into. I say no to a lot of those too but can't say no to everything :+/

 

[ginnie]

can't say no to everything :+/

I think it is this situation that line 3 is referring to. The conflict you feel is justified and sometimes leads to you feeling harsh feelings about your job. But line 6 moving says that you will become awesome at your passion and people will respect you for it.

 

[rosada]

Just wanted to add that I don't see 37.3 as meaning you should leave this family - more like a heads up that the time you have with them must not be wasted. Perhaps the socializing could be seen as the dallying and therefore 37.3 could be an encouragement to be more focused on what might be gotten of those meet-and-greets.

Yes or No questions don't give clear answers.

You might get value from asking the I Ching "What is the goal I should be focusing on while I am with this company?" or "What do I need to master now so I can move up?"

Rosada

 

[ariel13]

Oh I like that interp Ginnie. Thank you.

Well, maybe that's true then. I obviously feel very conflicted...I can be dramatic about things sometimes. I mean there have been times I felt I was actually leaving the world of my passion and passing on into this corporate world I am in now! Which is a bit over the top. I have to remind myself constantly that other people I know have full time jobs too, and it can be okay, that it doesn't signify a lack of commitment on my part and that I can make it work... I have to tell myself that a lot.

Incidentally I did have a really good conversation with a friend about it last night who made me feel a lot better. She also has a full time job, so it really helped to hear her perspective, and I actually feel more energized today to go work on my own projects! Also, it helps that I finally feel better. I was so mad last week on the weekend b/c after working a long week I was sick all weekend so couldn't work on my own projects after devoting the entire week to my job. That made me feel really resentful.

I feel so much better today, so my perspective has changed a lot haha.

 

[ariel13]

Thanks Rosada,
But I'm still confused about your interp of that line. I just got two new opportunities from "the family" just from showing up and hanging out with them last night So think I am good on that front! There is a lot of "dallying," but I think that's partly why we help each other out when we can– b/c we know there is genuine friendship and support there. So it goes both ways

 

[myanon0001]

But what does line 3 mean?

For what it's worth ... In the "Nanjing interpretation" of 37.3.6, line 3 is not read at all -- only line 6 is indicated:

Nine at the top means:
[Her] work commands respect.
In the end good fortune comes.

line  value   indicator
 
-o-   9       6  *7* 18  19
---   7       5   8  17
- -   8       4   9  16
-o-   9       3  10  15
- -   8       2  11  14
---   7       1  12  13
 
indicator = 55-(7+8+9+8+7+9) = 7 --> top line

(Chu Hsi's method of interpretation also gives only the statement for line 6 as the oracle.)

 

[squiggles]

Take what I say with a grain of salt, because I really don't know whether or not I have something to add to this discussion, but I got the urge to give it a shot.

However, it worries me about myself. Am I getting too far off track? Can I achieve the success they are enjoying? Am I meant to? What is the meaning of being surrounded by these folks?– honestly I have never had so many extremely talented/lucky/hard working people around me, and am at a complete loss as I watch them skyrocket in their careers and do what seems to be the impossible.

Is it possible that line 3 is telling you not to be too hard on yourself? This might seem abstract, but I am inclined to believe it simply because it's a line about moderation... too much "dallying" creates problems, but so does sternness. I think it may be a suggestion to slow down and take life as it comes, without trying to throw yourself into your passions and live some kind of lofty, divinely purposeful dream. You can find fulfillment where you are right now, with a balance between the two extremes.

I think it could also be a suggestion not to compare yourself so much to others, and to find your own balance. I think line 6 suggests that you will find this balance, after some time, and your sincerity/the purity of your intentions will lead you to a good result. Also, it seems to be a reminder that, even though you've got this inner turmoil you're working through, that's not necessarily what others see. Instead, they simply have good feelings toward you—they see what kind of person you are, and admire you.

To me, the resulting hex 3 suggests that you will be heading down a fruitful path if you keep an even keel. Keep your goals and values in mind, and you will be helped over the rough parts. It might be beneficial to revisit your situation periodically, but for now, cut yourself some existential slack and see what happens when you devote yourself fully to what you're doing right now.

Again, a grain of salt may be required

 

[sooo]

I generally see 37.3 as saying that members of a family doesn't mean each member is the same as the other. You can be an individual and still be a member of a family, clan or group. Only an individual can increase the group, and a group of individuals increase one another. (37.3 changes to 42) These are the helpers in h3.

This can be applied within oneself as well as without. You don't always agree with yourself. This part says this, that part wants that, another part has no idea - you are a complex being and not all are in agreement as to what's important to you. What you achieve you achieve through your complex of talents, desires and efforts.