will i get this job?

[soma]

hello, this is my first time posting on this forum and wondering if anyone can give me perspective on this question. i guess it not a good idea to ask what might happen but i was hoping the Yi could remove some doubts. and i have already applied for the job, so i can't ask 'what if..' questions at this point.

i've been very confused about my work recently. one job that i thought would be great has left me feeling hollow and i sort of let it take over my life. as that contract is coming to an end i am trying to work out what to do next. i have applied for new job and for various reasons it fits the bill. however, i have not heard back from them in over 2 weeks after applying, so i think its likely i have not been shortlisted. today i asked Yi about this:

will i be offered this job?
20.6>8

20 is contemplation, suggesting that my application is being contemplated? i have done my half by working hard on my application and now its up to them, so i can't take it to mean that i ought to contemplate it. but it sort of suggests that i have done half of my bit the 'ablution', but not the 'offering'. what can this mean? is it that they are the one's who have make the 'offering' and i am waiting for their response: 'Full of trust they look up to him' ?
9 at the top says 'contemplation of his life'. my working life is being contemplated, eg. someone is considering my CV? or that i am contemplating my own life (which i certainly am)...
changing to 8, i read this is a positive outcome but only if upon reflection i think that i have the qualities to do the job well.

should i read this a positive indication? or that i should think more about whether i can do it?

 

[willowfox]

I see it as no, because this line is the line of the sage/ hermit who is not really a part of society at all, he doesn't want to be, he has no interests in jobs, or the day to day rush for self gratification.

 

[soma]

hi willowfox, thanks for your reply. do you mean that the specific changing line suggests a hermit? what about the rest of he hexagrams though?
its funny you say hermit, because even though i really want this job, i have been thinking of spending some months at a spiritual centrr and not start any job at all. however, a need one at this time and this job will suit me for a variety of reasons. plus i also asked Yi about this job in particular so i would like to read the response in that context. so would you read it as saying that i am thinking a lot about this but that its not likely to work out?

 

[willowfox]

I believe that it probably will not work out at all, plus your idea of going to a retreat sounds good for you to do. I gather you have accumulated a lot of baggage that needs discarding.

 

[soma]

thanks willowfox. yes a retreat is very tempting but it may not be possible this year. don't know about baggage, but i do feel a need for meditation and simplicity. "will not work out at all" seems to be the theme for 2 years... this job would have been good right now, so its a bit sad that the signs are not positive. anyway, thanks for your help!

 

[tigerintheboat]

The Question

A little perspective on the question and the form of the question, since you said you are new to posting to the forum and possibly to the Book of Changes...

There is no universal agreement on this, but a "yes/no" is not the best form for questions, since the Yi never answers yes or no. Some possible other related questions...

"What are my job prospects right now"
"What type of job would be best for me"
"What will happen if I don't get this job"
"What will happen if I do get this job"

My other brief comment is about "prediction" questions. You will find out soon enough if you get the job anyway, won't you? So why not ask beforehand a question like "What can I do to maximize my chances of getting this job?" That would be a practical question and Yi might give you practical advice.

In general, I have found "prediction" questions to be less useful than questions where I ask for advice.

Tiger

 

[willowfox]

There is no universal agreement on this, but a "yes/no" is not the best form for questions, since the Yi never answers yes or no.

I, personally have found that the IC is excellent at answering yes/no questions. Simple straight to the point questions and without a lot of fluff get straight forward answers. The more complicated the question, the more confusing the answer, and this leads to wrong thinking and assumptions of what the lines and hex are actually trying to tell you.
So, the IC can always answer yes/no questions, you just have to think about your answer and all will be revealed.

 

[soma]

thanks guys. tiger, i know that asking for advice is more useful than asking for predictions. but for this question, there's nothing more i can do but wait, so i can't really ask Yi about what i can do. perhaps i should have asked before i applied. i have asked Yi before "should i .." or 'what if i..' questions and its given me very positive or negative responses, so figured it may be able to do the same. but i am new to this and have lots to learn. when i do hear back from the job people whatever their response, maybe it'll also help me understand more about what Yi was trying to say.
willowfox thinks it says 'no', i note that, but i am still trying to understand why. is Yi answering a bigger question than the one i asked?

 

[tigerintheboat]

Answer Bigger than Question

It does appear (to me) that the answer is larger than the question...and in my experience that does happen quite often.

By putting the names of the two hexagrams together that you received, you might consider that the overall message of the reading is "Seeking Union in Contemplation", or "Unity in Contemplation." This sounds like it is more about the retreat than the job.

I am traveling and have a translation with me which is not one of my usual ones...let me lay this paragraph on you, the commentary on Line 6, Hex 20, titled Contemplation or Exhibiting.

"Your thoughts are outer directed. You see the past and future in balance, but as distant unreal archetypes....--wholly unrelated to yourself. You do not take into account the extent to which you are influenced by the past. You do not recognize your function as a source of what will happen in the future."

Or how about this paragraph...., from R.L. Wing

"Are you just looking at the surface of the situation and its most superficial effect upon you? This is an inferior, unenlightened form of contemplation. The superior mind will attempt to see the situation as part of a larger whole. That way you can know the actual meaning in your life."

Again, here it sounds like Yi is talking about you and your contemplation of the job, and the right kind of contemplation, rather than talking so much about the particular job.

Let me know if this makes sense if you are still following the thread...

Tiger