No. 44, Coming to Meet  /  Temptation:

"Coming to meet.  The maiden is powerful
One should not marry such a maiden."

     Ladies - try to get past your initial reaction to the sexist  phrasing of the ancient Chinese.  Let's look at this one by its other name, Temptation, and analyze its message in that light:

    Something "seemingly harmless but potentially dangerous" [Wing] has entered your life.  Stop clicking through your emails right now and try to identify where this temptation is coming from:

• The business arena  -  a get-rich-quick scheme that seems to be too good, or too easy, to be true?
•   A personal relationship  -  the promise of pleasure, without responsibility?
• Internal  -  a "good reason" to cheat on your diet, skip a day of  exercising, have just one cigarette to calm your nerves?
  

    With this hexagram, the Yi is sending a message:  Don't go there.  The situation holds dangers you can't see now.

    We received two changing lines that give us some additional advice, Lines 2 and 5.  We'll look at Line 2 tomorrow.

No. 6, Conflict:

 

“Conflict. You are sincere

And are being obstructed.

A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune.

Going through to the end  brings misfortune.

It furthers one to see the great man.

It does not further one to cross the great waters."

 

     Is it possible that you have been ignoring the advice of the Yi in the main message and changing lines we're discussing here?  Because this message says there's a conflict brewing, and you need to back away from it.

    The message of The Wanderer - our main message - was that you are in a state of transition. You were advised to remove yourself from any conflicts you encounter as soon as possible. Lines 3 and 5 contained similar cautions.

    This future message says you are "in the right" in this conflict.  But it ain't gonna help.

    Once you realize you are in the middle of a conflict - stop. Don't continue on, in an attempt to "win," because you are "right."  All it will get you is misfortune.

    Continue being The Wanderer. Make your next destination a place where you can learn something. Don't take on a real challenge. You're not in a strong enough position to do that yet.

From No. 56, The Wanderer:

Line 3:

"The wanderer's inn burns down.
He loses the steadfastness of his young servant.
Danger."

     Line 2 said that on your journey, you will find a safe place to rest, and the support of others.

    Line 3 says,  "Hey!  Don't take this for granted!"  You will have the shelter of the "inn," but only if you behave properly while you're there.  Wilhelm describes the improper behavior as "meddling in affairs and controversies " that do not concern you.  In other words:  You are on your way to something else.  Don't think you have to tell the people who are staying put what to do.

    Likewise, if you want the continued friendship and assistance of others, be sure you don't neglect them.  They can abandon you at a moment's notice, which will leave you alone in unfamiliar territory - a dangerous situation.

    In your "wandering,"  who or what is your "inn?"  Your "steadfast servant?"

..........

    Tomorrow we look at the Yi's last piece of specific advice on this journey of transition, Line 5.

The Daily Yi

From No. 56, The Wanderer:

Line 2:

"The wanderer comes to an inn.
He has his property with him.
He wins the steadfastness of a young servant."

     You will come to a place where it is safe to rest for awhile.   You have all that you need within you - your abilities, your self-confidence, your modesty and sincerity.  This wins you the support of others.

    Ask yourself:  What "journey" is the Yi talking about?  What transition am I making - or what transition could I be making, or should I be making? 

    When you have that answer, know that this journey won't be entirely perilous.  And you won't be entirely alone.
.........................

    Tomorrow the Yi has some cautionary advice for us in Line 3.

Today we received hexagram No. 56, The Wanderer - also called, by different translators, Moving On, Traveling, or Tread Carefully - with three Changing Lines, Lines 2, 3, and 5.  We’ll look at the main message first.

 

No.. 56, The Wanderer:

 

“The Wanderer. Success through smallness.

Perseverance brings good fortune

To the wanderer."

 

The translation of The Image adds an additional concept:

 

“Thus the superior man

Is clear-minded and cautious

In imposing penalties,

And protracts no lawsuits.”

 

            For the Yi, “traveling” is more a fluid state of mind than a physical journey from place to place.  But one may well include the other.

 

            The message here is that you are in a state of transition, and are moving to places that are unfamiliar.  In such times, it is wise to take small steps until you understand more fully the forces that are at play.

 

            As R. L. Wing says, “You are tasting, testing, sightseeing, and collecting information.”  As part of this process, you are advised to remove yourself from any conflicts as soon as possible.

 

            Where you are now - mentally or physically – is not where you are going.  Stay out of trouble and learn what you can; that will help you along your path.

 

            The Joseph Legg translation describes The Wanderer as "carrying with him his means of livelihood and provided with good and trusty servants." This means that your success is not dependant on any particular location or set of circumstances:  You have within you all that is necessary, and letting your inner truth be visible will attact support, no matter where you are.

 

          The Yi has some additional advice on how to behave while you're wandering; we’ll look at Changing Line 2 tomorrow.

From No. 58, The Joyous:

Line 1:

"Contented joyousness. Good fortune."

     Receiving this line means that there is no need for you to worry about external circumstances at this time.

      Let the minor irritations of the world pass. Do not waste your personal energy regretting the past, or worrying about the future.

      Your core is solid; that is sufficient reason for quiet "joyousness." 

    We received one more Changing Line. We'll look at Line 4 tomorrow.

       Today’s reading is a “found penny” reading for a group member.

 

        Finding a penny is a “You have a message” signal, like the blinking light on your answering machine.   Use that penny when you toss the coins for your next reading.

    Our group member found the penny when she was headed for her car after an interview for a job that would be a significant change  of direction for her.

     Her question for the Yi is:  If I am offered this job, should I take it?  The Yi's answer is:

     

No. 58 – The Joyous/ Lake

 

“The joyous. Success.

Perseverance is favorable.”

 

The Image:

 

“Lakes resting one on the other:

The image of The Joyous.

Thus the superior man joins with his friends

For discussion and practice..”

 

          No. 58 is a one of eight hexagrams that is formed by the doubling of a trigram, in this case, Lake above and Lake below, one replenishing the other.

 

          This message signals a happy and fulfilling time if one uses it to share and discuss the truly important things in life.

 

           Or, as Wilhelm says, “Knowledge should be a refreshing and vitalizing force.  It becomes so only through stimulating intercourse with congenial friends with whom one holds discussion and practices application of the truths of life.”

 

          The Chris Marshall interpretation of this hexagram seemed to  speak to her question most directly: "This is a good time to undertake new enterprizes because you have the right mix of cooperation, congeniality, and clarity of purpose to bring plans to fruition."

        This tells her that  now is a good time to make this change in her career path to a job where she will be learning new things and developing new skills.

    With this main message, she received two changing lines, Lines 1 and 4, which offer some specific advice. We'll look at Line 1 tomorrow.

................................

The Daily Yi

No.48, The Well:

 

 

“The Well.  The town may be changed,

but the well cannot be changed.

It neither decreases nor increases.

They come and go and draw from the well.

If one gets down almost to the water

And the rope does not go all the way,

Or the jug breaks, it brings misfortune."

 

 

         Receiving this hexagram signals a time in life when you must "dig deep." There is an inexhaustible source of wisdom available to you.  Surface circumstances may change, but the truth is there, unchanging. However, you will have to seek it conscientiously.

         If you don't lower your bucket all the way down, you will come up empty. If you are not careful in drawing the wisdom out, it will bring misfortune.