47 EXHAUSTION

Water below the lake.

	Lake Joyful
	Water Danger

This is a difficult situation. The water is below the bottom of the lake leaving only mud. As a life situation it means you are exhausted and times are hard.

In addition to the hard times you are oppressed and your word is not believed. No one offers much help although you may get some help eventually if you keep in touch with the right people.

The advice is to persevere in your own path. Surviving the hard times will make you stronger and lead to new insights. Try to stay cheerful outwardly; this shows a positive attitude and attracts help.

47 LINES

1) 6 at the start

a) Your back is tired; stiff as a wooden post.
Entering a dark valley.
For three years you see no visitors.

b) Dark and unknown.

If you allow your spirit to weaken then you face the prospect of sitting about depressed indefinitely. It may be tempting to decide that you have had enough and to get away from everything but if you do it will be a waste of time. If you take a strong attitude, a way out of the gloomy valley can be found, and the present problems will pass.

2) 9 in 2nd throw

a) Exhausted, relaxing with a drink.
Honours are coming from all sides.
It will be favourable to pray and make offerings.
Punishments bring misfortune.
No blame.

b) The middle way brings rewards.

Here you are exhausted after working hard to deal with the problems. You are advised to relax and be generous and to avoid getting involved in any further troubles or disputes. Better times are now on the way so you can rest and have a few drinks if you wish to.

3) 6 in 3rd throw

a) Exhausted, turning to stone.
Tangled-up like bramble bushes.
He enters his house and his wife has left.
Misfortune.

b) It is a bad omen when the wife leaves.

If you sit around depressed, and allow the situation to deteriorate, then things will get much worse than if you had dealt with the situation in a sensible way. This is a warning not to give up, dispirited, at a time when you need to persevere.

4) 9 in 4th throw

a) Coming, slowly, slowly.
Exhausted in a metal chariot.
Humiliation, but the end is reached.

b) He has companions.

If you are exhausted after a long struggle help may seem very slow in coming. It will come, eventually, but you may still have to suffer a few indignities.

5) 9 in 5th throw

a) Humiliated and punished.
Exhausted; waiting for an official document.
Then slow progress is quickened.
It will be favourable to pray and make offerings.

b) Your prayers will be answered.

This means that you are oppressed from above and below. Your strong nature will see you through the hard times. Things will slowly improve and some help will eventually arrive. Prayers and offerings are appropriate in the meantime.

6) 6 at the top

a) Exhausted heading towards trailing vines.
Becoming uncertain and unsteady.
He says 'making people sorry will bring me sorrows'.
Punishments bring good fortune.

b) Good fortune from acting.

At the end of the time of exhaustion you may be dispirited and still see many problems. The trailing vines are undesirables who quickly grow back if they are not dealt with promptly. This line is a warning that it is necessary to deal with something even though you are tired and do not want to.