I Ching, Revisited

It has been a while since I have used the I Ching, and I have barely thought about it. For a while it was a staple in my life, and now its just sitting on my book shelf, forgotten along with the Tao Te Ching. I feel somewhat bad about that. I was just doing homework in the "China room" of the library, and as I was leaving, a copy of the I Ching caught my eye. I figured, "why not?"

I feel like I have been punished. I know that's not at all how it works, and it is more for forewarning and coping than anything else, but seriously. The first time I did it my hexagram was 58, Open. I was open in my lower and upper trigrams, so open in my inner and outer worlds. It seemed to be positive, until I realized I had a transforming line in my upper trigram I forgot to change. That completely changed everything. That one little line left me with 38, Polarizing. Not something I want right now, at all.

"The situation described by this hexagram is characterized by a tension between polar opposites, which needs to be acknowledged and given the proper place."

I tried again, with a different issue in mind, praying for a more positive outcome. Nope. No such luck. The Well.

"The situation described by this hexagram is characterized by the waters of life welling up from the depth. Maintaining a clear access to this central life cource is crucial for one's well-being and nourishment"

The well.
Amending the capital, not amending the well.
Without losing, without acquired.
Going, coming: welling, welling.
Muddy culmination: truly not-yet the well-rope in the well.
Ruining one's pitcher: pitfall.

Ehhhhh.

I just tried to explain this all to Britt, I am pretty sure she thinks I am crazy now. I am not one to believe in oracles, horoscopes, palm reading, any of that. Its all a load of bull. Especially horoscopes. They are so vague that you can apply it to any and all situations. However with the I Ching it is more about your life, your feelings, and what is heading your way. Each hexagram is so different and precise that you would really have to stretch to apply it to different parts of your life. Take Jenn's reaction, even she was a believer after one hexagram.

I want to get back into doing the I Ching on a regular basis, back to reading the Tao Te Ching and whatnot. I miss it.

I feel like this will be a post that is deleted tomorrow when I wake up. It's 5 am and I have barely slept in the last few days. Time for bed.