Jul 11 23
Page of Swords (reversed)
39. Obstruction
13. Fellowship with Men
These first few lines are the general aphoristic returns for the week. They are raw and uninterpreted; there to use how you’d like. (The specific readings follow.)
From “M.S.”: I need help with deep, mounting misanthropy. The disgust extends to myself as well; I do not want to live with such feelings. What to do?
You or your outlook very much seem like a direct combination of our card (The Page of Swords, reversed) and our first hexagram, #39, Obstruction. You are definitely obstructed by a lack of buoyancy — over a long period of time. It seems the situation has sprouted roots. It might be time to seek help from someone that has expertise and a sincere desire (a love) of assisting people in your difficult situation — like an analyst or therapist.
A feeling of accord with the world and your fellow humans is necessary for thriving. Is there anything that you can say, no matter how broad, that is positive, that you think you and all people share?
But really, it may be quite out of your hands at this point; a pursuit of external assistance may be in order. In the meantime it is important not to encourage self pity — this is not an insult — just a prevention against losing all perspective.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Page of Swords, reversed. The youthful spryness and intelligence that would be intimated in an upright draw, is not present — here something like cynicism and a kind of sickness is being pointed to. Look out for pessimism and outlooks that have become rotten.
Our first hexagram this week is #39, Obstruction. There are dangers in life. From some, retreat is wise. Often overcoming an obstacle requires the help or guidance of others. “One must join forces with friends of like mind and put themself under the leadership of a person equal to the situation: then one will succeed in removing the obstacles.” As well, difficulties can be the best opportunities for learning. “An obstruction that lasts only for a time is useful for self–development. This is the value of adversity.” There is also a warning against claiming others for hardships. “The inferior person seeks to put the blame on other persons, bewailing their fate, the superior person seeks the error within themself, and through this introspection the external obstacle becomes an occasion for inner enrichment and education.” There were three changes this week, of which the specific notes are: 1) Do not blindly advance into danger, rather reflect and plan before acting. 2) Seek help in friends. 3) If one’s life choice is that of the ascetic or spiritual recluse, there may be a time when you are called back into group action.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #13, Fellowship with Men. “True fellowship among people must be based upon a concern that is universal.” “But in order to bring about fellowship, a persevering and enlightened leader is needed—a person with clear, convincing, and inspiring aims and the strength to carry them out.” And further, “fellowship should not be a mere mingling of individuals or of things — that would be chaos, not fellowship. If fellowship is to lead to order, there must be organization within diversity.”
- look out for pessimism and viewpoints that have become rotten
- retreat can be a wise option
- often overcoming an obstacle requires the help or guidance of others
- true fellowship among people must be based upon concerns that are universal
- there must be organization within diversity
From “M.S.”: I need help with deep, mounting misanthropy. The disgust extends to myself as well; I do not want to live with such feelings. What to do?
You or your outlook very much seem like a direct combination of our card (The Page of Swords, reversed) and our first hexagram, #39, Obstruction. You are definitely obstructed by a lack of buoyancy — over a long period of time. It seems the situation has sprouted roots. It might be time to seek help from someone that has expertise and a sincere desire (a love) of assisting people in your difficult situation — like an analyst or therapist.
A feeling of accord with the world and your fellow humans is necessary for thriving. Is there anything that you can say, no matter how broad, that is positive, that you think you and all people share?
But really, it may be quite out of your hands at this point; a pursuit of external assistance may be in order. In the meantime it is important not to encourage self pity — this is not an insult — just a prevention against losing all perspective.
Complete Reading
This week we pulled the Page of Swords, reversed. The youthful spryness and intelligence that would be intimated in an upright draw, is not present — here something like cynicism and a kind of sickness is being pointed to. Look out for pessimism and outlooks that have become rotten.
Our first hexagram this week is #39, Obstruction. There are dangers in life. From some, retreat is wise. Often overcoming an obstacle requires the help or guidance of others. “One must join forces with friends of like mind and put themself under the leadership of a person equal to the situation: then one will succeed in removing the obstacles.” As well, difficulties can be the best opportunities for learning. “An obstruction that lasts only for a time is useful for self–development. This is the value of adversity.” There is also a warning against claiming others for hardships. “The inferior person seeks to put the blame on other persons, bewailing their fate, the superior person seeks the error within themself, and through this introspection the external obstacle becomes an occasion for inner enrichment and education.” There were three changes this week, of which the specific notes are: 1) Do not blindly advance into danger, rather reflect and plan before acting. 2) Seek help in friends. 3) If one’s life choice is that of the ascetic or spiritual recluse, there may be a time when you are called back into group action.
Our second hexagram, the one that suggests how best to meet the challenges (or the changes) is #13, Fellowship with Men. “True fellowship among people must be based upon a concern that is universal.” “But in order to bring about fellowship, a persevering and enlightened leader is needed—a person with clear, convincing, and inspiring aims and the strength to carry them out.” And further, “fellowship should not be a mere mingling of individuals or of things — that would be chaos, not fellowship. If fellowship is to lead to order, there must be organization within diversity.”