I Ching, Yijing or Zhou Yi
"Oracle of the moon": © 2000 LiSe
Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon
Hexagram 54
Gui Mèi, Marrying maiden
Gua Poem:
Marrying Maiden, to set things right: pitfall. No ground for fruitfulness.
The great image says: Thunder over the lake, a maiden marries. The noble one, through the eternity of the end, understands the transitory.
Gui Mèi: the ideogram and the story (NEW). What does it mean for your question?
Hex.54's contrast is hex.53 (when all lines change): 54 is about adapting to circumstances because they have a deep meaning. Hex.53 is about making it grow and last.
Top line: The maiden receives a basket without substance; the young man stabs a sheep without blood. No ground for fruitfulness.
Only show is not enough, it has to be real. Words and deeds need truth, without that even the most beautiful ones will stay shallow and meaningless. This goes for every single aspect of life, even the smallest thought or gesture needs truth and sincerity.
(Hex.54's 38 Squinting: suspicion, find out if it is real) Mirror
Line 5: Di Yi marries off his younger sister. The primary wife's sleeves are not like the fine sleeves of the secondary wife. The moon is not quite full: auspicious.
Don't demand the best place, recognition, perfection - not from others and not from yourself. Just show your value, and you will earn your rightful place. If your value is part of you, no one can take it away.
(Hex.54's 58: Interaction: open but not gullible) Mirror
Line 4 The marrying maiden exceeds the allotted time. A late marriage at the right time.
Don't do things when you 'want' or 'ought' to do them, but when those things or the time say it is the right moment. Because you will have success when it is THE right moment and not YOUR right moment.
(Hex.54's 19 Nearing: as close as possible)
Mirror
Line 3: The marrying maiden waits. Returns and marries as secondary wife.
It is never clear if fate chooses you or if you or something/someone caused this fate. Some things happen and you have no say in it. Move along with dignity.
(Hex.54's 34 Great Vigor: no path without propriety) Mirror
Line 2: Dim-eyed yet able to see. Fruitful: the determination of a hermit.
Make your life not bigger than you are yourself. Its richness does not depend on its size, but on your presence in it. If you fill in your territory everywhere to its borders, it is a greater life than an unlimited space which is not full.
(Hex.54's 51 Shock: sets in order) Mirror
Initial line: The marrying maiden as secondary wife. Lame yet able to walk. To set things right: auspicious.
Live and act within the borders of your life, or the borders of this situation. Only then your life will be satisfactory, or your mind relaxed. Striving for more than comes naturally causes stress, failure and contention. Not every promotion should be accepted, very often the highest place is not at all the best one.
(Hex.54's 40 Release: leniency) Mirror