The Image of Water Over Heaven
Waiting is to discover the destiny of the Self.
I wait with patience and courage to see and accept the truth
Of who I am without illusion.
This waiting becomes a strength that lights my path to the right way of action.
I am guided by dreams, the dark secret chambers of the soul
Which are like rain clouds
Pouring hidden knowledge into consciousness,
Bursting forth only when my psyche is ready.
While waiting I can nourish my fate
In moments of rest
When I eat and drink
And enjoy it all.
Nine in the First Place
Awake . . . I wait . . .
Like an open meadow
Absorbing strength for future use.
Nine in the Second Place
I become like the sand that waits near the waters of my unconscious
Pulling me nearer to the dangers of what I fear in that unknown pit.
Nine in the Third Place
Waiting in the mud my mind is a murky water-earth mixture.
On the brink of dream shadows I feel the hidden enemies of my soul.
Six in the Fourth Place
I sink into the abyss of the unseen. Is this life? Is this death?
I fall into the bloody pit of anxiety
. . . Released . . .
When I accept my fate and wake to reality.
Nine in the Fifth Place
Restored by nourishment
I rest between moments of struggle
To enjoy peace in the awareness of now.
Six in the Last Place
I fall back into dream, host of the uninvited.
I am afraid and then I accept this call of the soul — my Fate.
I welcome those unknown selves who surprise and foretell.
My dream within a dream becomes a vehicle
For transformation as the symbols surface to consciousness.
Read More: http://www.ichingmeditations.com/i-ching-hexagrams/hexagram-five-waiting/
November 29th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Dear Adele
I came across your website on a search for more information on hex.2 and in particular lines 3,5 and 6. I rarely ask the I Ching the same question but in a different way but on this occasion because I have been filled with so much anxiety about life, a new job beginning in Jan, low mood and my loss of connection with spirit and earth, I did in fact ask twice over a period of 3 days. I got almost exactly the same answer, on the first occasion in response to the question: I feel so anxious all the time and seem to have lost my connection with source, my intuition, spirit and the earth, please guide, I got hex.2 with lines: 2,3 and 5. Then 3 days later – today, when I felt terrible, so low, anxious and afraid – I asked again, please give me guidance on myanxiety, low mood, new job, fear.’ and again got hex 2 but moving lines 3,5 and 6. (53).
I have been particularly ill recently with my 3rd hospitalised viral meningitis (anxiety caused) and am beginning a new job in Jan with my husband which I am nervous about, plus a few other things thrown in… In spite of 15 years of meditation and spiritual work I still get anxious – amazing really! Anyway, I love your pictures – but if you have any insight further on these lines please do get in touch, with many thanks for your incredible pictures and work, Victoria
November 29th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Dear Adele
I sent a comment but its come back as your comment is awaiting moderation… not sure what that means??
November 29th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Hello Victoria,
Thanks for your comment. It is gratifying to know my I Ching Meditations are seen.
It is interesting that you asked your question twice and got Hexagram 2, “The Receptive,” both times with a total of 4 lines moving to change to Hexagrams #48, “The Well” and #53, “Gradual Development.” I love all 3 of those Hexagrams.
You asked if I had any further insight on those changing lines. As Carl Jung points out, consulting the I Ching is a subjective experience and takes one’s own personal intuition. In this case, not knowing you, just reading of your discomfort and then the response you got it looks like I Ching is telling you to be receptive to or yield to all that is happening. “The Receptive” is about the process of bringing forth a new birth of some kind.
As you can see in my own interpretations I equate the process to the woman being pregnant with a real child but of course that can symbolize any new event that is being born.
And the Hexagrams that your question changes to, “The Well” and “Gradual Development,” in light of your question for guidance with anxiety, point to going within your own spiritual well and take things gradually, one step and at time.
In brief: To release anxiety be receptive to this new situation, draw on your own inner worth that has great value to others and do all this one step at a time.
I think that line 6 that speaks of the dragons fighting can be your own daemons here – some kind of war with yourself – or who knows, maybe you are inspiring a jealousy from someone about something. Don’t you think that a new job can cause anxiety? And since you were so sick that you were in the hospital this can be chemically caused daemons.
All I can say is that to relieve anxiety you need to trust the situation. I don’t know you or any personal added details, which I am sure there are many, but since you meditate you are on the path of relieving that anxiety. Even perhaps look at and accept the anxiety so that it can dissipate.
Your question was about relieving the anxiety, not about the new job but I can’t help but wonder if this positive reading is also related to a positive new beginning that is about to unfold. Maybe you can look more deeply into the well of what the anxieties are and see if you can flush them out.
I look forward to hearing about what happens after this new birth.
Adele
November 30th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Dear Adele
Thanks very much for your in depth reply. One step at a time has always been a hard one for me as I think that some part of my chronically anxious condition is that feeling of wanting to ‘know’ & therefore have some sense of control over the future and that often leaps way ahead of one step at a time! But its a lesson I need to learn and if I don’t learn it now it will surely come round again and again and again! If only I could stop THINKING! I think (!) that the demons are my thoughts which I find so hard to tether down to the present. But, here we are to learn and I’ve gone on to Natura Arsenicum homeopathic remedy to try and help with the anxiety as well.
The image you have of the meditating woman with the beautiful golden belly is just so moving. I love it. It is one I can and have been using by imagining that the belly is my own self worth – and none of the anxiousness can penetrate it. It will then burst out of its own accord when I’ve gradually developed to the right place, right time and with the right people. Meanwhile the belly is very protected, blessed and golden. Beautiful, thank you. Job begins on Jan 6th so I’ll keep in touch over time. Victoria
January 9th, 2010 at 12:47 am
A new job creating anxiety? That can happen, but usually when a job is new, it is a new beginning. I can’t imagine too many situations where this is negative.