Alright, so I decided to dig into the I Ching again recently, and focused on number 4, the one called Meng, or Youthful Folly, something like that. Been feeling a bit stuck, like I was running in circles on a couple of things, so thought I’d see what came up.
I got out my coins – just the three pennies I usually use, nothing fancy. Shook ’em up good while thinking about this general feeling of not knowing which way to turn next, especially with trying to learn a new skill I’ve been putting off. Did the throws, marked down the lines, the whole process. Took maybe ten minutes.
And guess what? Hexagram 4 popped up. Figures. Feeling like a kid who doesn’t know anything, and I get the hexagram that basically says “Yeah, you’re inexperienced, slow down.”
My First Reaction
Honestly, my first thought was a bit like, “Okay, thanks for stating the obvious!” It talks about the mountain under the water, ignorance, needing a teacher, and crucially, about not pestering the teacher. The text basically says the teacher answers once, clearly, and if you keep asking childishly, you’ll just get ignored or told off. It felt kinda pointed.
Going Through It
So, I sat with that for a bit. Where was I being the impatient student? Mostly with myself, I guess. Expecting to pick up this new skill instantly. Getting frustrated when I hit a wall, then just trying the same failed approach again, hoping it would magically work. Like asking the universe the same question over and over and getting annoyed by the silence.
The hexagram also mentions the teacher seeking the student sometimes, but mostly it felt like it was on me to be receptive and respectful of the learning process. Not to demand answers.
- I stopped trying to force the learning for a day or two.
- I actually looked for some proper instruction, instead of just random web searches. Found a decent online tutorial that seemed methodical.
- Made a conscious effort to follow the steps exactly, even the boring basics, without skipping ahead.
- When I got stuck, instead of just getting mad, I tried to formulate one specific question about the problem. Then I looked for the answer just on that specific point.
What Happened Next
It wasn’t some miracle cure. I’m still learning, still slow. But the frustration level dropped way down. Accepting the ‘beginner’ status felt weirdly freeing. It’s okay not to know. It’s okay to ask for guidance (properly). It’s okay to take time.
The core message I took wasn’t just about finding a literal teacher, but about adopting that student mindset. Patience. Respect for the process. Not hammering away foolishly. It made the whole experience less of a battle against my own ignorance and more like, well, actual learning.
So yeah, Hexagram 4. Felt like a bit of a telling-off at first, but definitely shifted how I approached things this past week. Still a work in progress, always is, right?
