M^ eng / Youthful Folly
above: K^ en Keeping Still, Mountain
below: K'an The Abysmal, Water
Six in the second place means:
Difficulties pile up.
Horse and wagon part.
He is not a robber;
He wants to woo when the time comes.
The maiden is chaste,
She does not pledge herself.
Ten years--then she pledges herself.
We find ourselves beset by difficulties
and hindrances. Suddenly there is a turn of affairs, as if someone were
coming up with a horse and wagon and unhitching them. This event comes
so unexpectedly that we assume the newcomer to be a robber. Gradually
it becomes clear that he has no evil intentions but seeks to be
friendly and to offer help. But this offer is not to be accepted,
because it does not come from the right quarter. We must wait until the
time is fulfilled; ten years is a fulfilled cycle of time. Then normal
conditions return of themselves, and we can join forces with the friend
intended for us.
Using the image of a betrothed girl who remains true to her lover in
face of grave conflicts, the hexagram gives counsel for a special
situation. When in times of difficulty a hindrance is encountered and
unexpected relief is offered from a source unrelated to us, we must be
careful and not take upon ourselves any obligations entailed by such
help; otherwise our freedom of decision is impaired. If we bide our
time, things will quiet down again, and we shall attain what we have
hoped for.