Omens
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When I have created this page about the methods to consult the I Ching, I didn't mention omens, because omens are not the result of a consultation but direct messages sent to us.
In the Antiquity omens were highly respected and a famous example was the eagle of Zeus that would show the approbation of Olympus.
Bodies found in a truck
It is not rare to encounter situations described in the I Ching in real life, and these happenstances can be regarded as omens. Recently, the tragedy of the 39 dead people found in a truck is such a situation, and we can link it direcly to the hexagram 7, lines 3 and 5.
Possible lines
Here is an article about the situation.
Let's have a look at the classical comments (Wilhelm/Baynes translation):
Six in the third place means:
Perchance the army carries corpses in the wagon.
Misfortune.
7.3 (7 > 46) - THE SZE HEXAGRAM.
The third line, divided, shows how the host may, possibly, have many inefficient leaders. There will be evil.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.3 (7 > 46) - Sze, l’armée
Sze : chef ; troupes, armée ; peuple, foule.
Qu’une armée ait plusieurs chefs, c’est une chose funeste. Les assistants du chef doivent le suivre et lui obéir sans commettre de faute.
Bing DeepL Google Yandexand then:
Six in the fifth place means:
There is game in the field.
It furthers one to catch it.
Without blame.
Let the eldest lead the army.
The younger transports corpses;
Then perseverance brings misfortune.
7.5 (7 > 29) - THE SZE HEXAGRAM.
The fifth line, divided, shows birds in the fields, which it will be advantageous to seize (and destroy). In that case there will be no error. If the oldest son leads the host, and younger men (idly occupy offices assigned to them), however firm and correct he may be, there will be evil.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.5 (7 > 29) - Giving a bonus to the experience
Something useful can be obtained, the most experienced will be able to succeed, another will be likely to damage it.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.5 (7 > 29) - Giving a bonus to the experience
Something useful can be obtained, the most experienced will be able to succeed, another will be likely to damage it.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.5 (7 > 29) - Sze, l’armée
Sze : chef ; troupes, armée ; peuple, foule.
Si le roi ne commande pas en personne, le fils aîné doit conduire l’armée ; si ce sont les fils cadets qui commandent, comme ils sont plusieurs, il y aura (division), faute et insuccès.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.5 (7 > 29) - Donner une prime à l'expérience
On peut obtenir quelque chose d'utile, le plus expérimenté sera capable d'y arriver, un autre risquera de l'endommager.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.5 (7 > 29) - Az akarat
Elérhetünk valami hasznosat, a legtapasztaltabb képes elérni, a másik elrontaná.
Bing DeepL Google YandexThe younger transports corpses, it is really striking since the driver who was arrested is 25 years old.
How do we interpret such omens? In my opinion we should not extrapolate too much. For instance, we should not tie this to the Brexit. However we can look in two directions.
Firstly we can consider that 7.5 applies to the UK migration policies. The officials do not want illegal migration and they try to catch those who cross the borders illegally. Finding corpses, one can consider that this job is not done correctly.
Second we can look at 7.3, it is the situation of a military officer who abandons his men to their fate without giving them any support. In the BBC article, Celia Hatton gives an interesting analysis about Chinese migrants who have difficulties to leave their countries. While China has not really known democracy, people in the ancient times could still "vote with their feet" by leaving a region when the leaders were incompetent. And this is no longer possible.
Beyond China and UK, the same event happened in Austria in 2015, and it shows that the migrant crisis is not handled correctly.
Analyzing 7.3
Finally we can have a look at 7.3 and see what we can learn from this situation:
The reciprocal, 8.4 shows a situation of trust. Thus, 7.3 is about distrust.
8.4 (8 > 45) - THE PÎ HEXAGRAM.
In the fourth line, divided, we see its subject seeking for union with the one beyond himself. With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex8.4 (8 > 45) - Take the time to nurture relationships
When one has established a relationship of trust, it is in their interest to make it grow.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex8.4 (8 > 45) - Take the time to nurture relationships
When one has established a relationship of trust, it is in their interest to make it grow.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex8.4 (8 > 45) - Pî, la solidarité
Pî : union, harmonie, rapprochement, aide
Être uni à celui qui nous est supérieur est chose heureuse.
S’unir aux sages ; suivre les grands est bien.
8.4 (8 > 45) - Se donner la peine d'entretenir ses relations
Quand on a établi une relation de confiance on a intérêt à la faire fructifier.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex8.4 (8 > 45) - Elosztás
Amikor bizalmi viszony alakul ki, érdekükben áll nyilvánosan is vállalni azt.
Bing DeepL Google YandexThe juncture shows what should have been done before,to avoid this tragedy:
45.4 (45 > 8) - THE 3HUI HEXAGRAM.
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject in such a state that, if he be greatly fortunate, he will receive no blame.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex45.4 (45 > 8) - Making reference
One welcomes one's friends to introduce them to others.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex45.4 (45 > 8) - Making reference
One welcomes one's friends to introduce them to others.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex45.4 (45 > 8) - Ts’ui, le rassemblement
Ts’ui : réunion, agrégation ; agrégation de peuple prospérant ; état florissant ; touffe de plantes, de tiges entremêlées.
L’union est un grand bien, sans suite fâcheuse. (Simple horoscope interpolé.)
Bing DeepL Google Yandex45.4 (45 > 8) - Faire référence
On accueille ses amis pour leur présenter les autres.
Bing DeepL Google YandexBeing welcoming was the way to go.
And finally the dervied, or Fan Yao shows what can be done after this situation has occurred:
46.3 (46 > 7) - THE SHĂNG HEXAGRAM.
The third line, undivided, shows its subject ascending upwards (as into) an empty city.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex46.3 (46 > 7) - Discharging obligations
The others want to know if one can continue without help.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex46.3 (46 > 7) - Discharging obligations
The others want to know if one can continue without help.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex46.3 (46 > 7) - Shâng, l’ascension
Shāng : monter, s’élever, prospérer, grandir.
Shang « monter ». Ex. : Monter en un lieu, dans une ville.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex46.3 (46 > 7) - Se décharger de ses obligations
Les autres veulent savoir si on peut continuer sans aide.
Bing DeepL Google YandexThis can be interpreted in a variety of ways, however if a leader abandons his men, these men should stop following him.
Analyzing 7.5
This can also be done with 7.5 but is more complicated because it presents two alternatives, one good and one bad, and we are in the bad one.
The reciprocal shows the opposite situation:
8.2 (8 > 29) - THE PÎ HEXAGRAM.
In the second line, divided, we see the movement towards union and attachment proceeding from the inward (mind). With firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex8.2 (8 > 29) - Make one's attachment credible
One commits oneself to help one's friends repairing their damage before others notice.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex8.2 (8 > 29) - Make one's attachment credible
One commits oneself to help one's friends repairing their damage before others notice.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex8.2 (8 > 29) - Pî, la solidarité
Pî : union, harmonie, rapprochement, aide
Si l’amour de la concorde provient du coeur, elle s’établira heureusement.
Elle ne faiblira pas de soi-même.
8.2 (8 > 29) - Crédibiliser son attachement
On s'engage pour aider ses amis à réparer leurs dégâts avant que les autres ne s'en aperçoivent.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex8.2 (8 > 29) - Elosztás
Elkötelezik magukat, hogy segítenek a barátaiknak megjavítani amit elhanyagoltak, mielőtt késő lenne.
Bing DeepL Google YandexIt is a situation where these people would have stayed at home and be helped. In many countries, there are public and private programs to help the poors, so these people would be less tempted by going to another country.
The juncture indicates what could have been done to prevent this situation from happening. But it's not about the dramatic outcome, it is about what could have been done to prevent migrants from going there. Because we could have a 7.5 with a correct outcome, the dead bodies were not a necessity.
29.2 (29 > 8) - THE KHAN HEXAGRAM.
The second line, undivided, shows its subject in all the peril of the defile. He will, however, get a little (of the deliverance) that he seeks.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.2 (29 > 8) - Passing the buck
When one encounters difficulties that are too great, one leaves them to those who know how to handle them.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.2 (29 > 8) - Passing the buck
When one encounters difficulties that are too great, one leaves them to those who know how to handle them.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.2 (29 > 8) - K’ân, l’abîme
K’ān : danger, précipice, caverne. — Tsa k’ān : courir de grands risques ; s’exposer au danger pour un autre.
Dans les écueils périlleux, si on sait modérer ses sentiments, on pourra en sortir heureusement.
Si on garde la modération.
29.2 (29 > 8) - S'en remettre aux autres
Quand on rencontre des difficultés trop grandes, on laisse faire ceux qui savent les résoudre.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.2 (29 > 8) - Mélység
Ha valaki túl nagy nehézségekkel kerül szembe, rá kell hagynia olyanokra akik tudják kezelni azokat.
Bing DeepL Google YandexIt is about entrusting someone to do for you something you are enable to achieve. There is a large range of possible interpretations here.
The Fan Yao is about what can be done once the situation has occurred. But now it is too late, it was what could have been done once these migrants went into the truck.
29.5 (29 > 7) - THE KHAN HEXAGRAM.
The fifth line, undivided, shows the water of the defile not yet full, (so that it might flow away) ; but order will (soon) be brought about. There will be no error.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.5 (29 > 7) - Going on vacation
Before returning to help others, one must take a break and prepare oneself to answer to one's relatives.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.5 (29 > 7) - Going on vacation
Before returning to help others, one must take a break and prepare oneself to answer to one's relatives.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.5 (29 > 7) - K’ân, l’abîme
K’ān : danger, précipice, caverne. — Tsa k’ān : courir de grands risques ; s’exposer au danger pour un autre.
Mais si le danger n’est pas inéluctable, si une caverne où l’on se trouve n’est point pleine d’eau et qu’on puisse encore aplanir le terrain, on en sortira sans faute. — Il n’arrivera pas malheur.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.5 (29 > 7) - Partir en congés
Avant de retourner aider les autres, on doit faire une pause et se préparer à répondre à ses proches.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex29.5 (29 > 7) - Mélység
Mielőtt visszatérne hogy segítsen másokon, szünetet kell tartania és fel kell készülnie hogy válaszoljon a közelállóknak.
Bing DeepL Google YandexIf the driver had taken a break and answered the calls of the migrants, they would not have been found dead.
Another way to interpret this situation, is by declaring that the migrants should stay at home. However it looks to me that they consider that their living conditions are so bad that it is a good idea to risk their lives instead of enduring them.
Shall we consider the situation as 7.3.5?
7.3.5 (7 > 48) - THE SZE HEXAGRAM.
- 3. The third line, divided, shows how the host may, possibly, have many inefficient leaders. There will be evil.
- 5. The fifth line, divided, shows birds in the fields, which it will be advantageous to seize (and destroy). In that case there will be no error. If the oldest son leads the host, and younger men (idly occupy offices assigned to them), however firm and correct he may be, there will be evil.
7.3.5 (7 > 48) - The will to power
One gets ready to follow the instructions of those who command.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.3.5 (7 > 48) - The will to power
One gets ready to follow the instructions of those who command.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.3.5 (7 > 48) - Sze, l’armée
Sze : chef ; troupes, armée ; peuple, foule.
- 3. Qu’une armée ait plusieurs chefs, c’est une chose funeste. Les assistants du chef doivent le suivre et lui obéir sans commettre de faute.
- 5. Si le roi ne commande pas en personne, le fils aîné doit conduire l’armée ; si ce sont les fils cadets qui commandent, comme ils sont plusieurs, il y aura (division), faute et insuccès.
7.3.5 (7 > 48) - La volonté de puissance
On se prépare à suivre les instructions de ceux qui commandent.
Bing DeepL Google Yandex7.3.5 (7 > 48) - Az akarat
- 3. Lemond a többiekről.
- 5. Elérhetünk valami hasznosat, a legtapasztaltabb képes elérni, a másik elrontaná.
I don't think so because it shows a situation where 7.5 (the guide) is applied to 7.3. In definitive, we can consider this as a pure 7.5 situation from the UK point of view, while 7.3 can be seen if we consider the situation of the migrants in regard with their own government. If you consider that this is neither about the UK or Chinese governments (too much extrapolation) then you can consider that both lines apply to the truck driver.
Update
Some migrants have been found to be of Vietnamese origin, but that does not change much the interpretation. Naturally, as we get more information, we can refine the interpretation, and that shows how much knowing the background is important when interpreting the Yi-Jing.
