Arriving at the ‘crossroads’ of a decision is one of the most common reasons people consult the I Ching. That specific scenario is described in Hexagram 5 – Waiting:
Line 1. Waiting in the meadow. It furthers one to abide in what endures. No blame.
“Waiting in the meadow” refers to waiting in an in-between place (neither in the city nor in the forest) as at a crossroads, where one wishes to know the right road to take. The problem in the person’s attitude is that he suspects that taking one road will lead to disaster and the other to success. He does not realize that he can safely take either road if he is sincere, for then the Helpers will protect him from dangers, and see to it that his mistakes in judgment will lead, despite all, to a good end. (from Anthony, Carol K.; Moog, Hanna, I Ching, The Oracle of the Cosmic Way)
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Waiting. Hexagram 5 – This hexagram describes one of the origins for a confusing circumstance. It is where we are unable to acknowledge with our mind the abundance of helpers that are waiting to assist us at any juncture. Fears about the future and the ‘unknown’ inevitably reduce us to waiting, because they blot out any possibility for helpers. But we are never without support because sincerity is the prerequisite to inner clarity. At any moment of difficulty, one may turn inward for guidance to become free of fears and doubts.
By practicing this regularly, I have learned that I can safely go with my ‘best guess for now’, and that whenever I am sincere in this approach I have had help for my path. The way is safeguarded through many helpful experiences, and that making mistakes is something were are all born with the freedom to learn from.
Here’s another approach to this subject with a lovely meditation exercise: April Norris’ Figure Eight Meditation.
