Refusing Advice

Why are you locking yourself in a wooden stock so your ears disappear? Trap! The Way closes. You have cut yourself off and will not listen. Do not be infected by this old fear and confusion. Do the inner work and do not keep running after impossible desires. There is an ever-flowing source of energy available now. Adorn yourself with courage and set out on your own. Step outside the norms and re-imagine the situation Gather energy for a decisive new move.

上九, 何校滅耳, 凶.

His neck is fastened in the wooden cangue, So that his ears disappear. Misfortune. ##### Comments In contrast to the first line, this line refers to a man who is incorrigible. His punishment is the wooden cangue, and his ears disappear under it-that is to say, he is deaf to warnings. This obstinacy leads to misfortune.