Here’s a foxy tale from Adele Aldridge.
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Three months ago I made a difficult move from one state to another and am just getting settled. Recently an opportunity presented itself to move again into a larger apartment. I need more space so I decided to make the move even though I’m not recovered or settled yet. I notified the post office and friends of this new pending change. But the more I re-packed up my books the more my body went into total revulsion of what it would take to make this move again after just three months. So feeling such strong resistance in my body from something I wanted to do in my mind, with great ambivalence, I decided not to make this move now. Maybe later.
That evening I took a walk in the nearby woods when suddenly about thirty feet in front of me a fox crossed the path in front of me. The fox saw me at the same time I saw him. We both stood still and looked at each other for a full minute before he plunged into the other side of the woods, jumping over a small stream.
Except for years ago in a dream, which foretold an interesting encounter, I have only seen a fox once before. That was about five years ago, when one came hunting for dinner near a pond where some baby geese had hatched. The mother bird made a wild and awesome racket, scaring the fox away.
Since it is a rare event for me to come across such a beautiful red bushy tailed creature I mused upon the encounter, remembering my dream of years ago and thought, ala Casteneda, “Umm … I wonder what seeing this fox is all about for me.” I don’t tell such thoughts to just anyone, but here is okay.
The next morning, while sipping my breakfast tea and doing my daily I Ching reading, I threw Hexagram 63, “After Completion” with the first line changing into Hexagram 38, “Opposition” or as Karcher calls this Hexagram, “Diverging/The Shadow Lands” and …”strange meetings with hidden spirits, the ghost world..”
Reading Karcher’s interpretation for line one, Hexagram 63, he says,
“Already Crossing.
Breaking his wheels. Trailing her cord in the water.
The small fox soaks its tail.
This is not a mistake.”
And his interpretation, “This is righteous and not a mistake. You have a great connection but you are starting too quickly. Hold back. Start slowly. Let yourself be lured on. This is not a mistake. Re-imagine the situation. Gather your energy for a decisive new move.”
My I Ching reading echoed the sighting of the fox, affirmed the decision I’d just made not to move again. Thank you, fox. Thank you, Synchronicity. Thank you, I Ching.
***
Frank Joseph, in his terrific book Synchronicity & You, notes that fox symbolism “speaks of shape shifting, lycanthropy, and all forms of physical as well as psychic change, most often involving female transcendence.”
Jung had a fox synchronicity while walking through a wooded area with a patient.She was relating a dream she’d had as a kid, where she saw a “ghostly fox” descending the stairs of her parents’ home. Just then, a real fox emerged from the trees and walked along for several moments as though it were part of the situation, the narrative.
Joseph notes that foxes have a rich tradition in many cultures. In Japan, they are considered to be magical creatures. Among Native Americans, the fox is believed to protect families.
The Ching definitely works. But like with any divination system, it takes time to familiarize yourself with the language. I still have trouble with the way the ancient Chinese viewed women!
– Trish
What an excellent story Adele. I think you made the right decision, it's most interesting to read the I Ching interpretation.
Hi Trish and Rob – Thanks for posting that additional information from Jung and Frank Joseph. Very interesting.
And for gypsywomn, the I Ching itself (herself) says it is not for everyone but some of us get quite hooked because it works. Jung said that one sleeps better at night if one does not try to figure out HOW it works. He was obvioulsy hooked on it himself. I find it the most amazing magical working philoiophy. Thanks for posting.
The I Ching is chatty, which is one of the reasons I like it. But the hexagrams are couched in terms of Chinese culture and life, so it takes time to get a feel for its language. I think both lover of life and gypsy woman would enjoy the journey of discovery!
just before i started my blog i began reading of i ching but have not yet put it into practice although the past few weeks i have each day "meant" to get started – it's all about "choices" i know and i'm guilty of allowing distractions to keep me from my mission to some degree – but with stories and encouragement like this am determined to be more determined!
Very cool story. I-Ching is not something I have ever been interested in, or knew much about, so may have revisit that opinion.