I was sipping my cup of cacao this morning, staring at the latest oracle draw I cast on TrueSight—Hexagram 47, Oppression, and Hexagram 6, Conflict. The judgment for Oppression speaks of success through perseverance, while Conflict advises a cautious halt over pressing forward to misfortune. It’s a heavy pairing, and it mirrors the tensions in my life—from family struggles with my daughter, Mulan, to personal experiments I’ve been running. There’s a thread of boundaries and letting go that ties it all together. Let’s unpack this.
Family Struggles: Reclaiming Time and Power
I’ve had too many days driving out to the middle of nowhere, USA, just for a scheduled FaceTime with Mulan at 2 p.m. I’d wait an hour. No call. I’d text via WhatsApp—crickets. To be clear, it’s not Mulan missing the call; it’s her mom having something else she wants to do, failing to meet the FaceTime arrangement, and not informing me ahead of time. This wasn’t a one-off; it became a frustrating pattern, peaking in 2022 when I learned—two weeks before a court session—that Mulan’s mom had filed for full custody behind my back, worried I’d relocate Mulan to Brazil for my rainforest restoration work. I was blindsided, upset by the secrecy and betrayal of trust.Post-court, the judge ordered FaceTime every Sunday at 2 p.m. New York time, but the unpredictability worsened. In 2023, with the Amazon project in full swing, I had to drive hours from the rainforest to civilization just for calls that often didn’t happen. By year’s end, I really didn’t see why I should waste valuable time on an arrangement likely to be futile. Time is precious—something my father drilled into me growing up. Don’t squander it. I don’t even recall who proposed a fixed FaceTime schedule, but it clearly wasn’t working.
So, I told her mom, “Let’s take a break. Two months, no FaceTime. I need space.” Reflecting, I wondered why this was so hard compared to my parents, who never expected fixed calls during my long absences. After the break, I set a new stance: I’m not chasing communication. If Mulan wants me in her life, I’m here. If not, that’s fine. When she’s 18, she knows where to find me. Things shifted—I’d go about my day, undisrupted, reclaiming my flow and power.
Oracle Insights: A Cautious Halt
Key observation: Hexagram 47, Oppression, reflects enduring hardship with perseverance—my journey through legal and emotional tangles. Hexagram 6, Conflict, warns against pushing to the bitter end. That “cautious halt” bringing good fortune? That’s my break and new stance. I stepped back, let things breathe, and avoided more drama by redefining boundaries.Financial Dynamics and Ignoring Labels
Another layer—financial support. I had an equation for monthly payments for Mulan, but recent disruptions (thanks, Donald Trump tariffs) led me to tell her mom, “This isn’t sustainable. I’m out of cash. If there’s an urgent need, let me know. Otherwise, make do.” Some might call me a “deadbeat dad.” I’m fine with it. Their judgment doesn’t define me. Same with relatives commenting on my patched-up jacket on Facebook, calling me a “beggar.” I told my mom, “If they don’t like it, they can buy me a new coat. Otherwise, 90-95% of opinions are hot air.” Public perception? Doesn’t move me.Boundaries as Power: Lessons for Mulan
A recent FaceTime highlighted Mulan’s school issue—a maladjusted kid acting as “tribe leader,” demanding half the girls’ recess time. Mulan hates it; her mom didn’t know how to help and brought it to me. My advice: “Say, ‘I don’t feel like it,’ and walk away. You’re the strongest—use that if needed.” Harsh? Maybe. But if it escalates, teachers will fix the toxic dynamic. Mulan’s uncomfortable, but she needs to learn boundaries—something I figured out the hard way and now pass to her.Personal Experiments: Letting the Universe Decide
This theme of power through boundaries ties to side experiments I’ve run. First: What if I value my time at zero, letting it be “wasted” with no agenda? Over time, opportunities drifted my way—not because I chased them, but because the world assigned value. Second: What if I let the universe decide if my body keeps going, not seeking resources? Food just shows up—shared meals, surplus groceries—more than I need. My sense? The community, and through them the universe, has designs for this form to persist. I’m just observing.A Koan to Chew On: “Is That So?”
This reminds me of the Zen koan “Is That So?” by Hakuin Ekaku:A Zen master was accused of fathering a child. He said, “Is that so?” and cared for it. Later, the truth came out—it wasn’t his. He returned the child, saying, “Is that so?”—unperturbed by judgment.The lesson? Non-attachment. Stepping back from forced setups and opinions is my take on “Is that so?”
Reflections for the Day
There’s a thread here—reclaiming power by letting go. Whether it’s family dynamics or personal experiments, it’s about boundaries and releasing what doesn’t serve. Mulan’s mom, after pulling her away, now brings her back for specific needs. Stepping into a CFO-like role for finances lets me decide, not just provide. Sometimes, not giving a damn—steering your ship—pays off more than following others’ rules.What about you? Where do you feel oppression or conflict, and could a “cautious halt” or firm boundary help? Have you ever let the universe decide your path in some way? I’d love to hear.