I’m sitting here with a warm cup of cacao, staring out at the vast desert from my rig, and mulling over today’s oracle casting: Biting Through (Hexagram 21) and Opposition (Hexagram 38). The judgment for Biting Through talks about success through administering justice, while Opposition suggests good fortune in small matters. It’s like the universe is handing me a pair of lenses to look at some recent encounters—and honestly, some bigger life questions that have been rattling around in my head. From weird fireside moments in the nomadic community to reflections on wealth and legacy, there’s a thread here about knowing who you are and standing firm on it.
Unapologetic Exits and Cultural Clarity
This reading reminds me of two guys from my past—Artem, a Russian schoolmate from my days at the National University of Singapore, deep into his PhD in computing, and Lukas Bulga, an ex-colleague now designing at Apple. Both Eastern European, and both had this distinct trait I’ve noticed in a lot of men from that part of the world. When they found themselves in a social situation that didn’t vibe with their values, they’d just… disengage. No apologies, no drama—just a clean walk away. It’s a kind of unapologetic clarity I’ve come to respect, and it’s something I’ve been leaning into more out here in the desert.Take yesterday, for instance. I swung by one of the usual fires on my way back to camp, expecting familiar faces. Instead, there’s this girl—kinda maladjusted, to put it mildly—surrounded by a group of guys. She’s got this bizarre habit of “collecting” certain… personal visuals from men, and if you don’t play along, she’s quick to throw out accusations like you’re some kind of narc. I sat in my usual armchair, nodded at her comment, but didn’t engage. Then Chuck shows up—turns out he’d already given in to her request. Another guy with him did the same right there. She claimed to have over 400 of these “visuals.” I didn’t stick around to fact-check. I just excused myself and walked off. No fuss, no argument. My read on it? These guys might’ve thought it was a joke, maybe even a roundabout way to entertain other intentions. But to me, it’s a stark reminder: if you don’t have a clear sense of who you are, you’ll get pulled into situations where “fun” masks manipulation.
Small Matters, Big Boundaries
This isn’t the first time I’ve had to bite through opposition out here. A few days ago, at another nomad camp, someone around the fire made a remark that crossed a line for me. Instead of arguing or accommodating, I just stepped away—quiet, no fanfare. Later, at a drum circle, that same nomad came over and offered a subtle apology. I accepted it just as quietly. Key observation: so much of the interpersonal drama in this nomadic life could be dodged if we just opted out when the vibes don’t align. The desert’s a big place—why clash when you can create space? The oracle’s nod to “small matters” feels spot-on. These moments aren’t life-altering, but they test your resolve. Biting through means cutting to what matters—your own sense of justice.Wealth, Values, and the Weight of Legacy
This ties into something deeper I’ve been chewing on—how wealth, or even the pursuit of it, can pull you into misaligned orbits if your values aren’t locked in. I’ve been thinking about Warren Buffett a lot lately. Diving through 50 years of his Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters, I noticed how he’s stayed in the same modest home for decades—probably worth more now just from inflation—kept the same daily routines, and funneled excess wealth back into a financial system he’s built over a lifetime. Early on, his call to action was about acquiring portions of good family businesses. Over time, it shifted to full acquisitions, with the minimum size of businesses he’d consider creeping higher each decade. It’s an infinitely scalable model, but rooted in a steady value system.Contrast that with what I’ve seen out here. Living out of my car—no RV, no big camp setup—I notice how interactions shift based on perceived “wealth” or status. Nomads either dive into deep, intriguing conversations worth standing on tired feet for, or it’s just small talk, and they move on since there’s no comfy space to linger. It’s got me thinking about the trappings of excess—mansions, villas, the whole deal. Without a clear set of values, wealth attracts the wrong kind of gravity. If you’re just a young bloke with no dependencies, maybe that’s a minor misstep. But if you’ve got little ones, a family, or an intergenerational legacy to build? The gravity of those decisions feels heavier. Misalignment can spell disaster—not just for you, but for everyone in your orbit.
Reflections for the Day
The oracle’s pairing of Biting Through and Opposition feels like a nudge to stay clear on my own boundaries—whether it’s walking away from a weird fireside moment or navigating the bigger traps of wealth and status. It’s about administering your own kind of justice, knowing when to engage and when to step back. And as life’s dependencies grow, so does the weight of those choices. I’m still figuring out how to balance openness with self-protection in this nomadic life, but I’m learning that a quiet exit often speaks louder than any argument.What about you—how do you handle opposition when the vibes are off? How do you weigh decisions when you’ve got more than just yourself to think about? I’d love to hear your take.
- Nomadic Life
- Personal Reflections
- Values and Boundaries