I Ching Oracle / Hexagrams / 39
The Judgement
The southwest furthers. The northeast does not further. It furthers one to see the great person. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Hindrance ahead; stop, turn inward, and cultivate yourself.
The Image
Water on the mountain; the noble one turns his attention to himself and molds his character.
This hexagram on ten matters
- WorkCAREER
- Obstruction ahead: going leads to obstruction, coming meets with praise. Turn attention to yourself and shape your character — that is the answer.
- LoveRELATIONSHIP
- Stuck. Going leads to obstruction, coming leads to union — turning back is where you meet the person who can help.
- MoneyFINANCE
- Do not advance. The southwest furthers, the northeast does not: another route beats forcing this one.
- HealthBODY
- This hexagram carries the image of impeded movement, which may correspond to something physical. Take it seriously and do not push.
- StudyLEARNING
- Progress is blocked. Mould your character: the problem is usually method or state, not material.
- An examEXAM
- Mock scores have stalled. Going leads to obstruction, coming meets with praise — rather than pushing into new material, redo every question you got wrong. The marks come back from there.
- PeopleSOCIAL
- In the midst of the greatest obstruction, friends come. The warmest line in this hexagram.
- A choiceDECISION
- Do not decide now. It furthers one to see the great person — talk to someone experienced first.
- TravelJOURNEY
- Do not travel far. The hexagram states plainly that the road ahead is blocked.
- A lost itemLOST ITEM
- Not found for now, and pushing further does not help. Stop and think back to the last time you saw it.
The Six Lines
Going leads to obstructions; coming meets with praise.
Going leads to obstruction, coming meets with praise. At the lowest position there is still a choice: do not go forward.
The king's servant is beset by obstruction upon obstruction, but it is not his own fault.
The king's servant is beset by obstruction upon obstruction, and it is not his own fault. No verdict, because doing your duty is itself the answer.
Going leads to obstructions; hence he comes back.
Going leads to obstruction; hence he comes back. Having tried forward, he turns. The value is that trying is how you know — and returning is not failure.
Going leads to obstructions; coming leads to union.
Going leads to obstruction; coming leads to union. On returning he meets companions. The first time coming back brings connection: a lone effort becomes a group.
In the midst of the greatest obstructions, friends come.
In the midst of the greatest obstruction, friends come. The core of the hexagram: the peak of difficulty is also when help arrives.
Going leads to obstructions, coming leads to great good fortune. It furthers one to see the great person.
Going leads to obstruction, coming leads to great good fortune. It furthers one to see the great person. Turning back was not retreat — it was finding the right person.
The governing line
Nuclear · Opposite · Reverse
The nuclear hexagram shows the middle stretch of the matter; the opposite is the same situation seen from the reverse position; the reverse is the view from the other party's side.