I Ching Reading: Zhun (Difficult Beginnings) changing to Jiji (After Completion)

屯Zhun · Difficult Beginnings

PrimaryZhun

ResultingJiji

Zhun: Six in the third place

Chasing deer without a guide, one only ends up deep in the forest. The noble one reads the signs: better to give up. Going on brings humiliation.

即鹿无虞，惟入于林中。君子幾不如舍，往吝。

慎Proceed with care

Reading

Yes, but carefully.Every beginning is hard, and right now you are in the hardest part of the beginning.

Governing text · Zhun: Six in the third place

Text即鹿无虞，惟入于林中。君子幾不如舍，往吝。Chasing deer without a guide, one only ends up deep in the forest. The noble one reads the signs: better to give up. Going on brings humiliation.

In plain wordsChasing a deer with no guide, you will only plunge headlong into the forest. When things look wrong, it is better to let go; keep up the chase and you will lose face and lose out.

Now: Things have only just started. There are many loose ends and much resistance, like a seed just pushing up through the soil. The prospects are good, but for now it is heavy going.
The key: Only one line is changing: Six in the third place. The answer is in that line. There is some risk, or some regret left over, but nothing serious. Notice it early, correct it early, and things turn for the better.
Where it is heading: Things are moving toward Jiji (After Completion): The thing is already accomplished. What you most need to guard against now is slackening.
What to do: Don't be in a hurry to go far. First get a firm footing, find helpers, and untangle the mess one thread at a time.

Which text applies

One changing line: read that line of the primary hexagram.

Your six throws, bottom to top: 1: 7 yang · 2: 8 yin · 3: 6 yin (changing) · 4: 8 yin · 5: 7 yang · 6: 8 yin

The seven rules for changing lines →

Line position

Not in its proper place · not answered by the top line

Third place: the top of the lower trigram, a place of risk. A moment of transition. Be on guard.

Verdict words in the text

吝 humiliation: a small, lingering difficulty that comes from not correcting course

Nuclear hexagram · Bo (Splitting Apart)

The foundation is being hollowed out bit by bit. This is no time to act.

The nuclear hexagram is formed from the four inner lines. It shows what is going on inside the situation.

Full texts

Zhun (Difficult Beginnings): judgment and all six lines →

Jiji (After Completion): judgment and all six lines →

Begin

One who truly knows the Changes does not need to divine. The text is for reflection; what you do is up to you.