I Ching reading: Shihe (Biting Through) changing to Zhen (Thunder)
Shihe: Nine at the top
Shouldering a wooden collar that covers the ears. Misfortune.
何校滅耳，凶。
止Hold back
Reading
Not now.Something is stuck in the middle, and you have to bite through it.
Governing text · Shihe: Nine at the top
In plain wordsA heavy wooden collar on the shoulders, covering even the ears. Misfortune. The wrongdoing has gone all the way, and no warning gets through.
- Now
- Like a hard object in the mouth that keeps the teeth from meeting: things are jammed by some obstacle, some person or some problem.
- The key
- Only one line is changing: Nine at the top. The answer is in that line. This text describes a bad outcome. Carry on as you are and you will lose by it. Stop, step aside or change your approach. Do not force it.
- Where it is heading
- Things are moving toward Zhen (Thunder): A sudden shock will give you a fright, but it will not really hurt you.
- What to do
- Deal with it head-on and clear the obstacle decisively. Be clear about right and wrong; what should go by the rules, handle by the rules. No vagueness, no stalling.
Read more closely
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: 8 yin · 4: 7 yang · 5: 8 yin · 6: 9 yang (changing)
Line position
Not in its proper place · answered by the third line
Top place: the end of the matter. What reaches its limit turns. Know when to stop.
Verdict words in the text
Nuclear hexagram · Jian (Obstruction)
The road ahead is very hard. Do not force your way forward yet.
The nuclear hexagram is formed from the four inner lines. It shows what is going on inside the situation.
Full texts
One who truly knows the Changes does not need to divine. The text is for reflection; what you do is up to you.