I Ching Reading: Fu (Return) changing to Yi (Nourishment)

復Fu · Return

PrimaryFu

ResultingYi

Fu: Six at the top

Lost on the return. Misfortune. There are calamities and disasters. If armies are set marching, in the end there is a great defeat, with misfortune for the ruler of the state. For ten years one cannot march.

迷復，凶，有災眚。用行師，終有大敗，以其國君凶，至于十年不克征。

止Hold back

Reading

Not now.The worst is over, and the turn has come.

Governing text · Fu: Six at the top

Text迷復，凶，有災眚。用行師，終有大敗，以其國君凶，至于十年不克征。Lost on the return. Misfortune. There are calamities and disasters. If armies are set marching, in the end there is a great defeat, with misfortune for the ruler of the state. For ten years one cannot march.

In plain wordsLost, and still not turning back. Misfortune, with disasters both from heaven and of human making. Lead an army this way and it ends in a great defeat that drags down the ruler; for ten years there is no recovering.

Now: After the low point, the first breath of warmth is back. The strength is still faint, but the direction has changed.
The key: Only one line is changing: Six 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 Yi (Nourishment): The key question: what are you using to nourish yourself, and to nourish others?
What to do: You can start again, and going forward is favorable. In the first stage of recovery, rest quietly and don't push too hard all at once. If you go wrong, turn back early.

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: 8 yin · 5: 8 yin · 6: 6 yin (changing)

The seven rules for changing lines →

Line position

In its proper place · not 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

災眚 calamity: harm from outside, or of your own making
凶 misfortune: a bad outcome if you continue this way

Nuclear hexagram · Kun (Earth)

It is not your turn to lead the charge right now. Follow the right person and do your supporting part well, and the result will be good.

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

Full texts

Fu (Return): judgment and all six lines →

Yi (Nourishment): 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.