I Ching reading: Sui (Following) changing to Zhun (Difficult Beginnings)
Sui: Nine in the fourth place
Following brings gains. Persisting brings misfortune. With sincerity, on the right path, and with clarity: what blame could there be?
隨有獲，貞凶。有孚在道，以明，何咎。
慎Proceed with care
Reading
Yes, but carefully.Go with the times and follow the right people, and you won't go wrong.
Governing text · Sui: Nine in the fourth place
In plain wordsMany people follow you and the gains are great; but your momentum overshadows the one above you, so even doing things right brings misfortune. Only by being sincere at heart, keeping to the right path and doing everything in the open can you be without blame.
- Now
- A situation of following. The point is not the following itself, but whom and what you follow.
- The key
- Only one line is changing: Nine in the fourth place. The answer is in that line. The text speaks of misfortune and also says it can be avoided. The danger lies in rushing and forcing. Stay steady, correct mistakes, and the bad outcome can be escaped.
- Where it is heading
- Things are moving toward Zhun (Difficult Beginnings): Every beginning is hard, and right now you are in the hardest part of the beginning.
- What to do
- Read the situation clearly, choose what is good and follow it, and adapt when you need to; but what you follow must be legitimate. When it is time to rest, rest.
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: 9 yang (changing) · 5: 7 yang · 6: 8 yin
Line position
Not in its proper place · not answered by the first line
Fourth place: next to the ruler, a place of caution. Serve those above with care.
Verdict words in the text
Nuclear hexagram · Jian (Gradual Progress)
Go in order, one step at a time, and the outcome will be good.
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.