I Ching reading: Xiaoguo (Small Excess) changing to Xian (Mutual Influence)
Xiaoguo: Six in the fifth place
Dense clouds but no rain, coming from our western outskirts. The duke shoots a corded arrow and takes the one in the cave.
密雲不雨，自我西郊。公弋取彼在穴。
慎Proceed with care
Reading
Yes, but carefully.Small things can be done; do not touch the big ones. Better to stay a little low.
Governing text · Xiaoguo: Six in the fifth place
In plain wordsDark clouds cover the sky but no rain falls; they drift in from the western outskirts. Your own strength is not enough, and all you can do is pull a helper out of a cave. Two weak ones put together cannot accomplish anything great.
- Now
- A situation that has gone a little past the mark. Like a bird that flies by and leaves its cry behind: flying higher is not right, coming down is what is safe.
- The key
- Only one line is changing: Six in the fifth place. The answer is in that line. The text gives no verdict, but the picture holds an obstacle and a warning. Slow down and watch the point it warns about.
- Where it is heading
- Things are moving toward Xian (Mutual Influence): There is a response between you, a mutual liking. That is a good thing.
- What to do
- Lower your posture and shrink your goals. Better a bit more respect and a bit more thrift. Now is not the time for big moves.
Read more closely
Which text applies
One changing line: read that line of the primary hexagram.
Your six throws, bottom to top: 1: 8 yin · 2: 8 yin · 3: 7 yang · 4: 7 yang · 5: 6 yin (changing) · 6: 8 yin
Line position
Not in its proper place · central · not answered by the second line
Fifth place: the center of the upper trigram, the ruler's seat, a place of achievement. This is where things are decided.
Nuclear hexagram · Daguo (Great Excess)
The load is too heavy and the beam is already bent. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
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.