I Ching Reading: Xiaoguo (Small Excess) changing to Lü (The Wanderer)

小過Xiaoguo · Small Excess

PrimaryXiaoguo

ResultingLü

Xiaoguo: Six at the top

Not meeting it, one passes it by. The flying bird is caught in the net. Misfortune. This is called calamity and disaster.

弗遇過之，飛鳥離之，凶，是謂災眚。

止Hold back

Reading

Not now.Small things can be done; do not touch the big ones. Better to stay a little low.

Governing text · Xiaoguo: Six at the top

Text弗遇過之，飛鳥離之，凶，是謂災眚。Not meeting it, one passes it by. The flying bird is caught in the net. Misfortune. This is called calamity and disaster.

In plain wordsInstead of fitting the moment you go far past it, like a bird that flies too high and too far and crashes straight into the net. Misfortune. This is what is called disaster from heaven and harm of your own making.

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 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 Lü (The Wanderer): You are away from home with no firm footing. Small matters are fine; do not seek anything big.
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.

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: 8 yin · 6: 6 yin (changing)

The seven rules for changing lines →

Line position

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

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

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

Xiaoguo (Small Excess): judgment and all six lines →

Lü (The Wanderer): 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.