Xian, nine in the fifth placeHexagram 31, line 5 · Xian (Mutual Influence) · changing to 62
The line
In plain wordsThe feeling is in the flesh of the back — the back is turned away from the heart, so you cannot move others, but neither are you entangled by private feelings. Nothing to regret.
The Image commentary on this line
咸其脢，志末也。
"The influence is in the upper back": his purpose is slight.
The small Image commentary is the earliest explanation of the line texts. It usually explains a line from its position: where it stands, whether it holds the center, and which line answers it.
Verdict
平Neutral. Neither good nor bad. Do your part, correct mistakes, and nothing will go wrong.
How to read good fortune, misfortune, regret, humiliation and no blame →
Asking about work, love or money
- Work
- You are keeping things strictly professional and are not much swayed by personal feelings. You won't inspire anyone, but you won't go off course either. Stick to the rules like this, and you will have nothing to regret.
- Love
- Your feelings are rather cool right now: you can't do much to move the other person, but you are not easily led either. There is no need to force yourself to warm up. Stay honest, and there will be nothing to regret.
- Money
- You are cool-headed about money and not easily carried away by emotion, so you won't act on impulse. It does make it harder to win others over to work with you, but hold on to that calm and you will have no regrets.
This is how to read it when this is the only changing line. With several changing lines, first see which text governs; for the hexagram as a whole, see Xian.
Line position
A yang line in a yang place: it is in its proper place; it holds the center of its trigram. Its partner is the second line, which is its opposite, so the two answer each other.
Fifth place: the center of the upper trigram, the ruler's seat, a place of achievement. This is where things are decided.
When you get this line
If this is the only changing line in your cast (three backs, old yang), this line is your answer. The primary hexagram is Xian (Mutual Influence); when this line changes it becomes Xiaoguo (Small Excess): hexagram 31 changing to 62.
Which text to read with several changing lines →
Resulting hexagram · Xiaoguo (Small Excess)
Small things can be done; do not touch the big ones. Better to stay a little low.