Jian, nine in the third placeHexagram 53, line 3 · Jian (Gradual Progress) · changing to 20
The line
In plain wordsThe wild goose has flown to the dry plain, which is no place for a water bird. The husband goes to war and does not come back; the wife is with child but cannot bring it up. Misfortune. Your temper is too hard, and by pushing ahead rashly you have left the right path. This hard strength is only good for fending off outside enemies.
The Image commentary on this line
夫征不復，離群醜也。婦孕不育，失其道也。利用禦寇，順相保也。
"The husband marches out and does not return": he leaves his own kind. "The wife conceives but does not raise the child": she has lost her way. "It is favorable to fend off robbers": through compliance they protect one another.
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
慎Proceed with care. 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.
How to read good fortune, misfortune, regret, humiliation and no blame →
Asking about work, love or money
- Work
- You charged ahead too fast, into a place you should not be, and left your own group behind; even what you started cannot be brought to completion. Misfortune. Put away this rashness, and use your toughness to stand with your colleagues against trouble from outside.
- Love
- Chasing someone you shouldn't on a surge of impulse, or walking out on the other person without looking back, means that even what has started cannot grow. Misfortune. Put your hardness away, be more yielding, and use your strength to protect yourself and those close to you.
- Money
- Rushing out because you see others making money, leaving the paths you know, means that what you put in does not come back and what you start does not get finished. Misfortune. Pull back, and use that toughness to guard what you have and to fend off scams and risks.
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 Jian.
Line position
A yang line in a yang place: it is in its proper place. Its partner is the top line, which is also yang, so there is no answer from it.
Third place: the top of the lower trigram, a place of risk. A moment of transition. Be on guard.
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 Jian (Gradual Progress); when this line changes it becomes Guan (Contemplation): hexagram 53 changing to 20.
Which text to read with several changing lines →
Resulting hexagram · Guan (Contemplation)
Don't move yet. Take a good look.