Guimei, six at the topHexagram 54, line 6 · Guimei (The Marrying Maiden) · changing to 38
The line
In plain wordsThe basket the woman carries is empty; the man slaughters a sheep and no blood appears. A betrothal with no outcome, a form with no substance. There is nothing good in it at all.
The Image commentary on this line
上六无實，承虛筐也。
Six at the top has nothing in it: she holds an empty basket.
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
止Hold back. 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.
How to read good fortune, misfortune, regret, humiliation and no blame →
Asking about work, love or money
- Work
- On the surface it has everything: titles, meetings, promises; inside it is empty, and carrying on will lead nowhere. Stop putting time into it. See it for the empty shell it is, and get out.
- Love
- All that is left is the name and the form, with no real feeling inside, like holding an empty basket. Don't keep it going for appearances or out of habit, and don't pour in any more feeling. A relationship with no substance should be let go.
- Money
- The contracts, the promises and the books all look good, but not a cent actually reaches your hands. Don't put in any more money or keep going through the motions. Empty is empty; pull out while you can.
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 Guimei.
Line position
A yin line in a yin place: it is in its proper place. Its partner is the third line, which is also yin, so there is no answer from it.
Top place: the end of the matter. What reaches its limit turns. Know when to stop.
When you get this line
If this is the only changing line in your cast (three inscribed sides, old yin), this line is your answer. The primary hexagram is Guimei (The Marrying Maiden); when this line changes it becomes Kui (Opposition): hexagram 54 changing to 38.
Which text to read with several changing lines →
Resulting hexagram · Kui (Opposition)
You are out of step with each other. Big things will not work; small ones still can.