Dui, nine in the fifth placeHexagram 58, line 5 · Dui (Joy) · changing to 54
The line
In plain wordsYou trust the very person who has come to wear you away. There is danger. The higher your position, the more you must guard against those around you who flatter you.
The Image commentary on this line
孚于剝，位正當也。
"Trusting in what strips away": its place is correct and proper.
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. There is some risk, or some regret left over, but nothing serious. Notice it early, correct it early, and things turn for the better.
How to read good fortune, misfortune, regret, humiliation and no blame →
Asking about work, love or money
- Work
- The higher your position, the more people around you say pleasant things. Beware of the one who is best at keeping you happy: hear enough flattery and your judgment gets hollowed out bit by bit. Judge people by what they do.
- Love
- Sweet words are what most easily lower your guard. If someone is always sweet-talking you while wearing down your energy and your money little by little, don't rush to believe it all. First see clearly what the other person has actually done, then decide how much to give.
- Money
- The more money you have to spare, the more people come around with flattering words. The more a proposal praises you and pleases your ear, the harder you should think it over. Don't hand over money just because it sounds nice.
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 Dui.
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 also yang, so there is no answer from it.
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 Dui (Joy); when this line changes it becomes Guimei (The Marrying Maiden): hexagram 58 changing to 54.
Which text to read with several changing lines →
Resulting hexagram · Guimei (The Marrying Maiden)
The position is wrong and the standing is not proper; pushing forward on your own initiative will cost you.