I Ching Oracle / Hexagrams / 17
The Judgement
Supreme success. Perseverance furthers. No blame.
Adapting and following what is right, rather than clinging to preference.
The Image
Thunder in the middle of the lake; the noble one at nightfall goes indoors for rest and recuperation.
This hexagram on ten matters
- WorkCAREER
- Follow the time. The standard is changing — what needs adjusting is your method, not the environment.
- LoveRELATIONSHIP
- A relationship of following and being followed. Cling to the boy and you lose the man: choose clearly, because holding both loses both.
- MoneyFINANCE
- Follow a proven direction rather than inventing one. Following creates success, perseverance brings misfortune — even when right, do not overreach.
- HealthBODY
- At nightfall he goes indoors for rest. This hexagram gives the most concrete health advice in the whole book: when it gets dark, stop.
- StudyLEARNING
- Follow a good text or teacher. Do not rush to build your own system.
- An examEXAM
- Adapt as the times change. If the exam format or emphasis has shifted, move your preparation with it; do not cling to old past papers.
- PeopleSOCIAL
- You suit the follower's role here. Sincere in the good — follow people of character.
- A choiceDECISION
- Adjust your earlier decision to fit the situation. Sticking to the original plan is not a virtue in this hexagram.
- TravelJOURNEY
- Go, but go on someone else's arrangement. You are not the planner this time.
- A lost itemLOST ITEM
- Picked up by someone in passing, or moved along with other items. Check whatever it is usually kept with.
The Six Lines
The standard is changing. Perseverance brings good fortune. To go out of the door in company produces deeds.
The standard is changing. Going out of the door produces deeds — moving outward beats holding to the old method.
If one clings to the little boy, one loses the strong man.
Cling to the boy and lose the man. Grasping the small and dropping the large. The problem is not choosing wrongly but not realising a choice is required.
If one clings to the strong man, one loses the little boy. Through following one finds what one seeks.
Cling to the man and lose the boy. Giving up is what allows gaining. The line concedes the loss hurts, and says the direction is right.
Following creates success. Perseverance brings misfortune. To go one's way with sincerity brings clarity.
Following creates success; perseverance brings misfortune. Gaining by following is itself the danger. Your motive must survive inspection.
Sincere in the good. Good fortune.
Sincere in the good. The best line here: the right person to follow, and the right reason for following.
He meets with firm allegiance and is still further bound.
He meets with firm allegiance and is still further bound. Tied fast. The commitment has become too deep to walk away from lightly.
The governing line
Nuclear · Opposite · Reverse
The nuclear hexagram shows the middle stretch of the matter; the opposite is the same situation seen from the reverse position; the reverse is the view from the other party's side.