I Ching Oracle / Hexagrams / 41
The Judgement
Decrease combined with sincerity brings about supreme good fortune without blame. Two small bowls may be used for the sacrifice.
Willing reduction; curb desire and give with a light hand.
The Image
At the foot of the mountain, the lake; the noble one controls his anger and restrains his instincts.
This hexagram on ten matters
- WorkCAREER
- Decrease from below to above; restrain. Control anger and restrain instinct — this hexagram asks you to subtract, and subtracting rightly brings great good fortune.
- LoveRELATIONSHIP
- One side is giving. When three journey together their number decreases by one: something extra in this relationship needs removing.
- MoneyFINANCE
- Cut spending deliberately. Two small bowls may be used for the sacrifice — with real sincerity, the modest version still works.
- HealthBODY
- Decreasing one's faults makes the other hasten to rejoice: dropping a harmful habit pays off faster than expected.
- StudyLEARNING
- Subtract. Drop the subjects you took on out of greed and concentrate on the few that matter.
- An examEXAM
- In the final stretch, give up some question types. Rather than half-knowing everything, deliberately drop your weakest one or two and trade that time for marks you can secure.
- PeopleSOCIAL
- Trim the circle. When one journeys alone, he finds a companion — fewer people is how you meet the right one.
- A choiceDECISION
- Choose to give something up rather than add. Decisions that subtract are usually right now.
- TravelJOURNEY
- Travel light. Less packed, less scheduled, more space. This hexagram dislikes fullness.
- A lost itemLOST ITEM
- There may be a loss; it might not come back. Accept the reduction and focus on the alternative.
The Six Lines
Going quickly when one's own affairs are finished is without blame. But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others.
Going quickly when one's own affairs are finished; no blame. But reflect on how much to decrease: helping is fine, weigh what it costs you.
Perseverance furthers. To undertake something brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is able to bring increase to others.
Perseverance furthers, undertaking brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one brings increase to others. Giving need not be self-injury.
When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, he finds a companion.
When three journey together their number decreases by one; when one journeys alone he finds a companion. The natural balancing of relationships.
If a man decreases his faults, it makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame.
If a man decreases his faults, it makes the other hasten to rejoice. The most direct line here: what should be decreased is the flaw, not the resource.
Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune.
Someone does indeed increase him; ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Decrease taken to its limit draws increase — and it cannot be refused.
If one is increased without depriving others, there is no blame. Perseverance brings good fortune.
If one is increased without depriving others, no blame. The completion of the hexagram: decrease turns into increase, and it reaches everyone.
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.