I Ching OracleHexagrams

I Ching Oracle / Hexagrams / 64

Before Completion
未濟 · wèi jì | Lower Kan · Water · Upper Li · Fire
HEX 64
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3
4
5
6

The Judgement

Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there is nothing that would further.

Not yet across; the crossing is possible if you keep your footing.

The Image

Fire over water; the noble one is careful in the differentiation of things, so that each finds its place.

This hexagram on ten matters

WorkCAREER
Not yet across, and the turn is in sight. Finish as carefully as you began. The little fox, nearly over, gets its tail in the water — one step remains, and care decides it.
LoveRELATIONSHIP
Not settled, but hopeful. Careful in the differentiation of things so each finds its place: clarify the positions and it can work.
MoneyFINANCE
Not yet harvest time. He brakes his wheels, perseverance brings good fortune — steadying beats sprinting now.
HealthBODY
Still recovering; do not declare yourself well early. The characteristic mistake in this hexagram is assuming it is already over.
StudyLEARNING
Nearly there, not there. The light of the superior man is true, good fortune — keep going; the light is already present.
An examEXAM
Not quite there. Finish as carefully as you began; keep preparing to the end and the result is within reach.
PeopleSOCIAL
Still forming. Your patience now decides the outcome.
A choiceDECISION
Wait one more step. Before completion, attack brings misfortune — yet it furthers one to cross the great water. Be decisive when the time comes; it is not quite here.
TravelJOURNEY
Feasible, but this is not necessarily the destination. If one wets his head, he loses it — do not slacken at the last.
A lost itemLOST ITEM
Not yet found, but there is hope. Keep looking; do not give up at the last step.
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The Six Lines

Line 1

He gets his tail in the water. Humiliating.

He gets his tail in the water; humiliating. Misjudging your own strength before entering the water.

Line 2

He brakes his wheels. Perseverance brings good fortune.

He brakes his wheels; perseverance brings good fortune. Same image as the first line of Hexagram 63, but fortunate here: not yet across is all the more reason to steady.

Line 3

Before completion, attack brings misfortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.

Before completion, attack brings misfortune; yet it furthers one to cross the great water. The contradiction: the time is not right but the direction is. Prepare rather than charge.

Line 4

Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. Shock, thus to discipline the Devil's Country. For three years, great realms are awarded.

Perseverance brings good fortune, remorse disappears. Shock, thus to discipline the Devil's Country; after three years, rewards. The turn: three years endured, and finally repaid.

Line 5

Perseverance brings good fortune. No remorse. The light of the superior man is true. Good fortune.

Perseverance brings good fortune, no remorse; the light of the superior man is true. An inward light. The best line here, because sincerity is already enough to illuminate the road.

Line 6

There is drinking of wine in genuine confidence. No blame. But if one wets his head, he loses it, in truth.

There is drinking of wine in genuine confidence; no blame. But if one wets his head, he loses it — drink past your bearing and even the sincerity is undone.

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.