24. Return

Judgment

复：亨。出入无疾，朋来无咎。反复其道，七日来复，利有攸往。

Success. Going out and coming in without error; friends come without blame. To and fro goes the way; on the seventh day comes return. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. The light returns—the turn has begun.

Image

雷在地中，复；先王以至日闭关，商旅不行，后不省方。

Thunder within the earth: the image of the turning point. The ancient kings closed the passes at the solstice; merchants did not travel, the ruler did not inspect. New beginnings need rest.

Lines

1. Line 1, yang (nine)

   初九：不远复，无祗悔，元吉。

   Return from a short distance; no need for remorse. Supreme good fortune. Correcting a deviation early is the cheapest correction.

2. Line 2, yin (six)

   六二：休复，吉。

   Quiet return: good fortune. Return by following a good example.

3. Line 3, yin (six)

   六三：频复，厉无咎。

   Repeated return: danger, no blame. Trial and error is acceptable as long as you keep coming back.

4. Line 4, yin (six)

   六四：中行独复。

   Walking in the midst of others, one returns alone. Hold independent judgement while others go with the flow.

5. Line 5, yin (six)

   六五：敦复，无悔。

   Noblehearted return: no remorse. Sincere review and correction.

6. Line 6, yin (six)

   上六：迷复，凶，有灾眚。用行师，终有大败，以其国君凶，至于十年不克征。

   Missing the return: misfortune, calamity. If armies are set marching, a great defeat that strikes the ruler; for ten years it will not be possible to attack again. Refusing to admit error has a long cost.

In the enterprise

The hexagram of recovery, turning points and returning to the core: rebounds from the bottom, refocusing on the core business, restarting after a crisis, personal and team recovery. 'On the seventh day, return' describes the inevitability of cycles; 'return from a short distance' is the cheapest rule of correction.

Psychological lens

Resonates with resilience research; 'missing the return' is escalation of commitment and the sunk-cost fallacy.

Related hexagrams

Situations in the library that use this hexagram

• At the bottom of the cycle Enterprise, Judgment
• Restarting after a failed change Enterprise, Line 3, yin (six)
• Nearshoring and reshoring Enterprise, Line 2, yin (six)
• Restarting after talks broke down Enterprise, Line 5, yin (six)
• A loss-making investment that won't recover Enterprise, Line 6, yin (six)
• The role of independent directors Enterprise, Line 4, yin (six)
• Redefining the company after failure Enterprise, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Wanting to start over Individuals, Line 1, yang (nine)
• Routine and recovery Individuals, Judgment
• Learning from failure Individuals, Line 3, yin (six)
• Return home or stay abroad? Individuals, Line 2, yin (six)
• After a failed venture Individuals, Judgment
• An ex comes back Individuals, Line 3, yin (six)
• Rebuilding a marriage Individuals, Line 5, yin (six)
• A new beginning after a farewell Individuals, Judgment
• Refusing to cut a loss Individuals, Line 6, yin (six)
• Settling back in your hometown Individuals, Line 2, yin (six)
• Unable to switch off on holiday Individuals, Judgment
• Travelling alone Individuals, Line 4, yin (six)
• Reverse culture shock on returning home Individuals, Line 2, yin (six)
• Adjusting life after a major health event Individuals, Judgment
• Making peace with the past Individuals, Line 5, yin (six)

Situation readings are a reflective framework for discussion—not predictions and not a substitute for professional advice.