Relationships & Family

Influence: mutual attraction, success through perseverance. Real resonance is two-way—notice whether the other is equally invested.

咸：亨，利贞，取女吉。
Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune. Mutual resonance and attraction.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 咸 Influence

Influence in the big toe: not yet formed. No need to define it yet—watch over time whether consistent actions let it grow.

初六：咸其拇。
The influence shows itself in the big toe. Motivation stirs, not yet formed.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 咸 Influence

Influence in the calves: acting on impulse brings misfortune; staying brings good fortune. Let strong feelings pass the test of time before big decisions.

六二：咸其腓，凶，居吉。
The influence shows itself in the calves of the legs: misfortune; tarrying brings good fortune. Don't act on impulse.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 咸 Influence

The crane calls in the shade and its young answers: sincere resonance crosses distance. Set a regular rhythm of contact and a shared plan.

九二：鸣鹤在阴，其子和之；我有好爵，吾与尔靡之。
A crane calling in the shade. Its young answers it. I have a good goblet. I will share it with you. Sincere resonance needs no effort; kindred spirits respond.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 中孚 Inner Truth

Being settled in trust brings good fortune; hidden agendas bring unease. Name the insecurity rather than testing or controlling.

初九：虞吉，有它不燕。
Being prepared brings good fortune. If there are secret designs, it is disquieting. Once there is duplicity, trust is hard to sustain.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 中孚 Inner Truth

Seeing a man of gold, losing oneself: nothing furthers. Credentials matter, but they cannot replace genuine connection.

六三：勿用取女，见金夫，不有躬，无攸利。
Do not take the one who, seeing a man of gold, loses herself. Don't be seduced by surface glitter—salary, status, brands.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 蒙 Youthful Folly

Penetration under the bed, losing property and axe: excessive yielding loses you. Keep your own friends, interests and say.

上九：巽在床下，丧其资斧，贞凶。
Penetration under the bed. He loses his property and his axe. Perseverance brings misfortune. Excessive humility loses authority and resources.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 巽 The Gentle

Opposition: unity amid difference. Agree on core values; accept differences in daily habits.

睽：小事吉。
In small matters, good fortune. In times of divergence, do small things and look for agreement in details.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 睽 Opposition

Repeated return: danger, but no blame. Ask clearly what has genuinely changed this time.

六三：频复，厉无咎。
Repeated return: danger, no blame. Trial and error is acceptable as long as you keep coming back.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 复 Return

With sincerity, blood vanishes and fear gives way. One honest, non-blaming conversation often breaks the impasse.

六四：有孚，血去惕出，无咎。
If you are sincere, blood vanishes and fear gives way—no blame. Trust dissolves tension.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 小畜 The Taming Power of the Small

Development: the maiden's marriage in proper order brings good fortune. Readiness lies not in the ceremony but in trust confirmed step by step in shared life.

渐：女归吉，利贞。
Development. The maiden is given in marriage. Good fortune. Perseverance furthers. Step by step, in proper order, things last.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 渐 Development

Plan carefully at the beginning to avoid later disputes. Discussing money and boundaries when love is strongest is a form of respect.

讼：有孚，窒惕，中吉，终凶。利见大人，不利涉大川。
You are sincere and are being obstructed. A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune; going through to the end brings misfortune. It furthers one to see the great person; it does not further to cross the great water.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 讼 Conflict

Dragons fight in the meadow; both bleed. Replace 'who wins' with 'what do we both want'.

上六：龙战于野，其血玄黄。
Dragons fight in the meadow; their blood is dark and yellow. When support overreaches into rivalry, both sides bleed.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 坤 The Receptive · Earth

Duration: holding direction through change. Add new shared experiences within the stability.

恒：亨，无咎，利贞，利有攸往。
Success, no blame. Perseverance furthers. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Duration is not stillness but holding direction within change.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 恒 Duration

Isolated, one sees a wagon full of devils—first the bow is drawn, then laid aside. Suspicion magnifies imagination: verify facts before judging.

上九：睽孤，见豕负涂，载鬼一车，先张之弧，后说之弧，匪寇婚媾，往遇雨则吉。
Isolated through opposition, one sees one's companion as a pig covered with dirt, as a wagon full of devils. First one draws a bow against him, then lays it aside. He is not a robber; he will woo at the right time. As one goes, rain falls; then good fortune comes. Once suspicion is cleared, the enemy can become a partner.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 睽 Opposition

The kinsman bites through: the time to repair is ripe. Spouses first agree between themselves, then face both families together.

六五：悔亡，厥宗噬肤，往何咎。
Remorse disappears. The companion bites his way through the wrappings. If one goes to him, how could it be a mistake? The time to repair the relationship is ripe.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 睽 Opposition

Nourishment: observe how one nourishes self and others. Discuss not only desire, but both partners' capacity and willingness to nourish a new life.

颐：贞吉。观颐，自求口实。
Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment and to what a person seeks to fill their own mouth with. How someone nourishes self and others reveals character.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 颐 Nourishment

Sincerely attached, rich together. Transparency and shared goals matter more than who earns more.

九五：有孚挛如，富以其邻。
Sincere and loyally attached, you are rich in your neighbour. Those who share resources grow together.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 小畜 The Taming Power of the Small

Unable to win, one turns back, changes attitude, finds peace. First distinguish changeable positions from fundamental value differences; for such a decision also seek professional counsel.

九四：不克讼，复即命，渝，安贞，吉。
One cannot engage in conflict; one turns back and submits to fate, changes one's attitude, and finds peace in perseverance. Changing position is not defeat.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 讼 Conflict

Noblehearted return: no remorse. Rebuilding requires both to own their part and keep concrete promises consistently.

六五：敦复，无悔。
Noblehearted return: no remorse. Sincere review and correction.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 复 Return

Severity brings remorse yet good fortune; laxity ends in humiliation. Better firm than lax—but warm: clear rules within a loving relationship.

九三：家人嗃嗃，悔厉吉；妇子嘻嘻，终吝。
When tempers flare up in the family, too great severity brings remorse—good fortune nonetheless. When woman and child dally and laugh, it leads in the end to humiliation. Better firm than lax.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 家人 The Family

Discipline helps, but remove the fetters. Help the child build methods rather than only applying pressure.

初六：发蒙，利用刑人，用说桎梏，以往吝。
To make a fool develop, discipline is useful—but remove the fetters. Education needs structure, not shackles.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 蒙 Youthful Folly

Meeting in a narrow street: no blame. Informal talks—in the car, on a walk—often work better than formal ones.

九二：遇主于巷，无咎。
One meets his lord in a narrow street. No blame. Informal channels can resolve differences.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 睽 Opposition

It is not I who seek the young; the young seek me. Within safe limits, let the child choose and live with the consequences.

蒙：亨。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我。初筮告，再三渎，渎则不告。利贞。
Success. It is not I who seek the young fool; the young fool seeks me. At the first oracle I inform; asked twice or thrice, it is importunity—no answer. Perseverance furthers.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 蒙 Youthful Folly

Modesty: weigh things and distribute fairly. Fair is not identical—give each child what they need.

谦：亨，君子有终。
Success. The noble person carries things through. The only hexagram in which all six lines are favourable.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 谦 Modesty

The wanderer: modesty and integrity abroad. Help the child build a local support network and keep steady, not excessive, contact.

旅：小亨，旅贞吉。
Success through smallness. Perseverance brings good fortune to the wanderer. As a guest in a foreign place, modesty, caution and integrity matter most.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 旅 The Wanderer

Setting right the mother's legacy: not too firmly. Thank grandparents for their help while gently and clearly agreeing on principles.

九二：干母之蛊，不可贞。
Setting right what has been spoiled by the mother. One must not be too persevering. Handle relational, emotional legacies gently.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 蛊 Work on What Has Been Spoiled

Letting your magic tortoise go to envy others: misfortune. Discover and nurture the child's own 'tortoise'—their unique interests and gifts.

初九：舍尔灵龟，观我朵颐，凶。
You let your magic tortoise go and look at me with the corners of your mouth drooping: misfortune. Abandoning your own strengths to envy others.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 颐 Nourishment

Friendly retreat: a graceful exit. Move from manager to adviser—offer advice when asked.

九五：嘉遁，贞吉。
Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune. A well-timed, graceful exit.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 遁 Retreat

Deliverance: pardon mistakes. A parent apologising first is often the most powerful step towards repair.

解：利西南，无所往，其来复吉。有攸往，夙吉。
The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune. If there is still something where one has to go, hastening brings good fortune. After a crisis, restore order quickly.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 解 Deliverance

A son sets right the father's work: danger, then good fortune. Recognising patterns is where change begins—no need to reject the whole family.

初六：干父之蛊，有子，考无咎，厉终吉。
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father. If there is a son, no blame rests on the departed father. Danger; in the end good fortune. The successor dares to fix the predecessor's problems.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 蛊 Work on What Has Been Spoiled

The receptive carries all with broad virtue. Caring for elders needs shared roles and outside support—carrying it alone depletes you.

坤：元，亨，利牝马之贞。君子有攸往，先迷后得主，利。西南得朋，东北丧朋。安贞，吉。
Origination and success, furthered by the steadfastness of a mare. Leading, one goes astray; following, one finds a master. Friends in the southwest, lost in the northeast. Quiet steadfastness: good fortune.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 坤 The Receptive · Earth

Reform within continuity earns praise. When you differ, first honour your parents' intentions, then explain your own choice.

六五：干父之蛊，用誉。
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father: one meets with praise. Reform from within the line of succession earns recognition.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 蛊 Work on What Has Been Spoiled

The maiden draws out the time; a late marriage comes in due course. Explain your timeline and reasons openly; don't settle just to meet expectations.

九四：归妹愆期，迟归有时。
The marrying maiden draws out the allotted time. A late marriage comes in due course. Wait for better terms; don't settle.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 归妹 The Marrying Maiden

The servant beset by obstruction, not for himself. Care for yourself while caring for them; leave medical decisions to doctors and professionals.

六二：王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故。
The king's servant is beset by obstruction upon obstruction, but it is not his own fault. Bearing difficulty for the greater good—no blame.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 蹇 Obstruction

Fellowship weeps first, then laughs. Set boundaries on sensitive topics and focus on shared memories and rituals.

九五：同人，先号咷而后笑，大师克相遇。
Fellowship begins with weeping and lamenting, but afterward they laugh; after great struggles they succeed in meeting. Real unity often follows conflict.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 同人 Fellowship with Others

Setting right the father's work: a little remorse, no great blame. Respect tradition while making room for necessary change.

九三：干父之蛊，小有悔，无大咎。
Setting right what has been spoiled by the father: a little remorse, no great blame. Slightly too forceful, but right in direction.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 蛊 Work on What Has Been Spoiled

The crane calls and its young answers: sincere resonance crosses distance. Show care through regular contact and quality visits.

九二：鸣鹤在阴，其子和之；我有好爵，吾与尔靡之。
A crane calling in the shade. Its young answers it. I have a good goblet. I will share it with you. Sincere resonance needs no effort; kindred spirits respond.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 中孚 Inner Truth

Seeing the heart of the darkness, one leaves gate and courtyard. Whether to reveal a secret depends on whether it is still causing harm.

六四：入于左腹，获明夷之心，于出门庭。
He penetrates the left side of the belly. One gets at the very heart of the darkening of the light, and leaves gate and courtyard. Having seen the truth, leave decisively.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 明夷 Darkening of the Light

Fluttering down, without boasting, sincere: drop the pose. One small proactive gesture is often stronger than waiting for them to speak first.

六四：翩翩，不富以其邻，不戒以孚。
He flutters down, not boasting of his wealth, together with his neighbour, guileless and sincere. Leaders who come down to talk with the front line.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 泰 Peace

Holding together in truth: trust like a full bowl. True friendship accumulates through small acts of reliability over time.

初六：有孚比之，无咎。有孚盈缶，终来有他，吉。
Hold to him in truth and loyalty—no blame. Truth like a full earthen bowl: in the end good fortune comes from elsewhere. Trust is the underlying asset of every alliance.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 比 Holding Together

Do not chase the lost horse; it returns of itself. Respect changing life stages and keep a door open.

初九：悔亡，丧马勿逐，自复；见恶人无咎。
Remorse disappears. If you lose your horse, do not run after it; it will come back of its own accord. When you see evil people, guard yourself against mistakes. Don't force or confront; leave room to manoeuvre.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 睽 Opposition

The moon nearly full, the companion horse goes astray: no blame. Distinguish one lapse from a pattern before deciding whether to continue.

六四：月几望，马匹亡，无咎。
The moon nearly at the full. The team horse goes astray. No blame. Loyal to a higher principle, one lets go of a companion.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 中孚 Inner Truth

The goose nears the shore; early unease is normal. Start with small, familiar settings and widen gradually.

初六：鸿渐于干，小子厉，有言，无咎。
The wild goose gradually draws near the shore. The young son is in danger. There is talk. No blame. Unease and talk at the start are normal.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 渐 Development

Fellowship only in the clan: humiliation. Deliberately meet people of different backgrounds to widen your horizon.

六二：同人于宗，吝。
Fellowship with people in the clan: humiliation. The limits of cliques and factionalism.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 同人 Fellowship with Others

Influence only in jaws and tongue: words without substance. Turn some online contacts into in-person meetings.

上六：咸其辅颊舌。
The influence shows itself in the jaws, cheeks and tongue. Influence that stays at the level of talk lacks substance.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 咸 Influence

Keeping the toes still: stop before starting. Politely decline what doesn't fit and keep time for those who matter.

初六：艮其趾，无咎，利永贞。
Keeping his toes still. No blame. Continued perseverance furthers. Stop before the mistake begins.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 艮 Keeping Still

Early wavering is resolved by one sincere handshake. Join regular community activities so familiarity builds naturally.

初六：有孚不终，乃乱乃萃，若号，一握为笑，勿恤，往无咎。
If you are sincere, but not to the end, there will sometimes be confusion, sometimes gathering together. If you call out, then after one grasp of the hand you can laugh again. Regret not. Going is without blame. Early wavering is resolved by honest contact.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 萃 Gathering Together

Weapons hidden in the thicket: covert rivalry exhausts both. Naming the comparison openly often dissolves it.

九三：伏戎于莽，升其高陵，三岁不兴。
He hides weapons in the thicket and climbs the high hill in front of it; for three years he does not rise up. Suspicion and covert opposition exhaust both sides.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 同人 Fellowship with Others

Sincere joy: good fortune. An annual gathering or a simple message is enough to keep deep bonds alive.

九二：孚兑，吉，悔亡。
Sincere joyousness. Good fortune. Remorse disappears. Relationships built on trust last.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 兑 The Joyous

Tears in floods, sighing: good fortune. Allow grief—a turn follows it. Give yourself time to mourn rather than filling the gap at once.

六五：出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。
Tears in floods, sighing and lamenting: good fortune. Sincere reflection and compassion bring the turn.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 离 The Clinging

Decrease your faults and joy comes quickly. Apologise for your part without waiting for the other to admit theirs.

六四：损其疾，使遄有喜，无咎。
If a man decreases his faults, it makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame. First cut what drains you most.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 损 Decrease

The standstill comes to an end: first standstill, then joy. A small, sincere gesture is often where the thaw begins.

上九：倾否，先否后喜。
The standstill comes to an end. First standstill, then good fortune. Actively break the deadlock.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 否 Standstill

The noble walks alone in the rain, bespattered, misjudged—no blame. Better misunderstood for a while than untrue to yourself; time and consistent action clarify.

九三：壮于頄，有凶。君子夬夬，独行遇雨，若濡有愠，无咎。
To be powerful in the cheekbones brings misfortune. The noble person is firmly resolved. He walks alone and is caught in the rain. He is bespattered, and people murmur against him. No blame. Don't decide in emotion; accept being misunderstood.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 夬 Breakthrough

Deliverance: pardon releases you. Forgiveness can coexist with keeping distance—it frees you from being bound.

解：利西南，无所往，其来复吉。有攸往，夙吉。
The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, return brings good fortune. If there is still something where one has to go, hastening brings good fortune. After a crisis, restore order quickly.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 解 Deliverance

In bereavement, let grief prevail. Grief has no standard timetable; if it persistently impairs daily life, seek professional support.

小过：亨，利贞。可小事，不可大事。飞鸟遗之音，不宜上，宜下，大吉。
Success. Perseverance furthers. Small things may be done; great things should not be done. The flying bird brings the message: it is not well to strive upward, it is well to remain below. Great good fortune. Stay modest and practical; take a little extra care over details.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 小过 Preponderance of the Small

Retreat: keep distance without hostility, with reserve. Set clear boundaries without seeking revenge.

遁：亨，小利贞。
Success. In what is small, perseverance furthers. Retreat itself can be a path to success.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 遁 Retreat

No blame: difficulty has just eased—rest first. No need for deep talks yet; restore basic goodwill and contact.

初六：无咎。
Without blame. Difficulty has just eased: rest quietly.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 解 Deliverance

Dissolving the blood, going away, going out: no blame. Resentment harms you first—write it down, then consciously release it.

上九：涣其血，去逖出，无咎。
He dissolves his blood. Departing, keeping at a distance, going out, is without blame. Resolve conflict; move away from the source of harm.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 涣 Dispersion

Return: on the seventh day comes return. A new beginning needn't be grand—start with one new daily habit.

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.

Full reading   Open hexagram: 复 Return