Hexagram 5: Waiting → Hexagram 2: The Receptive

Waiting
Water / Heaven
The Receptive
Earth / Earth
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 4 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 5).

Line 1

初九 需于郊。利用恆。无咎。

waiting
on
jiāothe outskirts
worthwhile
yònguseful
héngwhat endures
no
jiùblame

Nine at the beginning means: Waiting in the meadow. It furthers one to abide in what endures. No blame.

Line 2

九二 需于沙。小有言。終吉。

waiting
on
shāthe sand
xiǎothe small
yǒuhave
yánthings to say
zhōngin the end
auspicious

Nine in the second place means: Waiting on the sand. There is some gossip. The end brings good fortune.

Line 3

九三 需于泥。致寇至。

waiting
in
the mud
zhìinviting
kòuthieves
zhìto approach

Nine in the third place means: Waiting in the mud Brings about the arrival of the enemy.

Line 5

九五 需于酒食。貞吉。

waiting
amidst
jiǔwine
shífood
zhēnpersistence
promising

Nine in the fifth place means: Waiting at meat and drink. Perseverance brings good fortune.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramWater EarthThe Deep → The Receptive
Lower TrigramHeaven EarthThe Creative → The Receptive

Yilin Verse

溫山松柏,常茂不落。鸞凰以庇,得其歡樂。

Warm mountain pines and cypresses, ever flourishing, never falling. The luan and the phoenix shelter therein, finding their delight.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

Clouds gather above heaven as pines and cypresses stand evergreen upon a warm mountain, their foliage never falling. The luan bird and phoenix shelter beneath them, finding delight and repose. Pines and cypresses are classical symbols of constancy through adversity — they endure frost and snow while lesser trees wither. The luan and phoenix, auspicious creatures that appear only in times of harmony, choosing these trees as refuge signals that steadfast virtue draws celestial blessing. From Waiting to The Receptive, nourishment transforms into the earth's boundless capacity to sustain: the mountain's warmth mirrors the earth's quiet generosity, sheltering all who come without preference or exhaustion.

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