AsterNymAsterNym

I Ching · Hexagram 18 Work on What Has Been Spoiled

Hexagram 18 for career: Work on What Has Been Spoiled

蠱 Gǔ · Career

Fixing what a predecessor left, or what you neglected. The reading favours taking on the repair, including a large one, with proper preparation and follow-through. Blame is not the point; correction is.

Wind below, mountain above: wind stopped at the foot of a mountain, air gone stale. The Chinese character shows worms in a bowl. Work on What Has Been Spoiled describes damage that came from neglect or indulgence, often inherited from a previous generation or a previous decision, and the reading is favourable because it says the damage can be repaired. The tradition asks for deliberation before the work begins, three days before and three days after, and it supports crossing the great water: a large task is called for and can be done.

Advice
Deliberate, repair the decay thoroughly, and watch that it does not return.
Warning
Rushing the repair, or leaving it half-done, invites the decay back worse than before.

The changing lines, read for career

If your cast of Hexagram 18 had changing lines, these are what each one adds to a career question, and where each leads.

  1. Line 1 · changes into 26 Great Taming

    Setting right what the father spoiled. If there is a son, no blame falls on the departed. Danger, then good fortune. Take on the inherited problem as your own; it ends well.

  2. Line 2 · changes into 52 Keeping Still

    Setting right what the mother spoiled. One should not be too persistent. Fix the soft fault gently; severity here does damage.

  3. Line 3 · changes into 4 Youthful Folly

    Setting right what the father spoiled. A little regret; no great blame. If you have overdone the correction a little, that is forgivable; keep going.

  4. Line 4 · changes into 50 The Cauldron

    Tolerating what the father spoiled. Going on brings humiliation. Stop tolerating the fault; each day of delay makes it worse.

  5. Line 5 · changes into 57 The Gentle

    Setting right what the father spoiled. One meets with praise. Lead the reform and use good helpers; it will be recognised.

  6. Line 6 · changes into 46 Pushing Upward

    Not serving kings and princes; setting higher goals. If the repair is done, it is legitimate to step back and work on yourself.

Hexagram 18 in fullLove & relationshipsMoneyA decision

Ask the I Ching about your career

The topic is pre-selected. The hexagram is not: the coins decide it.

Ask the I Ching →