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I Ching · Hexagram 29 The Abysmal

Hexagram 29 for career: The Abysmal

坎 Kǎn · Career

Real difficulty, perhaps the same difficulty returning. Do not seek a way around it; work through it steadily and honestly, one hollow at a time. Consistency under pressure is what earns esteem here.

Water below, water above: the same trigram doubled, a gorge within a gorge. The Abysmal is the hexagram of danger, and it is not a warning to avoid it. Water does not avoid the ravine; it flows into it, fills every hollow, and moves on. The tradition's judgement says that with sincerity there is success in the heart, and that action brings esteem. The reading describes a situation that is difficult, possibly for a while, and it says the way through is to be like water: honest about the depth, undramatic, consistent, and unwilling to stop. Repetition is the teacher here. The danger returns until you have learned to move through it plainly.

Advice
Be like water: honest about the depth, consistent, and willing to go through rather than around.
Warning
Trying to climb out of the gorge by force or trickery is how the danger becomes a trap.

The changing lines, read for career

If your cast of Hexagram 29 had changing lines, these are what each one adds to a career question, and where each leads.

  1. Line 1 · changes into 60 Limitation

    Repeated danger. Falling into a pit within the pit. Misfortune. Do not let familiarity with the danger make you careless.

  2. Line 2 · changes into 8 Holding Together

    The abyss is dangerous. One should strive to attain small things only. Aim small; do what is possible inside the danger.

  3. Line 3 · changes into 48 The Well

    Forward and backward, abyss upon abyss. Pause and wait, or you fall deeper. Do not act. Every move deepens it; be still and wait.

  4. Line 4 · changes into 47 Oppression

    A jug of wine, a bowl of rice, earthen vessels handed through the window. In the end, no blame. Offer what you have, simply and directly; it is enough.

  5. Line 5 · changes into 7 The Army

    The abyss is not filled to overflowing; it is filled only to the rim. No blame. Get to level ground; do not try to gain more than that yet.

  6. Line 6 · changes into 59 Dispersion

    Bound with cords and ropes, shut in among thorns. For three years one finds no way. Misfortune. If you are here, the way out is long and begins with honesty; there is no shortcut.

Hexagram 29 in fullLove & relationshipsMoneyA decision

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