I Ching 39 Hexagram jiǎn (Limping)

I Ching 39 Hexagram jiǎn (Limping)

I Ching 39 Hexagram jiǎn (Limping)

Keywords
Obstacles. Better to withdraw (for the moment).
Short Interpretation of Hexagram 39 – The Impediment Difficult
moment in romantic relationships and in professional life. All your projects need some more time. You have tried to seek advice from someone appropriate to the situation

I Ching – General Description

The sign represents a dangerous abyss that lies before us; behind there is the steep inaccessible mountain. Thus one is surrounded by impediments. But in the quality of the mountain of standing still there is at the same time also a hint of how to get out of impediments. The sign represents impediments that arise over time, but which can and must be overcome. Therefore all the information it provides is aimed at overcoming the impediments.

I Ching – Comment on sentence

The impediment: the south-west is favorable. The north-east is not favorable. It is auspicious to see the great man. Perseverance is healthy!

Southwest is the region of retreat, northeast is the region of advance. It is a situation in which impediments that cannot be overcome directly oppose the pace. In this case it is wise to stop in the face of danger and retreat. This retreat, however, is the preparation to then overcome the impediments. It is advisable to associate with friends of equal feelings and to undergo the guidance of a man who is equal to the situation; then the elimination of impediments will succeed. To do this you need to be persevering in spirit; just when you have to do something that apparently deviates from the goal. This inner direction that does not allow itself to be diverted ultimately brings health!The impediment, which lasts only a certain time, is of great value for the formation of one’s personality.

I Ching – Image

On the mountain is the water: The image of the impediment.
Thus the noble turns to his own person And cultivates his character.

Difficulties and impediments cause man to turn back on himself. However, while the ignoble seeks the fault outside, among other men, and accuses destiny, the noble seeks errors in himself by repenting, and therefore the external impediment becomes for him a stimulus to enrich and cultivate himself internally.

I Ching – Series

Difficulties necessarily arise from the opposition. This is why the sign follows: the Impediment. Impediment means difficulty.

I Ching – Single Lines

Analytical description of each individual line

I Ching – First line:

Six at the beginning means:
Going leads to hindrances, coming meets praise.

Faced with an impediment, it is a question of reflecting on the best way to overcome it. Finding ourselves under the threat of danger, we must not blindly strive forward; this would only lead to complications. Rather, it is right to withdraw first – not to give up the fight, but to wait for the right moment to act.

I Ching – Second line:

Six in the second place means:
The king’s servant is in hindrance over hindrance. But the fault is not his.

While normally the best thing is to get around the impediment and try to overcome it along the line of least resistance, there is also a case in which difficulty must be faced, even if difficulties accumulate upon difficulty: that is, when the path of duty it leads us to do so, when it is not possible to act by free decision, but one has the duty to seek danger in the service of a higher thing. Then seek him out and in doing so remain perfectly calm within, because we have not placed ourselves in this difficult situation through our fault.

I Ching – Third line:

Nine in the third place means:
Going leads to hindrances; and behold he returns.

While the preceding line shows the official who must walk the path of danger for the sake of duty, here the man who has to act as head of the family or as head of his own is shown instead. If he wanted to lightly rush into danger, this would still be useless, because those who are entrusted to his protection cannot continue alone. If, on the other hand, he withdraws and turns back to his own, they greet him with great joy.

I Ching – Fourth line:

Six in the fourth place means:
Going leads to hindrances, Coming leads to union.

Here, too, a situation is outlined that cannot be faced alone. In such a case the straight way is not the shortest. If one wanted to move forward on one’s own strength, without the necessary preparations, one would not find the necessary help and would recognize too late that the calculations are deceiving, making the circumstances on which one hoped to be able to count are too weak. In this case it is therefore more right to hold back first, gathering trusted companions around you, on which you can rely to overcome the impediments.

I Ching – Fifth line:

Nine in the fifth place means:
In the midst of the greatest impediments come friends.

Here we see the man called to obviate the need. He must not want to avoid impediments, even if they accumulate more than numerous in front of him. But as he truly possesses the superior vocation, the power of his spirit is strong enough to draw men to himself, so that they come and help him; and he is able to truly organize them to overcome the impediment through the collaboration of all the needy sensibly divided.

I Ching – Sixth line:

Six above means:
To go leads to impediments, to come leads to great health. It is auspicious to see the great man.

Here is drawn a man who has already left the world and its comings and goings behind him. Now that the time of impediments for the world comes, it may seem that the simplest thing for him is to leave it behind, and take refuge in the afterlife. But this way is closed to him. He must not become blessed by himself and abandon the world to his torments. His duty instead draws him once again into the traffic of this world. It is precisely his experience and his inner freedom that make it possible for him to create great and accomplished things that bring health. And it is auspicious to see the great man with whom he can accomplish the work of salvation.