Hexagram 2: The Receptive
䷁ 坤 (Kūn) · Receptive devotion. Yield, support and let things grow.
receptivity, support, patience, nurturing
Lower trigram: Earth ☷ · Upper trigram: Earth ☷
The judgment
The earth receives, carries and brings to fruit whatever is given to it. This is a time to follow rather than lead, to support a good aim and let it grow through you. Steady, gentle devotion, like a mare that keeps walking across open country, achieves more now than pushing ahead alone. Companions found along the way matter.
The image
Earth upon earth: the ground stretches wide and holds everything without complaint. Let your character be broad and generous enough to carry what is entrusted to you.
The six lines
Read only the lines that changed in your casting, counting from the bottom.
- Line 1 (bottom): Frost underfoot on an autumn morning means ice is on its way. Notice small early signs and respond while it is still easy.
- Line 2: Straight, square and wide, like open land. Act from your plain, natural goodness; nothing needs to be forced or rehearsed.
- Line 3: Keep your gifts quietly in reserve. If you serve a larger task, help bring it to completion without needing the credit.
- Line 4: A sack tied shut. Holding back and staying discreet earns neither praise nor blame, and that is fine for now.
- Line 5: A plain yellow garment, worn without show. Real worth expressed modestly brings great good fortune.
- Line 6 (top): Dragons clash in the open field and both are wounded. Holding your ground long past the point of yielding leads to a fight nobody wins.
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