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Hexagram 45: Gathering Together

䷬ 萃 (Cuì) · Gathering. Unite around a shared purpose.

community, gathering, shared purpose, preparedness

Lower trigram: Earth ☷ · Upper trigram: Lake ☱

The judgment

People are coming together around something they share, like water collecting in a lake. A gathering needs a center: a person or purpose worth rallying to, and real offerings of time and effort. Take part fully, and prepare for the surprises any crowd can bring.

The image

Lake above Earth: water pools where the land lies low. When many gather, keep your tools in order and your wits about you, so the unforeseen doesn't catch you off guard.

The six lines

Read only the lines that changed in your casting, counting from the bottom.

• Line 1 (bottom): You mean well but don't follow through, so things swing between confusion and closeness. Call out for help; one firm handshake can turn worry into laughter.
• Line 2: Let yourself be drawn in; it is a good pull. When your heart is sincere, even a small offering is enough.
• Line 3: You gather with others amid sighs, feeling like an outsider. Joining anyway is right, even if it costs you a little pride.
• Line 4: Your effort to bring people together stands on good footing. Doing it for the group rather than for yourself keeps it clean.
• Line 5: You hold the central place in this gathering. If some aren't yet with you in heart, stay steadily true and their trust can grow.
• Line 6 (top): Lament and tears, because your openness hasn't been returned. Sincere sorrow is no mistake, and it may move others to come closer.

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