In practice
The judgment
You're in a situation that calls for extraordinary measures to keep what you've achieved from collapsing. Check and strengthen the foundations that hold up your projects, take innovative action and step out of your comfort zone. That way your success is assured; otherwise, loss can't be avoided.
The poetry
Great Excess
The ridgepole sags. It is favorable to have somewhere to go. Success.
The image
The lake drowns the trees: great excess. So the noble person stands alone without fear, and withdraws from the world without gloom.
The lines
- Line 6上六
When, despite the drawbacks, you decide to take on extraordinary undertakings, you'll be exposed to danger and loss, but you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you did everything in your power.
Wading too far, the water closes over the crown of the head. Misfortune. No fault.
- Line 5九五
When you focus on strengthening ties with those above you but forget to pay attention to those you lead, your success will be limited.
The withered poplar puts out flowers. An old woman takes a young husband. No fault, no praise.
- Line 4九四
You can receive help from those under you now, but if you take advantage of it and there's no balance between giving and receiving, they'll withdraw their support and there will be loss.
The ridgepole rises. Good fortune. If there is something else, distress.
- Line 3九三
Acting hastily and not listening to advice will lead you to loss, because in the end no one will want to help you.
The ridgepole sags. Misfortune.
- Line 2九二
It's an exceptional time, so the measures must be exceptional too. Your actions should rest on unusual acts that seem small but bring extraordinary results.
The withered poplar puts out shoots. An old man takes a young wife. Nothing that is not favorable.
- Line 1初六
To carry out an extraordinary project now, start cautiously, checking each step to build good foundations.
Spreading white rushes underneath. No fault.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Excesses turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 49Renewallines 1 and 2
- 58Inner Peacelines 1 and 3
- 45Meetinglines 2 and 3
- 5Inactionlines 1 and 4
- 39Held Backlines 2 and 4
- 29Waterlines 3 and 4
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1 and 5
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 2 and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 3 and 5
- 46Going Uplines 4 and 5
- 1Activitylines 1 and 6
- 33Leaving Behindlines 2 and 6
- 6Conflictlines 3 and 6
- 57Gentlenesslines 4 and 6
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 2, and 3
- 63After the Endlines 1, 2, and 4
- 60Thriftlines 1, 3, and 4
- 8Unionlines 2, 3, and 4
- 55Abundancelines 1, 2, and 5
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 3, and 5
- 16Passionlines 2, 3, and 5
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 4, and 5
- 15Simplicitylines 2, 4, and 5
- 7The Armylines 3, 4, and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1, 2, and 6
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1, 3, and 6
- 12Declinelines 2, 3, and 6
- 9Small Thingslines 1, 4, and 6
- 53Gradual Progresslines 2, 4, and 6
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 3, 4, and 6
- 14Wealthlines 1, 5, and 6
- 56The Travelerlines 2, 5, and 6
- 64Transitionlines 3, 5, and 6
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 51Shocklines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 36Darknesslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 19Fleeting Successlines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 2Passivitylines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 25Innocencelines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 37The Tribelines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 20Observinglines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 30The Flamelines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 35Advancelines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 52Abidinglines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 4Immaturitylines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
大過：棟橈，利有攸往，亨。
象曰：澤滅木，大過。君子以獨立不懼，遯世无悶。
初六：藉用白茅，无咎。
九二：枯楊生稊，老夫得其女妻，无不利。
九三：棟橈，凶。
九四：棟隆，吉。有它吝。
九五：枯楊生華，老婦得其士夫，无咎无譽。
上六：過涉滅頂，凶，无咎。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.