Hexagram 40

Clearing Obstacles

In practice

The judgment

The obstacles have been overcome one by one. You're in a time when balance matters: act quickly and decisively as far as you can, without overrating your abilities. If you feel you need a rest, or even to step back before going on, do it.

The poetry

Release

The southwest is favorable. With nowhere to go, coming back brings good fortune. With somewhere to go, going early brings good fortune.

The image

Thunder and rain break loose: release. So the noble person pardons mistakes and is lenient with wrongs.

The lines

  1. Line 6上六

    Once you've strengthened your inner self, you can get through the obstacles and achieve your purpose with firm, decisive action.

    The duke shoots at a falcon on top of the high wall and hits it. Nothing that is not favorable.

  2. Line 5六五

    It's time for decisive action that keeps you away from the wrong people and situations. You do this by ignoring them and paying them no attention while you build up your inner strength.

    The noble person need only get free: good fortune. There is sincere trust, even before the petty person.

  3. Line 4九四

    It's important to let go of ties and loyalties that can't be trusted and that, if anything, will slow your progress, so you can move forward freely.

    Untie your big toe: the friend arrives, and then there is trust.

  4. Line 3六三

    If you act high-handed and boast about your achievements, exaggerating them, you'll draw quarrels and envy that threaten to take away what you've gained.

    Carries a load on the back and rides in a carriage: this brings raiders. Constancy brings distress.

  5. Line 2九二

    The obstacles are overcome; now you're easy prey for flattery. If you avoid falling for it and bring what isn't right into the open, cleanly and without a single flaw, you'll succeed.

    On the hunt, catches three foxes and gains a yellow arrow. Constancy brings good fortune.

  6. Line 1初六

    With the obstacles behind you, take a rest for now so you can recover your strength to keep going.

    No fault.

Its 63 transformations

Depending on which lines move in your cast, Clearing Obstacles turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.

One moving line

6

Two moving lines

15

Three moving lines

20

Four moving lines

15

Five moving lines

6

All six lines moving

1

The classical text

解:利西南,无所往,其來復吉。有攸往,夙吉。

象曰:雷雨作,解;君子以赦過宥罪。

初六:无咎。

九二:田獲三狐,得黃矢,貞吉。

六三:負且乘,致寇至,貞吝。

九四:解而拇,朋至斯孚。

六五:君子維有解,吉;有孚于小人。

上六:公用射隼,于高墉之上,獲之,无不利。

Make your own cast

The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.

Have a question? Toss the coins