In practice
The judgment
You're surrounded by unsuitable people or situations. You know it, but you think you have the power to control them and don't take them very seriously; it may even be a bad habit. If you don't pay attention and set firm limits, they'll take control over you and you won't be able to pull away.
The poetry
The Encounter
The woman is strong. Do not take her as a wife.
The image
Under heaven, the wind blows: the encounter. So the sovereign spreads their commands and proclaims them to the four quarters.
The lines
- Line 6上九
Your distance from unsuitable people makes you look proud and aloof, but that's better than getting involved with them.
Meeting with the horns. Distress. No fault.
- Line 5九五
Right now, thanks to your inner worth, you're able to transform unsuitable people and even your own harmful habits.
Willow branches wrap the melon. Beauty kept within: something falls from heaven.
- Line 4九四
For now it's better to keep adverse people close, as long as you know how to set limits with them; they may be useful to you at some point.
In the wrapping there is no fish. Setting off brings misfortune.
- Line 3九三
You know adverse conditions or people exist and you can recognize them, but you're tempted to let them influence you. It will take a great effort to set them aside.
Buttocks without skin; the walk falters. Danger. No great fault.
- Line 2九二
You recognize the adverse person or condition in your life. You need to keep it under control, not with violence but with firmness, so its influence doesn't spread.
In the wrapping there is fish. No fault. Not favorable for guests.
- Line 1初六
When something or someone you'd be better off without comes into your life, put distance between you quickly, before it gains power.
Tied to a metal brake. Constancy brings good fortune. If it has somewhere to go, it will meet misfortune. A lean pig, surely, paws and paces.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Lack of Firmness turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 1 and 2
- 10Treading Carefullylines 1 and 3
- 12Declinelines 2 and 3
- 9Small Thingslines 1 and 4
- 53Gradual Progresslines 2 and 4
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 3 and 4
- 14Wealthlines 1 and 5
- 56The Travelerlines 2 and 5
- 64Transitionlines 3 and 5
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 4 and 5
- 43Overflowinglines 1 and 6
- 31Attractionlines 2 and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 3 and 6
- 48Right Actionlines 4 and 6
- 32What Lastslines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 25Innocencelines 1, 2, and 3
- 37The Tribelines 1, 2, and 4
- 61Inner Integritylines 1, 3, and 4
- 20Observinglines 2, 3, and 4
- 30The Flamelines 1, 2, and 5
- 38Oppositeslines 1, 3, and 5
- 35Advancelines 2, 3, and 5
- 26Great Achievementslines 1, 4, and 5
- 52Abidinglines 2, 4, and 5
- 4Immaturitylines 3, 4, and 5
- 49Renewallines 1, 2, and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 1, 3, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 2, 3, and 6
- 5Inactionlines 1, 4, and 6
- 39Held Backlines 2, 4, and 6
- 29Waterlines 3, 4, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 1, 5, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 2, 5, and 6
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 3, 5, and 6
- 46Going Uplines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 42Increaselines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 21Bitinglines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 22Good Mannerslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 41Decreaselines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 23The Falllines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 17Adaptinglines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 8Unionlines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 55Abundancelines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 16Passionlines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 7The Armylines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
姤：女壯，勿用取女。
象曰：天下有風，姤；后以施命誥四方。
初六：繫于金柅，貞吉，有攸往，見凶，羸豕，孚，蹢躅。
九二：包有魚，无咎，不利賓。
九三：臀无膚，其行次且，厲，无大咎。
九四：包无魚，起凶。
九五：以杞包瓜，含章，有隕自天。
上九：姤其角，吝，无咎。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.