Karmatetra

I CHING Hexagram # 64, Fire Over Water, Wei Chi – Before Completion.

Fire over Water Caution, regeneration, Potential, Clarity. During regenerative (times of renewal and transformation) times such as these there is intense pressure to succeed but, to get anywhere worthwhile, you need to proceed cautiously and with firm dedication to higher principles.

Li – The Clinging, Fire

K’an – The Abysmal, Water

The Judgement

Before Completion. Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there will be no advantage.

The Image

Fire over water: The image of the condition before transition. Thus the superior man is careful in the differentiation of things, so that each finds its place.

The Lines

1. Yin at the beginning means: He gets his tail in the water. Humiliating.
2. Yang in the second place means: He brakes his wheels. Perseverance brings good fortune.
3. Yin in the third place means: Before completion, attack brings misfortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.
4. Yang in the fourth place means: Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. Shock, thus to discipline the Devil’s Country. For three years, great realms are awarded.
5. Yin in the fifth place means: Perseverance brings good fortune. No remorse. The light of the superior man is true. Good fortune.
6. Yang at the top means: There is drinking of wine in genuine confidence. No blame. But if one wets his head, he loses it, in truth.

Background: The I Ching, or Book of Changes

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination text that employs a binary system of tossed coins to generate 64 hexagrams. Each hexagram consists of six stacked horizontal lines, with each line representing either yin (broken line) or yang (solid line) energy.

To consult the I Ching, a person typically asks a question or seeks guidance on a particular issue. They then toss three coins six times, recording the results for each toss. Each coin toss yields either a heads or tails, which corresponds to a value of 2 or 3, respectively. The sum of the coin values determines whether the line is yin (6, 7, 8, or 9) or yang (5, 6, 7, or 8).

Once all six lines are determined, the resulting hexagram is identified, and the corresponding text from the I Ching is consulted for insight and guidance. Each hexagram is accompanied by a description and commentary that provides wisdom on the situation and potential outcomes.

Through this process, the I Ching serves as a tool for divination, self-reflection, and exploring the interplay of yin and yang energies in one’s life.