Text quoted taken from Master Huang's "The Complete I Ching: 10th Anniversary Edition"
1- Qian/ Heaven or InitiatingTheme- This is the most auspicious hexagram in the I Ching; pure Yang energy, unadulterated.
“Commentary of the Symbol: Heaven acts with vitality and persistence. In correspondence with this the superior person keep himself vital without ceasing.” (24)
Line 1:“Initial nine. Dragon lying low. Do not use. Dragon lying low, do not use, for the yang is in the lowest place.” (24) This represents the initial stage of something, when the power is not at all strong enough to affect much of anything. It’s a good time to prepare, but not a good one to act. Call on the qualities of patience and restraint.
Line 4: “…Dragon lying low, do not use. His energy is lying deeply low…35” Before leaping into action, wait for the right timing. “Fourth nine: Probably leaping from an abyss. No fault. Probably leaping from an abyss, in advance there will be no fault.” (25) Here, the power has developed where an active bid can be taken, but it must be done with good timing to be successful. Time and circumstances are both conducive to successful if one doesn’t act with caution.
“Commentary on the Symbol: Following the wind; an image of Proceeding Humbly. In correspondence with this, the superior person repeats the order and carries out his command.” (447)
Heaven (Qian) above/ Heaven (Qian) below
Metal element (in other systems, this is ether, ether, or air; the metal element in 5 Element Theory is related to the lungs, the breath, breathing, Integrity and connection to the Divine through the breath; holistic and wholesome)
Associated with May (fourth month of the lunar year/ fifth solar)
Opposite- 2/ Kun- Earth
Inverse- 1/ Qian- Heaven
Mutual- 1/ Qian-Heaven
(Huang, page 30)
Before the transition: One is considering making a move (line 4); consider it well, because you may not have the power behind you to pull it off and/or the timing might not be right (line 1).
57- Xun/ Wind/ Proceeding Humbly
Theme- This hexagram’s advice concerns the art of gentle influence, like a soft wind that is nonetheless persistent. The changes are not instantly observable, but because it is not devastating (like the sudden thunderstorm of its opposite- 51- Zhen/ Thunder), Xun's impact promotes success and accomplishment.
Interesting (to me, anyway): one of the 8 doubled hexagrams transforms to another one. Xun is located on the pre-Heaven bagua in the southwest corner, to the reader’s righthand side. The correlates with the direction of southwest. It moves to the southeast in the post heaven bagua.
Line 1: vacillating causes confusion; better to decide and follow through without second guessing.
Line 4: success with enough for honored guests, important ceremonies, and for self, even if the result isn’t exactly what one would feel comfortable with.
Wind (Xun) above/ Wind (Xun) below
Wood element (this is the power of growing things, developing things) (the breath here is like the issuance of a command- the wind of Heaven’s wishes/commands; penetrating and initiating growth)
Associated with September (eight month of the lunar year/ ninth solar)
Opposite- 51/ Zhen- Taking Action (sometimes called Shock)
Inverse- 58/ Dui- Joyful
Mutual- 38/ Kui- Diversity (sometimes called Opposition)
(Huang, page 451)
After the transition: With gentleness, humility (plus good aim- line 4), and decisive action (line 1), there can be a successful result.