Hexagram 27: Nourishment
Providing nourishment, taking care
| Chinese | 頤 (Yí) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☶ Mountain — Keeping Still (Earth) |
| Lower trigram | ☳ Thunder — The Arousing (Wood) |
| Keywords | nourishment, sustenance, care, moderation |
| Opposite | Hexagram 28: Great Exceeding |
| Inverted | Itself — the figure is symmetric |
What does Hexagram 27 (Nourishment) mean?
Nourishment 頤 (Yí) is hexagram 27 of the I Ching, formed by Mountain (Keeping Still) over Thunder (The Arousing). Its theme is providing nourishment, taking care, with key ideas of nourishment, sustenance, care, moderation. The Judgment reads: “The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune.”
The Judgment of Nourishment
The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune.
The Image of Nourishment
At the foot of the mountain, thunder.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 27
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Nine at the beginning
“You let your magic tortoise go, and look at me with the corners of your mouth drooping. Misfortune.”
Abandoning one's own resources to envy what others have is the root of ruin. Neglect of one's gifts invites misfortune.
Six in the second place
“Turning to the summit for nourishment, deviating from the path to seek nourishment from the hill. Continuing to do this brings misfortune.”
Seeking sustenance from inappropriate sources — looking above when self-sufficiency is needed — leads to dependency and decline.
Six in the third place
“Turning away from nourishment. Perseverance brings misfortune. Do not act thus for ten years. Nothing serves to further.”
Rejecting proper nourishment and chasing hollow gratification is an error whose consequences last long. A complete change of approach is necessary.
Six in the fourth place
“Turning to the summit for provision of nourishment brings good fortune. Spying about with sharp eyes like a tiger with insatiable craving. No blame.”
Seeking nourishment from the wise and worthy — with focused, hungry attention — is legitimate and blameless.
Six in the fifth place
“Turning away from the path. To remain persevering brings good fortune. One should not cross the great water.”
In a position of responsibility for others" nourishment, remain within your sphere. Large ventures are premature; tend what is near.
Nine at the top
“The source of nourishment. Awareness of danger brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.”
Being the source of nourishment for others is the highest position; but it requires constant vigilance. From this awareness, great undertakings succeed.
Will Nourishment answer your question?
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