Hexagram 51: The Arousing
Shock, thunder, awakening
| Chinese | 震 (Zhèn) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☳ Thunder — The Arousing (Wood) |
| Lower trigram | ☳ Thunder — The Arousing (Wood) |
| Keywords | shock, thunder, awakening, action |
| Opposite | Hexagram 57: The Gentle |
| Inverted | Hexagram 52: Keeping Still |
What does Hexagram 51 (The Arousing) mean?
The Arousing 震 (Zhèn) is hexagram 51 of the I Ching, formed by Thunder (The Arousing) over Thunder (The Arousing). Its theme is shock, thunder, awakening, with key ideas of shock, thunder, awakening, action. The Judgment reads: “Shock brings success. Shock comes — oh, oh! Laughing words — ha, ha!”
The Judgment of The Arousing
Shock brings success. Shock comes — oh, oh! Laughing words — ha, ha!
The Image of The Arousing
Thunder repeated: the image of Shock.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 51
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Nine at the beginning
“Shock comes — oh, oh! Then follow laughing words — ha, ha! Good fortune.”
The first shock is terrifying, but once the danger has passed and one is still standing, laughter and relief follow naturally. Fear weathered becomes joy.
Six in the second place
“Shock comes bringing danger. A hundred thousand times you lose your treasures and must climb the nine hills. Do not go in pursuit of them. After seven days you will get them back again.”
In the face of overwhelming shock, do not chase after what is lost. Withdraw to safety; what is truly yours returns of its own accord.
Six in the third place
“Shock comes and makes one distraught. If shock spurs to action, one remains free of misfortune.”
Disorientation from shock is normal; using it as a spur to alert, appropriate action converts the disruption into an advantage.
Nine in the fourth place
“Shock is mired.”
The shock becomes bogged down — it cannot fully discharge or complete itself. The energy of awakening is stuck and achieves nothing.
Six in the fifth place
“Shock goes hither and thither. Danger. However, nothing at all is lost. Yet there are things to be done.”
Shock that moves without clear direction is continuously dangerous; yet if one keeps one's footing, nothing essential is destroyed. Focus on what still requires attention.
Six at the top
“Shock brings ruin and terrified gazing around. Going ahead brings misfortune. If it has not yet touched one's own body but has reached one's neighbor first, there is no blame. One's comrades have cause for talk.”
When shock approaches but has not yet struck, awareness and stillness are the right response. Moving forward into the shock invites the blow; cautious observation is correct.
Will The Arousing answer your question?
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