44. Gòu 姤
ENCOUNTER, CONFRONTATION
Key Concepts:
encounter with bad influence, deception, temptation, dependence, dissipation of energy, temptation
Beware of unworthy people, influences, and habits. Do not compromise your conscience. Dubious temptations will never bring you what you desire.
Above is the trigram Qian (Heaven), below is the trigram Xun (Wind). The metaphorical image of this hexagram is contemplation of heavenly wisdom. The shape of this hexagram speaks of the nature of its message. A single Yin line penetrates the all-Yang hexagram, like darkness gradually spreading after the apparent victory of light. For this reason, Gou is associated with the summer solstice, a metaphorical image of this hexagram.
The heavenly advice is that we should beware of unworthy people, influences, habits. At present, they seem harmless, but if their influence is left unchecked, negative consequences can swiftly and unexpectedly overtake us and adversely affect our surroundings. The destructive forces warned about by Gou can easily lead us into dependence on drugs, alcohol, passions, and addictions.
These quietly gaining strength tempting tendencies can catch us off guard, weakening us and making us vulnerable to exploitation. This hexagram warns us about such dangers. It also warns us never to compromise our conscience under any circumstances. Because the dubious prospects that sometimes tempt us, about which our intuition, common sense, or well-wishing people warn us, will never bring us what we desire. Be open and reject evil, attempts to use your good name, and do not succumb to low temptations.
The heavenly advice is that we should beware of unworthy people, influences, habits. At present, they seem harmless, but if their influence is left unchecked, negative consequences can swiftly and unexpectedly overtake us and adversely affect our surroundings. The destructive forces warned about by Gou can easily lead us into dependence on drugs, alcohol, passions, and addictions.
These quietly gaining strength tempting tendencies can catch us off guard, weakening us and making us vulnerable to exploitation. This hexagram warns us about such dangers. It also warns us never to compromise our conscience under any circumstances. Because the dubious prospects that sometimes tempt us, about which our intuition, common sense, or well-wishing people warn us, will never bring us what we desire. Be open and reject evil, attempts to use your good name, and do not succumb to low temptations.
I Ching Talking
Hide your brilliance, and it will be bestowed upon you from heaven
Hexagram Line Descriptions
Tie to a metal pole.
Perseverance brings happiness.
If you set out somewhere, you will encounter misfortune.
But a skinny pig will surely break free from the tie.
Do not allow your adversaries to strengthen
There is a fish in the grasp. There will be no slander.
It is unfavorable to be a guest.
Use not force but diplomacy to manage difficult people
He who has no muscles on his sacrum walks with great difficulty.
Dangerous, but there will be no great slander.
Do not cooperate with those whose motives seem unworthy to you
There is no fish in the grasp.
Rising up brings misfortune.
Do not alienate those who seem useless to you
A gourd covered with willow.
Hide your brilliance, and it will be bestowed upon you from heaven.
Develop a benevolent, patronizing attitude towards those under your care
Contradiction is like horns.
Regret.
But there will be no slander.
Do not be intolerant of what you consider folly