Above is the trigram Zheng (Thunder), below is the trigram Dui (Lake). The metaphorical image of this hexagram is getting married in a burst of passion, about which the young couple will deeply regret later. This hexagram denotes the tendency of the inexperienced to be easily carried away by those with whom they have little in common.
The I Ching develops this image by describing a young girl who enters into a marriage that does not fulfill her hopes. In the absence of genuine love, which is the foundation of a true union, she finds herself dependent on a husband who takes her for granted. An improper union in the broadest sense is indicated by Gui Mei.
In such situations, it is necessary to acknowledge such mistakes and take tactical steps to rectify the situation. The desire to escape reality leads to painful failures. We should not exacerbate the situation by layering one hasty mistake upon another.
As the Book of Changes says: “A man takes a wife, a woman gets married – and this is correct. The man has a home, and the woman has a family, such is the primal law of Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth do not unite, then a multitude of beings will not be born. And if a man and a woman do not unite, then the human race will cease. Thus, marriage gives rise to everything human.”
Gui Mei reminds us that misunderstandings and errors in judgment can occur where we allow ourselves to drift through life guided by our whims rather than by purpose.
The I Ching encourages us to move in accordance with the inner flow of life, not to drift randomly under the influence of others. However, realizing that everything eventually comes to an end allows us to avoid mistakes and brings the opportunity to bring things to completion.