52. Keeping Still
Gèn — Stillness / Mountain
Trigrams
The Judgment
Keeping Still. Keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body. He goes into his courtyard and does not see his people. No blame.
The Image
Mountain upon mountain — double stillness. The wise person does not permit their thoughts to go beyond their situation.
Interpretation
Be still. Stop moving, stop thinking, stop planning. Like a mountain that simply is, without effort or motion, you are called to absolute stillness. This is not paralysis but meditation — the profound rest that allows true clarity to emerge. When you still the body, the mind follows. When you still the mind, perception deepens beyond the personal self. This is the hexagram of meditation and inner peace.
Advice
Stop. Be still. Meditate. Don't let your thoughts race beyond the present moment. Rest is not laziness — it is the foundation from which all wise action arises. Find your inner mountain and sit upon it.
Consult the I Ching for your own question
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