62. Preponderance of the Small
Xiǎo Guò — Small Excess
Trigrams
The Judgment
Preponderance of the Small. Success. Perseverance furthers. Small things may be done; great things should not be done. The flying bird brings the message: it is not well to strive upward, it is well to remain below. Great good fortune.
The Image
Thunder above mountain — thunder among the mountains, unusually close and loud. The wise person, in their conduct, gives preponderance to reverence; in bereavement, gives preponderance to grief; in expenditures, gives preponderance to thrift.
Interpretation
This is a time when small matters take precedence over great ones. Like a bird that should not fly too high but stay close to earth, keep your ambitions modest and your actions careful. Attend to details. Be more humble than necessary, more frugal than required, more reverent than expected. Exceeding in small virtues is better than falling short in great ambitions.
Advice
Stay small. Attend to details rather than grand schemes. Be more humble, more careful, and more frugal than seems necessary. This is not the time for soaring ambitions — stay close to the ground and tend to the small things.