54. The Marrying Maiden
Guī Mèi — The Subordinate / Affording
Trigrams
The Judgment
The Marrying Maiden. Undertakings bring misfortune. Nothing that would further.
The Image
Thunder above lake — improper relationship, the younger sister following the elder. Movement without the proper foundation. Affection without the proper form.
Interpretation
This is one of the most difficult hexagrams. You are in a situation where you lack power, where the terms are not ideal, and where undertaking new initiatives will fail. The traditional image is of a secondary wife — loved, perhaps, but without the full standing of the primary partner. The advice is stark: accept the limitations of your current position, make the best of imperfect circumstances, and do not pretend your situation is other than what it is.
Advice
Accept your current limitations. This is not the time to launch new ventures. Make the best of imperfect circumstances without pretending they are perfect. Patience and acceptance of reality serve you better than ambition right now.
Consult the I Ching for your own question
Cast the Coins