5. Waiting
Xū — Waiting / Nourishment
Trigrams
The Judgment
Waiting. If you are sincere, you have light and success. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.
The Image
Water above heaven — clouds gathering before rain. The rain will come, but not yet. One sits and eats and drinks, waiting with quiet confidence.
Interpretation
The situation requires patience. What you want is coming, but it is not yet time. Forcing the issue now will only create complications. Hexagram 5 is not about passive resignation but about active waiting — nourishing yourself, preparing your resources, maintaining your strength for the moment when action becomes appropriate. Like clouds that must gather before rain can fall, conditions must ripen before your plans can succeed.
Advice
Wait. Not passively, but with purpose. Use this time to nourish your body, mind, and resources. Trust that the timing will reveal itself. Eat well, rest well, and prepare — the moment for action is approaching but has not arrived.