Cui
Gathering Together
When you receive Hexagram 45, Cui, the I Ching turns your attention to gathering together. Gathering. Below is its judgment, its image, and the meaning of each changing line.
The Judgment
Gathering. The king goes to his ancestral temple. Advantage in meeting the great one. Progress and success through steadfastness. Great offerings bring good fortune. Advantage in every direction.
Classical (Legge)In (the state denoted by) Zhui, the king will repair to his ancestral temple. It will be advantageous (also) to meet with the great man; and then there will be progress and success, though the advantage must come through firm correctness. The use of great victims will conduce to good fortune; and in whatever direction movement is made, it will be advantageous.
The Image
Marsh upon earth. Cui. One who is centered keeps his weapons in good repair, prepared for the unforeseen.
Classical (Legge)(The trigram representing) the earth and that for the waters of a marsh raised above it form Zhui. The superior man, in accordance with this, has his weapons of war put in good repair, to be prepared against unforeseen contingencies.
The Changing Lines
Sincerity that does not hold to the end. Confusion, then union. If he cries out, after one grasp of the hand he will laugh again. Going forward, no error.
Classical (Legge)(The subject of this line shows) sincerity, but it does not continue (to the end). There will now be confusion, now union. If he cry out (for help to his proper correlate), after one grasp of the hand he will laugh again. He need not mind (the temporary embarrassment). Going forward, he will commit no error.
He is drawn forward. Good fortune and no error. With deep sincerity, even the vernal sacrifice brings good fortune.
Classical (Legge)He is led forward (by the subject of the correlate line). There will be good fortune, and freedom from error. There is entire sincerity, and (in the use of) the vernal sacrifice there will be good fortune.
Gathered with others, yet sighing. No advantage in any direction. Going forward brings no error, yet some small cause for regret remains.
Classical (Legge)He is gathered together (with others), and sighs. In no direction will there be advantage. Going forward, he will not err, (but) there will be some small cause for regret.
Great good fortune. No error.
Classical (Legge)There will be great good fortune, and no error.
He holds his place and position. The gathering is not yet complete. If some have not yet accepted his sincerity, let him make it great and enduring. All occasion for regret will disappear.
Classical (Legge)In the position that is (here) shown there is (the due) place and position. But (the gathering) is not (yet) universal. If some (have not yet come to accept) his sincerity, let him cultivate it (still more) to be great and long enduring, and there will be no occasion for repentance.
He sighs and weeps. No error.
Classical (Legge)He sighs and weeps; but there will be no error.
Ask your own question
StillPoint casts Hexagram 45, Cui, the traditional way, then offers a reflection grounded in your actual question. The full ritual lives on your iPhone.
Cast a reading in StillPoint