28. Preponderance of the Great

The two trigrams

above

☱

The Lake

兌 · duì

gathered water, as in a marsh or lake

below

☴

The Wind

巽 · xùn

wind and wood

The Judgement

Preponderance of the Great presents you with the image of a beam giving way: four firm lines in the centre and two weak lines at the ends, a load too heavy for the supports that hold it. It is the sign of an extraordinary time, when pressure exceeds the norm and the old structures no longer suffice. If these days you feel that the weight you carry, a job, a family situation, a financial responsibility, the illness of someone you love, is greater than what your shoulders are used to bearing, this hexagram recognises you. But it does not condemn you: the text says there will be advantage in moving in any direction whatever, and that there will be success. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary actions, and the inner strength required, that of the central lines, you have. The practical advice is not to stand still under the beam hoping it holds: act, even with a choice you would not make in normal times, move house, change job, ask for help, take a clear-cut decision. What is great and difficult is not necessarily wrong; what matters is to move before the weight breaks what supports it.

The Image

The image is that of trees submerged beneath the waters of the lake: the water that should nourish them is smothering them instead, and this is a sign of times out of the ordinary. The wise person, the text says, stands up alone and has no fear, and withdraws from the world without regret. If you feel isolated in your position, because everyone around you thinks differently, or because you have made a decision few understand, this image gives you courage. The practical advice: do not seek approval at any price, do not give in to the fear of being left alone, and if the world turns its back on you, accept it with serenity. There is dignity in standing on your own two feet.

First line

The first line shows someone placing mats of white grass under things set on the ground: a delicate, almost excessive precaution to protect what is precious. There will be no error. It is the person who, feeling weak and low, makes up for it with extraordinary care. If you are starting something in a difficult moment, an investment, a relationship, a new job, the advice is to take every possible precaution without being ashamed of it: check the documents twice, put agreements in writing, protect what you hold dear. In extraordinary times, excess of attention is a virtue.

Second line

The second line shows a withered willow producing shoots, or an old man who has a young wife: advantage in every direction. It is the image of an unusual union that nonetheless bears fruit: something that seemed finished finds new life thanks to a new and unexpected bond. If you find yourself working with someone very different from you, in age, experience, background, or if a project you thought exhausted starts again thanks to a fresh graft, do not let convention hold you back. The advice is to welcome the out-of-the-ordinary association: in this time, it is precisely the unexpected pairing that brings shoots.

Third line

The third line shows a beam that gives way: there will be evil. It is the person who trusts only their own strength and refuses all support, and for that very reason, under an extraordinary load, breaks. No one can help them, because they will not let themselves be helped. If you recognise yourself in someone who wants to hold up everything alone, the job, the family, everyone's problems, without ever delegating or confiding, be careful: tenacity, at this moment, is not enough. The advice is to admit the limit before you reach it, and to accept a hand when it is offered.

Fourth line

The fourth line shows a beam curving upwards: good fortune. The one it represents is strong, but their strength is tempered, and for that reason they bear the extraordinary weight of the moment. The text adds a warning: if they seek other help beyond what they have, and in particular lean on someone weaker, they will have cause for regret. If you are in the position of one who must support others and is managing it, the advice is not to weaken yourself with ties that pull you downward, favours to those who do not deserve them, emotional dependencies that cloud your judgment. Keep your back straight and your head clear.

Fifth line

The fifth line shows a withered willow producing flowers, or an old woman who has a young husband: neither blame nor praise. Unlike the second line, here the unusual union produces only flowers, not shoots: something lovely but fleeting, which will give no continuity. It is the image of a cosmetic solution, an alliance that impresses but does not build. If you are weighing an agreement, a relationship, a relaunch that looks brilliant but has no roots, be careful: it is not a mistake, but not a merit either. The advice is to ask yourself honestly whether what you are doing will last, or whether it only serves to cover the dry wood.

Sixth line

The sixth line shows someone who with extraordinary boldness wades through a river until the water covers their head: there will be evil, but no ground for blame. It is the person who, to meet the emergency of the moment and for the good of all, goes beyond their strength and pays the price. The text judges the outcome, not the heart: the gesture is generous even if it fails. If you feel the urge to sacrifice yourself for a cause, for a person, for a desperate situation, the advice is to do it with your eyes open, knowing you might not make it, and to ask yourself whether there is a way to help without going under. Courage is noble; courage with judgment is useful.

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