46. Pushing Upward

The two trigrams

above

☷

Earth

坤 · kūn

the earth

below

☴

The Wind

巽 · xùn

wind and wood

The Judgement

This is the hexagram of ascending: the gradual advance of someone of worth toward the positions they deserve, like a plant growing from the earth little by little. The old text promises great progress and success. It describes a person who combines modesty and strength, and a boss, an environment, a moment that is ready to welcome them. It says that, seeking with these qualities to meet the great man, the one who consults need have no anxiety: the meeting will happen and go well. And it adds that advancing to the south will be fortunate: south is the direction of light and warmth, so going forward, toward what is clear and open, will be a joyful journey. If in this period you feel that your position at work, in the family, in a social setting is growing, it is no accident: you have the right qualities and circumstances favour you. The practical advice: do not be afraid to ask for the meeting that counts, the interview, the promotion, the introduction to the one who decides; prepare it carefully but face it without anguish, with the calm of someone who knows they deserve it. And proceed at a steady pace, without skipping stages: the ascent is safe only if it is gradual.

The Image

The image is wood, that is a tree, growing in the midst of the earth: it starts from an invisible seed and, without haste, reaches high. The wise person, in accordance with this, pays constant attention to their virtue and accumulates the small developments of it until they become high and great. It is the opposite of strokes of luck: it is growth by accumulation, the kind that makes no noise but does not collapse. In practice, if you want to improve at something, health, a skill, a relationship, do not look for the miraculous turning point: do the small right thing every day. The advice: choose a minimal habit, ten minutes a day, and never skip it; in a year you will be amazed at the height reached.

First line

You advance upward with the welcome of those above you: there will be great good fortune. You are at the beginning, humble and available, and precisely this docility makes those higher up glad to see you grow. You are a threat to no one, you are a promise. If you are entering a new environment, a job, a family, a group, keep this attitude: listen, learn, say thank you. The advice: do not be in a hurry to stand out; let yourself be welcomed, and the way up will open on its own.

Second line

You have that sincerity which makes even the small offerings of the spring sacrifice acceptable: there will be no error. You are strong and loyal toward someone higher up who is weaker than you, and you serve them with genuine devotion, not calculation. What you offer may seem little, but it is true, and for this reason it is accepted. If you work for a person or a project that lacks the means it deserves, do not judge: give your contribution honestly. The advice: do your part well, even when no one can repay you right away.

Third line

You ascend upward as into an empty city: no one stops you, no obstacle, no doubt or hesitation. It is a line of easy and bold advance, but the old commentators also read a shadow in it: whoever meets no resistance risks presuming too much on their own strength. If right now everything is going your way, enjoy it, but do not lower your guard. The advice: when doors open by themselves, enter with respect, as into someone else's house, and do not take for granted that it will always be so.

Fourth line

You are employed by the king to present his offerings on mount Khî, the sacred place: the one who leads trusts you so much as to entrust you with the most important and delicate task. There will be good fortune, there will be no mistake. It is the position of someone close to the top who is publicly recognised. If you are asked to represent your company, your family, your group on an occasion that matters, accept with seriousness: it is an honour repaid with care. The advice: prepare every detail, and do credit to the one who chose you.

Fifth line

You are firmly correct and therefore enjoy good fortune: you ascend the stairs with all due ceremony, one step at a time. The ascent has reached the highest point of dignity, and precisely here correctness is required more than ever. The text stresses the order and composure of the climb: no shortcuts, no sudden leaps. If you have reached a prominent position, honour it in form as well as in substance: respect the steps, the people, the rules. The advice: do not skip any step, even though now you could.

Sixth line

You advance upward blindly: you have already obtained everything you wanted, and yet you keep pushing, without seeing where you are going. The text says that advantage will be found only in the ceaseless maintenance of firm correctness: it is the only thing that can save you from the consequences of an ambition that cannot stop. When one has reached the top, the ancients said, one should think of withdrawing. If you feel unable to say enough, to a job, an expansion, a conquest, stop and ask yourself what you are really chasing. The advice: set a limit, and respect it.

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