50. The Cauldron

The two trigrams

above

☲

Fire

離 · lí

fire, the sun, lightning

below

☴

The Wind

巽 · xùn

wind and wood

The Judgement

The Cauldron, the great three-legged vessel in which food was prepared for the table and the altar, announces great progress and success. It is a sign of nourishment: not that of someone who eats alone, but of someone who cooks for others, who puts different ingredients together and makes something good of them. If lately you feel tired of improvising, this hexagram tells you that the transformation is already under way, like the fire that changes the nature of things in the pot. The Well, the previous hexagram, fed everyone alike; the Cauldron feeds people of worth, talents, abilities. For you it means: look after what has value, at home, at work, among friends, and give shape to a project that can feed more people. The practical advice is to choose your ingredients well, that is the people and resources you rely on, and to give the fire time. The promised success is not a stroke of luck, it is a slow cooking that turns out well.

The Image

Wood below and fire above: the wood feeds the flame, and the flame cooks. From this image the wise person learns to keep every position correct and to hold secure the mandate entrusted to him. For you it is an invitation to take care of your role, whatever it is: parent, colleague, manager, friend. Stay in your place with dignity, without overstepping and without shirking. It is the right moment to put your responsibilities in order: ask yourself what has been entrusted to you and whether you are really looking after it, and fix what you have neglected.

First line

First line: the cauldron is overturned, feet in the air. It looks like a disaster, yet it serves to empty out what had gone bad inside. Even a humble, secondary position, like that of someone not yet recognised, can improve thanks to the good it produces. There is no error. If you feel turned upside down, take the chance to clean up: throw away what has spoiled, in a relationship or a habit, and start again lighter.

Second line

Second line: the cauldron is full of good things to cook. You have substance, ability, something concrete to offer, and this attracts envy: someone looks at you askance but cannot get close. If you can say sincerely that your enemy dislikes you but cannot touch you, fortune is on your side. The advice is not to answer provocations and to watch where you go: your integrity is your best defence, give no foothold.

Third line

Third line: the handles of the cauldron have been moved and it can no longer be lifted. Your progress stops; the good food you prepared, the fat meat of the pheasant, is not eaten. It is the frustration of someone who has worth but finds no one to recognise it, at work or in the family. Do not lose heart: the kindly rain will come, regrets will vanish and in the end there will be good fortune. Stay firm in your correctness and keep doing well.

Fourth line

Fourth line: the cauldron has broken legs and its contents, meant for those above, tip over and spill. Whoever is responsible blushes with shame. Be careful: it is the image of someone who has taken on tasks greater than their strength, or surrounded themselves with inadequate helpers, and drops everything. This is not the moment to accept a duty you cannot carry. If you are already in it, ask for competent help now, before the damage becomes public.

Fifth line

Fifth line: the cauldron has yellow handles and rings of metal. Yellow is the colour of measure and correctness; the strong rings say the vessel can now be lifted and carried where it is needed. It is the position of someone who leads with humility and knows how to welcome people of worth. For you it is a good moment to collaborate, to delegate to those who deserve it, to accept advice. One warning only: stay firm and correct, because your strength here comes from measure, not from imposition.

Sixth line

Sixth line: the cauldron has rings of jade, very hard and yet soft to the touch. It is strength tempered by gentleness, the person who helps whoever leads as the handle helps the pot. The text promises great good fortune: every action you undertake will be advantageous in every way. It is the right moment to put yourself at the service of a shared project, to support those who need you without stealing the scene. Act with that gentle hardness, and everything you touch will be brought to a good end.

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