• Hexagram 27 (our 61)
• Hexagram 18 (our 62)
• Hexagram 26 (our 63)
• Hexagram 41 (our 64)

27. I - Corners of the Mouth (Providing Great Exceeding Nourishment). Swallowing / Seeking Nourishment

Statement: Pay heed to the providing of nourishment. (W) Pay heed to your inner thoughts and impulses for things to work out well. (M)

HEXAGRAM 27: "We must look at what we are seeking to nourish, and by the exercise of our thoughts seek for the proper aliment."

Pay heed to your inner thoughts; there may be no better ones to be found around for a long time.

As long as we nourish the right things in the right way, we should prosper in time too.

One should not sulk over nourishing, plentiful, wholesome, and inexpensive food.

The superior man is careful of his words and temperate in eating and drinking. (W)

Enrich your own character and you may further nourish others well too. (M)

Simple living is to be adequatly nourishing. One gets too weak for effective action until recovering through proper food. (M)

You can plan your income and nourishment in a prudent, balanced and responsible way. (M)

A high position needs supporters or helpers. (W)

18. Ku - Work on what has been spoiled (Decayed). Corrupting / Revising Obsolete Patterns

Statement: A lofty spirit prefers to attend to one's own affairs. (L)

HEXAGRAM 18: One should weigh and consider well, both days before and after a turning point. And a truly lofty spirit attends to one's own affairs.

Work toward improving one's general conditions promises well. (W)

A lofty spirit does not serve kings and princes, but sets himself higher goals: his own affairs. (L, W)

One may decide to be his own master and to follow his own conscience. Yet it could prove futile to revolt against rigid and demanding traditions. So take care. (M)

26. Ta Chu (Ta Khu) - The Taming Power of the Great. Great Accumulating / The Power of Knowledge

Statement: Taming, great knowledge enjoys such success - a derivate of "holding firm". (W)

HEXAGRAM 26: A castrated dog may feel all right if in command, but his progress is not biologically superior if so.

A true master is good to his own deep, mental faculties. To be in command is a side to good fortune as well. (M)

A true master enjoys lovely support of nature. (M)

We may tackle crude adversaries or conditions through intelligent approaches. (M)

The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past in order to strengthen his character thereby. (W)

41. Sun - Decrease. Diminishing / Decrease and Increase

Statement: Much good may come out of sharing one's wealth. But will he go overboard in his generosity? Is it worth it? (M)

HEXAGRAM 41: Firm correctness may eventually count more than good fortune.

Correct movements accept fortune. (L)

A generous benefactor should ask himself if the poor and downtrodden really deserve his help and if they are doing all they can to help themselves. (M)

(B) Baynes, Cary F., tr. I Ching or Book of Changes: The Richard Wilhelm Translation. London: Penguin Books, 2003.

(H) Barrett, Hilary. I Ching: Walking Your Path, Creating Your Future. London: Arcturus, 2010.

(L) Legge, James, tr. The Yî King. Part II of The Texts of Confucianism. Sacred Books of the East Vol. 16. The Sacred Books of China. Vol. 2. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1882. - Online version.

(M) Markert, Christopher. I Ching. The No. 1 Success Formula. Wellingborough: Aquarian, 1988.

(R) Wing, R. L. I Ching arbejdsbogen (I Ching Workbook). Copenhagen: Borgen, 1988 (New York: Doubleday, 1979).