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Hexagram 18: Work on the Ruined

Hexagram 18

(Gǒ)

Core Meaning

Correcting decay, repairing past mistakes, structural renewal.

Description & Commentary

When something is rotting, it is time to repair the damage. In the world of human affairs, self-indulgence and corruption grow like weeds in an untended garden: they must be faced squarely and rooted out through bold action. Eliminating corruption--and the sloppiness that leads to it--is an ennobling human enterprise, as it clears the way for fresh, new beginnings. Such repair efforts ultimately lead to supreme success.

This is a time to be lean and efficient. The weeds must be rooted out before the whole garden is lost. Fighting decay, indifference, and corruption is not a simple matter; the steps must be evaluated carefully, and planning should precede action. Resist the temptation to strike out prematurely. Gather strength around you, and marshal your inner resources--arresting decay requires a strong effort. When you do act, pay close attention to the process. Make your strike as precise and clear as the path of the surgeon's knife.

Associated Hexagrams

King Wen Pair

#17 - Following
(Suí)
Traditional sequential partner in the King Wen sequence.

Nuclear Hexagram (Huà Guà)

#54 - The Marrying Maiden
歸妹 (Guī Mèi)
Inner nuclear kernel (Huá Guà) formed by the overlapping interior lines 2-3-4 and 3-4-5.

Opposite / Complement (Páng Tōng)

#17 - Following
(Suí)
Total line complement (Páng Tōng) where every Yin line becomes Yang and vice versa.

Inverted / Reverse (Fān Guà)

#17 - Following
(Suí)
Upside-down structural flip (Fān Guà).

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