✦ HEXAGRAM 5
Xū —
Waiting.
Water above, Heaven below.
CHANGES INTO 35-jin →
JUDGMENT
Waiting. If you are sincere, you have light and success. Perseverance brings good fortune.
THE IMAGE
Clouds rise up to heaven: the image of Waiting. Thus the superior man eats and drinks, is joyous and of good cheer.
INTERPRETATION
Rain clouds gather but have not yet released. The nourishment is coming, but not yet here. This is not a time for action — it is a time for trust.
Wait without anxiety. Nourish yourself in the meantime. The person who waits well — who remains cheerful and prepared — meets the moment fully when it arrives.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What does Hexagram 5 mean?
- Hexagram 5 counsels patience. What you need is on its way, but forcing it will not help. Wait with confidence and use this time to prepare.
- How long should I wait with Hexagram 5?
- The I Ching does not give timelines. Trust that conditions will ripen. Use the waiting period productively — nourish body and spirit.