Seek Alliance

Sprouting then quitting, bunching and turning, riding the horses in full array. Those who arrive are definitely not outlaws. Seek the marriage alliance. Trial: The woman will not yet nurse a child. Ten years, then she will nurse one. You reach out to people then turn away. Drop the hostility. Leave your usual ways of thought. Dissolve the past in the sweat of this new endeavour. It will take time, but in the end all will come right. There is something of great worth in this situation. Be open and provide what is needed.

六二, 屯如, 邅如. 乘馬班如, 匪寇婚媾, 女子貞不字, 十年乃字.

Difficulties pile up. Horse and wagon part. He is not a robber; He wants to woo when the time comes. The maiden is chaste, She does not pledge herself. Ten years--then she pledges herself. ##### Comments We find ourselves beset by difficulties and hindrances. Suddenly there is a turn of affairs, as if someone were coming up with a horse and wagon and unhitching them. This event comes so unexpectedly that we assume the newcomer to be a robber. Gradually it becomes clear that he has no evil intentions but seeks to be friendly and to offer help. But this offer is not to be accepted, because it does not come from the right quarter. We must wait until the time is fulfilled; ten years is a fulfilled cycle of time. Then normal conditions return of themselves, and we can join forces with the friend intended for us. Using the image of a betrothed girl who remains true to her lover in face of grave conflicts, the hexagram gives counsel for a special situation. When in times of difficulty a hindrance is encountered and unexpected relief is offered from a source unrelated to us, we must be careful and not take upon ourselves any obligations entailed by such help; otherwise our freedom of decision is impaired. If we bide our time, things will quiet down again, and we shall attain what we have hoped for.