Hexagram 27
Ways of nourishment, nourishment, and food
The wisdom of the Yi hexagram lies in the word "nurturing." It reminds us to carefully choose the "food" that enters our lives—whether it is the food that nourishes the body or the words and knowledge that shape the mind. To cultivate your body, you must also cultivate your moral character.
Trigram Structure
䷚, Gen above, Zhen below
Palace：震
Key Themes
Ways of nourishment, nourishment, and food
The wisdom of the Yi hexagram lies in the word "nurturing." It reminds us to carefully choose the "food" that enters our lives—whether it is the food that nourishes the body or the words and knowledge that shape the mind. To cultivate your body, you must also cultivate your moral character.
Yi: Zhenji. Watch Yi and seek truth from your own mouth.
Valley, oral cavity.
Food, words, mouth, containers.
The wisdom of the Yi hexagram lies in the word "nurturing." It reminds us to carefully choose the "food" that enters our lives—whether it is the food that nourishes the body or the words and knowledge that shape the mind. To cultivate your body, you must also cultivate your moral character.
Sheer spirit turtle, watching me feast, is fierce.
Guidance
Abandoning your own spirit turtle, watching others' food; dangerous.
Modern Insight
This is the most taboo in nurturing—envy and jealousy. You have your own talents and resources, but do not use them; instead, you covet what others have, even wanting to share a piece. This behavior of abandoning the fundamental and pursuing the trivial will only make you accomplish nothing.
Bian Yi, brushing the sutra, and attacking Qiu Yi, attacking the evil.
Guidance
Behavior is reversed, contrary to reason; forcibly seeking nourishment; dangerous.
Modern Insight
You use an abnormal, unreasonable way to make a living or seek knowledge. Perhaps depending on people you shouldn't depend on, or seeking far when near is available. This reversed approach makes you lose independence and is destined to have no good result.
Fu Yi, chastity and evil. Don't use it for ten years, it will be useless.
Guidance
Violating the way of nurturing; even if maintaining it, it is dangerous; difficult to accomplish anything in ten years.
Modern Insight
Your behavior (whether diet, words, or way of making a living) has seriously deviated from the right path. This is warning you that this state will lead to long-term, destructive stagnation. You must immediately pull back from the brink and make a complete change.
Dian Yi, lucky. The tiger looks at you with eager eyes and wants to chase you away, so there is no fault.
Guidance
Looking eagerly, pursuing nourishment; no disaster.
Modern Insight
This is a strange turning point in the Yi hexagram. It is also "reversed nurturing" (seeking nourishment from below), but because you are a leader in a high position, humbly seeking wisdom and help from subordinates or the people, this is auspicious. Your eager attitude toward learning (looking eagerly) is precisely the key to your success.
If you brush the scriptures, you will live in Zhenji, and you will not be able to cross the big rivers.
Guidance
Living peacefully at home, quietly nurturing; even if unable to travel far, it is auspicious.
Modern Insight
You hold a leadership position, but your ability or resources are limited, unable to take care of everyone. At this time, the best strategy is to keep to your place and nurture the core team around you well. Although this is not a grand pattern, it is a practical wisdom that can bring fortune.
From Yi, Li Ji, benefit the great river.
Guidance
The source of nurturing; great responsibility; crossing the great river is auspicious.
Modern Insight
This is the highest realm of the Yi hexagram. You are that sage who nourishes all under heaven and educates all people. Your responsibility is extremely great (severe), but precisely because of this, you gain the greatest success and respect, enough to accomplish any great undertaking.
