I Ching hexagram 56
I Ching hexagram 56: The Wanderer
旅 lǚ · fire above a mountain
Fire running along a mountaintop: the traveler among strangers, who gets by on modesty, courtesy, and light luggage.
- The judgment
- Small success. For the traveler, staying steady and correct brings good fortune.
"Lu intimates that (in the condition which it denotes) there may be some little attainment and progress. If the stranger or traveller be firm and correct as he ought to be, there will be good fortune."
- What it says to you
- A fire runs along the top of a mountain: it moves on and never settles. The traveler is you, away from home, among people who owe you nothing. The judgment allows only small success and asks for steadiness. That is realistic, and not gloomy. A guest gets by on courtesy and modest aims, and the lines spell out how. Do not be petty about small things, line one says, because that is what brings the trouble. Find a decent inn, keep your money near, treat your helpers well. Arrogance burns down the lodging in line three and the bird's nest in line six, where the laugh turns into wailing. Whatever your question, act like a good guest in someone else's house: light luggage, clear manners, nothing grabbed. Move on cleanly when it is time.
Matter by matter
- Love
- Unsettled, temporary, or long distance. Be courteous and light; do not demand permanence yet.
- Work
- Short contracts, travel, a new place. Stay modest; arrogance costs you the post.
- Money
- Keep resources close and small. No big moves while you are unsettled.
- A yes or no question
- Yes, with a condition. Small steps only, with care and good manners.
The six lines of The Wanderer
A hexagram is built from the bottom up, so the first line is the lowest. You read a line's text only when your cast made it a moving line.
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Bottom line, broken
The traveler is petty and fussy, and so brings disaster on himself.
Small-minded worries and squabbles will cost you. Away from your usual ground, quibbling over trifles makes enemies. Let little things go and keep your dignity.
-
Second line, broken
The traveler reaches an inn, keeps his money close, and gains a loyal young servant.
You have found shelter, resources, and help. Be grateful and correct with those who serve you. Keeping things simple and secure is the right way to travel now.
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Third line, solid
The traveler's inn burns down, and he loses his young servant. Persisting is dangerous.
Arrogance or carelessness has cost you your footing and your helpers. Do not keep pushing the same way. Humble yourself, repair what you can, and treat others better.
-
Fourth line, solid
The traveler finds a place to rest and gets his money and an axe. My heart is not glad.
You have a foothold and the means to protect yourself, but it does not feel like home. That unease is honest. Make the best of it without pretending it is more than it is.
-
Fifth line, broken
He shoots a pheasant; one arrow is lost. In the end it brings praise and an appointment.
A small cost buys you an opening. Make your offering gracefully, even if it costs something. People notice, and the gesture leads to recognition and a place.
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Top line, solid
The bird's nest burns. The traveler laughs first, then wails. He loses his ox through carelessness. Misfortune.
Pride has made you careless, and you have lost what kept you safe. Laughing it off now leads to grief later. Get humble quickly and guard what remains.
About hexagram 56
What does I Ching hexagram 56 mean?
Hexagram 56, The Wanderer, puts fire above a mountain. Fire running along a mountaintop: the traveler among strangers, who gets by on modesty, courtesy, and light luggage. Its judgment reads: Small success. For the traveler, staying steady and correct brings good fortune.
Is hexagram 56 a yes or a no?
Yes, with a condition. Small steps only, with care and good manners.
What does hexagram 56 mean for love?
Unsettled, temporary, or long distance. Be courteous and light; do not demand permanence yet.
What does hexagram 56 mean for work?
Short contracts, travel, a new place. Stay modest; arrogance costs you the post.
Cast the coins for a new question , or for a straight yes or no, throw the moon blocks
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The judgment and lines are rendered from the Chinese text; the quoted judgment is Legge's 1882 translation, and every other English line is Jade Almanac's own. A cast is a prompt for reflection, not advice about health, money or the law.