I Ching hexagram

28. Critical Mass

大過Dà Guò

Lake over Wind

Also called Preponderance of the Great, The Symbol of Great Passing, Excess, Great Excess, The Passing of Greatness, Great Surpassing, Great Gains, Experience, Greater than Great, Greatness in Excess, Dominance by the Mighty, The Passing of Greatness, Excess of the Great, Law of Karma

Image for hexagram 28, Critical Mass

Hexagram 28, Critical Mass (大過 Dà Guò) is formed by Lake over Wind. It is also known as Preponderance of the Great, The Symbol of Great Passing, Excess, Great Excess, The Passing of Greatness, Great Surpassing, Great Gains, Experience.

Legge

Read as

The judgment

Legge

棟橈,利有攸往,亨。

Critical Mass depicts a weak beam. Under such conditions it is advantageous to move in any direction whatever. Success is indicated.

The six lines

line 1 is at the bottom

  1. Line 1Yin

    藉用白茅,无咎。

    When starting something significant, it's crucial to focus on the small details right from the start. These times are unusual, so it's important to be cautious and correct in your approach. Being overly careful is acceptable.

  2. Line 2Yang

    枯楊生稊,老夫得其女妻,无不利。

    Seek assistance from those who are humble or just starting out. They will resonate with your enthusiasm and help you move forward, leading to a more dynamic situation.

  3. Line 3Yang

    棟橈,凶。

    You might be trying to push through obstacles that can't be easily overcome. Ignoring advice because it doesn't align with your desires will lead to trouble.

  4. Line 4Yang

    棟隆,吉。有它吝。

    You possess the inner strength and insight needed to succeed. Don't depend on outside sources for direction, as relying on them can lead to embarrassment.

  5. Line 5Yang

    枯楊生華,老婦得其士夫,无咎无譽。

    In challenging times, holding onto your ideals while disregarding the realities around you can be draining. These realities form the foundation of your life. Ignoring them while striving for higher goals may leave you unstable and unproductive.

  6. Line 6Yin

    過涉滅頂,凶,无咎。

    The goal you seek is valuable, but the sacrifices required may be overwhelming. There's no shame in striving for it, but be aware of the extraordinary nature of your journey.

When this hexagram changes

These are the moves that have come up most often in readings. Each page keeps the book text.

Use this hexagram in a reading

These are the same judgment and lines that appear when hexagram 28 comes up in a cast. Ask a question to see which lines change, or keep a journal of your readings. The throw uses the odds of three coins: how a reading is cast.

Sharing a trigram

See all 64 hexagrams