I Ching hexagram
5. Waiting
需Xū
Water over Heaven
Also called Nourishment, Calculated Inaction, Attending, Biding One's Time, Nourishment Through Inaction, Waiting for Nourishment, Moistened, "Waiting with the assurance that a blessing will come." -- D.F. Hook
Hexagram 5, Waiting (需 Xū) is formed by Water over Heaven. It is also known as Nourishment, Calculated Inaction, Attending, Biding One's Time, Nourishment Through Inaction, Waiting for Nourishment, Moistened, "Waiting with the assurance that a blessing will come." -- D.F. Hook.
Legge
Read as
The judgment
Legge
有孚，光亨，貞吉。利涉大川。
Waiting intimates that with sincerity and firmness there will be brilliant success and good fortune. It will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
The six lines
line 1 is at the bottom
- Line 1Yang
需于郊，利用恆，无咎。
Do not let the anticipation of problems disturb you. Go about your daily life as usual and avoid unusual actions. If difficulties arise, they belong to the future, and acknowledging them now could drain your energy.
- Line 2Yang
需于沙，小有言，終吉。
The plans you have may introduce challenges into your life. You might also become the subject of gossip. If this happens, don’t try to defend yourself; it will only strengthen the baseless claims. Eventually, success will follow.
- Line 3Yang
需于泥，致寇至。
Your hasty actions, possibly driven by anxiety, may expose you to criticism. This situation is tough, making you vulnerable. Only by being extremely careful can you safeguard yourself.
- Line 4Yin
需于血，出自穴。
You find yourself at the heart of turmoil. Confronting the issues head-on will only escalate the situation. It's best to discreetly distance yourself from it.
- Line 5Yang
需于酒食，貞吉。
Your troubles are currently on hold, providing you an opportunity to relax and gain insight into your circumstances. While you enjoy this break, remember that there is still much work ahead to achieve your goals.
- Line 6Yin
入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。
The situation is complicated. The time for waiting has passed, and challenges are now present. Although it seems like there's no escape, help will come if you are open to it. Recognizing and graciously accepting unexpected assistance can turn things around for the better.
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 5 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.