Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

The image of hexagram 54
Guī Mèi, marrying maiden

What does it mean, 'inner' and 'outer' trigram (popup)

Lake below Thunder: interaction to make something new arise. That can be the beginning of a marriage, a firm, a job, or anything else where you have to adapt. Interaction can bring happiness but you also have to deal with the ways or wishes of one or more others. It is not easy to find out how and how much.

Ideogram of the hexagram name: the upper character is a wall and a foot at left and a broom at right. This broom may rather be an ornament with plumes, carried on the head, indicating one's station. It means married, final, surrender, purpose, but also return: back to your family. The lower character has a lush tree at left (see 63-64 for its meaning) and a woman at right, it means 'not-yet woman': sister, girl.

  The 'Great Image' says: Thunder over the lake, a maiden marries. The noble one, through the eternity of the end, understands the transitory.

Hex.54 is both the contrast and the reversal of 53, making a marriage continue.
  In hex.54 you have no power to initiate things or change your surroundings, except by small gestures, showing your dedication, getting yourself accepted and valued. But yet you are important, you bring new life. Not only by having a child, but also by everything you are and possess, both as 'things' and as talents, by adding new possibilities. So even though it seems your power is small, your influence and purpose are important.