Hexagram 08

Bĭ, compare, stand by

Gua Poem (the invocation):
To stand by. Auspicious. Source of oracle consulting with yarrow stalks. Eminent long range divination. No fault. The border states that are not peaceful will come. The man who comes late: pitfall.

The great image says: On the earth water flows: standing by. The ancient kings founded innumerable territories, maintaining close relations with the feudal lords.

Bǐ: the ideogram and the story (NEW). What does it mean for your question?
This hexagram is complementary to hex.14. This hexagram 8 is about achieving together, 14 is the success of the individual. Don't neglect the other side when you concentrate on one of the two, they need each other. Without 14 hex.8 loses its motivation, without 8 hex.14 has no base.

Top 6: Standing by without a head. Pitfall.
To be known by others, you have to be open and honest. Anything you hold back can break you. But just as important is to let them know in a way they can understand. Misunderstandings can cause huge problems.
(hex.8 its 20 Contemplation One can only 'see' with a free mind. Mirror

9 at 5: Manifestation of standing by. The king uses three beaters and lets go the game ahead. No warning of the people of the county, auspicious.
When leniency and understanding are a natural part of the laws, and people are free to leave, then those who stay will be loyal and need no warning. They stand by each other and the ruler according to their own choice.
(hex.8 its 2 The Field Leading as example instead of authority) (non-leading). Mirror

6 at 4: Standing by outside. divination auspicious.
Open up to views beyond your own and connect with what feels worthwhile to you. Staying inside a narrow circle will shut you off from the larger world, both from people and inside your own mind. Good fortune can only come to you if you yourself draw it towards you.
(hex.8 its 45 Gathering needs a broad view) Mirror

6 at 3: Standing by bad people.
Be severe in what you accept and what not. One rotten apple can spoil a whole basket, so throw it out. If that is not possible, then leave yourself. You have just one life, don’t waste it.
(hex.8 its 39 Limping Needing a new view or direction) Mirror

6 at 2: The origin of standing by is inside. divination auspicious.
Connections happen deep inside. Things can look good or bad on the surface, but what counts is this deep inner connection or lack thereof. A marriage, a website-page, a car, they all work well when the 'template' is right, the construction solid, and it is maintained with love and care so it stays healthy.
(hex.8 its 29 The Pit One step can mean in or out of trouble) Mirror

Initial 6: Being sincere standing by. Without fault. Sincerely filling the jar. In the end, there it is. Auspicious.
Do not try to show what you are inside, what you might accomplish, what your talents are, but give others what you actually do with it. Bring your own sincerity in and connections will be true.
(hex.8 its 3 Start Make the best of a situation) Mirror

No lines changing: you can try to do things, but they may fail or even backfire. If there's nothing that should (or can) be done, then this might be a good time to relax and refuel. The Poem and the Image are guides that show you the best way to do that.

Trigrams offer possibilities that the hexagram-texts don't show.

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