Hexagram 07

Shī, legion, leader

Shī

Hex.7 is complementary to hex.13.

Gua Poem:
Determination for an army: A respectable man (man with a staff) is auspicious. Without fault.

The great image says: Water in the middle of the earth: Legions. The noble one tolerates the common people and watches over the crowds.

The character shī means both army and leader. A military leader, or a master, a teacher, a specialist. More about Shi.

If you receive Shi as primary or relating hexagram you or something else needs discipline in order to reach its potential.

The trigrams: Water below Earth. When things develop, they need to be tended to and organized (organically), or they will turn into a chaotic mass which harms itself and others.

If no lines change: either the situation is such that you cannot do anything or change much about it, or there is no need for it and things simply are the way they are. One thing is very important though: to be true to yourself. Hold back outwards but be strong inside, often intentions have more power than actions. Make the best of hex.7: hone your inner discipline, make sure others (and you) accept your leadership, and prevent attacks.

If all lines change: this will be a huge or impossible task, it looks as if the entire situation has to be turned over. Hex.7 is not the opposite of 13, it is complementary. A 'time of 13' asks for tremendous efforts if you want to achieve things as a leader or fighting. Life needs both, but it is very difficult to experience them simultaneously or change one into the other.
(hex.1's 2 Field)

Top line: The great prince has the mandate to found a state and inherit the house. Small people should not be employed.
The weakest link defines the strength of a chain, and the weakest act or instrument defines the value of what you accomplish. Use the best means, avoid anything less.
(hex.7 its 4 Ignorance Don't fight the wrong, promote the right) Mirror

Line 5: There is game in the fields. Harvest: catching it. Words. Without fault. The eldest son leads the legion, the younger brother carts the corpse. Determination pitfall.
Don't be inflexible, take chances when they appear, do not depend too much on rules, stay versatile. Learn to delegate, do what you're good at.
(hex.7 its 29 The pit Water fills, but cannot overfill) Mirror

Line 4: The legion encamps to the left. Without fault.
An (or your) army needs relaxation too. Discipline cannot endure without pause, make a balance.
(hex.7 its 40 Release You need to be relaxed to be open to others) Mirror

Line 3: Maybe the legion carts corpses. Pitfall.
Take extraordinary measures if necessary, but stop with them as soon as they are no longer needed. And ask yourself about whatever occupies your mind, if it is true, relevant, living reality – or obsolete, a ghost, a corpse.
(hex.7 its 46 Ascent Don't fight for something which is not useful) Mirror

Line 2: To live in the center of the legion. Auspicious. Without fault. The king confers three commands.
Live in the center of what you do or make. One with your army, one with your family, one with your guitar, one with whatever you undertake. Subject yourself to its rules and discipline.
(hex.7 its 2 The field Without skills there will be harvest) Mirror

Initial line: The legion marches out according to rules. Not very good augury: pitfall.
For organizing, every action has to fit in. One deviating action can mess up all. One shot fired at the wrong moment, one false note in a concert, one wrong decision of a surgeon. All the details have to be right, and then the whole is an organic whole and a structure with power.
(hex.7 its 19 Overseeing which needs dedication) Mirror

More about the lines and their characters