I Ching / Hexagrams / Preponderance of the Great
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28. Preponderance of the Great

Dà GuòGreat Excess

Extraordinary timesOverloadBreaking pointBold actionIndependence

Trigrams

Upper: Lake
JoyousMarshMetal
Lower: Wind
GentleWindWood

The Judgment

Preponderance of the Great. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Success.

The Image

Lake above wind/wood — the lake rises above the trees, flooding. Four yang lines weigh upon two yin lines. The structure bends under excess weight.

Interpretation

The situation is extreme and the structure is under extraordinary pressure. The ridgepole — the central support — is sagging. This requires extraordinary measures. Normal rules do not apply in extraordinary times. You may need to act alone, to take unusual steps, to accept that the comfortable middle path is not available. The hexagram promises success if you have somewhere to go — a clear direction amid the excess.

Advice

The situation demands extraordinary action. Don't cling to normal procedures when the structure is buckling. Be willing to stand alone if necessary. Have a clear destination and move toward it, even if the path is unconventional.

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