The Abyss 坎

The Abyss is water flowing through a deep gorge, pit after pit. Stay true to your values, take small steady steps and keep moving, as water does.

What does The Abyss mean?

Water flows through a deep gorge between two mountains. A pit ahead, a pit behind. This situation describes a period when danger repeats itself and, while climbing out of one difficulty, you fall into another. Fear and uncertainty either paralyze a person or push them into a hasty wrong step. Both pull you deeper. At times like this you can feel alone and helpless. It becomes hard to know who can be trusted and which road is right. But this is also a test. Hardship brings character to light and can make you stronger than you are.

Look at water. Water does not fear, does not stop, does not lose itself. When it reaches a pit, it fills it and then keeps flowing. That is what is asked of you too. Stay true to yourself and your values. If there is a firm truth inside you, you will find your direction even in the darkest place. Getting used to danger is also a trap; you can grow so used to hardship that you stop thinking of getting out. Notice this. Move forward with small, concrete steps. Instead of waiting for big solutions, focus on what you can do today. Steady, determined effort lifts you out of even the deepest abyss.

The lines

If a line changed (red) in your reading, read only that line. Lines are counted from the bottom up.

1. First line

   In the double abyss, falling into the pit. Misfortune. You have grown so used to danger that you have lost your way; become aware of this habit.

2. Second line

   There is danger in the abyss. If you ask for small things, you obtain them. You cannot get out completely yet, but you can move forward with small steps.

3. Third line

   Forward and back, abyss upon abyss. In danger, stop and wait, or you will fall into the pit. Do not act now. Every direction is hard; wait patiently for the way to open.

4. Fourth line

   A jug of wine, a bowl of rice, earthen vessels, handed simply through the window. In the end, no blame. In hard times, a plain and sincere approach works, not show.

5. Fifth line

   The abyss is not filled to overflowing, only up to the rim. No blame. You are close to the way out; do not ask for more, it is enough for the water to reach its level.

6. Top line

   Bound with heavy ropes, shut in among thorn hedges. For three years he does not find his way. Misfortune. Your wrong choices have trapped you; the way out will take long, so accept it and learn the lesson.

Trigrams

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