Return

Upper trigram: Earth (receptive, nourishing) · Lower trigram: Thunder (arousing, stirring)

Judgment

After the darkest point, light returns; this hexagram shows that first stir with a single yang line at the bottom. The return is not forced; it arrives in its own time. After a tiring stretch, you may be looking for a small but genuine new beginning. The attitude suggested here is to protect what is sprouting again, without hurry.

Image

Thunder rests within the earth. At the solstice the old sages closed the passes and paused their travels, letting the new movement gather strength quietly.

Meaning of the six lines (bottom to top)

1. 1Line 1 (from the bottom)Turning back before straying far leaves no regret. Noticing a small detour early is treated here as a gift.
2. 2Line 2 (from the bottom)A calm, willing return. Leaning on good examples around you may ease the way.
3. 3Line 3 (from the bottom)Returning again and again can be tiring, yet trying to find your direction still matters.
4. 4Line 4 (from the bottom)Walking in the middle of the crowd, you turn back alone to your own path. This asks for quiet courage.
5. 5Line 5 (from the bottom)Taking on the return with sincerity and an open heart. For someone who can see their mistake, regret may give way to calm.
6. 6Line 6 (from the bottom)Missing the moment to return can bring confusion. An invitation to reconsider when to pause and look back.