Jiǎn · Obstruction
Upper trigram: ☵ Water · lower trigram: ☶ Mountain
Water on the mountain bars the road. Faced with the obstacle, turn back upon yourself and seek counsel; do not force.
The ancient character depicts a lame man attempting to climb a steep path in a snowstorm, or a traveller stopped dead at the edge of a frozen precipice. "Jian" symbolises the major blockage by outer elements, the physical or psychological impossibility of advancing, and the pressing invitation to turn back and seek alliances.
The absolute impasse before the obstacle
This hexagram describes a phase of forced stoppage. Your projects run into an insurmountable difficulty (lack of means, refusal by an authority, health problem). Continuing to push in the same direction would amount to strategic suicide; you do not have the strength to force your way through. You are stuck with both feet in the glue.
Step back to gather allies and work on oneself
The message of the Yi Jing is absolutely clear: "The southwest is profitable, the northeast unfavourable". This means renouncing the solitary offensive (northeast) and returning to one's friends or inner bases (southwest) to seek help. The Accomplished Being uses this obstruction to examine their own conduct and correct their errors, transforming the trial into a factor of awakening.
Structurally, the figure places the trigram of the Mountain (Gen, stabilisation, cohesion) below, beneath the trigram of the Ravine/Water (Kan, trouble, danger) above. You have the ravine before you and the mountain behind; you can no longer move. The challenge is to accept this forced stillness in order to carry out a salutary inner turning.
Each line is read only if it is changing in your cast. A changing line transforms the figure: the link under each text shows which hexagram it leads to.
Three-coin or yarrow-stalk cast, changing lines, outlook figure — computed on your device, no account.