18 蠱 Work on the Decayed
Judgement
Something is damaged that comes from before, an inherited disorder that is now yours to repair. There is great progress for whoever faces it properly, and an advantage in doing something risky, like crossing the great river. But before you act, look carefully: three days before the turning point and three days after. Understanding how the problem arrived is half of fixing it. Think about what broke and what needs care while you repair it.
Image
A mountain, and at its foot the wind: the air is trapped at the base and cannot move. What does not circulate stagnates and spoils. The task is to help people and to feed your own virtue: to fix what is outside and care for what is inside at the same time. Repairing what is damaged is not only fixing things. It is also looking after who you become while you do it.
Lines
Line 1
You deal with the problems your father left. If you act as a good child, the fault does not fall on him. The situation is delicate, but the ending may be favorable. Ask yourself which part of what you carry comes from others and can be fixed without reproach.
Line 2
You deal with the problems your mother left. Do not carry your firmness to the extreme. Here what broke is closer to affection, and it is not mended with rigidity. It helps to soften and give a little. Ask yourself whether you are mending what hurts with the harshness you would use on a machine.
Line 3
You deal again with the father's problems. There may be some reason for regret, but not a great mistake. This is the mood of someone who gets involved eagerly and overdoes the intensity a little, and that is better than doing nothing. Ask yourself whether that excess of zeal deserves adjusting.
Line 4
You look indulgently on your father's problems: you let them pass, you tolerate them. If you go on like this, you may find reason for regret. Being tolerant of what is damaged is comfortable, but it does not fix it. Ask yourself what you let pass to avoid discomfort, and what that indulgence already costs you.
Line 5
You deal with the father's problems and receive praise: you used the right instrument. That is what matters: choosing the right tool for the task. Sometimes what is needed is the right person or method, not more effort. Ask yourself whether you use the right tool or only the one at hand.
Line 6
You serve neither king nor lord: with a lofty spirit, you prefer to look after your own affairs. This is the image of someone who, after repairing what was theirs to repair, withdraws to their own life. Ask yourself whether it is time to leave what you are fixing and care for what is yours.
Reflection
- What inherited disorder is yours to repair without having caused it?
- What are you letting pass to avoid making anyone uncomfortable?
- Is the tool you use the right one, or only the one at hand?