Hexagram 27
Nourishment (The Jaws)
頤 (Yí)
Mountain over Thunder
The image of this hexagram is an open mouth, with the firm lines at the top and bottom representing the lips, and the soft lines in the middle as the opening. It symbolizes nourishment in all its forms. This includes not only the food we eat and the liquids we drink, but also the words we speak, the information we consume, and the spiritual sustenance we seek. It is a powerful call to be mindful of both what we take into ourselves and what we put out into the world.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
Success comes from being conscious and deliberate about what constitutes proper nourishment. One must take responsibility for one's own well-being. This requires careful observation of what you are "feeding" yourself—be it food, thoughts, or companions—and equally, what kind of "nourishment" you are providing to others through your words and actions. True well-being is a product of these conscious choices.
The Image (象传)
Thunder (action, speech) emerges from the stillness of the Mountain (contemplation). This shows that right action and speech come from a place of quiet reflection. A wise person embodies this principle. They do not speak carelessly, for they know words are a form of nourishment for others. Likewise, they do not consume mindlessly, but practice moderation and balance, understanding that what they take in forms the substance of their being.
Interpretation & Guidance
Receiving Hexagram 27 is a powerful call to examine your "diet" in every aspect of life. What are you consuming? Are you feeding your mind with gossip and negative news, or with wisdom and uplifting ideas? Are you feeding your body with junk food, or with wholesome fuel? Who are you spending your time with, and how do they nourish (or drain) your spirit? Conversely, what are you producing? Are your words a source of encouragement and truth for others? Do your actions contribute positively to the world? The hexagram urges you to take control of these flows, cultivating a life of health and integrity through conscious, mindful choices.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Nine at the Beginning (初九)
Bottom line - Yang
"You let your magic tortoise go and look at me with the corners of your mouth drooping. Misfortune."
You abandon your own inner wisdom and self-sufficiency (the magic tortoise) and look to others with envy for what they have. This dependency and focus on lack, instead of cultivating your own resources, leads to misfortune.
Six in the Second Place (六二)
Second line - Yin
"Turning to the summit for nourishment, deviating from the path... Continuing to do this brings misfortune."
You are seeking nourishment in an improper or dependent way, perhaps from a superior who is not meant to provide for you. This creates an imbalance and is unsustainable. Persisting in this unnatural dependency will lead to trouble.
Six in the Third Place (六三)
Third line - Yin
"Turning away from nourishment. Perseverance brings misfortune. For ten years do not act. Nothing is favorable."
This is a state of total imbalance. You have rejected what is truly nourishing and are chasing after unhealthy desires and stimulants. To continue on this path is disastrous. A long period of inactivity and reflection is required to correct this deep-seated problem.
Six in the Fourth Place (六四)
Fourth line - Yin
"Turning to the summit for nourishment. Good fortune. Spying about with sharp eyes like a tiger with an insatiable glare."
You are in a position of responsibility, tasked with nourishing others. You look to those above you for resources and guidance, and your powerful focus is on finding ways to help those below you. This selfless purpose brings good fortune.
Six in the Fifth Place (六五)
Fifth line - Yin
"Deviating from the path. To remain persevering brings good fortune. One should not cross the great water."
You are in a leadership role but recognize you are not the ultimate source of wisdom. You rely on a higher power or a true sage (the top line) for guidance. By remaining aware of this and staying true to this humble position, you secure good fortune. However, you lack the independent authority for great undertakings.
Top Nine (上九)
Top line - Yang
"The source of nourishment. Awareness of danger brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water."
You are the source of nourishment for many. This position as a sage or leader carries great responsibility ("awareness of danger"). Because your guidance and virtue nourish all, you have the capacity and the blessing to undertake great and difficult tasks successfully.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
This hexagram asks you to look deeply at the "diet" of your relationship. What do you and your partner feed each other? Is your communication nourishing—filled with encouragement, support, and honesty? Or is it toxic—filled with criticism, blame, and gossip? The health of the relationship depends on this flow. It also questions dependency. A healthy relationship is one where two self-sufficient individuals choose to support each other, not one where one person "feeds" off the other emotionally or financially. If you feel envy or a sense of lack (like the "drooping mouth" in line 1), it's a sign to turn inward and cultivate your own self-worth and happiness rather than expecting your partner to fill your emptiness. By consciously choosing to both give and receive healthy emotional nourishment, you build a partnership that is truly life-sustaining for both of you.
Career & Business (事业)
In a professional context, 'Nourishment' is a call to examine the culture and substance of your work. What does your company "feed" its employees? Is it a culture of growth, opportunity, and respect, or one of fear, overwork, and toxicity? Furthermore, what does your business provide to its customers? Is it genuine value and quality service, or just clever marketing and empty promises? Ethically, this hexagram advises creating a business that nourishes all its stakeholders. On a personal level, ask what your career is feeding you. Does it provide not only a salary (basic physical nourishment) but also a sense of purpose, intellectual challenge, and personal growth (mental and spiritual nourishment)? Be mindful of the "junk food" of the workplace, such as office politics, negativity, and time-wasting activities. Choose to engage in work that is substantive and fulfilling.
Health & Wellness (健康)
This is the most literal and direct application of the hexagram. It is a powerful call to mindfulness regarding your physical diet. It's time to become conscious of what you are putting into your body. Are your food choices intentional and health-promoting, or mindless and driven by convenience or emotional triggers? The hexagram advocates for temperance and balance. But it goes much deeper than just food. It asks you to consider your "mental diet." What information, news, and entertainment are you consuming? Is it creating anxiety and fear, or is it inspiring and educational? Similarly, consider your "social diet." The people you spend time with and the conversations you have are a major source of nourishment or depletion. To be truly healthy, you must cultivate a holistic lifestyle where you consciously choose to take in what is wholesome and life-affirming on all levels.
Financial Matters (财运)
From a financial perspective, 'Nourishment' advises creating a healthy, sustainable financial life. This means adopting a "financial diet" that is balanced and moderate. Avoid the "junk food" of get-rich-quick schemes, high-risk speculation, and impulsive spending on fleeting desires. Instead, focus on nourishing your financial future through the "whole foods" of steady saving, wise investing in solid assets, and conscious budgeting. This hexagram also invites you to think about how your money nourishes you. Does it bring you security, freedom, and the ability to pursue what you value? Or does it create stress and anxiety? Furthermore, consider the other side of the flow: how do you use your resources to nourish others? Generosity and using wealth to create positive impact are also key components of a healthy financial ecosystem. It's about a mindful, balanced flow of earning, saving, spending, and giving.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
At its core, this hexagram is about the art of self-cultivation. Your personal and spiritual growth is a direct result of what you choose to feed yourself. The Image provides the ultimate instruction: be "careful of your words and temperate in eating and drinking." This means taking radical responsibility for your own development. You are the gardener of your soul. You must consciously choose the seeds you plant (the ideas you study, the teachers you follow) and diligently pull the weeds (negative self-talk, limiting beliefs, unhealthy habits). Your speech is a critical tool in this process; every word you speak shapes your reality. By choosing to speak with intention and truth, you nourish both yourself and the world around you. This path of mindful consumption and creation is the very essence of spiritual practice and leads to the development of a strong, centered, and virtuous character.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
The time is now to become a conscious consumer and creator. This is not about a future plan, but about present-moment awareness. Pay attention to the small choices you make every day, as they accumulate to create the substance of your life. Observe your patterns without judgment, then begin to make deliberate shifts toward healthier forms of nourishment on all levels. This is a time for introspection, moderation, and taking responsibility for your own well-being. By doing so, you build a foundation of health and integrity that will bring lasting good fortune.
