Hexagram 29, Line 6

The Line Text

Interpretation

This top line represents the culmination of danger and the absolute extreme of the situation described in Hexagram 29. The individual has not learned the lesson of the Abysmal, which is to move through danger with sincerity and adaptability, like water. Instead, they have struggled, resisted, and become completely entangled. The imagery is stark and severe: being bound tightly with multiple ropes and cast into a prison of thorny bushes. This is not an external prison, but one created by one's own misguided actions and rigid thinking. The commentary is explicit: one has "lost the proper way" (失道). By fighting against the current of danger instead of flowing with it, one has become hopelessly ensnared. The "three years" is symbolic of a long, seemingly endless period of being stuck. There is no easy exit. The judgment is an unequivocal "Misfortune" (凶), indicating a state of profound difficulty and stagnation from which escape is not possible in the near future. This line is a powerful warning against excessive struggle and straying from the path of sincerity and simplicity when faced with peril.

Guidance for Action

You are in a deeply entangled and difficult situation, likely of your own making. The more you struggle, the tighter the metaphorical ropes become and the deeper the thorns cut. Your current approach has failed; you have lost your way. The first and most critical step is to stop fighting. Cease all frantic efforts to escape or "fix" the situation. This is not a time for action, but for radical acceptance and stillness. Acknowledge the full extent of your predicament without resistance. This period of being "imprisoned" is long and arduous. Use this time not to search for an exit, but for deep introspection. Where did you lose the path of sincerity and simplicity? How did your actions lead to this entanglement? Patience is your only tool. You must endure this period, learn the hard lesson it offers, and wait for the situation to exhaust itself. Trying to force a resolution now will only lead to greater misfortune.

For Love & Relationships

This line points to a relationship that has become a painful prison. The connection is defined by entanglement, unresolved conflicts, and suffocating obligations (the ropes and thorns). Both partners are likely locked in a pattern of struggle, blame, and resistance, making things progressively worse. You have both "lost the way" of love, sincerity, and open communication. The relationship feels hopeless, and attempts to fix it only lead to more pain. The advice here is stark: stop the struggle. Continuing to fight for a connection that is so deeply entangled will only prolong the agony. This may signify the need for a long-term separation or the painful acceptance that the relationship is over. Forcing a resolution is impossible. The "three years" suggests a long period of healing is required, whether together in intensive therapy with no guarantee of success, or apart.

For Career & Business

In a career context, this line indicates being completely trapped in a dead-end job, a failed project, or a toxic work environment. You have likely made a series of poor decisions or persisted in a failing strategy for too long, and now you are ensnared by the consequences. Your efforts to salvage the situation are futile and only serve to further complicate matters. This is a time of professional crisis. The guidance is to stop all current efforts. Do not launch new initiatives, fight political battles, or try to force your project to succeed. You must accept the failure. This may mean your project is terminated, you are laid off, or your business fails. The "misfortune for three years" implies a prolonged period of professional difficulty, stagnation, or even unemployment. Use this time to re-evaluate your entire career path and understand the missteps that led you here.

For Financial Matters

This is a severe warning regarding your financial situation. You are deeply enmeshed in a financial trap, such as overwhelming debt, a catastrophic investment, or a legal-financial entanglement. Your attempts to trade your way out, take on more loans to cover old ones, or invest in risky schemes to recoup losses have failed and have only tightened the trap. You have lost the way of sound financial principles. The situation is dire, and the outlook is misfortune for a long time. The only viable course is to stop all frantic financial activity. Do not throw good money after bad. It is time for radical acceptance of your losses. This may involve painful but necessary steps like declaring bankruptcy, liquidating assets at a loss, or entering a long-term, austere debt-repayment plan. There is no quick fix; you must endure a long period of financial hardship to slowly and painfully untangle yourself.