Hexagram 30
The Clinging, Fire
离 (Lí)
Fire over Fire
This hexagram is the doubling of the trigram for Fire, representing brilliance, clarity, and illumination. Like a flame, light is not self-sufficient; it must "cling" to a source to burn. This symbolizes our dependence on correct foundations and attachments. The hexagram signifies a time of great clarity and awareness, where one's consciousness is heightened. The key is to recognize what we are attached to and ensure it is worthy, allowing our inner light to shine brightly and continuously.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
Success comes from persevering in a state of clarity. The "clinging" refers to our conscious dependence on what is right and true. To maintain this inner light, we must cultivate a gentle, receptive, and docile attitude, like that of a cow. Willfulness and arrogance extinguish clarity. By nurturing this gentle receptivity, we align ourselves with the cosmic order and ensure a steady, beneficial radiance, which brings good fortune.
The Image (象传)
One flame follows another, creating continuous light. This is the model for a person of great character. Their clarity is not a fleeting insight but a sustained state of consciousness. By cultivating and perpetuating their inner brightness, their influence radiates outward, bringing light, understanding, and order to the world around them. They become a beacon for others.
Interpretation & Guidance
When you receive Hexagram 30, you are being called to a state of heightened awareness. It is a time to see things as they truly are, without illusion. Your primary task is to examine what you "cling" to for your sense of self, security, and purpose. Are you attached to healthy relationships, sound principles, and a noble vision? Or are you clinging to destructive habits, false beliefs, or draining situations? This hexagram encourages you to consciously choose your attachments, ensuring they provide the right "fuel" for your inner fire. By doing so, you can become a source of clarity and warmth for yourself and those around you.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Nine at the Beginning (初九)
Bottom line - Yang
"The tracks are tangled. If one is reverent, there is no blame."
At the beginning of a new phase, the mind is busy and the path is not yet clear. It is easy to be distracted. By approaching the situation with seriousness and reverence, you avoid making careless mistakes and can slowly bring order to the initial confusion.
Six in the Second Place (六二)
Second line - Yin
"Yellow light. Supreme good fortune."
Yellow is the color of the middle and of balance. This line signifies a perfectly balanced, moderate, and correct clarity. Your understanding is clear and unbiased. This is the ideal state and brings the highest good fortune.
Nine in the Third Place (九三)
Third line - Yang
"In the light of the setting sun, men either beat the pot and sing or loudly lament the approach of old age. Misfortune."
This represents a transient, dependent brightness. It is the end of a cycle. Reacting with either forced, manic celebration or deep despair is a sign of being un-centered. This lack of acceptance of life's natural cycles leads to misfortune.
Nine in the Fourth Place (九四)
Fourth line - Yang
"Its coming is abrupt; it is burned, it is dead, it is thrown away."
A sudden, violent flare-up of passion or insight that is not sustained. Because it lacks a proper foundation, it burns out quickly and leaves nothing behind. This is a warning against impulsive, rootless energy.
Six in the Fifth Place (六五)
Fifth line - Yin
"Tears in floods, sighing and lamenting. Good fortune."
This appears negative but is highly auspicious. A crisis brings you to a point of profound emotional release and repentance. This deep realization allows you to let go of arrogance and cling to what is truly right. This breakthrough to true clarity brings good fortune.
Top Nine (上九)
Top line - Yang
"The king uses him to march forth and punish. It is best to kill the leaders and take captive the followers. No blame."
This line represents the use of clarity to bring order. It is about identifying and dealing with the root cause of negativity (the leaders) while being lenient with those who were merely led astray (the followers). It is the discriminating wisdom of fire, which purifies but does not destroy everything indiscriminately.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
In the context of love, this hexagram is a powerful call for clarity. It asks you to see your relationship and your partner for what they truly are, without the haze of romantic projection or wishful thinking. The central theme is "clinging"—a healthy relationship is one where both partners consciously "cling" to shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for the future. An unhealthy attachment clings to dependency, drama, or an idealized image. "Nourishing the cow" suggests that the way to maintain clarity and warmth is through gentleness, patience, and a receptive attitude towards your partner's truth. This hexagram warns against fiery, dramatic outbursts (Line 4) that burn brightly but ultimately damage the connection. Instead, it praises the steady, balanced warmth of "yellow light" (Line 2), which signifies a mature, centered, and deeply fortunate love.
Career & Business (事业)
For your career, 'The Clinging, Fire' signifies a time when your clarity of vision is your greatest asset. Your ability to illuminate complex situations, identify core issues, and articulate a clear path forward will be highly valued. You are called to be a source of light for your team or organization. The hexagram advises you to be conscious of what you are "clinging" to professionally. Are you attached to a meaningful mission and sound business principles, or to a specific title, a rigid strategy, or your own ego? True success comes from clinging to the former. "Nourishing the cow" is a reminder to be a receptive and gentle leader, one who listens to their team and adapts to changing realities, rather than a dogmatic one. By perpetuating your brightness—staying consistent, clear, and principled—you can lead major undertakings and bring success and order to your professional world.
Health & Wellness (健康)
This hexagram directly relates to clarity and consciousness regarding your health. It encourages you to become a clear-eyed observer of your body and mind. This is a time to seek clear diagnoses and to understand the root causes of any ailments, rather than just treating symptoms. The "fire" can relate to the body's metabolism, nervous system energy, and inflammation. The goal is a state of balanced "yellow light" (Line 2), avoiding both deficiency and excessive, inflammatory "fire" (Line 4). Furthermore, this hexagram emphasizes your mental diet. The clarity of your mind depends on what you "cling" to. Are you attached to anxious thought loops and negative information, or do you seek out knowledge and perspectives that bring light and peace? Cultivating a gentle, receptive ("cow-like") attitude towards your body's signals is key to long-term health and well-being.
Financial Matters (财运)
In finance, this hexagram demands absolute clarity. It is time to illuminate every corner of your financial life. This means creating a clear budget, understanding all your investments, and facing your debts without illusion. Success comes from "clinging" to sound, proven financial principles—like saving consistently and avoiding unnecessary debt—rather than being attached to risky fads or emotional spending. The "fire" can represent market volatility or the flash of a "hot tip." The hexagram warns against these abrupt, unsustainable bursts (Line 4) and praises the balanced, moderate approach of the "yellow light" (Line 2). By maintaining a clear, unwavering, and principled approach to your finances, you create a steady source of security and prosperity for yourself and your family. Your financial clarity becomes a source of stability.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
This hexagram is the essence of the path of enlightenment. The goal is to cultivate a sustained, brilliant consciousness that illuminates your own life and the world. Growth comes from a rigorous examination of your attachments. What do you cling to for your identity? Your job? Your relationships? Your beliefs? Your possessions? Fire needs fuel; your consciousness needs something to cling to. The spiritual task is to progressively detach from lower, transient things and attach to higher, eternal principles: truth, compassion, virtue. This requires the docility of the "cow"—a willingness to be taught by life and to let go of the ego's certainty. By continuously tending to your inner flame, you move from the confused tracks at the beginning to the supreme good fortune of the yellow light, and ultimately become a "great person" whose very presence is a source of clarity for all.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
This is a time for awareness, not for blind action. Your first step is to seek clarity. See the situation for what it is. Then, examine your own position and what you are dependent on. If your attachments are correct, persevere with a gentle and receptive spirit. If they are not, this is the time to make a change. Cultivate your inner light through study, reflection, and adherence to your principles. By doing so, you will not only navigate the present situation successfully but also become a source of guidance and stability for others.
