Hexagram 45
Gathering Together (Clustering)
萃 (Cuì)
Lake over Earth
The image is of a Lake resting on the Earth. A lake is a place where waters collect, symbolizing a natural gathering of people. The receptive Earth below provides the foundation that holds this community together. This represents a time of assembly, where individuals come together around a common center, pooling their resources and energy. It signifies the power and potential of family, community, or any group united by a shared purpose.
Key Concepts
The Judgment (彖传)
The Judgment is highly auspicious, promising success through collective effort. "The king approaches his temple" signifies the importance of a spiritual or central focus that unites the community. To succeed, the group needs virtuous leadership ("see the great man"). By pooling resources and making significant, sincere sacrifices for the common good ("great offerings"), great things can be achieved. This is an excellent time to begin large-scale projects that require group cooperation.
The Image (象传)
The Image adds a note of caution to this otherwise positive time. A large gathering of people, like water in a lake, holds immense potential but also hidden dangers—the water could overflow, or conflicts could arise within the group. The superior man understands this. He prepares for the unexpected, not by being aggressive, but by ensuring the tools needed to maintain order and deal with emergencies ("renews his weapons") are in a state of readiness.
Interpretation & Guidance
This hexagram signals a time for community and collective action. Your success now lies not in solitary effort but in joining with others. It's a time to build your tribe, strengthen family bonds, or unite a team around a shared vision. Find or become the strong, central leadership needed to guide the group. Pool your resources and energy for a common purpose. While the potential for success is great, be mindful of the unexpected risks that come with group dynamics. Stay vigilant and be prepared to handle any unforeseen challenges.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Six at the Beginning (初六)
Bottom line - Yin
"If you are sincere, but not to the end... there will sometimes be confusion, sometimes gathering. If you cry out... you can laugh again."
At the beginning of a gathering, you feel uncertain and don't know your place. Your commitment wavers. If you sincerely call out for connection and leadership, you will find it. A single helping hand can dispel your confusion and turn your anxiety into joy.
Six in the Second Place (六二)
Second line - Yin
"Letting oneself be drawn brings good fortune and remains without blame. If one is sincere, even a small offering is rewarding."
You feel a natural pull to join a group led by a sincere leader. It is right to follow this attraction. You don't need great influence to be a valued member. As long as you are sincere, even a small contribution to the group will be appreciated and bring good fortune.
Six in the Third Place (六三)
Third line - Yin
"Gathering together in lamentation. Nothing that would further. Going is without blame. Slight humiliation."
You are trying to join a group, but it's the wrong one for you. There is no one here you can connect with, leading to feelings of sadness and isolation. The right move is to leave this circle and seek your true community elsewhere. Though this may feel slightly humiliating, it is the correct and blameless action.
Nine in the Fourth Place (九四)
Fourth line - Yang
"Great good fortune. No blame."
You are in a position of authority, working on behalf of a worthy leader (in line five) to gather people together for the common good. Because your work is selfless and serves the whole, it leads to great success and is completely without blame.
Nine in the Fifth Place (九五)
Fifth line - Yang
"If in gathering together one has position, this brings no blame... one must be great, constant, and persevering. Then remorse disappears."
As the central leader of the group, your position is correct. However, some members may not yet have full faith in you. You cannot force their trust. You must earn it by consistently demonstrating great virtue, fairness, and unwavering commitment to the group's purpose. This will eventually win over all doubters.
Top Six (上六)
Top line - Yin
"Lamenting and sighing, floods of tears. No blame."
You find yourself outside the successful gathering, unable to participate. You may have missed your chance or been excluded. You feel a deep and sincere sadness about this. While you do not share in the group's success, your heartfelt regret is understood, and no one blames you for your situation.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
This is an extremely positive hexagram for relationships, emphasizing community and family. It is a wonderful time for family gatherings, weddings, and events that bring people together. For a couple, it's a time to strengthen your bond by focusing on your shared life and connections to friends and family. Building your shared community and celebrating together is favored. It signifies unity and the joy of belonging.
Career & Business (事业)
Gathering Together is a powerful sign for business. Success now comes from teamwork, cooperation, and unity. It is an excellent time for mergers, strategic alliances, company-wide meetings, or team-building initiatives. Uniting employees around a central mission or vision will lead to great success. Strong, inspiring leadership that brings people together is the key to harnessing the group's full potential.
Health & Wellness (健康)
In health, this hexagram points to the power of a support system. If you are facing a health challenge, now is the time to gather your resources—a team of doctors, family, friends, or a support group. Health can also be seen as the harmonious "gathering" of all the body's systems working in perfect unity. It is a time to bring all aspects of your well-being—physical, mental, emotional—into a cohesive whole.
Financial Matters (财运)
This is a favorable time for pooling financial resources. Family members might gather funds for a large purchase, or business partners could start a joint venture. Community fundraising efforts are also likely to be successful. Collective investments and shared financial goals are blessed with good fortune. The power of the group's wealth is greater than the sum of its parts.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
Growth here comes from understanding your connection to the larger whole. It is about finding your place within a community and contributing to it. This hexagram teaches the power of unity and the joy of belonging. It also teaches the responsibilities that come with being part of a group: the need for a central purpose, the importance of good leadership, and the vigilance required to prepare for unforeseen difficulties that can arise from collective human dynamics.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
Now is the time to join with others. Solitary efforts will be less effective than collective action. Seek out your community or build one. Unite with family, friends, or colleagues around a common goal. Pool your energy and resources. This is a highly auspicious time for group endeavors, but remember to stay prepared for the unexpected challenges that can come with managing a group.
