Hexagram 62, Line 6

The Line Text

Interpretation

This top line represents the culmination and extreme of the situation described in Hexagram 62. The central theme of "Preponderance of the Small" is the virtue of humility, caution, and attending to details—like a bird whose song descends rather than ascends. This line describes a complete failure to adhere to this principle. Instead of "meeting" the situation with appropriate modesty, the individual has "passed by it," overshooting the mark through arrogance and ambition. The commentary is explicit: one has "already gone too high." The image of the flying bird, which symbolizes the spirit of the hexagram, now meets a tragic end. By flying too high and too recklessly, it becomes entangled in a net. This is not a minor setback; the I Ching uses the strongest possible terms: "Misfortune" (凶) and "calamity and disaster" (災眚). The word 災眚 implies that this disaster is not a random act of fate, but a direct, self-inflicted consequence of one's own hubris and failure to recognize limitations. The warning is stark: to ignore the need for humility in a time that demands it is to fly directly into one's own ruin.

Guidance for Action

You have gone too far. Your ambition, pride, or refusal to heed warnings has led you to a precarious and dangerous position. This is a critical moment for a reality check. Stop striving upward immediately. Any further attempt to push your agenda, prove your point, or expand your influence will only tighten the net around you. The path of wisdom now lies in retreat and radical humility. Acknowledge your error in judgment. You have misread the times and overextended yourself. Do not struggle against the constraints you now face, as this will only lead to greater entanglement and harm. The current situation is a direct result of your own actions. Accept this responsibility, as it is the first step toward eventually freeing yourself from the "disaster" you have created.

For Love & Relationships

In a relationship, this line points to a severe transgression. One or both partners have pushed things too far, creating a crisis. This could manifest as making demands the relationship cannot sustain, having wildly unrealistic expectations, or acting with arrogance and refusing to listen to a partner's needs. An ultimatum may have been issued, or a boundary crossed so severely that the relationship is now "caught in a net" of resentment, distrust, and conflict. If you are single, this line warns against pursuing someone with such aggressive or grandiose gestures that you appear desperate or frightening, leading to outright rejection. The guidance is to stop all forward momentum. Apologize, retreat, and accept that your actions have caused serious damage. Trying to "fix" it with more grand gestures will only make things worse.

For Career & Business

This is a powerful warning against overreach in your professional life. You may have aimed for a position far beyond your current capabilities, launched a project without the necessary support or resources, or stubbornly ignored the sound advice of superiors and colleagues. Your ambition has blinded you to the realities of the situation, and now you face the consequences: a failed project, a demotion, public embarrassment, or even the loss of your job. The "net" represents the entanglement of office politics, failed metrics, and broken professional relationships that result from such hubris. The only way forward is to accept the failure, learn from it, and demonstrate humility. Do not try to blame others; your over-ambition is the source of this "calamity."

For Financial Matters

This line signifies a catastrophic financial miscalculation driven by greed or arrogance. It points directly to taking on far too much risk, such as investing everything in a highly speculative venture, assuming an unmanageable amount of debt for a grandiose project, or ignoring all conservative financial advice. You have "flown too high" in your financial aspirations and are now caught in the "net" of overwhelming debt, total loss, or even bankruptcy. This is a self-inflicted financial disaster. Stop all speculative activity immediately. Do not throw good money after bad. The immediate task is damage control: assess the full extent of the loss, seek professional help if necessary (like a credit counselor or bankruptcy lawyer), and accept the harsh reality of your situation. This is a painful but powerful lesson in financial humility.