Hexagram 27 of 64
Nourishment 山雷颐
☶☳ Mountain over Thunder
Nourishing body and mind.
Hexagram 27 is about nourishment: what you feed on, what you take in, and who you rely on for support. Its image is thunder beneath the mountain, a reminder to be careful about what enters your life. The reading asks you to look at your own sources of nourishment and to provide for yourself through honest effort, while staying mindful of what you take in.
Judgment
贞吉。观颐，自求口实。
Perseverance brings good fortune. Watch what nourishes you, and seek your own sustenance.
Image
山下有雷，颐；君子以慎言语，节饮食。
Thunder beneath the mountain: nourishment. The noble person weighs their words and moderates food and drink.
The six lines
Read from the bottom line (the beginning) to the top line (the outcome). Each line gives the classical text, our English translation, and a plain-language reading.
初九：舍尔灵龟，观我朵颐，凶。
You give up your own precious turtle and watch me with greedy longing. Misfortune.
Do not give up what you already have to chase what others are enjoying. Envy often leads to loss.
六二：颠颐，拂经，于丘颐，征凶。
Seeking nourishment in an upside-down way, against the proper order, looking for it from the hill. Going forward brings misfortune.
Looking for support in the wrong places, or by going against what is reasonable, tends to backfire.
六三：拂颐，贞凶，十年勿用，无攸利。
Going against nourishment. Persisting this way brings misfortune. For ten years do not act; nothing is favorable.
Refusing sensible care or guidance for a long time does harm. Change the habit before it sets in, and do not keep pushing a pattern that has repeatedly failed.
六四：颠颐吉，虎视眈眈，其欲逐逐，无咎。
Seeking nourishment from above brings good fortune. Like a tiger with a keen gaze, its desire pursues without end. No blame.
Turning to a trusted source for support is good. Stay alert to your own desires so they do not run ahead of what you need.
六五：拂经，居贞吉，不可涉大川。
Going against the usual way. Remaining steadfast brings good fortune, but you should not cross the great river.
Departing from convention can be right if you hold to your principles. Do not take on a large, risky undertaking right now.
上九：由颐，厉吉，利涉大川。
The source of nourishment. Danger, yet good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
You are in a position to nourish others. Proceed with care and mindfulness, and bold steps can succeed.
In practice
Love and relationships
Look at what you give and what you receive in the relationship. Care that nourishes both people is healthy, while dependence or envy can wear both down.
Work and decisions
Be honest about where your income, learning and support come from. Invest in skills and habits that will sustain you over time, and do not chase what others have.
Money
Review recurring spending and your main source of income with a calm eye. Put steady needs first and be wary of purchases driven by envy.
How to use this reading
Use this reading when you are deciding what to take in, whether that is advice, a commitment or a purchase, and ask: what truly sustains me, and where should I look for it?
New to the method? Start with the six-line basics.
For cultural reflection only. This is not a prediction guarantee or professional advice.