Hexagram 29 of 64
The Abysmal 坎为水
☵☵ Water over Water
Repeated danger, steady trust.
In the I Ching, Hexagram 29 is danger that repeats: one pit, then another. Its response is sincerity and steady conduct, not panic. Water keeps flowing without overflowing. You can move through repeated difficulty by holding to what is true and taking the path that is clear.
Judgment
习坎，有孚，维心亨，行有尚。
Danger repeats, pit after pit. Sincerity keeps the heart open, and success comes; going forward brings honor.
Image
水洊至，习坎；君子以常德行，习教事。
Water flows in again and again: the abysmal. The noble person keeps constant virtue and practices their teaching.
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.
初六：习坎，入于坎窞，凶。
Repeated danger. Falling into a deep pit. Misfortune.
You have entered a risky situation without a plan. Stop and look before going on.
九二：坎有险，求小得。
In the pit there is danger; seek only small gains.
While the danger lasts, expect modest results. Aim for steady, safe progress.
六三：来之坎坎，险且枕，入于坎窞，勿用。
Coming and going into the pit, the dangers pile up. Falling into the deep pit, do not act.
Repeated, unclear moves add danger. Do not act on impulse.
六四：樽酒簋贰，用缶，纳约自牖，终无咎。
A jug of wine and two bowls, served in earthen vessels and passed in through the window. In the end, no blame.
Simple, honest offerings and modest channels can get you through without fault. A window, not a grand gate, may be enough.
九五：坎不盈，祗既平，无咎。
The pit is not yet full. Once it is level, no blame.
When the danger is not overflowing, you can make a level, steady path across it.
上六：系用徽纆，置于丛棘，三岁不得，凶。
Bound with ropes and placed among thorns, with no escape for three years. Misfortune.
Getting tangled in your own pattern can last a long time. Withdrawal and clarity are needed to break free.
In practice
Love and relationships
Sincerity is the anchor. Say what you mean, and look honestly at a pattern of repeated disappointment rather than hoping it changes on its own.
Work and decisions
A period of repeated setbacks. Keep routines steady, take smaller steps, and avoid large commitments until the pattern shifts.
Money
Recurring losses need a plan. Stop repeating the same pattern, and reduce your exposure until you understand what is happening.
How to use this reading
Name the pattern that keeps repeating, and the honest, small step that would break it.
New to the method? Start with the six-line basics.
For cultural reflection only. This is not a prediction guarantee or professional advice.