Hexagram 38 of 64
Opposition 火泽睽
☲☱ Fire over Lake
Divergence and finding common ground.
Hexagram 38 describes forces that pull in different directions and a gap that feels hard to cross. The image is fire above a lake: each element goes its own way. Its advice is modest: small matters go well, while big plans meet friction. It fits moments of misunderstanding, when the first step is to see the situation clearly rather than fight it.
Judgment
小事吉。
Small matters go well.
Image
上火下泽，睽；君子以同而异。
Fire above, lake below: opposition. The noble person finds unity in difference.
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：悔亡，丧马勿逐，自复；见恶人无咎。
Regret disappears. If the horse is lost, do not chase it; it will return on its own. Meeting people of bad character brings no blame.
Some losses come back without a chase. Keep your composure and you can deal with difficult people without falling into their game.
九二：遇主于巷，无咎。
You meet your lord in the lane. No blame.
An unexpected, informal meeting can open a path. Be ready to speak when the chance comes.
六三：见舆曳，其牛𧤊，其人天且劓，无初有终。
You see a cart dragged back, its ox halted, and its driver with head shaved and nose cut. There is no good beginning, but there can be a good end.
A rough start does not decide the outcome. Accept the setback honestly and rebuild step by step.
九四：睽孤，遇元夫，交孚，厉无咎。
Isolated by opposition, you meet a worthy man, and you exchange sincere trust. There is danger, but no blame.
When you feel alone in a disagreement, a sincere person may meet you halfway. Trust grows through honest exchange, even when the situation stays delicate.
六五：悔亡，厥宗噬肤，往何咎。
Regret disappears. Your kin bite through the soft flesh with ease. Moving forward brings no blame.
When people close to you are willing to cooperate, moving forward becomes easier. Lean on that support.
上九：睽孤， 见豕负涂，载鬼一车， 先张之弧，后说之弧，匪寇婚媾，往遇雨则吉。
Isolated by opposition, you see a pig smeared with mud and a cart loaded with ghosts. First you draw the bow, then you lower it: it was not a robber but a marriage partner. Going forward and meeting rain brings good fortune.
Fear and suspicion often make a situation look worse than it is. Check the facts before you react, and when the tension eases, you can move on.
In practice
Love and relationships
Two people may want different things or read the same moment differently. Name the difference calmly, and expect that bridging it takes time. Small, sincere gestures help more than grand declarations.
Work and decisions
Disagreement with a colleague or manager is common here. Start with small, concrete matters where you can agree, and clarify expectations before pressing on the larger issues.
Money
Differing views on money can cause friction. Keep decisions small and reversible while you work toward agreement on the bigger picture.
How to use this reading
Use this reading when two sides disagree and you want to know how to approach the gap, and ask: what small point can we agree on first?
New to the method? Start with the six-line basics.
For cultural reflection only. This is not a prediction guarantee or professional advice.