Hexagram 45 of 64
Gathering Together 泽地萃
☱☷ Lake over Earth
Gathering and drawing together.
Hexagram 45 is about gathering: people, resources, and effort coming together around a shared center. The image is a lake resting on the earth, where water collects in one place. It works when there is a clear focus and sincere commitment. Without them, a gathering can turn into confusion or complaint.
Judgment
亨。王假有庙，利见大人，亨，利贞。用大牲吉，利有攸往。
Success. The king comes to the ancestral temple. It is favorable to meet a great person; success comes through perseverance. Great offerings bring good fortune, and it is favorable to go forward.
Image
泽上于地，萃；君子以除戎器，戒不虞。
The lake above the earth: gathering. The noble person clears away the weapons and guards against what is unforeseen.
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：有孚不终，乃乱乃萃，若号一握为笑，勿恤，往无咎。
If sincerity wavers, the gathering becomes confused. Cry out for help; once someone takes your hand, you can laugh. Do not worry. Moving forward is free of blame.
When commitment is still fragile, things can feel chaotic. Reaching out to one person you trust helps settle the situation.
六二：引吉，无咎，孚乃利用禴。
Being drawn in brings good fortune and no blame. With sincerity, even a simple offering is suitable.
Accepting an invitation from someone reliable can go well. A modest but sincere effort is enough.
六三：萃如，嗟如，无攸利，往无咎，小吝。
Gathering amid sighs and lamentation. Nothing is favorable. Going forward avoids major fault, though there is slight regret.
Some groups gather mainly to complain. Moving ahead anyway avoids serious error, but expect a little regret.
九四：大吉，无咎。
Great good fortune, without blame.
Your place in the group is solid right now. Consistent conduct helps keep it that way.
九五：萃有位，无咎。匪孚，元永贞，悔亡。
Gathering from a position of authority is free of blame. If some are not sincere, lasting and steadfast integrity cancels regret.
Others look to you because of your position. Not everyone is sincere, so keep your own integrity steady and let regret pass.
上六：赍资涕洟，无咎。
Weeping and wiping away tears. No blame.
A loss or disappointment may bring tears. Feeling it is fine; you have not done wrong.
In practice
Love and relationships
Closeness grows when both people show up with sincerity. If a relationship feels crowded by other people's opinions, bring the focus back to what you two actually share.
Work and decisions
Gathering the right people around one clear goal is the work theme. Before the next meeting, write down who is involved, what the shared aim is, and where people disagree.
Money
Pooling money or resources works best when everyone understands the same terms. Put shared funds, roles, and expectations in writing before committing.
How to use this reading
Use this reading when you are bringing people, money, or effort together and want to know whether the gathering has a sound center. Ask: what is the shared purpose here, and is everyone sincerely in it?
New to the method? Start with the six-line basics.
For cultural reflection only. This is not a prediction guarantee or professional advice.