Darkening — Hexagram Detail — I Ching 64 Fortune Telling
坎宫Element水#36
Ming Yi (Darkening of the Light) — Earth above Fire below. Brightness covered by the earth. In dark times, hide your light and maintain integrity through hardship.
Line-by-Line
Line 1:明夷于飞,垂其翼。君子于行,三日不食。有攸往,主人有言。 The light is wounded — drooping wings. The noble travels three days without food; there is purpose. Keep a low profile; conserve strength.
Line 2:明夷,夷于左股,用拯马壮,吉。 Light wounded in the left thigh — rescued by a strong horse; auspicious. Timely help arrives.
Line 3:明夷于南狩,得其大首,不可疾贞。 Light wounded during the southern hunt — capturing the great chief. Do not rush to act righteously. Be flexible in darkness.
Line 4:入于左腹,获明夷之心,于出门庭。 Entering the left belly — grasping the door of wounded light; departing from the courtyard. Understand the darkness, then withdraw.
Line 5:箕子之明夷,利贞。 Ji Zi's light is wounded — favorable to stay upright. Hold to the right path in darkness.
Line 6:不明晦,初登于天,后入于地。 Not bright but dark — first rising to Heaven, then falling into Earth. Extremes reverse; what rises must fall.