Li 離爲火
A time to shine brightly
Passion and recognition follow. Fire needs fuel, so remember to recharge your energy.
What does I Ching hexagram 30 (The Clinging (Fire)) mean?
Fire on fire, burning bright: clarity and commitment. A time to attach yourself to what is right and let your wisdom shine.
- The Clinging (Fire) in love
- Passion burns brightly. Approach with warmth.
- The Clinging (Fire) at work and with money
- Clear judgment and expression win recognition.
- Advice
- Attach your heart to the right place and shine by yourself.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · The Clinging (Fire)
Very auspicious“It is fitting to persevere. Success. Taking care of a cow brings good fortune.”
The Image: Brightness arises twice: fire. The great person keeps the light going and illuminates the four quarters.
原文 · 利貞。亨。畜牝牛，吉。 / 明兩作離，大人以繼明照于四方。
The six lines of hexagram 30
Lines are read from the bottom up. When you cast a reading and a line is changing, its statement becomes the key message.
Line 1 · 初九
No blame“Footsteps in confusion; treat them with respect and there is no blame.”
Starting out in a swirl of activity. Take it seriously and be careful.
原文 · 履錯然，敬之无咎。
Line 2 · 六二
Very auspicious“Yellow clinging: supreme good fortune.”
Balanced, moderate brightness is the best.
原文 · 黃離，元吉。
Line 3 · 九三
Misfortune“Clinging to the setting sun; not beating the drum and singing, but lamenting old age: misfortune.”
Don’t dwell on aging or endings. Enjoy the time you have.
原文 · 日昃之離，不鼓缶而歌，則大耋之差，凶。
Line 4 · 九四
Neutral“It comes suddenly, burns, dies and is abandoned.”
A flash of passion that burns itself out. Reckless blaze, no lasting effect.
原文 · 突如其來如，焚如，死如，棄如。
Line 5 · 六五
Auspicious“Tears flow like a torrent, sighing in sorrow: good fortune.”
Real grief opens and clears you. Your honest feelings bring good in the end.
原文 · 出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。
Line 6 · 上九
No blame“The king goes out on a campaign; there is praise for cutting off a head, but capturing those who are not the chief culprits: no blame.”
Remove the real cause of trouble, but don’t punish the followers.
原文 · 王用出征，有嘉折首，獲匪其醜，无咎。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 29. Kan (The Abysmal (Water))
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.