Xie 雷水解
A time of release
The tangle loosens. If you don’t tidy up right after it loosens, it may tangle again.
What does I Ching hexagram 40 (Deliverance) mean?
Thunder and rain, like ice melting: difficulty dissolving. Tension relaxes and problems get solved.
- Deliverance in love
- Misunderstandings clear and the relationship eases.
- Deliverance at work and with money
- Tangled issues resolve, so wrap up quickly.
- Advice
- After it is resolved, forgive without lingering resentment.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · Deliverance
Very auspicious“The southwest is favorable. If there is nowhere to go, returning brings good fortune. If there is somewhere to go, going early brings good fortune.”
The Image: Thunder and rain arise: deliverance. The noble person pardons faults and forgives crimes.
原文 · 利西南，无所往，其來復吉。有攸往，夙吉。 / 雷雨作，解；君子以赦過宥罪。
The six lines of hexagram 40
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 · 初六
No blame“No blame.”
The tension is over at the very start. All is well.
原文 · 无咎。
Line 2 · 九二
Auspicious“In the field he captures three foxes and gets a yellow arrow; perseverance brings good fortune.”
You clear out the sneaky problems and keep to your true line. Success.
原文 · 田獲三狐，得黃矢，貞吉。
Line 3 · 六三
Caution“Carrying a load while riding in a carriage invites robbers; perseverance brings humiliation.”
Showing off wealth beyond your status attracts trouble.
原文 · 負且乘，致寇至，貞吝。
Line 4 · 九四
Neutral“Release your big toe; friends come and trust you.”
Free yourself from a clinging attachment and real friends arrive.
原文 · 解而拇，朋至斯孚。
Line 5 · 六五
Auspicious“The noble person is released: good fortune. Show sincerity toward the petty.”
Letting go of what holds you back is lucky, and it gains the trust of others.
原文 · 君子惟有解，吉；有孚于小人。
Line 6 · 上六
Auspicious“The prince shoots a hawk on the top of a high wall and gets it; nothing is unfavorable.”
You take decisive action against the last obstacle, and it succeeds.
原文 · 公用射隼，于高墉之上，獲之，无不利。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 37. Jia Ren (The Family)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 39. Jian (Obstruction)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.