Wei Ji 火水未濟
A time when you are almost there
It is not complete yet. Stay focused through the last step and it comes together.
What does I Ching hexagram 64 (Before Completion) mean?
Fire and water out of place, not yet accomplished. It is a new beginning rather than an ending, so take it on with care.
- Before Completion in love
- The relationship is not yet complete. Don’t be impatient.
- Before Completion at work and with money
- The last stage calls for caution.
- Advice
- It is not finished, so finish as carefully as you began.
The judgment and the image
Judgment · Before Completion
Caution“Success. The little fox has almost crossed the river and soaks its tail; nothing is favorable.”
The Image: Fire above water: before completion. The noble person carefully distinguishes things and puts each in its place.
原文 · 亨。小狐汔濟，濡其尾，无攸利。 / 火在水上，未濟；君子以慎辨物居方。
The six lines of hexagram 64
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
Caution“Soaking the tail: humiliation.”
Rushing in before you’re ready makes you look foolish.
原文 · 濡其尾，吝。
Line 2 · 九二
Auspicious“Dragging the wheels; perseverance brings good fortune.”
Apply the brakes and take it slowly. Lucky.
原文 · 曳其輪，貞吉。
Line 3 · 六三
Misfortune“Before completion, going forward brings misfortune; it is fitting to cross the great river.”
You aren’t ready to go yet, but a big step will be fine with the right preparation.
原文 · 未濟，征凶，利涉大川。
Line 4 · 九四
Auspicious“Perseverance brings good fortune; regret vanishes. Shaking, he attacks the Demon Country; for three years he is rewarded by a great state.”
A hard, long effort at last brings big recognition.
原文 · 貞吉，悔亡，震用伐鬼方，三年有賞于大國。
Line 5 · 六五
Very auspicious“Perseverance brings good fortune and no regret. The light of the noble person; sincerity: good fortune.”
Bright, honest leadership wins trust.
原文 · 貞吉，无悔，君子之光，有孚，吉。
Line 6 · 上九
No blame“Having sincerity while drinking wine: no blame. If he soaks his head, he loses the sincerity.”
Enjoy your success, but if you overdo it you lose your integrity.
原文 · 有孚于飲酒，无咎，濡其首，有孚失是。
Related hexagrams
- Opposite hexagram (every line flipped): 63. Ji Ji (After Completion)
- Reversed hexagram (turned upside down): 63. Ji Ji (After Completion)
The classical text is in the public domain; the English translations and readings are our own, for reflection and entertainment.