Hexagram 40
Deliverance
解 (Xiè)
Thunder over Water
Hexagram 40 in the I Ching represents deliverance and liberation from difficulty. This iching hexagram 40 symbolizes the moment when tension is released, obstacles are removed, and freedom is restored. Like thunder breaking through after a storm, it brings relief and the opportunity for a fresh start.
Key Concepts
The Judgment
Hexagram 40 represents the release from tension and difficulty. This iching hexagram 40 teaches us about the importance of recognizing when problems have been resolved and acting accordingly. After a period of hardship, deliverance comes naturally, like thunder and rain that clear the air. The key is to move forward without unnecessary delay, but also to know when to rest and consolidate your gains.
The Image
The image of this hexagram shows thunder and rain working together to clear the atmosphere. In iching hexagram 40, we learn that true deliverance involves releasing grudges and forgiving past wrongs. Just as nature cleanses itself through storms, we must let go of resentment and move forward with a clear heart and mind.
Interpretation & Guidance
When hexagram 40 appears in your reading, it signals that a period of difficulty is coming to an end. The obstacles that have been blocking your path are dissolving, and you are being liberated from constraints. This is a time to move forward with renewed energy and optimism, leaving behind the burdens of the past.
This hexagram encourages you to act decisively once deliverance comes. Don't linger in old patterns or dwell on past troubles. Instead, embrace the freedom that has been granted and use it wisely. However, if your goals have already been achieved, there is no need to push further - rest and enjoy the peace that has been restored.
In all areas of life, iching hexagram 40 suggests that forgiveness and release are essential. Let go of grudges, pardon mistakes, and free yourself from emotional baggage. This clearing away of the old makes room for new opportunities and positive developments.
The Six Lines (六爻)
Six at the Beginning (初六)
Bottom line - Yin
"Without blame."
The first line indicates that deliverance is just beginning. You are emerging from difficulty without having caused harm or incurred blame. This is a favorable position - simply continue forward with integrity and the path will clear naturally before you.
Nine in the Second Place (九二)
Second line - Yang
"One kills three foxes in the field and receives a yellow arrow. Perseverance brings good fortune."
This line represents the removal of hidden obstacles and deceitful influences. Through clarity and determination, you overcome cunning opposition. The yellow arrow symbolizes the reward of integrity - by staying true to your principles, you achieve genuine deliverance and recognition.
Six in the Third Place (六三)
Third line - Yin
"If a man carries a burden on his back and nonetheless rides in a carriage, he thereby encourages robbers to draw near. Perseverance leads to humiliation."
A warning against inappropriate behavior after deliverance. If you cling to old burdens while trying to enjoy new freedom, you create confusion and invite trouble. Let go of what no longer serves you. Don't mix the mentality of hardship with the privileges of liberation.
Nine in the Fourth Place (九四)
Fourth line - Yang
"Deliver yourself from your great toe. Then the companion comes, and him you can trust."
This line advises separating yourself from inferior associations that hold you back. The "great toe" represents connections that seem supportive but actually limit your progress. Once you free yourself from these entanglements, true allies and beneficial relationships will naturally appear.
Six in the Fifth Place (六五)
Fifth line - Yin
"If only the superior man can deliver himself, it brings good fortune. Thus he proves to inferior men that he is in earnest."
The ruler's line emphasizes that true deliverance must come from within. You cannot force others to change or free themselves - you can only demonstrate through your own example. By liberating yourself from petty concerns and inferior influences, you inspire others and establish your credibility as a leader.
Six at the Top (上六)
Top line - Yin
"The prince shoots at a hawk on a high wall. He kills it. Everything serves to further."
The top line represents the final removal of a significant obstacle. Like shooting down a hawk that threatens from above, you eliminate the last barrier to complete freedom. This decisive action brings total deliverance and opens the way for unrestricted progress in all endeavors.
Love & Relationships (爱情)
In love, hexagram 40 represents liberation from relationship tensions and the resolution of conflicts. If you've been experiencing difficulties with your partner, this is a time when misunderstandings clear up and harmony is restored. The key is to forgive past hurts and move forward together.
For those seeking love, this hexagram suggests that you are being freed from old emotional patterns or past relationship baggage that has been holding you back. You are now ready to enter into new romantic connections with a clear heart and open mind.
The energy of iching hexagram 40 in love encourages letting go of grudges and releasing expectations that no longer serve the relationship. True intimacy comes when both partners feel free to be themselves without the burden of past mistakes weighing them down.
Career & Business (事业)
Professionally, hexagram 40 signals the end of workplace difficulties and the resolution of business obstacles. Projects that have been stalled will begin moving forward again, and professional relationships that were strained will improve. This is an excellent time to clear away unfinished business and start fresh.
For entrepreneurs, this hexagram represents breaking free from limitations that have restricted business growth. Whether it's financial constraints, regulatory issues, or partnership problems, solutions are emerging. Act quickly to capitalize on this period of liberation and forward momentum.
In established careers, iching hexagram 40 suggests that you should let go of outdated methods and embrace new approaches. The deliverance comes when you release attachment to "the way things have always been done" and allow innovation and fresh perspectives to guide your work.
Health & Wellness (健康)
Health-wise, hexagram 40 represents recovery and the release of physical or mental tension. If you've been dealing with health challenges, this is a time when symptoms begin to ease and healing accelerates. The body's natural recuperative powers are activated and working in your favor.
The deliverance energy of this hexagram supports the release of stress, anxiety, and emotional burdens that may have been affecting your physical health. This is an ideal time for detoxification, both physical and emotional, allowing your system to reset and restore balance.
For those in good health, iching hexagram 40 encourages releasing unhealthy habits and patterns. Break free from behaviors that no longer serve your wellbeing and embrace practices that support vitality and longevity. The path to better health is now clear and accessible.
Financial Matters (财运)
Financially, hexagram 40 indicates relief from monetary pressures and the resolution of financial difficulties. Debts may be paid off, income streams that were blocked begin flowing again, or unexpected resources become available. This is a time of economic liberation and improved cash flow.
This hexagram favors those who are willing to let go of financial strategies that haven't been working and embrace new approaches to wealth building. Sometimes deliverance comes through releasing attachment to specific outcomes and allowing prosperity to flow through unexpected channels.
The key to financial success with iching hexagram 40 is acting decisively when opportunities for improvement present themselves. Don't hesitate to resolve outstanding financial issues or to invest in ventures that promise genuine liberation from economic constraints.
Personal Growth (个人成长)
On a personal level, hexagram 40 represents a breakthrough in self-development and the release of limiting beliefs. You are being freed from psychological patterns and emotional baggage that have been holding you back from reaching your full potential. This is a powerful time for transformation.
This hexagram encourages you to practice forgiveness - both of others and yourself. True personal growth comes when you release resentment, let go of past mistakes, and embrace the freedom to become who you are meant to be without the weight of old guilt or shame.
The challenge of iching hexagram 40 is learning to live in the freedom that deliverance brings. After being constrained for so long, you may need to adjust to having more options and possibilities. Embrace this liberation and use it to create positive change in your life.
Timing & Advice (时机与建议)
The timing associated with hexagram 40 is one of immediate action after release. Once deliverance comes, don't delay in moving forward. However, if your objectives have already been achieved, there is no need to push further - rest and consolidate your position instead.
The best advice for those receiving this hexagram is to recognize when problems have been solved and act accordingly. Let go of the mentality of struggle once the struggle is over. Forgive freely, release grudges, and move forward with a light heart and clear mind.
Embrace the freedom that deliverance brings, but use it wisely. Don't rush into new entanglements or burdens simply because you've been freed from old ones. Instead, enjoy the clarity and space that liberation provides, and choose your next steps with wisdom and discernment.