The I Ching 64 Hexagrams Annual Fortune Guide

We will interpret the wisdom and enlightenment of each hexagram for you, so that you can understand when to act, when to remain still, when to accumulate, and when to break through in the new year. Use the wisdom of the I Ching to inspire the year and make your life more stable, confident, and composed.

Selected 12 Hexagrams for Guidance

Of the 12 hexagrams selected here, there's bound to be one that suits you right now:

Serial Number Hexagram Name Corresponding Context
1 Travel When work leaves you physically and mentally exhausted
2 Da You Gua When hard work finally pays off
3 Gen When you need to slow down and clear your mind
4 Qian When keeping a low profile is more advantageous than seeking the limelight
5 Interpretation When difficulties require wise action
6 Yi Gua When both body and mind need to be well taken care of
7 Teacher When teamwork determines success or failure
8 Jin Gua When promotions and raises require merit...
9 Hexagram Ge When life hits a bottleneck, change is necessary.
10 Gua of Gou When you have to make a decisive choice
11 Kan When learning and accumulation give you more confidence
12 Wu Wang Hexagram When going with the flow is more important than forcing things.

 

The Travel Hexagram – When work leaves you physically and mentally exhausted

The "Travel" hexagram in the I Ching symbolizes travel and also signifies temporarily leaving familiar places. What follows is rest, consumption, and a reminder to be cautious when doing things abroad.

A saying circulating online goes: "Go to places where others are tired of living; that might just be the place to cure your weariness."

This echoes the spirit of the Travel hexagram—changing your environment, seemingly just for sightseeing, can actually bring inspiration and healing from new scenery.

However, the Traveler Hexagram also reminds us:

When you are away from home, no longer in your original position, you should be more cautious in your dealings with others, restrain your words and actions, and avoid being too outspoken.

At the same time, expenses for food, clothing, accommodation and transportation during the trip are unavoidable. As the saying goes, "a journey is a small pleasure," so if you want a smooth trip, you must know how to act within your means and save money.

When you encounter setbacks, instead of dwelling on the same things, go out for a walk, see other scenery, and give your mind a short rest.

The Great Possession Hexagram – When effort finally yields results

The hexagram "Da You" in the Book of Changes symbolizes a bountiful harvest of the five grains, signifying abundant achievements and fulfilling gains.

However, a bountiful harvest is never accidental; it is necessarily built upon continuous effort and hard work, just like a farmer sowing, cultivating, fertilizing, and waiting for the season to ripen.

The wisdom of the "Great Possession" hexagram lies in telling us that while harvests and success may seem to be determined by fate, they are actually determined by human effort.

It requires us to find a balance between cultivating character, using wisdom, seizing opportunities, managing wealth, and achieving spiritual fulfillment, neither being arrogant and complacent nor ceasing to progress due to satisfaction.

Prosperity is the easiest time to make people complacent and prone to mistakes due to arrogance.

Gen hexagram – When you need to slow down and clarify your thoughts

The Gen hexagram in the I Ching symbolizes conservatism, slowing down, and pausing. These are just the surface meanings; in reality, they embody the philosophy of stopping, settling, stillness, peace, contemplation, and gain.

The philosophy of the Gen hexagram: stopping, settling, stillness, peace, contemplation, and attainment.

The Great Learning states: "Knowing where to stop leads to stability; stability leads to tranquility; tranquility leads to peace; peace leads to contemplation; contemplation leads to attainment."

  • end—Knowing when to stop
  • Certainly—Keep your pace and your mind steady.
  • quiet—Let your heart return to clarity
  • install—Inner peace, without anxiety
  • consider—Deep Thinking After Stability
  • have to—Get what they deserve, get what they want

Those who think things through repeatedly, know how to exercise restraint and deep thought will be better able to grasp their own rhythm this year.

Do not be swayed by external changes, do not panic because of temporary ups and downs, accumulate strength in stability, and find the right direction in anxiety.

The Qian hexagram – When being low-key is more advantageous than showing off.

The Qian hexagram in the I Ching symbolizes humility.

The most common saying is: "Pride goes before a fall, humility brings benefit." Truly capable and wise people often appear low-key, composed, and unassuming.

However, it's important to note that excessive humility can backfire. True humility is measured, principled, and knows its boundaries. Know when to yield, and when not to yield; be humble to the kind, but uphold your principles to the rude. Humility tempered with composure, gentleness tempered with strength—this is the true wisdom of the "Humility Hexagram."

The wisdom of life lies in striking the right balance between humility and self-confidence: neither being humble and giving up on oneself, nor being arrogant and complacent.

Interpreting the hexagram – When a predicament requires wise action

The hexagram "Relief" in the I Ching symbolizes resolution and action. However, resolution is not about acting rashly, but about handling problems in a prudent manner at the right time.

Proper action can turn danger into safety; improper action may bring new obstacles.

Therefore, in addition to daring to act, we also need to act wisely:

  • First, observe the situation and discern the advantages and disadvantages;
  • Then choose a suitable plan and combine it with an appropriate timing;
  • Remain calm and flexible during operations, and adjust strategies as needed to respond to changes.

In addition to resolving external problems, interpreting the hexagram also requires addressing inner conflicts.

If inner doubts and fears are not resolved first, even with the best external conditions, it will be difficult to act smoothly.

The true solution lies in the combination of wisdom and action. Acting rashly without proper timing or preparation will only lead to failure.

The Yi hexagram – When both body and mind need proper care

The Yi Gua (颐卦) in the I Ching symbolizes nourishing the body and mind.

Physical health is important, but spiritual nourishment is equally essential; neither is more important than the other.

True self-cultivation is about balancing body and mind, and taking care of both inner and outer aspects—physical health provides energy and support, while a rich inner life brings wisdom and tranquility.

Whether it's nourishing the body or the mind, discipline is essential. And discipline is key to nourishing both: moderate diet, regular sleep schedule, and reasonable exercise, while maintaining a peaceful mind and stable emotions.

The most fitting reminder from the Yi Hexagram is: "Illness enters through the mouth, and disaster comes from the mouth." Keep your mouth shut, and all will be well.

The Master Hexagram – When Teamwork Determines Success or Failure

The "Shi" hexagram in the I Ching symbolizes discipline, order, and teamwork, and also represents ancient military campaigns.

All of these are inseparable from organization, rules, and leadership.

The conditions for winning a battle are: strict discipline, teamwork, a unified goal, and visionary and experienced leaders.

As the ancients said, "An army is raised for a thousand days, but used for only one."

All the training and hard work we put in on the day are so that we can remain calm and composed, respond effectively, and win quickly in critical moments.

If the opportunity is slow to arrive, don't be anxious. Instead, ask yourself: "Am I ready?"

If flowers bloom, butterflies will come; if people are brilliant, fate will arrange things accordingly.

The Hexagram Jin (晋) – When promotion and salary increases require merit.

The "Jin" hexagram in the I Ching symbolizes promotion, indicating a bright future and a positive outlook at work, where hard work and dedication are often recognized.

However, while the future looks promising, it's not all good fortune. Promotion requires ability; only solid skills can ensure long-term success. Don't be blinded by external praise and empty fame, spending time trying to gain attention while neglecting to truly improve yourself.

Without professional depth, where does the confidence and long-term competitiveness come from?

The Hexagram "Revolution" – When life encounters a bottleneck and change is necessary.

The hexagram "Ge" in the Book of Changes symbolizes change and innovation, which can refer to changes in the external environment or to adjustments and breakthroughs within oneself.

As the saying goes, "When things reach an impasse, change is necessary; change leads to progress." When we encounter a bottleneck in life, we often hesitate: should we continue on the same path, or try to break through?

The hexagram "Revolution" tells us that although reform may bring turmoil and uncertainty, it is precisely because of change that there is an opportunity to break the deadlock.

Through repeated efforts, the new situation can be stabilized, and the potential brought about by change can gradually emerge.

Every adjustment and attempt paves the way for the future.

While remaining unchanged may ensure safety, stagnation will only cause opportunities to slip away; only by daring to change can we truly take the initiative and grasp the future.

The Hexagram Guai – When you must make a decisive choice

The hexagram "Guai" in the I Ching symbolizes decisiveness and resolute action. When things develop to their extreme, a breakthrough and differentiation are inevitable.

At this time, there are often many petty people and obstacles, which can make people feel a lot of pressure.

Instead of viewing these as negative factors, we should treat them as a test.

If one is stubborn and reckless, one is prone to making mistakes, missing opportunities, and even exacerbating the chaos in the situation.

Only by making calm judgments, prudent decisions, and decisive actions can we maintain our footing in extreme situations and turn obstacles into opportunities for breakthroughs.

Kan hexagram – When learning and accumulation give you more confidence

The I Ching's Kan hexagram teaches us that learning not only builds a solid foundation for the future but also helps us avoid detours, making us more stable and confident, and enabling us to remain calm when facing challenges.

The Kan hexagram in the I Ching symbolizes learning. When people talk about learning, they unconsciously think of reading and exams, but learning is not only about book knowledge, but also includes life wisdom, for example:

  • Learn to listen to and understand others in interpersonal interactions;
  • Learn to analyze problems and solve difficulties in both work and life;
  • Learn to control your emotions and manage your time and resources in your daily life.

Learning is everywhere. Every experience, every reflection, and every attempt contributes to the growth of wisdom and ability.

The Kan hexagram reminds us that only through continuous learning and accumulation can we navigate complex environments with ease and face challenges with greater composure.

 

Learning reveals one's deficiencies, and teaching reveals one's difficulties.

The Hexagram Wu Wang – When going with the flow is more important than forcing things.

The I Ching's "Wu Wang" hexagram symbolizes going with the flow and not coveting things that do not belong to you.

Simply put, its meaning can be summarized as "not being greedy".

Unrealistic desires or bad thoughts, and clinging to things that are beyond one's control or do not belong to oneself, often bring trouble and distress.

Humans are bound to have desires, so how can we achieve a state of mind free from desires?

One who is free from desires is invincible; a person who is without wants naturally possesses noble character. When one is in such a state, one will naturally not attract trouble, and thus will not suffer undeserved disasters.