Jian

The hexagram Jian (蹇) signifies being trapped between treacherous waters and towering mountains, with no way out. It is listed alongside Kan (坎), Tun (屯), and Kun (困) as one of the four most difficult hexagrams in the I Ching—the one with the most inescapable fate. Jian implies a limp, difficulty in movement—slow to walk and sometimes unsure of which way to go. Interestingly, in the six lines of Jian, the fifth line is in its proper position, while the first line is out of place. This shows that the difficulty of Jian stems from a wrong initial step. One wrong step leads to further difficulties. Every step is taken with utmost effort, but because the direction was wrong from the start, the harder one tries, the deeper one sinks into the predicament. Every step is taken with the best of one's ability, but there is simply no way out.

Stop for a while to avoid further losses; slow down for a while to avoid further misunderstandings. Life is not just about rushing forward. If you stop, you may find a new direction; if you know how to wait, you may get better results!