HEXAGRAM 10 OF 64 HEAVEN OVER LAKE

TREADING

履 Lǚ

conduct, careful steps, courtesy, a tiger's tail, knowing one's place

ROASTIE

Treading. Stepping on the tiger's tail and it doesn't bite. The book means conduct, courtesy, knowing your place. You read it as permission. You are going to say the thing to your boss, in the tone, in front of people, and you are going to find out the tiger was only polite the first time. Ya roasted!

THE JUDGMENT

Treading on the tiger's tail, and it does not bite. Success.

THE LINES, BOTTOM TO TOP

Line 1 Treading his own plain path; going forward, there is no mistake.
Line 2 Treading a level, easy road; the quiet, solitary man who stays firm finds good fortune.
Line 3 A one-eyed man sees, a lame man walks; he treads the tiger's tail and is bitten, misfortune; a soldier playing prince.
Line 4 Treads the tiger's tail with fear and caution; in the end, good fortune.
Line 5 Treading resolutely; stay firm and correct, for there is danger.
Line 6 Look back over the whole path and weigh the signs; if all is well, great good fortune.

THROW YOUR OWN ALL SIXTY-FOUR

Text: the I Ching, after James Legge's 1882 translation, public domain, trimmed into plain English. The take: a coffee bean, licensed in nothing.