ASK ROASTIE

BAD ADVICE. GOOD TIMING.

HEXAGRAM 64 OF 64 FIRE OVER WATER

BEFORE COMPLETION

未濟 Wèi Jì

not yet complete, the fox crossing ice, care at the end, transition, order out of disorder

ROASTIE

Before Completion. Fire over Water, the young fox almost across the ice and then its tail is wet. Nothing is in its place yet. The book says care at the very end. This is the last hexagram in the book and the first one in your life: almost done, every time, right up until the one step where you look back to see who's watching. Ya roasted!

THE JUDGMENT

Success. The young fox nearly crossed, then wet its tail; nothing profits.

THE LINES, BOTTOM TO TOP

  1. Line 1 The fox wets its tail at the crossing; cause for regret.
  2. Line 2 He drags back his wheel and waits; firmness brings good fortune.
  3. Line 3 Not yet complete; advancing brings misfortune; still, it profits to cross the great river.
  4. Line 4 Firmness brings good fortune, regret disappears; stirs himself to attack the Demon Region; in three years a reward from the great kingdom.
  5. Line 5 Firmness brings good fortune, no regret; the light of the superior man, sincere; good fortune.
  6. Line 6 Sincerity in drinking the wine, no mistake; but if he wets his head, he loses that sincerity.
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.